Pages to Frames: Our Favorite Books into Films

In 2011, the young adult novel The Fault in Our Stars charmed readers and impressed critics everywhere, topping all kinds of bestseller lists. The book, by Vlogbrother and awesome guy, John Green, is a love story between two teens who meet in a cancer support group. In June, the film adaptation hits the big screen, and is generating big-time buzz.

Adapting popular books into movies is not a new phenomenon–although they do seem to be gaining significant traction in recent years. Film versions of popular books can be traced back to the early days of Hollywood. Not that the transition from one medium to another is always smooth; the written word doesn’t always translate on a big screen. Sometimes it is a matter of scale, a 600-word novel cannot always be boiled down to a 2-hour screening. The timing of the book release to the movie release can be a factor as well. Perhaps one of the biggest indications of the popularity of a book-turned-movie is in the overlap of appeal to different audiences – adults and kids, boys and girls, readers and non-readers

Classics and Modern Classics

Given that summer is a common time for studios to roll out their biggest of the big contenders, btw decided to take a look back at some notable book-to-movie adaptations.

• Little Women (book: 1868; film: 1914-1994) Written by Louisa May Alcott, this Civil War-era story of the four March sisters has been adapted into film five times in the past century. The first, a 1917 silent picture, no longer exists in print. Versions made in 1933, 1949, 1978 and 1994 all featured big movie and television stars of their era, including Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Susan Dey, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale, and Claire Danes. There has also been a British mini-series version, as well as two animated features. Many readers feel that the relatable personality types of the girls, as well as the themes of sibling rivalry, young love and family tragedy, make this story a timeless classic.

• Tuck Everlasting (book: 1975; film: 1981, 2002) Author Natalie Babbitt explores the notion of immortality in her fantasy novel. The book has been included on many notable “best of” lists over the years. It was first made into a film in the early 1980s and once again in 2002. The latter stared Alexis Blendel, of the TV show Gilmore Girls, and Jonathon Jackson who currently appears in the TV show Nashville.

• The Outsiders (book: 1967; film: 1983) Coming-of-age stories, especially those dealing with conflict between characters of different socioeconomic groups, are a Young Adult (YA) novel staple. SE Hinton wrote this book while she was still a high school student. Set in the 1960s Oklahoma, The Outsiders is about a young gang of underprivileged kids called the Greasers who clash with the affluent Socs. Director Francis Ford Coppola later brought together a group of the era’s most popular actors (including Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Diane Lane and Tom Cruise is a bit part, right before he became a huge movie star).

• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (five books: 2001-2011; original film: 2005 & sequel: 2008) Four childhood friends bond over a pair of jeans that somehow fit them all perfectly despite their differing sizes. When separated one summer, they stay in touch by forwarding the pants to each girl. Both the books and the movies were popular, however the first movie was criticized for drastically changing one of the plot lines.

• Perks of Being a Wallflower (book: 1999; film: 2012) Millions of readers all over the world related to the narrator’s struggles with being a shy but intelligent teenager. His life changes for the better when he is befriended by two charismatic high school seniors. The film version featured Emma Watson, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films.

• The Book Thief (book: 2006; film: 2013) When Death narrates, readers pay attention. Author Markus Zusak takes us back to Nazi Germany during World War II and follows an adopted girl and the two Jewish men who hide in her home. The book won many awards and was on The New York Times Best Seller List for almost a year. The film version received mixed reviews.

Book-to-Film Blockbusters

We find it impossible to have a list of books-to-films and not mention the following mega hit franchises:

• Harry Potter (seven books: 1997-2007; eight films: 2001-2011)
• The Lord of the Rings (three volumes published: 1954; films: 2001-2003) and The Hobbit (book: 1937; films: 2012-2014)
• Chronicles of Narnia (seven books: 1950-1956; three films so far: 2005-2010)
  
• Twilight (four books: 2005-2008; five films: 2008-2012)
• The Hunger Games (three books: 2005-2010; two films so far: 2012-2015)
• Divergent  (three books: 2011-2013; one film so far: 2014)

What Do You Think? Pick two book/films from the above list, one you’ve read and or seen and one you haven’t. Explain why you like the one you’re familiar with and why you might be compelled to explore the one you haven’t.