What’s your favorite book turned movie? Tell us about it.
42 thoughts on “Reader Friday – What’s your favorite book turned movie?”
This post brought me back to one of my favorite book/movie of all time. The Outsiders by S.E Hinton. Just now when I went to check to see if I spelled her name right, Wikipedia brought up that was started this book at the age of 15 and it was published at the age of 18. I have reread this book a number of time in my life and most likely will again before to long. I did not care for the sequels that followed- both book and movie, but the original will always have a place in my book shelf.
WOW! I read and very much liked that book as well. I had no idea the author was so young when published. There’s my newly learned tidbit for the day! 😎
You scooped me on her age too. She wrote for young readers although her books were widely read by adults. I read her one and only adult book after a friend of mine highly recommended it – Hawkes Harbor. It’s an odd book but she sucks you into this strange novel of pirates and vampires. The book drifts effortlessly and so deftly between past and present character memories that her skill inspired me to write my first YA – IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS (Harlequin Teen).
Thanks for the trip down memory lane with S E Hinton, Ryan.
Some of my favorite movies improved upon their source material:
The Godfather
Out of the Past (based on Build My Gallows High)
Shane
The Best Years of Our Lives (based on Glory for Me)
The Godfather was amazing. Thanks for these, Jim.
I thought the Hunger Games movie took a popular well-written series & improved on the overall story structure. The first movie adaptation involved the author Suzanne Collins (a script writer) and beautifully portrayed the start. Fans of the series loved it. The next few films built on the revolution, not as emphasized in the books, and created an exciting crescendo for the whole story line.
Veronica Roth’s YA Divergent series is a reader favorite but film adaptors added a better plot structure to escalate the stakes.
I read the first Hunger Games books and really liked it, and did go see the first movie, which I was pleased to see closely followed the book. But I’ve been a slacker and haven’t read the rest of the series or seen any follow up movies.
Jordan, thanks for asking. Kay and I don’t go to the movies much, preferring to sit at home in our recliners and watch recorded sitcoms and various sporting events. But on the few occasions I’ve gone to see a movie based on a book, I’ve found the book is better almost every time. One reason for this, I suppose, is that a reader supplies the background, description of the characters, etc. from their imagination, and they are often disappointed when the movie doesn’t match their recollection. I realize I’m in the minority here, but wanted to throw in my $0.02 worth (or has inflation increased it to a quarter?).
Ha! I can relate to recliner TV watching, Richard. I don’t see many movies in theatres these days. I’m a streamer now & love it.
I tend to love books over movies. Books allow a reader’s mind to enhance the senses, making the unfolding story more personal and all encompassing. You are NOT in the minority to say books are generally better than the film.
Thanks for playing. Have a good weekend.
Agreed. Books are usually better than the movies.
Easy one. Silence of the Lambs.
Wishing you an amazing day, Jordan! Back into the writing cave I go. 😉
Shiver….YES!!! Great adaptation. Thanks, Sue. Happy writing!!!
I may be cheating a smidge here. But, my favorite books turned into television series were Herman Wouk’s Winds of War and War and Remembrance. I’ve re-read both books about a half-dozen times each, and I still can’t wait to turn the pages in both of them. Thank you for asking.
Yes, good ones, Jim. Thank you.
Well there’s a list…
First of all, I’ll second your Fault in Our Stars.
I also loved:
Stand By Me (from the short story The Body by Stephen King)
Outlander (That’s a TV Show. I’m counting it anyway.)
The entire Lord of the Rings series. OMG
The Hobbit series, but less so.
I know there’s more, but I can never remember the names. I’m a terrible Librarian.
Fault in Our Stars is such a powerful book and the movie stayed true to it. Smart. Readers would’ve rioted in the streets if John Green’s book had been marginalized.
Wonderful suggestions, Robin. Thank you
My wife would like to join the funs, so you get 2 answers 🙂
Non-Fiction:
Wife – The Ten Commandments
Me – The Longest Day
Fiction:
Wife- Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit
Me – Harry Potter
A two-fer answer!!! Ha! Good ones, Phil. Thanks to you and your lovely wife. Have a fun weekend.
You also! Thank you!
Difficult question. For me L.A. Confidential based on James Ellroy’s novel of the same name. Alfred Hichcock’s Rear Window based on Cornell Woolrich’s short story of the same name, and The Remains of the day based on the book The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. So many others but these movies and books I never tire of.
I have to add the best of them all — The Princess Bride! “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die”
The Princess Bride was also the one that came to mind for me. I love the book and the movie.
You guys already got to a lot of my faves but can I add…
The Age of Innocence
The Third Man
Gone With the Wind
And one that was maybe the biggest improvement over its source material:
The Bridges of Madison County
Hey Kris. I’ve read some of these but Bridges of Madison County was simply magical. It inspired readers to make pilgrimages to where the movie was filmed but it all started with a lovely book. Ahhh.
