Books to Film


When I read, I often wonder if I will see an adaptation of the book progress to the screen. Many times when this occurs, I appreciate the dialog as well as the visual effects. We'll look at some books I have read and seen on screen and I will continue to update this page.




















Rebecca is a 2020 film based on the 1938 book Rebecca by Daphne de Maurier. I must admit I like the cast of Lily James · Mrs. de Winter; Armie Hammer · Maxim de Winter; Kristin Scott Thomas · Mrs. Danvers;  which expressed emotion well. 

I felt Mrs. Danvers and the new Mrs. de Winter helped us recognize why Rebecca was so well remembered. I appreciated the location and homes used as the Manderley estate and enjoyed the book's ending where readers had a powerful idea of who destroyed Manderley but did not care for the 2020 ending. 

I did not find this read to be a romance but rather thought many of the relationships were created to deceive and in each, we saw people becoming more guarded in their interactions.






















Where the Crawdads Sing is based on Delia Owens' 2018 novel. The setting is the 1950s-'60s, coastal marshes of North Carolina, and is written in the past and present tense and flows between Kya's childhood and a 1969 murder.  

We learn Kya is abandoned by her family and left to fend for herself and this 2022 Mystery/Thriller seems to downplay her Pa’s abusive nature.  Kya meets Tate who teaches her to read and write and this opens a whole new world for her. She writes of her experiences in the marshes and forms a lasting bond of friendship with Tate. And then in comes Chase who she establishes a relationship with. 

There is much controversy surrounding this story. The ending is spelled out in the book. The 2022 movie may appear a little vague to some viewers but there is great significance in the visual communication. I'm a nature nut and was lured in by the scenery depicted in the book and the movie.























The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
This book has many things in it that speak to me. The letters provide insight into the depth of emotion A.J. is feeling at the time they are written. I love that some characters' names I'm familiar with, and I get to learn a snippet from a few books I've not yet read. Thankfully, I had a box of tissues handy for this celebrated history of A J Fikry.

I loved that this book was about a bookseller and the tie-in to Poe's intriguing. You can read the review I did on this story back in 2017 here.

The 2022 movie has a decent cast with Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, David Arquette, Christina Hendricks, and more. I enjoyed the movie. I like that the focus is on how difficult it can be to lose someone. lt discusses adoption, book recommendations, and love. I like the interior of the bookstore, and the ariel shots I thought were impressive. 





















Allen Wolf informed me that he changed locations for scenes in the novel to be more visual for this 2022 movie. 

"I wanted to explore Seattle’s beautiful landscapes for the film, so I featured scenes in Gas Works Park, the shipping yards, alongside the enormous bridges and different spots around the city that you usually don’t see featured in Hollywood movies.

I wanted to cast unknown actors in the lead roles so the audience wouldn’t have any preconceived notions of who they are during the film." 

This is an emotional story that gives attention to high-functioning autism, diabetes, and issues of human trafficking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8yrOCdOFtg&ab_channel=TheSoundofViolet







Mary Poppins I have seen both Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns many times and love them both. I also really like the adaptation of Helen Goff's life in the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks. I appreciated that P.L. Traver's ( Helen Goff)  dream was of being a journalist and poet and that she never considered her books to be teaching stories geared toward children. 

I do admit I love the soundtrack the Sherman Brothers wrote and composed based on  Traver's book series Mary Poppins. The song Let's Go Fly a Kite, brings back fond childhood memories. My dad made amazing and colorful kites utilizing Christmas wrap and balsa wood and our family participated in many Kite Flying Festivals in the area. I still enjoy flying a kite.

This movie also depicted historical factors like losing people at a young age to consumption. Helen was only seven years old when her dad, Travers Goff, died. 

What I brought away from the movie is we should be mindful of not letting past disappointments, taint the present, or mar our hopes for the future.





















The Extraordinary Ordinary 

I was happy to receive an email from Natalie Rodriguez talking about her latest book The Extraordinary Ordinary which is also the name of her 2019 movie.

The storyline uses a lot of emotional appeals and is a relatable and realistic look at Trauma. 

Three new friends at a new school, establish friendships, and help heal their mental health issues. 

The storyline promotes paths of self-recognition/ self-awareness and shows how people handle situations differently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbW1UoVKnwE&ab_channel=IndieRightsMoviesForFree


Emma  by Jane Austen 1996,  2020

Kate Beckinsale; Gwyneth Paltrow and Anya Taylor-Joy all play Emma Woodhouse a young woman who sets her mind on matchmaking in scenic Highbury. 

I appreciate the concept of misguided romance in a country village and the garden scenes in these movies are absolutely gorgeous. The story depicts the importance of relationships and choosing for oneself.


Winnie -the-Pooh/ Christopher Robin 2018 

Christopher Robin. This 2018 film was inspired by A, A Milne, and E.H. Shepard's Winnie -the the-Pooh books.

I loved that the movie moves back and forth through the Hundred Acre Wood. The placement of the lines we all came to love mixed well with marvelous visual effects.  Madeline's character's mannerisms mimicked those of a young Christopher Robin. And, we learn more about the true identity of Heffalumps and Woozles.

