When I’m reading a book, I often find myself wondering whether its story will someday find its way onto the big screen. I imagine the characters in motion, the settings unfolding beyond the page, and the dialogue taking on new life through voice and expression.
There’s something fascinating about seeing a story move from page to screen. Sometimes an adaptation stays remarkably close to the book. Other times, it takes the story in an entirely different direction. I enjoy noticing what changes, what remains, and how the characters and settings I imagined become someone else’s visual interpretation.
Here you’ll find books I’ve read that have been adapted for film or television, along with some of my thoughts on the adaptations. Some are favorites I’ve watched more than once, while others have made me appreciate the book even more.
This is a living list, and I’ll continue adding to it as I discover more stories that have made the journey from page to screen.
Classics & Literary Favorites
Tess of the D’Urbervilles — Thomas Hardy
Published in 1891, Tess of the D’Urbervilles was controversial for its time, challenging many of the expectations and moral standards of Victorian society.
I absolutely adore the 1998 film adaptation. Justine Waddell’s portrayal of Tess captures the complexity of a young woman caught between manipulation, expectations, and circumstances beyond her control. The cinematography is stunning, and the scenery is breathtaking.
I also appreciated the way the film portrayed Tess’s mother and the influence she has on Tess’s life—an element that can be easy to overlook but is important to the novel.
One thing that didn't quite work for me was Jason Flemyng as Alec. His manipulation of Tess was convincingly portrayed, but he seemed a little too mature for the role of a 24-year-old Alec.
Rebecca — Daphne du Maurier
The 2020 film adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca stars Lily James, Armie Hammer, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
I thought the emotional depth of the characters came through beautifully, and Manderley was every bit as atmospheric as I had imagined. The film is visually rich, and there are some wonderful moments throughout.
While I enjoyed the adaptation, I preferred the original ending of the book to the film’s conclusion.
Little Women — Louisa May Alcott
Published in 1868 and 1869, Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters, and I’ve always loved seeing their story brought to the screen.
There have been several adaptations over the years, but the 2019 film, starring Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh, is especially memorable. The strength and resilience of the March sisters make this a story that continues to find new readers—and viewers.
Lord of the Flies — William Golding
William Golding’s 1954 novel about a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island is a powerful commentary on human nature, chaos, and civilization.
Both the 1963 and 1990 film adaptations bring the story’s darker elements to life, including the importance of the conch and the frightening transition from innocence to savagery.
The Outsiders — S.E. Hinton
S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel was brought to the screen in 1983 in a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
The story of rival gangs and adolescence is heartbreaking and thought-provoking, and the film captures much of the intensity of the book. It remains one of those stories where the transition from page to screen feels especially memorable.
Brave New World — Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s 1931 dystopian novel was the only book my parents ever had to sign off on for me to read.
The 1980 and 1998 television adaptations explore the futuristic society Huxley envisioned, where genetic engineering, conditioning, and social control have created a world where individuality has little place.
What makes the story especially interesting today is how many of Huxley’s ideas still feel eerily relevant.
Of Mice and Men — John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck’s novella has been adapted several times, with the 1939 and 1992 films being particularly noteworthy.
The story of George and Lennie, two men trying to make their way during the Great Depression, is both simple and profound. There is something about Steinbeck’s ability to say so much with so little that makes this story stay with you.
Frankenstein — Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley’s iconic novel has taken on a life of its own through film. The 1931 adaptation, starring Boris Karloff as the creature, remains one of the most memorable versions.
While the film differs from Shelley’s novel, it captures the haunting atmosphere and larger question at the heart of the story: what happens when scientific ambition goes too far?
Jane Austen on Film
Jane Austen’s novels have been adapted for film and television countless times, and there are several versions I return to again and again.
Emma
The 1996 and 2020 adaptations of Emma are favorites. Austen’s clever observations about love, marriage, social expectations, and human nature shine through in both.
And then there are the settings—the gardens, homes, costumes, and countryside—which make Austen particularly enjoyable to watch on screen.
Pride and Prejudice
The 1995 adaptation remains a favorite, and Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy has become iconic.
There is something wonderful about watching Austen’s characters move through the world she created rather than simply imagining it from the page.
Sense and Sensibility
Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility is another favorite. The film beautifully captures the family dynamics, financial struggles, and difficult choices at the heart of Austen’s story.
Children’s Books & Childhood Favorites
Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Returns
I’ve watched both Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns countless times, and I never seem to get tired of them.
The original film, with its enchanting songs by the Sherman Brothers, is a childhood favorite. I’ll always remember the joy of flying kites with my family, inspired by the movie.
