Today, while actively perusing the addictively popular website Pinterest (if you haven’t heard of it until now, heed my warning of its time-sucking nature), I came across a shirt reading “The book was better.”
Admittedly, I chuckled a bit at the phrase, but after brief amusement, it got me thinking. While there have obviously been many book-to-movie adaptations that have failed (sometimes tremendously), there are arguably many more that are brilliant successes, movies that translate perfectly into visual splendors. Last Friday's theatrical release of “The Hunger Games” is obviously at the forefront of my mind, but there are numerous other book adaptations that have hit the high mark.
Either way, most people like to approach this pairing in one manner — read and love the book, then hopefully watch and love the movie. In my opinion, this puts the film up for stronger scrutiny. I propose doing exactly the opposite. Love a movie? Then backtrack and check out the novel that inspired its creation. Here are some of my personal must-reads, inspired by the must-sees.
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins - For those of you that didn’t hit up the box office this weekend (the film release had the third highest weekend-opening box office numbers ever) to see “The Hunger Games” film adaptation, you missed out. The big-screen adaptation of the first of three books in Collins’ series was great. However, you’re really behind if you haven’t checked out the book yet. While it’s penned for young adults, the book is incredibly detailed, portraying a society formed in the wake of America’s end that forces children to fight to the death in a yearly televised competition. The series features corrupt rulers, a love triangle, a steadfast heroine, violence and rebellion. Collins’ book features intricate details about the interesting society and dismal District 12 that just couldn’t be packed into a two-and-a-half-hour movie. It’s dark for a YA book, highlighting oppression and despair associated with a dystopian society. And if you love the first book, there’s two more to check out, each arguably darker than the last.
“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett - As recognized by the Academy with numerous nominations and one win (you go, Octavia Spencer!), the film adaptation of Stockett’s look at the lives of African-American maids in the South during the Civil Rights era, was phenomenal. The seamless blend of humor and a sobering exploration of racist attitudes in the 1960s as seen through the eyes of a young white journalist and the maids of her friends translates beautifully in the pages of Stockett’s book. While the visuals of maid Minnie feeding her awful employer Hilly a pie baked with — I won’t spoil it — are great, the description in the novel is even better. Pick up the novel, and don’t put it back down.
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen - My friends can easily attest that I couldn’t put down Gruen’s “Water For Elephants” during our entire spring break trip last year. They enjoyed the ocean waves while my nose was stuck in a book (and my skin was roasting). The historical fiction novel follows Jacob, a young veterinary student who finds himself a member of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. The story is recounted by present-day 93-year-old Jacob, who explores the training of a stubborn elephant and the rescue of a beautiful and glamorous performer Marlena from her misogynistic animal trainer husband. While Reese Witherspoon eloquently portrayed Marlena on the screen, Gruen’s novel conjures up a fragile character simply with text.
“Revolutionary Road” by Richard Yates - If you’ve seen the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, you know that with Yates' book, you’re getting quite the tearjerker. Yates' novel is definitely a heartier read, and was selected in 2005 by Time as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to present. Set in 1955, the novel explores the dissolution of the marriage of a “Leave It to Beaver”-esque couple. It’s absolutely tragic to watch their relationship collapse as the world around them continues on unharmed.
“The Shining” by Stephen King - Stephen King has a very specific genre of writing — horror. King novel after King novel is translated onto the silver screen for the masses. The great novels are easy reads, but also masterful examples of devilish storytelling. “The Shining” features Jack Torrence, his wife and clairvoyant son, who move into the empty Overlook Hotel when Jack takes a position as winter caretaker. Jack slowly becomes possessed by the hotel. The book’s ending differs only slightly from that of the movie, with an interesting twist worth checking out.
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Steig Larsson - Larsson unfortunately passed away before he could see the success of any of his three Millenium series novels and the two films already adapted from the first book, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” The novel is a gripping mystery and suspense book. While a little bit of the description seems to have gotten literally lost in translation from Swedish to English, the novel is just as thrilling to read as the movies are to watch. The story brings together Lisbeth Salander, a tortured, gothic surveillance agent and Mikael Blomkvist, shamed publisher of a Swedish political magazine, to solve the decades-old murder of a wealthy man’s great-niece. The context of the novel is at times dark, featuring violence and rape, but the story is so gripping you’ll be hooked until the end.
“The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald - In anticipation for the new film adaptation coming to theaters this December, make sure to read this classic first. Fitzgerald’s Roaring ‘20s novel follows Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now settled on Long Island who gets swept up in the extravagant lifestyle of his neighbors Jay Gatsby and the Buchanans, as well as the imminent tragedies that follow. The novel is a great example of American literature and offers a unique look into the post-WWI era that brought carefree lives of luxury into the U.S. Read it before you see the DiCaprio version.