Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings, Dune, Little Women, and Twilight… What do these titles have in common?
Did you guess right? They’re all books that were adapted into movies for the big screen! In fact, many of us may have watched them on screen before diving deeper into their paperback versions after watching the movies.
As they say — movies can never match up to the books. But that’s because movies have screen limitations while books have endless pages that can convey so much more. Though the written word, it also allows us to imagine rich worlds and images.
Indeed, books are not dead. The stories they tell hold amazing richness steeped in themes from love and life to loss and hope. In fact, movies take a lot of materials from books. And here’s what we think you should read before they become movies.
Daisy Jones & The Six
The rise of an iconic rock group, as shown through the woman who was the focus of all the attention, Daisy Jones & The Six reveals the story of a fictional iconic rock band from the 1970s and the reason behind their break up.
The story revolves around Daisy who dreams of becoming a rock and roll singer. She meets the leader of The Six, Billy Dunne, and when an aspiring producer decides to combine these two together, things happen.
So far, this bestseller by Taylor Jenkins Reid hasn’t been made into a movie. There’s an upcoming 12-episode mini series available on Amazon Prime, so now’s your chance to read it first. Stars Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Suki Waterhouse and Camila Morrone.
Luckiest Girl Alive
A student at a prestigious college, Ani FaNelli endured a surprising, public humiliation that left her determined to reinvent herself. She then finds herself with a spanking new job, fancy wardrobe and handsome fiancé, and this nearly there to have the best existence she’s worked tirelessly to attain.
But her perfect life is not as it seems. There’s still something painful hidden in her past that still haunts her and threatens to explode and damage everything that she’s built up so far.
Filled with unexpected plot twists and turns, the book, written by Jessica Knoll, will have many women resonating with the main character about the modern pressures they have.
It’s been made into a movie and will be released on Netflix. Stars Mila Kunis, Justine Lupe, Finn Wittrock and Chiara Aurelia.
Release date: 2022
A Man called Ove
Originally written in Swedish by Fredrik Backman, A Man called Ove revolves around Ove, a cantankerous old man who lives alone. To him, everyone is an idiot. His world is suddenly turned upside down when a noisy young family moves in next door.
He’s the type who sticks to his routines and principles and has earned a reputation of being bitter by the residents. When a run in with the two young girls who recently became his neighbours leads to a whole series of things, we see a transformation of the old man.
A story about life, death and loneliness, and with a strong thread of humanity.
The book will be adapted for the big screen and renamed A Man called Otto to be released by the end of this year. Stars Tom Hanks, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Rachel Keller and Mariana Trevino.
Release date: 14 December 2022
Death on the Nile
Fans of Agatha Christie will get to see another of her famous books get adapted for the big screen. A sequel to Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile follows Belgian detective Hercule Poirot to Egypt.
Poirot is on a holiday cruise along the Nile river when he’s suddenly embroiled in the mysterious death of a young wealthy heiress who was shot on the same boat. True to Agatha Christie’s mysteries, the story will take readers on a journey of a good whodunnit, bring the multitude of characters to life and leave you with a satisfying eureka! moment.
A movie has been made and it’s directed by award winning director Kenneth Branagh. Stars Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Russell Brand and Gal Gadot.
Release date: 11 February 2022
Where the Crawdads Sing
A coming-of-age story wrapped up in a murder mystery, Delia Owen’s debut novel juxtaposes the life of someone who grew up in the natural world with the real world.
Main character Kya Clark who grows up in the wild marshes of North Carolina far from human society, is wild and independent. This makes her the subject of teasing in school. But she soon forms relationships with two young men as she grows up and goes to college.
Part two of the story focuses on her college life and navigating life after college. One day, Kya is accused of murder. What follows next is a mystery that will enrapture readers and leave a shocking conclusion.
The movie is out. Stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson and Michael Hyatt. Read the book first!
Release date: 15 July 2022.
Blonde
The 2000 fiction by famed author Joyce Carol Oates revolves around the life of the iconic Marilyn Monroe. It’s meant to be a work of fiction and not taken as a biography of the late actress.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, the book is an adaptation of her haunting life starting from an innocent childhood spent in an orphanage and numerous foster homes to the character of Marilyn Monroe that she morphs into – a bombshell sex symbol that Hollywood has created living in a misogynist society.
It’s said to be one of Oates’ best works ever and it’s been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. The movie was mainly shot in black and white, an ode to the time of the actress, and explores the many issues of exploitation, drug abuse, love and abuse she faced. Stars Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Sara Paxton and Bobby Cannavale.
Release date: 23 September 2022
My Policeman
Written by Bethan Roberts, My Policeman is a historical fiction about forbidden love among two men in 1950s Britain where there was no such thing as LGBT rights.
Marion is determined to marry Tom, her brother’s best friend, who is a policeman. Tom only has eyes for Patrick, a curator at the Brighton Museum. The two men acknowledge their feelings for each other but in a time where it’s safer for Tom to marry, they have to keep their relationship a secret.
The movie will be out this year. Stars Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, David Dawson and Linus Roache.
Release date: 21 October 2022
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