Once a book becomes very popular, the first question on many people’s minds is when is it going to be a movie? This year many great books are hitting the big screen and will have people lining up to see them. Now most people know that another installment of the Twilight franchise is coming out in November and the last half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be out in July, but I wanted to highlight some other great books that are coming to a theater near you this year.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
I actually read this book a few years ago and have recommended it to quite a few friends. Set during the Great Depression, Jacob loses his parents so he quits Veterinary school and hops on a circus train. He helps train Rosie the elephant and falls for Marlena, the woman who performs with Rosie. Marlena also happens to married to the short-tempered and mercurial August. Narrated by a 93 year old Jacob, did he get his happy ending?
READ BEFORE: April 22
Cast Highlight: Robert Pattinson? Eh. Reese Witherspoon? OK. But I’m most looking forward to Hal Holbrook as older Jacob.
One Day by David Nicholls
Nicholls uses one day each year to spotlight the changes over twodecades of friendship for Dex Mayhew and Em Morley. Follow their career highs and lows and their break-ups and make-ups with an interesting string of characters. Some years they are close, others they are barely speaking, but why is this one day so important? Find out!
READ BEFORE: July 8
Cast Highlight: Can Anne Hathaway pull off Em’s English accent?
The Help-Kathryn Stockett
I am currently listening to audiobook and find it very captivating. As I am getting ready for work, I start to think, “I can’t wait to hear what happens next.” Follow Skeeter, Abileen, and Minny as they struggle with daily life in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. Diane already highlighted this book in a previous post, so you can read more about the book here.
READ BEFORE: August 12
Cast Highlight: Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson. She performed the part in the audiobook version and now she will reprise the role in the movie.
One for the Money- Janet Evanovich
In the first book in a series of 16 titles (with another being released in June) we find Stephanie Plum, former lingerie buyer, begrudgingly accepting a job as a bounty hunter in her small hometown in New Jersey. These books are filled with many laugh out loud moments. Follow Stephanie’s trials and hijinks (and romances!) throughout the series.
READ BEFORE: July 3
Cast Highlight: Katherine Heigl as Stephanie was definitely nothing like I pictured, but I can’t wait to see Debbie Reynolds as Stephanie’s hilarious Grandma Mazur.
Check out some other books with movie versions coming out soon:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
READ BEFORE: March 11
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
READ BEFORE: March 18
Something Borrowed- Emily Giffin
READ BEFORE: May 6
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
READ BEFORE: July 15
Moneyball- Michael Lewis
READ BEFORE: September 23
The Invention Of Hugo Cabret- Brian Selznick
READ BEFORE:November 23
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larsson
READ BEFORE: December 21
If you’ve already read the book and don’t mind subtitles, we already own the Swedish film version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Finally a challenge:
If you know a movie that is better than the book please tell me which one and why you think so.
I have yet to find a single movie that improves upon its book.
Oh, I know lots of good movies from books, although saying they improve upon the book is tough. But I'd suggest:
ReplyDelete--The Godfather. Probably because Mario Puzo was also in on the scriptwriting.
--To Kill a Mockingbird. I wanted Gregory Peck to be my dad
--Rebecca. Academy award winner and really captures the eerie and suspense in the book.
--Lord of the Rings trilogy (extended editions). Yeah, they messed with the books a bit, but the beauty and scope of those films still make them a standout adaptation from books.
--Babe. This film was very funny and touching and I actually liked it better than the book (shocking!).
Thanks for the suggestion of One Day. I got this and loved it. It was a great story and should be a good, emotional movie.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on the above books and plans to make into movies. We'll put them on our reading list and let you know what we think. A&U.M.
ReplyDelete