Ready When You Are, C.B. is hosting the Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge which involves reading a book and then watching the film based upon it.
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I’m going to try to compare 4 books and films in 2010, but I am having difficulty trying to decide which ones to pick. I’d love to watch The Road
Can anyone think of a fantastic book with a great film adaptation?
45 replies on “Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge”
I’d love to see The Road as well – the book is amazing.
I borrowed the Twilight books from a friend, but just can’t bring myself to pick one up yet.
I think I’m going to skip this challenge – I barely watch three movies a year, so….
Best of luck.
anothercookiecrumbles, I don’t watch that many films either (about one a month maybe), but they are almost always ones which I’ve been inspired to watch after reading the book, so it should be fairly easy for me to complete.
I’m sure that I’ll love The Road and hope the film is good too.
I saw Revolutionary Road and I am hoping to read the book next year. I forgot about The Road when making my list.
Nicole, That is a great suggestion! I have Revolutonary Road here already, so I think I’ll go for that – thank you!
I am pretty excited about this challenge, plus I love James to death. I am doing:
Let the Right One In – John Lindqvist
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
Running with Scissors – Augusten Burroughs
Anatomy of a Murder – Robert Traver
Plus, I may do Time Traveler’s Wife as well.
Sandy, I have a copy of Running with Scissors here, but had seen very mixed reviews for it. I am intrigued though, so I’ll keep an eye out for your review and will perhaps push it to the top of the list if you enjoy it.
Usually I’m so very disappointed by the film when I compare it to the book. However, I think that The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe was done quite effectively as a movie.
Bellezza, Great suggestion! I loved the film and I’m sure I enjoyed the book as a child. Unfortunately I can’t add this to my challenge list as I’ve sen it already, but thank you anyway.
The Reader by Bernard Schlink
The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne
An education by Lynn Barber
… but only after you’ve bitten the bullet with Twilight!
Annabel, The Reader is a great suggestion, and I have a copy here, so may well fit that in next year.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was a great book, but I’m scared the film will be too sad. It wouldn’t count for the challenge as I’ve read the book already, but hopefully someone else will decide to compare the two.
There’s always Dumas, although what Hollywood does with his books should be a crime, although the old Musketeer movies with Michael York were pretty good.
Misfit, That is an interesting suggestion, that I wouldn’t have thought of – I’ll keep an eye out for some of his books.
We watched The Prestige on DVD this afternoon and I’m now very curious about the book. And I’m reading The Painted Veil and finding it very different to the film. That’s one I’d be very curious to know your reaction to.
I loved the film of The Prestige more than the book. The book has a rather different ending due to a contemporary strand running through it. I enjoyed it too, but the film did have Hugh Jackman….
FleurFisher/Annabel, I haven’t herad of The Prestige before – I’m off to look it up!
I am going to shoot for the Double Feature level – but who knows, I may become such a movie afficionado that I will accomplish more over the course of the year. I haven’t preselected any titles yet.
Moly, I look forward to seeing what you decide to pick!
A Room with a View is one of my favorite books, and I loved the movie version (although I can’t remember how closely they kept to the book – but it was such a beautiful movie regardless). I keep meaning to get a copy of it on DVD … I should probably put it on my wishlist this year!
Belle, That is a good suggestion! How can I resist one of your favourites?
I’m so pleased to have you on board!
I see Age of Innocence is in your TBR stack. There was a movie version of that some years ago, which I have not seen. I can recommend the recent House of Mirth movie very highly. Not recent I guess, maybe ten years ago, starred the actress who played Scully on X-files who was wonderful.
cbjames, i’ve already read The Age of Innocence, so that wouldn’t count as a 2010 read – I might still be interested in watching the film though – thanks for pointing out there was one.
I love Gillian Anderson, so am tempted to watch House of Mirth too – thank you for the suggestion!
I put in a vote for Revolutionary Road too – book and movie both very good. If you want something a little lighter, have you read/seen Cold Comfort Farm? The book is so funny, and there’s a wonderful film adaptation with Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Fry, and Ian McKellan, which makes me laugh until I cry every time I watch it.
Jenny, I haven’t read Cold Comfort Farm, but that is an excellent suggestion – the cast sounds great! I think I’ll add it to my wishlist – thank you!
