Thanks Shibi, I forgot it too xD
Username: Fin-chan
Nickname: Fin or Fin-chan
Favorite Anime: 1: FMA 2001, 2: Durarara, 3: Sora no Method, 4: Katekyo Hitman Reborn, 5: Kuroko no Basket
Favorite Manga: 1: Orange, 2: Dengeki Daisy, 3: DOGS: Bullets & Carnage, 4: Mahou Tsukai no Yome, 5: Donten ni Warau
So, back to the SAO novel. It's always hard to show characters thoughts without long monologues. They can be boring during fights but in book it is different, it also gives us possibility to look in Kirito's thoughts and feelings (vide, first fight with Heathcliff and what he notices about it).
Remember the scene when the announcement of finishing the deathly game appeared? Lizbeth came out of the building, looking at the sky with other people. In side stories about Aincrad (second volume, second chapter), she and Kirito travels to find the crystals for new sword. After finishing the sword there is time skip, Lizbeth is back in her house, creating new weapons while thinking about Kirito and Asuna. Then she notices the disappearance of all NPC from her shop and the streets. AND THEN the announcement states THE GAME IS FINISHED! and she cries, and prays that Kirito is safe, because she knew, she believed in him, that HE was the one to finish it.
So yeah, SAO novel shows more of the characters feelings than it was done in anime.