Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s theme is a “page to screen freebie”, so I decided to talk about some adaptations I haven’t read the source material for! Some of these, I want to read, while others, I actually might pass on for good. ?
1. Howl’s Moving Castle
I’ve watched the Miyazaki adaptation SO many times (it’s my favorite Miyazaki film!), but I’ve never read the original book. I’ve heard it’s very different, and I love the movie so much, I’m a little hesitant to read it!
2. Pet Sematary
I haven’t seen the remake (YET), but I’ve seen the original film many times. I started to read the book last year, but didn’t finish it yet, so I still want to do that soon.
3. The Notebook
I’ve seen a lot of Sparks adaptations, actually, and the only one I’ve ever read was Safe Haven. ?♀️ I just don’t feel much of a need to…
4. Game of Thrones
I’ve only ever read part of the first book (DNFed it more than once — oops), and I’m still catching up on the show (I think we’re in season 5 as I’m typing this), but once I finish the show, I want to give the books another chance!
5. Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park is one of my most watched films of all time (second only to the 90s version of The Mummy), yet for whatever reason, I’ve never felt much of a need to read the book! My mom adored the book, and she’s always asking me to read it, so maybe I will.
6. The Omen
I’ve only ever seen the original movie once, a long time ago, but I loved the Liev Schreiber remake when I was growing up and have seen it countless times. I think I accidentally donated my copy of the book, though.
7. The Exorcist
I think almost every horror movie lover in existence has seen The Exorcist… but I might be one of the only ones in the world who didn’t care much for it. ? I know, don’t hate me, but it just didn’t do anything for me! Because of that, I’ve never cared very much about reading the book.
8. The Phantom of the Opera
I’ve seen the Gerard Butler/Emmy Rossum 2004 version a few times, but don’t really want to read it or see any other versions. I’m content with this one. ?
9. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
The LOTR trilogy movies are some of my favorite movies of all time and I’ve seen them more than I can count, plus the Hobbit movies, and I’ve read The Hobbit, yet I’ve never gotten around to the trilogy books. ? I MIGHT, someday… MAYBE.
10. The Meg
I didn’t even know this was originally a book until my mom mentioned it to me, but I really liked the movie! She said the book was kinda cringe-worthy at points, and I haven’t heard good reviews from anyone else, either, so I probably will leave it at the film.
ChrissiReads
May 14, 2019I think that version of Phantom is a good one! No need to see any other. 😉 Great list!
Anne Bennett
May 14, 2019I’ve not read HOWLS MOVING CASTLE but I love the animated movie of it. My twist: Good movies about famous authors
Kay Wisteria | Hammock of Books
May 14, 2019I love Howls Moving Castle, both the movie and the book ❤️
Marti (Bookish Treats)
May 14, 2019Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle is amazing, I love that film so much. I haven’t read the book either, but even if it’s nothing like the adaptation I would still love it. The Phantom of the Opera is also a great movie in my opinion, and I have read the original book. I have the exact same problem with Game of Thrones but I am still in Season 2 xD Hopefully we’ll all catch up someday.
zoe attempts to read !!!
May 14, 2019my favourite movie of all time, Coraline, is a book to movie adaptation– but no one told me! i found out like a year ago and i’m too scared to read the book now lol. i feel deceived!
evelynreads1
May 14, 2019Oh I love the jurassic park movies, but also haven;t read the books… haha #oops
(www.evelynreads.com)
Annemieke
May 14, 2019Howl is great, both book and movie. While they are different, the characters remain the same for the most part. Miyazaki managed to make it his own and still make most fans of the book happy too. Totally try and give the books a chance though. Diana Wynne Jones is a great writer. 🙂 And there are two more books set in the world. 😉
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 20, 2019Ahhh thank you for telling me this! 😀 That’s what I worried most about – would the characters be similar, or the same at all – so you saying that is enough to make me WAY more excited to read it.
Brooke Lorren
May 14, 2019I haven’t read Jurassic Park either. On the other hand, I haven’t watched GoT, but I’ve read the books.
arubunwritten
May 14, 2019I’m trying to think of how to describe the difference between the book/film of Howl’s Moving Castle and I think that the film is more whimsical and romantic?
LOTR and Jurassic Park are on my TBR too and I haven’t read THUG yet, though I watched the film.
Interesting take on the topic, especially as a lot of us try to read the book first ?
Here’s my twist on this week’s freebie: https://arubunwritten.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/ttt-how-to-make-a-great-adaptation/
Sarah
May 14, 2019Jurassic Park is my favorite movie and I love the book! It’s quite different from the movie, but I found the differences enjoyable. It also makes sense that they couldn’t adapt it to fit perfectly, it would’ve been way too long and out of their budget I’m sure! I’ve actually been intending to re-read it at some point.
iloveheartlandx
May 14, 2019I haven’t read the Game of Thrones books either! They’re just too big for me, I tend to shy away from books longer than about 600 pages (with some exceptions) because I’m a slow reader and they take me forever!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/top-ten-tuesday-211/
anhdara13
May 14, 2019I’ve read Howl’s and LotR and the source material for both is great, and so are the adaptations! I watched the SyFy adaptations of Alice (In Wonderland) and Wizard of Oz (Tin Man) and I have not read the source materials but I love their twists on the story.
lydiaschoch
May 14, 2019I haven’t seen the Pet Sematary remake yet either, but I’ve heard lots of complimentary things about it!