Ah! Age of Innocence. The ending made sense in the book, but felt frustrating in the movie version. Loved loved LOVED the book, though!
LOVE The Age of Innocence. Top five book for me. I’ll have to check out the movie.
The Harry Potter movies
Hey Elaine. Thanks for weighing in. The whole Harry Potter series was superb. So many films of such high caliber. Outstanding.
The Time Traveler’s Wife – book and movie both quite awesome
also, while not movie per se:
Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, the books, and the 80’s BBC series both shaped teen aged me!
I can see you starring in The Hitchhiker. You can time travel in your mind like nobody else. Thanks for your great input.
The BBC 6-part version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
I am a sucker for period stories like this and Pride & Prejudice is a crown jewel. Thanks Pat.
Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain
James Grady’s Six Days of the Condor (became Three Days on the big screen – w/Robert Redford)
and following the lead of the esteemed Mr. Bell, Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (and Godfather II)
Great suggestions. Reminded me how prolific Crighton has been. Thanks George.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
Brilliant book but MacMurphy was Jack Nicholson and Nurse Ratched and the cast of characters were brilliantly acted resulting in a movie masterpiece
Classic. Love this one
THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE by George V Higgins became a 1973 movie of the same name with Robert Mitchum. The book, with its incredible use of dialogue to deliver about 80% of the story, is one of the all-time great crime / noir novels. The movie is one of the greatest film noir classics ever. And without question, it was Mitchum’s finest hour.
Mitchum was mesmerising onscreen. Yes
My fave movie based on book: All the President’s Men. Nonfiction, but amazing!
I’ll have to check this out. It sounds familiar. If you recommend it, it’s on my list. Thanks, Kathryn.
Sorry to be late to the party on this one. For me, there’s a tie here for the best film translation of a book. And let me say up front, as one who has adapted other writers’ works for the screen, the challenge is not to capture every plot point, but rather to capture the heart of the story. With that as the standard, I believe that the tie belongs to:
To Kill a Mockingbird; and
True Grit (the Cohen brothers’ remake)
Good ones, John. I watched Mockingbird not long ago & had to record to watch again. Powerful movie to an amazing book. Enthralling. It still holds up. Captured the utter shock of the crime and the racial tension heading for explosion in a small town.
This post brought me back to one of my favorite book/movie of all time. The Outsiders by S.E Hinton. Just now when I went to check to see if I spelled her name right, Wikipedia brought up that was started this book at the age of 15 and it was published at the age of 18. I have reread this book a number of time in my life and most likely will again before to long. I did not care for the sequels that followed- both book and movie, but the original will always have a place in my book shelf.
WOW! I read and very much liked that book as well. I had no idea the author was so young when published. There’s my newly learned tidbit for the day! 😎
You scooped me on her age too. She wrote for young readers although her books were widely read by adults. I read her one and only adult book after a friend of mine highly recommended it – Hawkes Harbor. It’s an odd book but she sucks you into this strange novel of pirates and vampires. The book drifts effortlessly and so deftly between past and present character memories that her skill inspired me to write my first YA – IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS (Harlequin Teen).
Thanks for the trip down memory lane with S E Hinton, Ryan.
Some of my favorite movies improved upon their source material:
The Godfather
Out of the Past (based on Build My Gallows High)
Shane
The Best Years of Our Lives (based on Glory for Me)
The Godfather was amazing. Thanks for these, Jim.
I thought the Hunger Games movie took a popular well-written series & improved on the overall story structure. The first movie adaptation involved the author Suzanne Collins (a script writer) and beautifully portrayed the start. Fans of the series loved it. The next few films built on the revolution, not as emphasized in the books, and created an exciting crescendo for the whole story line.
Veronica Roth’s YA Divergent series is a reader favorite but film adaptors added a better plot structure to escalate the stakes.
I read the first Hunger Games books and really liked it, and did go see the first movie, which I was pleased to see closely followed the book. But I’ve been a slacker and haven’t read the rest of the series or seen any follow up movies.
Jordan, thanks for asking. Kay and I don’t go to the movies much, preferring to sit at home in our recliners and watch recorded sitcoms and various sporting events. But on the few occasions I’ve gone to see a movie based on a book, I’ve found the book is better almost every time. One reason for this, I suppose, is that a reader supplies the background, description of the characters, etc. from their imagination, and they are often disappointed when the movie doesn’t match their recollection. I realize I’m in the minority here, but wanted to throw in my $0.02 worth (or has inflation increased it to a quarter?).