The cast is wonderful! I named the three who make me laugh the most, but it’s also got Joanna Lumley, Rufus Sewell, Eileen Atkins, and Miriam Margolyes. Such a good movie.
How about “Room with a View” or “Little Children”? I just read “Little Children” by Tom Perrotta and loved it and totally want to see the movie.
And I know you read Q&A already so that is probably out.
Jenners, Great suggestions! I think I’ll try Room with a View in 2010.
There are so many! What I’m thinking to read and watch next year (in that order) is possibly Revolutionary Road, Brideshead Revisited, Notes on a Scandal, Pride and Prejudice.
mee, I loved Notes on a Scandal (both book and film) and I think I’ll be doing Revolutionary Road next year too – I look forward to comparing notes.
This is one challenge I’m not going to be able to resist! I’m thinking about my list now…
JoAnn, I look forward to seeing what you decide to pick.
Atonement, both the book and the movie, is a favorite of mine. The Painted Veil was mentioned. Good book, great movie. There is a new Emma movie coming out in January if you like Jane Austen. Also The Diving Bell & the Butterfly but I recommend you see the movie first. It’s an amazing true story. The Princess Bride. Cary Elwes; need I say more?
I’m trying not to sign up for many challenges this year but this is one I definitely will participate in. Have fun with it.
Petunia, Atonement and The Painted Veil are great suggestions that I think I might add to my list. I’ve always been intrigued by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly too. Thank you for the ideas!
I enjoyed both versions of Atonement too. Generally films of the books don’t do it for me – the exception being the TV adaption in the 1980s of Brideshead revisited – not sure if that would count and it’s 13 hours long but definitely to be recommended!
Verity, I’m really not sure – 13 hours sounds like a very long time….
Some of the adaptations I thought of have already been suggested – Revolutionary Road and The Reader would be great and I can’t wait to see The Road. I’ll also throw in No Country for Old Men into the mix and The Lovely Bones. Also, Where the Wild Things Are may be an interesting one.
I’ll suggest Watchmen too to mix it up a little but I loathed the movie.
I’d struggle I think with this challenge to find a pair where I hadn’t read or watched one half of the pair (I read a lot AND I watch a lot of films!)
Claire, No Country for Old Men is a great suggestion for me as I have the book and DVD already! I think that should probably go to the top of the list!
I’ve already read The Lovely Bones (loved it) and look forward to seeing it on DVD sometime this year.
The Wild Things is an interesting choice and I may watch that too.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Pride & Prejudice and the 1995 BBC adaptation! It’s one of the best, I think!
I’d be interested to see how Atonement the book and the movie stack up. I’ve read the book but can’t figure out how the movie would work!
Steph, I have a feeling I’ve seen the Pride and Prejudice adaptation you mean, but can’t quite remember. I haven’t read the book yet (seen too many different adaptations!) but perhaps I should finally get round to reading it.
I think I might try Atonement – reading it at least. Great suggestions – thanks!
I’m going to get a copy of Charly from zip.ca and reread Flowers for Algernon.
Atonement might be another candidate.
Debbie, I think I might try to get a copy of Charly too, but I’m scared it will be too sad. Perhaps I’ll work myself up to it and ensure I have plenty of tissues/chocolates handy!
I hated MY SISTER’S KEEPER, but I kinda want to see the movie, because I hear the ending is different. And that’s what made me throw the book across the room.
Debbie – I actually enjoyed the movie version of Atonement MUCH more than the book!
Kari – I agree – the movie was MUCH better. It’s so much often the other way around.
This movie really made the story come to life. The book was, as my husband said, “a steaming pile of misery” and l-o-n-g.
BUT Jackie will have to do both to meet the challenge 😉
Kari/Debbie, It is rare to find books which are worse than the film, but I seem to have found a few this year. I want to read Atonement anyway and like a good discussion, so this does sound like a great suggestion. I’m not a fan of Ian McEwan, so I can guess what it is going to be like.
I’d probably read a classic and watch the BBC adaptation, but then, you know me. Sounds like a fun challenge! If only I’d not given myself limits….
Perfume is both an excellent book and a good movie. Also, the movie version of The Remains of the Day is good. I second the vote for The Prestige and Atonement. Also, have you thought about something like The Shining?