Hi all, what is everyone’s favorite book to screen adaptation?
–Susan
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I candidly don’t watch very many movies of books I’ve already read as I don’t want to ruin them.
The Lord of the Rings stands out as a favorite, I’ve also always enjoyed the 1962 To Kill a Mockingbird
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Yeah, LotR was amazing. My local second-run theater just had a marathon, running the three movies on successive days. I’m still kicking myself for not making the time to go, but that would have been, like, 16 hours of time I didn’t feel I had.
My two favorites are both of Jane Austin books: Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds (1995) and of course the incomparable version of Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (also 1995). For the latter movie, I worked with a bunch of women, one of whom had purchased the 6-DVD set. We passed that set of disks around for years.
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- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- The Hunger Games
- Where the Crawdads Sing
- Little Fires Everywhere
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I forgot about Little Fires Everywhere!
Yes, I thought the Crawdad’s movie was an excellent adaptation. Everytime I see a movie preview for book I liked, I’m always curious, ‘how are they going to do that scene?’ Needless to say ‘The Goldfinch’ was not a good adaptation!
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I thought Where the Crawdads Sing was wonderful.
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I actually have two books that were made into movies and that I very much enjoyed (I hope that’s OK😊). And those two books are: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Whalerider by Witi Ihimaera.
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I just now saw, after already responding to the question, that Where the Crawdads Sing was your pick too! Like minds, it would seem.
I have not read Little Fires Everywhere nor have I seen the movie. One more title to add to each of my lists!
Enchanted April
Persuasion (Ciaran Hinds)
I need to reread the book, it was a favorite and the movie the scenery, the acting and such a good job of following the book!
WOLF HALL! Although, I don’t know how anyone who hasn’t read it knows who anyone is. I love the costumes, lighting, settings and the intimate feeling of the story, told thru Cromwell’s eyes. The natural lighting of the time, the historic buildings, castles and rooms where the real people wandered is amazing. I am almost through the first series (2016) and still look forward to the 2nd and 3rd series (that just came out) It goes through all 3 books by Hilary Mantel. FAB
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@Karen_K thanks for posting that! I had no idea Wolf Hall made it to video. I’ll have to find that.
I think the movie version of The Handmaid’s Tale was much more effective than the book. The movie was more intense and more detailed.
@Karen_M I started watching that series - I even picked up Hulu so I could - but I couldn’t get into it. Maybe I’ll need to give it another go.
I have seen that pbs has them. My donation to local channel gives me access. I think there are 6 episodes in each of the 3 segments. The first was made in 2016 & the last was put out last fall. Same actors. The music is all period music 
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Yes Karen, love the Hulu series. The 6th and final season starts Tuesday!!
–Susan
My all time favorite is Silence of the Lambs. That is the one movie that seemed to really have the majority of the book woven into the movie. Antony Hopkins was absolutely superb in bringing Dr. Hannibal Lechter to life.
On a related note, I very rarely watch movie based on a book because so many of the subtle details are understandably left out. But, after reading so many replies highlighting Where the Crawdads Sing, I think I might have to make an exception.
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Much easier to name a bad adaptation. Worse: The Book Thief.
Favorite: The Horse Whisperer.
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