Ha! I can relate to recliner TV watching, Richard. I don’t see many movies in theatres these days. I’m a streamer now & love it.
I tend to love books over movies. Books allow a reader’s mind to enhance the senses, making the unfolding story more personal and all encompassing. You are NOT in the minority to say books are generally better than the film.
Thanks for playing. Have a good weekend.
Agreed. Books are usually better than the movies.
Easy one. Silence of the Lambs.
Wishing you an amazing day, Jordan! Back into the writing cave I go. 😉
Shiver….YES!!! Great adaptation. Thanks, Sue. Happy writing!!!
I may be cheating a smidge here. But, my favorite books turned into television series were Herman Wouk’s Winds of War and War and Remembrance. I’ve re-read both books about a half-dozen times each, and I still can’t wait to turn the pages in both of them. Thank you for asking.
Yes, good ones, Jim. Thank you.
Well there’s a list…
First of all, I’ll second your Fault in Our Stars.
I also loved:
Stand By Me (from the short story The Body by Stephen King)
Outlander (That’s a TV Show. I’m counting it anyway.)
The entire Lord of the Rings series. OMG
The Hobbit series, but less so.
I know there’s more, but I can never remember the names. I’m a terrible Librarian.
Fault in Our Stars is such a powerful book and the movie stayed true to it. Smart. Readers would’ve rioted in the streets if John Green’s book had been marginalized.
Wonderful suggestions, Robin. Thank you
My wife would like to join the funs, so you get 2 answers 🙂
Non-Fiction:
Wife – The Ten Commandments
Me – The Longest Day
Fiction:
Wife- Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit
Me – Harry Potter
A two-fer answer!!! Ha! Good ones, Phil. Thanks to you and your lovely wife. Have a fun weekend.
You also! Thank you!
Difficult question. For me L.A. Confidential based on James Ellroy’s novel of the same name. Alfred Hichcock’s Rear Window based on Cornell Woolrich’s short story of the same name, and The Remains of the day based on the book The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. So many others but these movies and books I never tire of.
I have to add the best of them all — The Princess Bride! “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die”
The Princess Bride was also the one that came to mind for me. I love the book and the movie.
You guys already got to a lot of my faves but can I add…
The Age of Innocence
The Third Man
Gone With the Wind
And one that was maybe the biggest improvement over its source material:
The Bridges of Madison County
Hey Kris. I’ve read some of these but Bridges of Madison County was simply magical. It inspired readers to make pilgrimages to where the movie was filmed but it all started with a lovely book. Ahhh.
Ah! Age of Innocence. The ending made sense in the book, but felt frustrating in the movie version. Loved loved LOVED the book, though!
LOVE The Age of Innocence. Top five book for me. I’ll have to check out the movie.
The Harry Potter movies
Hey Elaine. Thanks for weighing in. The whole Harry Potter series was superb. So many films of such high caliber. Outstanding.
The Time Traveler’s Wife – book and movie both quite awesome
also, while not movie per se:
Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, the books, and the 80’s BBC series both shaped teen aged me!
I can see you starring in The Hitchhiker. You can time travel in your mind like nobody else. Thanks for your great input.
The BBC 6-part version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
I am a sucker for period stories like this and Pride & Prejudice is a crown jewel. Thanks Pat.
Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain
James Grady’s Six Days of the Condor (became Three Days on the big screen – w/Robert Redford)
and following the lead of the esteemed Mr. Bell, Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (and Godfather II)
Great suggestions. Reminded me how prolific Crighton has been. Thanks George.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
Brilliant book but MacMurphy was Jack Nicholson and Nurse Ratched and the cast of characters were brilliantly acted resulting in a movie masterpiece
Classic. Love this one
THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE by George V Higgins became a 1973 movie of the same name with Robert Mitchum. The book, with its incredible use of dialogue to deliver about 80% of the story, is one of the all-time great crime / noir novels. The movie is one of the greatest film noir classics ever. And without question, it was Mitchum’s finest hour.
Mitchum was mesmerising onscreen. Yes
My fave movie based on book: All the President’s Men. Nonfiction, but amazing!
I’ll have to check this out. It sounds familiar. If you recommend it, it’s on my list. Thanks, Kathryn.
Sorry to be late to the party on this one. For me, there’s a tie here for the best film translation of a book. And let me say up front, as one who has adapted other writers’ works for the screen, the challenge is not to capture every plot point, but rather to capture the heart of the story. With that as the standard, I believe that the tie belongs to:
To Kill a Mockingbird; and
True Grit (the Cohen brothers’ remake)
Good ones, John. I watched Mockingbird not long ago & had to record to watch again. Powerful movie to an amazing book. Enthralling. It still holds up. Captured the utter shock of the crime and the racial tension heading for explosion in a small town.