Top Ten Tuesday : From book to film/tv
18 August 2020
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books I would like to see adapted, That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic :
Books that Should be Adapted into Netflix Shows/Movies
This is a thing I hesitate over, wishing for my favourite books to be adapted – on the one hand I absolutely want all of these to be adapted in some way either for the big screen or tv but on the other hand, what if it isn’t produced well, cast wrong, or gross liberties are taken with the storyline. It’s a mixed bag but given the choice I would see plenty of the books I love adapted – here’s a very small snippet of such books. Apologies that these are not linked this week. Also, living under a rock, as I do, some of these may already be optioned or in the process of adaptation – if you’re aware then please let me know in the comments. Finally, I’ve cheated a little, I’ve gone for 10 categories (although, ahem, thee are rather loose) and three books in each – it allows me a lot more choice as it was very difficult to whittle down my list this week as I had so many possibilities.
Unusual and compelling
Fun/exciting fantasy that would be great as a series
Epic Fantasy that would be great as films – all with three films apiece (LotR’s style)
Murder mystery
Twisted Thriller
Fantasy Action/Adventure
Historical with a hint of magical realism
Fairytale retellings
Horror
Gothic
Books and travelling with Lynn 
So many good books, and we’ve got a few choices in common this week 🙂
I think there may have been a film version of We Have Always Lived in the Castle quite recently but I’ve not seen it yet. Not read the book either so must get around to that. I’m also off to check out some of those horror books you mentioned as it’s almost the season for those reads 😀
Oh my, I think you will enjoy We Have Always Lived in the Castle – the main character is quite something else and it’s a fairly quick read if I recall correctly. And, yes, definitely the season for horror is swiftly approaching.
Lynn 😀
I’ve just found We Have Always Lived in the Castle on the library e-book system so I might have to make it this year’s Shirley Jackson read. Last year I read Hill House and enjoyed that so looking forward to another Jackson story.
She is good, I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what you think. I seem to remember it wasn’t a long book and the main character (Merricat??) is very unusual – a little unreliable even maybe.
Lynn 😀
It’s true that the translation from book to screen is fraught with “dangers” because it requires careful work to avoid betraying the original characters and situations, but streaming services have shown a better understanding of the process than their Hollywood counterparts did, so there’s hope yet… 🙂
Yep, I have seen some good adaptations over the years, unfortunately I’ve also seen some very disappointing ones for a range of reasons. I am Legend is a good film but changes the end of the film, the Hobbit changed a lot of the original story and tried to make it into something it was never supposed to be, and what on earth went on at the end of Game of Thrones – a total character about face, and we still don’t have the final book – and maybe never will.
*rant over*
Lynn 😀
Oh, they were all quite legitimate rants! 😉
Lol 😀
Looks like a great selection of books here for adaptation, Lynn. 😃 The only one I’ve read is We Have Always Lived in the Castle – although I would like to read several more of them – but I think there is a film adaptation of it on Netflix. I haven’t watched it though, because I am dubious anyone can fully do this slow, sinister tale full justice, thinking of the adaptations of The Haunting of Hill House.
I love the way you broke this down. Big YES to Spoonbenders!! And there are a bunch on here I think are cinematic enough to work on screen.
I think Spoonbenders could be fantastic.
Lynn 😀
Great picks! I forgot about Shadow of the Fox. I agree that it would be a good one.
I remember thinking it would make such a wonderful film when I was reading it.
Lynn 😀
🙂
Oh I would love to see The bear and the nightingale and Mexican Gothic!
My post!
Well, looking at the comments I think it’s possible we might see Mexican Gothic adapted which is really exciting news.
Lynn 😀
Yes I heard! and so quickly!
Well I’ve read The Hunting Party, The Beast’s Heart and The Family Plot so I would definitely agree with those ones. Some of the others look pretty good. I did just see on Twitter I think someone optioned Mexican Gothic – not sure who. For some reason I’m thinking Hulu or AMC. Great list!
Ooh, that’s great news – if it happens that is. I will keep an eye out for that.
Lynn 😀
I included Mark Lawrence as well, but went for Book of the Ancestor. I think it could be an awesome series. And anything they adapted of Lawrences would have to end better than another big name fantasy series that I hear really annoyed fans in the final season.
Haha yes = the famous final season of ‘you know what’. I think all of Mark Lawrence’s series would be good – in fact I almost used his most recent contemporary scifi, time travelling series (Impossible Times). That one would be really good I think.
Lynn 😀
I would watch the hell out of a show based on The Naturalist 😛
I know – I wish that would be adapted. It would be amazing.
Lynn 😀
I think the Owl series could be a lot of fun. 🙂 I’ve only read the first book though. And The Hunting PArty too. Would love to see that!
Yeah, the Hunting Party would make a great thriller. The Owl series would almost like be an Indian Jones type series of films – and this reminds me that I need to pick up the last book.
Lynn 😀
Fantstic list, Lynn! I would love to see many of these as well. Especially Kushiel–where is our female led GoT? Need this! I would also LOVE to see Tarot Sequence, that has so much action it would make a great series. 🙂
To be honest, given the fanbase for the series, I simply can’t see what Kusiels’ Dart hasn’t been adapted. It could be amazing.
Lynn 😀
Exactly!
Mexican Gothic has already been comissioned – by Hulu, I believe 🙂 I really need to pick up Gwynne! Fab list, Lynn! 😀
Thank you – the Gwynne books were so good. I can’t wait to pick up his next work – I think it’s going to be something norse based?
Lynn :
I read the Shadow of the Fox series earlier this year and thought it would make such a stunning and exciting TV series. I’d especially love to see it an anime, but live action would be awesome too.
Ahh, great minds then – I was also thinking it would make great anime. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
Lynn 😀
So many amazing books! I would definitely want both your fun/exciting fantasy and your epic fantasy lists as TV shows, especially Spellslinger! You’ve also just added a considerable number of books to my TBR! 😅
Haha – I cheated to get as many books as possible this week – of course I only had ten categories in order to stick to the main idea of the meme.
Lynn 😀
Sneaky! 😂 I am always simultaneously excited and terrified for book adaptations… 😬 though I always err on the side of happy that some form of art exists relating to a book I love!
Wow
I loved this post
Thank you 😀