In an upbeat world that moves along hurriedly, reading has fallen back on the priority list of many. I know I can’t be the only one that puts off quality time reading in order to study or to surf the web. The combination of that and the accessibility and promotion of movies have caused people to see movie adaptations rather than reading the novel(s) it is based off of. Sometimes people are not even aware that there is a book behind the movie! I’m not a staunch believer that you MUST read a book before seeing the movie or vice versa, though I do prefer to read prior to watching. Either way, though, the story is being told in a valuable way. By reading a book first, you will gain more insight into the true motivations and uncut thoughts of the characters, but watching a film allows a visual aspect to be included in your experience. Whatever floats your boat, the following 5 must-read books have popular movie adaptations that are both equally worthwhile to check out.
Gone Girl
Against my own personal judgement, I ended up watching the Gone Girl movie prior to reading the book. With an insane amount of holds at the library and my insatiable curiosity at the rave reviews and interesting content (just read the summary and you’ll understand), I finally gave in after months of wondering. With David Fincher as director, I expected nothing less than thrilling and got just that. I finally picked up a copy of the novel for my excursion to Denmark and it was definitely a worthwhile read that kept me captivated on the plane ride there. Definitely do not skip out on this killer duo.
Fight Club
Chuck Palahniuk is perhaps my favourite writer, albeit a controversial one. His book Invisible Monsters is hands-down my the best book I have ever read and over the past year, I’ve gone through all but 4 of his works. Though I have to admit, some of Palahniuk’s works are a bit insane to the point of contention, but Fight Club is one of his greater works. The widely-followed movie adaption is directed by the one and only David Fincher and features Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter in a thrill of anarchy and (symbolic) violence.
Memoirs of a Geisha
When I first read this book, I was shocked that a middle-aged white man living in America in the 21st century could write so genuinely from the perspective of a young Japanese woman living in Japan in the 20th. Arthur Golden’s research prior to writing this novel was extensive, and largely why it is an accurate depiction of life as a geisha, a female entertainer in Japanese culture. The main character was easy to connect to, and the story of her life equally as riveting. And since Japan in the early 20th century can’t necessarily be envisioned by everyone, the movie connected visuals to the words of the novel and provided a full-bodied view of the geisha lifestyle.
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Atonement
 Atonement was my favourite book for quite a while for its incredible war-time tale of lies, love, and the consequences of a single act of naivety. The story follows the life of 13-year-old Briony Tallis’ from her childish misunderstanding of adult intent and her flawed recount of a crime to the height of World War II, throughout which the results of her mistake becomes apparent and life-changing for those close to her. Both the novel and movie were incredible to watch and unlike some films, the visual adaptation perfectly highlighted the main themes that Ian McEwan presented in his writing.
The Great Gatsby
I’m sure everyone remembers the Gatsby craze that swept over summer 2013. The release of (yet another) movie adaptation of the famous all-American novel renewed the world’s interest in the arguably tragic story of James Gatz, and who else better to star than Leonardo DiCaprio in the first Hollywood rendering? Unlike other books written in or before the early 20th century, The Great Gatsby was an easy read that combined character with plot. Â A super quick read at just over a 100 pages, you have no reason not to read this classic and, of course, watch the flamboyant and cinematically-stunning film.