My TTT.
Aymee (@asphaltcowgrrl)
May 14, 2019It’s been a long time since I’ve seen or read Pet Semetary, but from what I can remember, they did a good job of adapting the novel to the big screen (aside from those last few minutes anyway).
I just said this in another post but, considering all the source material, characters, backstory, etc. involved in LOTR, they did a really good job of adapting those novels into movies.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
alisbooks
May 14, 2019It’s funny that I’ve watched The Notebook and never read the book, especially when I’ve read several of Sparks books. Great list!
anovelglimpse
May 14, 2019I loved both the book and movie for The Notebook. I don’t know that I would go back and read the book if I had already seen the movie, though.
mistysbookspace
May 14, 2019The Jurassic Park movies are some of my favorites. I couldn’t tell you how many times I have rewatched them. I read the book for the first either last year or the year before and I wasn’t a fan of the book. I don’t plan to continue on with the next book. I will just stick to the movies.
clairetaylor3513
May 14, 2019Jurassic Park IS a really good book! Ok, so I read The Meg….because I like a book like that for pure escapist reasons. And I think I also read the sequel. Definitely on my list of “kind of embarrassed to say I read it” though. And then when I saw the trailer I could not believe it was being made into a movie. Have not seen it but looks like they gave Rainn Wilson’s character some pretty funny one-liners.
Here’s my TTT: http://bookloverspizza.com/2019/05/top-ten-tuesday-page-to-screen/
Shayna R
May 14, 2019I love all of the Howl’s comments here, haha. It’s featured on my list this week as well, but for a slightly different topic. Being obsessed with the movie, I read the book – which I actually love (dare I say) more. They are the same and different but I love them both. Here’s my list for the week: https://clockworkbibliotheca.blogspot.com/2019/05/ttt-books-i-read-because-of-their.html
Malka @ Paper Procrastinators
May 14, 2019From this list I’ve only read The Notebook! I haven’t watched OR read any of the others! I’m actually not the biggest movie person, so most of the movies I watch are book adaptions that I’ve already read and am therefore interested in the movie. The only thing that comes to mind is Umbrella Academy. I finished watching that a month ago, but I still haven’t read the comics yet!
Jess @ Jessticulates
May 14, 2019Great list! I love LotR but I haven’t read the books either, so you’re not alone. I didn’t think the new Pet Sematary was very good, but I would recommend reading Howl’s Moving Castle. 😀 It is very different, but I actually really like that. It’s like getting to experience two different stories with the same basic feel at its core.
Keri
May 14, 2019Howl’s Moving Castle was also on my TTT list and I also haven’t read it yet! And I also haven’t read Jurassic Park, Game of Thrones, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Sometimes I feel like such a fake fantasy booknerd… ?
Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve already commented this on your blog, but: YESSS, THE MUMMY! I love that movie so much.
Here’s my TTT post if ya wanna check it out:
http://www.areyoumybook.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-book-to-screen-adaptations/
Emma and Bruno, AFCTL
May 15, 2019I read and watched the Meg, and I did find the book more difficult. I was really creeped out by the sharks in the film, and I have to be honest, I’m now nervous to go swimming! Nicholas Sparks has also written some (obviously) popular books, but with some of the beautiful words on the page, I’m scared to see them acted out!
-Emma 🙂
Kelly | Another Book in the Wall
May 17, 2019Destiny, I think my heart just died when you said you haven’t read the Lord of the Rings book! I ADORE the movies and book with all my heart, and must say that it is absolutely worth the read! It is a bit dense, but it’s such a treasure! ❤️
I haven’t read the Jurassic Park book either, even though I love the movie. I wasn’t overly fond of the Pet Semetery remake, so I don’t think I’ll read it any time soon. As for Phantom of the Opera, it’s one of my favorite musicals ever, but I just haven’t gotten around to the book yet! Haha
Sammie @ The Writerly Way
May 17, 2019I absolutely LOVED Howl’s Moving Castle (the movie), and I don’t think I’ll ever read the source material, either. I don’t feel like I need more, and really, the only way it can go is for me to like it less, I think, because I’m not sure I could like it more? lol.
I’ve never read Jurassic Park, either, and I feel like some day I will, just because the movies were so major for me during my childhood.
The Lord of the Rings books are worth a read if it’s your sort of thing and you really want it. They’re very long and take some effort to get through, because they’re just … a lot. I loved them when I read them before the films came out, but I’m not afraid to admit there were slow, dry parts and they were forever loooong.
I really enjoyed The Meg, too! Of course, I’m a big sucker for films like that, but I’ve found that I just don’t like those sorts of books at all, so that’s interesting? I don’t think I’ll be reading that one, either.
Ari @ Books. Libraries. Also, cats.
May 17, 2019Omg I grew up with The Meg books! My mom read them and for some reason thought it was a good idea to read them to me when I was 5 (which she now swears she didn’t do, even though I have a vivid memory of her reading me a graphic shark attack scene before bed!). I reread all of them in high school and they totally became a guilty pleasure–they’re definitely cringe-worthy and totally bad but amazing in a SciFi Channel way.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 20, 2019I know this reply is soooo overdue but I DIED laughing over your mom reading you The Meg books! ???
Lauren @ Always Me
May 20, 2019I had no idea Howl’s Moving Castle was a book until just recently. LOTR is definitely worth picking up. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me