Saving Mr. Banks also offers an interesting look at P.L. Travers and the complicated process of seeing her beloved books adapted for the screen.
Winnie-the-Pooh & Christopher Robin
The 2018 film Christopher Robin offers a delightful return to the Hundred Acre Wood, blending childhood nostalgia with a more grown-up emotional journey.
I loved the way the movie expanded on Pooh’s adventures while still maintaining the charm of the original books. There is something comforting about seeing old friends again.
Contemporary Fiction
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry — Gabrielle Zevin
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was a personal favorite, blending books, love, loss, and the unexpected ways people become part of one another’s lives.
The 2022 film adaptation, featuring Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, and Christina Hendricks, beautifully explores many of those same themes.
I was especially touched by the way the movie handled grief and adoption. And, of course, the bookstore setting was a delight to see on screen.
Where the Crawdads Sing — Delia Owens
Based on Delia Owens’ 2018 novel, the 2022 film takes us into the coastal marshes of North Carolina.
Kya’s story, abandoned by her family and left to survive largely on her own, is deeply moving. The film downplays some of her father’s abuse, but I found the emphasis on the natural world, especially the marshlands, captivating.
The ending leaves room for visual storytelling, and the marsh itself almost becomes another character.
The Sound of Violet — Allen Wolf
The Sound of Violet, based on Allen Wolf’s novel, became a 2022 film exploring autism, diabetes, human trafficking, and the ways people can misunderstand one another.
The film has an emotional depth that stayed with me, and the Seattle locations add another layer to the story. Allen Wolf interview
The Extraordinary Ordinary — Natalie Rodriguez
The Extraordinary Ordinary was adapted into a 2019 film and explores trauma, mental health, friendship, and personal growth.
Three new friends, each struggling with their own issues, help one another heal. I appreciated the story’s emphasis on self-awareness and the ways friendship can help us through difficult seasons of life.
Nonfiction & True Stories
Into the Wild — Jon Krakauer
Based on Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction account of Christopher McCandless’s journey into the Alaskan wilderness, Into the Wild (2007) is a moving film.
I read the book in 2000, and the story has stayed with me. There is something haunting about knowing that a journey someone believed would lead them somewhere can turn out so differently.
Into Thin Air — Jon Krakauer
The 1997 television film Into Thin Air: Death on Everest was based on Krakauer’s account of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster.
I remember vividly reading the memoir. It was a frenetic journey that left me breathless, painting such an intense picture of the climbers’ struggle that it stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
There is an undeniable reverence for the mountain—something that draws people into the wilderness despite the risks. The story is heartbreaking, but it is also about courage, perseverance, and the bonds formed when people are facing something much bigger than themselves.
Book vs. Film
Jaws — Peter Benchley
I read Jaws when I was young, and Peter Benchley’s book and Steven Spielberg’s film tell the same basic story, but they feel quite different.
The book spends much more time on the town of Amity, including its financial struggles, Brody’s marriage, and the pressure to keep the beaches open. The shark becomes part of a much larger problem for a community that depends on summer tourism.
The characters are different, too. Brody is more insecure in the novel, while the film presents him as more decisive. Hooper is wealthier and more arrogant in the book, while the movie makes him more relatable. Quint’s World War II history is also more developed in the film.
The book gives us more of the people and pressures surrounding Amity, while the movie puts the emphasis on suspense, fear, and survival.
And both versions left me with the same thought: I didn't want to go into the ocean again!
The Scarlet Letter — Nathaniel Hawthorne
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is, at its heart, a story about judgment—how a community can brand a person for one act and how difficult it can be to escape the identity others place upon you.
The 1995 movie takes the story in a much more romantic and adventurous direction, giving greater attention to Hester and Dimmesdale’s relationship and adding storylines that aren't in the novel.
While I enjoyed seeing the story brought to life, I prefer the book. For me, Hawthorne’s deeper look at human nature and the way we define one another gives the story a complexity the movie doesn't quite capture.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull — Richard Bach
The book emphasizes individuality and self-realization through Jonathan’s internal journey. The film takes the story in a somewhat different direction, placing more emphasis on conflict.
It’s an interesting example of how a story that feels very inward and philosophical on the page can become something quite different when translated to the screen.
More to Come
I’ll continue adding to this page as I read more books that make their way from the page to the screen.
Sometimes the movie makes me appreciate the book all over again. Sometimes I discover something in the film that I didn't notice while reading. And every now and then, an adaptation becomes a favorite in its own right.
That’s part of the fun.
A good story doesn’t necessarily stay on the page. Sometimes it takes us somewhere entirely new.
