Read the Book: 6 Books That Inspired Great Movies
Many people like to read the book before watching the movie that it’s based on, but you can definitely do it the other way around. The story will be more complex, the characters more fleshed out, and the details richer. Check out these 6 books that inspired great movies!
Many people consider the movie as a romance set in the time of the Civil War, but the book is more of a historical fiction. It includes romance, yes, but it also includes vivid descriptions of the despair of war, how life changed drastically for people living in the South, and what it was like to be a woman during that time period. A fascinating and surprisingly feminist book!
The movie is a beloved classic with many hilarious and quotable lines, and so is the book. The novel goes a step further and is very meta; it’s a rewrite of a classic tale, which doesn’t actually exist. It’s part of the joke. William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie, has written a truly special book — it’s funny, heart-wrenching, and thrilling all the same time.
The book is every bit as thrilling as the movie, maybe even more so. The characters are more fleshed out and the science behind it all is explained more in depth. You’ll definitely enjoy this book, no matter how many times (or sequels) you’ve seen the movie.
4. Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?
You’ll notice that the movie and the book have different titles. There’s a reason for that. The movie is actually just loosely based on the book — the plots are similar, but the themes are quite different. The movie portrays the robots as seemingly human, while the book shows the robots as skilled at pretending to be human. Worth a read, especially if you like science fiction or stories that ask the question, what does it mean to be human?
5. Shawshank Redemption/Different Seasons
Shawshank Redemption is a truly great movie that is based on a novella penned by Stephen King, titled Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. You can read the story in Different Seasons, which also includes three other novellas that are just as good, especially Apt Pupil (which has also been turned into a movie).
6. Vertigo/The Living and the Dead
Alfred Hitchcock based the movie Vertigo on a novella written by Pierre Boileau, originally titled The Living and the Dead. The movie went on to become one of the best movies of all time, completely overshadowing the novella. Some people say that the movie is better, while others like the different (and darker) twist ending in the book better. If you enjoyed Vertigo, check out the book and decide for yourself!
Do you know of any other good books that have been overshadowed by their famous movie adaptions?
Cassity has had a love of blogging since 2007, when she started her first blog Remodelaholic.com Since then as her interests have grown, and so has her need to share more things that she loves. Tipsaholic was born to share interesting lifestyle, family, kids, travel and financial topics, plus a bunch of stuff in between. I hope you learn some great tips and share them with those you love!