I admit I love almost anything with Pooh and this movie adaptation was no exception. My favorite Pooh was Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. I loved it so much that I  also had the album.

































Lord of the Flies (1963)

This 1954 novel by Nobel Prize-winning British author William Golding really moved me. 

We'll start with a plane crash and schoolboys stranded far from civilization. They enjoy their freedom for a time but when roles start being challenged there is chaos and death. 

There are many parts of this book that I think are brilliant like the focus on the conch, parachuter, and the importance of sunglasses. 

This book shows cliques, destruction, and governing. I felt it was a good description of how our expectations can change our perception and how this affects those around us. If you loved this book, you might want to see the 1963 or 1990 film. 



Little Women 

This novel by American author Louisa May Alcott was originally published in 1869.  It follows the lives of the 4 March sisters. My mother is one of 4 sisters so I was curious to see if their lives, a century apart, had any similarities. The book has many adaptions, which are based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. 

When the March sister's father goes to war they assist their mother with things that need to be tended to in their father's absence. They also entertain friends and behave like little women. My stand-out memory of this read was the challenges they faced, the severity of illness they encountered, and the words of comfort conveyed. 



The Diary of Anne Frank

The initial publication was in 1947. This is the first collection of writings I read from a young girl fleeing the horrors of Nazi occupation forces with her family. They hid in an Amsterdam office building for two years. 

Anne started this spirit-filled diary in 1942 and showed a great sense of purpose in editing her own diary. 

This book is an emotional read, perhaps more so, as Anne's outcome is well known. If you loved this book you might want to watch one of the adaptations of it into a film. I have seen many versions. For an up to to date, list check here.



The Outsiders ( 1983)

First published in 1967, this book is another prime example of how age doesn't matter when it comes to the ability to communicate feelings with words. The Outsiders is a 1983 American coming-of-age drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy Curtis; Matt Dillon as Dallas "Dally" Winston; Ralph Macchio as Johnny Cade; Patrick Swayze as Darrel "Darry" Curtis. 

Susan Eloise Hinton was 15 when she started writing this novel and 18 when it was published.  I thought she was brilliant in drawing us in by naming the protagonist Ponyboy Curtis and another Sodapop. 

You have rival gangs, the Socs (rich kids) and the Greasers ( Ponyboys group). I thought Hinton was extremely bold in killing off 3 characters. If you want to know what it is like to be considered to have little chance of success you may want to watch the adaptation. 



Brave New World (1980,1998)

This story was written in 1931 by English author Aldous Huxley. This piece of Dystopian literature, set in a genetically modified society, is the only book I've read that my parents had to sign off on. Yes! My parents had to sign a statement saying their teenage daughter was permitted to read this book.  

Brave New World revolves around the idea of a centralized government system in the future where test-tube babies and hypnotism are utilized. In this society brainwashing and promiscuity are prevalent and genetically programmed beings do the brunt of menial work. This book taught me chiefly about the concept of conditioning. 

Mike Wallace's 1958  interview with Aldous Huxley regarding his discernment of enemies of freedom was intriguing. Huxley spoke of the misuse of advancing technology and propaganda and the importance of biology and balance. 



















Of Mice and Men

1939 -1992 there is a  movie ending comparison on Youtube

Reading John Steinbeck always amuses me. In his writing, he makes no pretense.  His description of the crash of the shot reminds me very much of how I would describe his writing style. He is often brash in the way he untangles life's complexities.

The 1939 version starred  Lon Chaney Jr and Burgess Meredith and followed Hays code to keep violence and gruesome content to a minimum. The 1992 version starred Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. I enjoyed watching both versions.

















Frankenstein 1931version 
Mary Shelley (then Mary Godwin) wrote Frankenstein in 1816 after being creeped out by a dream. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a horrendous monster during a scientific experiment.

I saw the movie 50 years after it was first released in 1931. I saw the movie before reading the book and was initially, confused as to who was Frankenstein. I thought the actor Boris Karloff's character was when in fact he was Dr. Frankenstein's creation.




























The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald. I have not yet seen  Gatsby but  Midnight in Paris 2011 is a movie I have watched over and over that has the characters Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and it is Midnight in Paris starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. I love this movie and appreciate that it also includes characters such as Hemingway, Gertrude Stein,  Salvador Dalí, T. S. Eliot, and Pablo Picasso.


Johnathan Livingston Seagull 1973. The film was produced by filming seagulls and superimposing human dialogue.


Pride and Prejudice 2005. Based on Jane Austen's 1813 novel, the film features five sisters from an English family. They deal with familial issues. Keira Knightley stars in the lead role of Elizabeth Bennet, and Matthew Macfadyen plays Mr. Darcy. I rather like the character Mr. Bennet, played by Donald Sutherland.


The Scarlet Letter 1995 coming soon

(Official)  FTC Disclaimer: In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, Lori's Book Loft would like you to know that while I do purchase many books, the majority of the books reviewed here on this blog were sent to me by the publisher, agent, or author.