Ever wonder what your fellow blog friend sounds like in real life? Click HERE to see my first one-minute vlog, in which I manage not to swear once (at least not in the final, edited version).
Admittedly, I’m not much of a joiner when it comes to blogfests (though I love making the rounds and watching everybody else do them) but this one was too fun to pass up. Madeleine from Scribble and Edit wants to know which novels made good movies, and I have some definite opinions on this one.
And I even managed to turn this into a top 10 list:
10. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
I liked the book, but I loved the movie. Perfectly cast. (And you can follow Bridget on Twitter at @bridgetjoneshf.)
9. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
It’s no secret that I’m a rabid fan of Deaver, and that I adore his series character, forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme. But the movie’s great, too! I finally got to ask Deaver at ThrillerFest what he thought of the movie casting (because in the book, Lincoln’s white), and he said, “I know a lot of people think it’s racist to ask what I think of Denzel Washington playing Lincoln, but it isn’t. It’s a perfectly valid question. As to what I think – hey, it’s Denzel. Anything to get him in a movie.”
8. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
I thought the movie was much better paced than the book, which I found a little slow and a tad over-written. And it also helps that I’m a fan of Matt Damon.
7. The Green Mile by Stephen King
This was originally a serial novel, where chunks of the book were released each month, and I didn’t find the story to be as seamless as it should have been. But the movie smoothed out all the lumps and bumps, and who doesn’t like Tom Hanks? (And we won’t talk about the other, 51-year-old actor who recently married a 16-year-old. Ewww.)
6. Princess Bride by William Goldman
Again, I thought the movie was better paced than the book. But the book is just as funny, and goes a little deeper character-wise.
5. Interview With a Vampire by Anne Rice
This book is my favorite of the Vampire Chronicles, and I thought the movie stayed true to the voice and most of the story. Rice was happy with adaptation, and for good reason. Plus, Brad Pitt as Louis? Yes.
4. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
I read the book before I saw the movie, and will say that Sir Anthony Hopkins really made Hannibal Lecter come alive for me. The movie really captures the tension and freakiness of the dual serial killer plotline.
3. Stand By Me (The Body) by Stephen King
A nice little story from King’s compilation, Different Seasons, made into a classic movie. I’ve read the story a few times, but I’ve seen the movie about a dozen times.
2. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
I can’t decide which I like better, the movie or the book. The writing in the book is as close to perfect as a writer could ever hope for, but the movie is just so visceral. And Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden? Yes.
1. Shawshank Redemption (Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption) by Stephen King
Another nice little story from Different Seasons that turned into an incredible movie. I doubt I have to explain why the movie was so amazing – you’ve likely seen it, and already know why.
Bonus: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Book and movie are equally delightful, and this first Harry Potter story will always be my favorite of the series.
What are your favorite books-turned-into-movies? Do you agree or disagree with any of my picks?