Books That Turned Into Movies

[CedarCreek]

I read this article and now I have a bunch of books that I want to read before they turn in to movies!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-the-big-screen

Are there any books that you loved that where turned into movies? What was the outcome in you opinion? I am excited for Divergent. I love the series so far.

I read The Lovely Bones and loved it but was disappointed in the movie. Just because I didn't like the way they handled the scenes where she was in "Heaven". But really, how are you supposed to relay that to the big screen? I'm just picky.

[Blackcat31]

Off the top of my head I can think of a few:

ALL the Stephen King books that have been turned into movies are TOTALLY disappointing.....

"One Day"......was a fantastic book.....HORRID movie... (I like Anne Hathaway but horrible movie anyways)


"One for the Money" (starring Katherine Heigel). LOVE ALL of Janet Evanovich's books but REFUSE to watch the movie because I can't stand when MY version/image of a character is not the same as the movie version.


"Water For Elephants" GREAT book but during the movie, I kept waiting for RPat, to bare his fangs... and I felt like he was cheating on Bella.

Basically, if I read a book and like it, I will NOT see the movie.

It is ALWAYS a let down and I am an avid reader so I don't like to take the good part about reading and ruin it by seeing it on the big screen instead of the little one in my head.

[Familycare71]

Nicholas Sparks is my favorite author and I have seen all of his movies... The only one I saw before I read the book was message in a bottle. The most disappointing movie to me was the notebook- but that is my favorite book of all time so there was no way I was going to be pleased . The rest I think they did pretty well- I go into it knowing it will be adapted for the screen...

[CedarCreek]

Off the top of my head I can think of a few:

ALL the Stephen King books that have been turned into movies are TOTALLY disappointing.....

"One Day"......was a fantastic book.....HORRID movie... (I like Anne Hathaway but horrible movie anyways)


"One for the Money" (starring Katherine Heigel). LOVE ALL of Janet Evanovich's books but REFUSE to watch the movie because I can't stand when MY version/image of a character is not the same as the movie version.


"Water For Elephants" GREAT book but during the movie, I kept waiting for RPat, to bare his fangs... and I felt like he was cheating on Bella.

Basically, if I read a book and like it, I will NOT see the movie.

It is ALWAYS a let down and I am an avid reader so I don't like to take the good part about reading and ruin it by seeing it on the big screen instead of the little one in my head.

I watched One Day without knowing it was a book and I thought it was pretty bad. I'm assuming a lot was left out because I was totally confused.

Water for Elephants i'm wanting to read before I see the movie. I hear good things about the book!

[kimmills]

I have also read a few books that were later turned into movies but unfortunately the two versions differ drastically. Because when you read a book you perceive he character and the surroundings according to your imagination but when a movie is made then it is the director's perception.

[CedarCreek]

I read Gone Girl the other day and WHOAH. That was entertaining. I'd actually like to see how that plays out as a movie.

[Bookworm]

I enjoyed the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. After seeing the trailer for Catching Fire, I'm a little wary. And of course, Harry Potter. As far as Stephen King, there are some adaptations that were horrible (i.e. The Shining, Needful Things, Christine) and some were very good (i.e. Carrie, Shawshank Redemption, Dreamcatcher, The Mist). Now if you want a book to movie that should have never been made, it's One Shot by Lee Child. The main character in the series is described as being around 6'4-6'6 and weighing 250-275 lbs of muscle. They picked Tom Cruise to play him. The horror.

[Scout]

I could not watch more than 30 minutes of "The Help" and I'm sure it was good but, it did not fit with the description in my mind after reading that wonderful book!

[Scout]

On another note, I thought "The Hunger Games" movie was quite good.

[GrannyJ]

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult They totally changed the ending and the ending was what made it such an awesome book. It was mine and my daughters favorite book so when the movie came out we went to the theaters to see it. When it was over we just sat there in disbelief. I don't understand how an author can ok a screenplay when they totally change your story and point of view. I haven't read a Jodi Picoult novel since then. Hopefully some day I will get over it!

[spud912]

While they had to leave out quite a bit from the books, I thought Lord of the Rings translated well on screen .

[NeedaVaca]

I like the movie version of the Harry Potter series and Hunger games. Some of the Twilight movies were ok but the books are just always better! I loved reading the Shopaholic series but that movie was the worst! They changed SO much it wasn't even close to the book...

[Rachel]

Water for Elephants I agree was amazing, adn I didn't like the movie at all. The Help loved the book, the movie I know I saw but I can't remember what I thought so I guess it was "eh." Harry Potter I think the movies were done well.

I didn't really like The Book Thief, but everyone else in my book club loved it. Maybe I'll try the movie...

[LiloAngels]

I love, love, love the Harry Potter book and series. As for the Hunger Games the movie wasn't to bad but Peeta wasn't what I quite expected.

[Meyou]

If I have read the book I avoid the movie because I have never watched one that measured up to the version in my head. Most often the casting and character personalities are too different for me to get past.

The only exception I can think of is The Game of Thrones tv series which is very true to the books but then again they have the author on staff writing and making decisions. Series like True Blood and The Walking Dead aren't horrible either because the tv versions are so dramatically different that they are more spinoffs than copies.

I can watch the movie and then read the book without cringing though. I expect the book to be much better so I'm waiting for developments that are different from the first page.