20 books worth reading before being filmed

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

"Dune" by Frank Herbert, "Son" by U Nesbø, several works by Agatha Christie and other works that fell into the hands of film producers.

1. "On the Shore," Ian McEwan

What is this book about: a young couple has just got married, but already on their wedding night, the newlyweds are in for trouble. Edward and Florence lie in bed, recalling the past and worrying about the future.

Film adaptation: Saoirse Ronan will play Florence Ponting, and Billy Hole will play Edward Mayhew.

2. "The Quiet Wife", A. S. A. Harrison

What is this book about: in the center of the plot - the relationship of a married couple. The husband hides the affair, and the discerning wife values marriage too much to convict her husband of infidelity. But the illusion of happiness will soon disappear.

Film adaptation: Nicole Kidman will produce and star in the film.

3. "After the War" by Rydian Brook

What is this book about: after World War II Hamburg lies in ruins. Colonel of the British Army appointed by the Governor. Together with his family, he moved to a luxurious mansion, where a German architect lives with his daughter. Two enemies will have to forget the years of bloody war in order to get along together.

Film adaptation: Jason Clarke will play the colonel, Keira Knightley will play his wife, and Alexander Skarsgard will play the architect.

4. "Where Have You Gone, Bernadette?" By Maria Semple

What is this book about: no one pays attention to Bernadette's oddities anymore. She loves to throw tricks and go against everyone. Bernadette does not monitor her lawn, throws mud at the school parent committee, and spends her husband's money with special zeal. One day she disappears without a trace. Residents of the city believe that Bernadette is dead, but her fifteen-year-old daughter does not believe it. The girl will do everything to find her mother. Even if you have to go to the ends of the world.

Film adaptation: Cate Blanchett as Bernadette. Director and screenwriter - Richard Linklater.

5. Project Rosie, Graeme Simsion

What is this book about: Don Tillman is a brilliant scientist, but he is unlucky in love. He just can't find the one. Tillman decides to approach the question from a scientific point of view and creates an impressive questionnaire to weed out a good half of the candidates. Having met Rosie, the scientist realizes that it is impossible to calculate love with the help of science.

Film adaptation: no actors have been selected yet. Jennifer Lawrence was approved by the studio, but she dropped the project three months later. Ryan Reynolds became interested in the main male role.

6. "The Girl Who Was Trapped in the Web" by Stig Larsson and David Lagerkrantz

What is this book about: continuation of the cult trilogy about the girl with the dragon tattoo. This time, Lisbeth Salander and writer Mikael Blomkvist must team up to solve the murder of the famous scientist.

Film adaptation: Rooney Mara will replace Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander. Federico Alvarez will be the director.

7. Happy Girls Don't Die by Jessica Knoll

What is this book about: young and successful journalist Tiffany is preparing for the upcoming wedding and enjoys life until journalists appear on her doorstep. It turns out that the girl is hiding a terrible secret about the tragedy that claimed many lives.

Film adaptation: the film has no script, but it is known that the producer will be Reese Witherspoon.

8. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt

What is this book about: are you willing to risk your life for art? After the explosion in the museum, the young Theo Decker is forced to save a rare painting and a ring at the cost of his own life.

Film adaptation: John Crowley was appointed director of the film, and Ansel Elgort was cast as Theo.

9. "Dune" by Frank Herbert

What is this book about: a classic sci-fi novel about the war between the houses of the Atreides and the Harkonnen over the desolate planet of Arakis.

Film adaptation: Dune was already filmed in 1986. The film turned out to be good, but it is a terrible idea to fit all the events of the book into two hours. In 2000, Dune was released as a mini-series. This time, Denis Villeneuve, the director of the films Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, got down to business.

10. “Faithful, Mad, Guilty,” Liana Moriarty

What is this book about: at the barbecue party, an incident occurs that affects the further fate of all participants. Marriage collapses, bonds of friendship are broken, and guilt makes it difficult to move on.

Film adaptation: Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon will act as producers. It is curious that the actresses played together in the series based on another novel by Liana Moriarty, "Big Little Lies."

11. "My Husband's Secret" by Liana Moriarty

What is this book about: Sicily Fitzpatrick finds a letter from her husband asking him to open the envelope after his death. Of course, the woman did not wait for her husband to die, and read the message, which she greatly regretted.

Film adaptation: Blake Lively was cast in the lead role.

12. "The Devil in the White City" by Eric Larson

What is this book about: about the first serial killer in the United States named Holmes. Dr. Holmes built true catacombs of horror in Chicago, hiding them in a hotel. The building's graceful layout allowed him to kidnap unsuspecting tourists and brutally abuse them. The perpetrator was so cunning that the police found him purely by accident.

Film adaptation: Leonardo DiCaprio will play the lead role and directed by Martin Scorsese.

13. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

What is this book about: a young rich girl was killed on a steamboat sailing on the Nile. Unfortunately for the investigation, many of the passengers on the ship were familiar with her and disliked the lady. It would seem a dead end, but not for the great detective Hercule Poirot.

Film adaptation: Kenneth Branagh has been appointed director of the film.

14. The Nightingale by Christine Hannah

What is this book about: young Isabelle Mauriac is forced to join the ranks of the resistance in order to free France from the German invaders. An emotional and inspirational novel about women's courage and fortitude, it became a bestseller in 2015.

Film adaptation: The film will be directed by Michelle McLaren. She has worked on the series Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Westworld and The Walking Dead.

15. The Treads of Chaos by Patrick Ness

What is this book about: a fantastic trilogy about the boy Todd Hewitt and his talking dog. They travel a world that has survived a war with the Speck creatures. After the conflict, the world's population was infected with the Noise virus, women disappeared, and men began to hear each other's thoughts.

Film adaptation: Tom Holland (Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man) and Daisy Ridley (Star Wars Rey) have already taken the lead roles.

16. "Son", Yu Nesbo

What is this book about: Sonny Lofthuss has come to terms with the fact that his father committed suicide. The guy wanders from one prison to another, takes drugs and does everything to make life shorter. But circumstances change when he learns that his father was actually killed. Sonny gets out of prison and takes the path of revenge.

Film adaptation: Denis Villeneuve will be directed by Jake Gyllenhaal.

17. "Still Water" by Paula Hawkins

What is this book about: Jules returns to his hometown to pick up his orphaned niece and bury his sister. Arriving at the place, the girl recalls a difficult past and tries to understand what really happened.

Film adaptation: while nothing is known about the actors and the director.

18. "Prosecution Witness", Agatha Christie

What is this book about: a story about a talented lawyer who stands on the side of the defense on charges of murdering an elderly wealthy lady. The only suspect is her close friend Leonard Vole. The whole difficulty of the situation is that only his wife can provide an alibi. But the lawyer does not want to lose and does everything possible to prove the client's innocence.

Film adaptation: the picture will be staged by Ben Affleck.

19. "In the dark-dark forest" by Ruth Weir

What is this book about: after school, Nora stopped communicating with friends. After 10 years, she receives an invitation to an old friend's bachelorette party. The girl gladly accepts it, not suspecting what the innocent party will turn out to be.

Film adaptation: the picture is produced by Reese Witherspoon.

20. "It's Not Your Fault" by Jennifer Niven

What is this book about: youth drama about death and love. Theodore Finch has long wanted to leave this life, but he does not dare to do this. One day he saves a girl from suicide and helps her find the meaning of life.

Film adaptation: Elle Fanning was cast in the lead role.