Did you know that many of this year’s hit movies are based on books? And since we all agree (wink-wink) that THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN THE MOVIE, now is your chance to read up on a few books before the movies come out in theaters at the end of this year.
Here’s my “To Be Read” (or Re-Read) List:
Number 10: The Great Gatsby
I wanted to name my firstborn daughter after Daisy Buchanan (even though Daisy is sorta dingy in this book). The movie stars none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and opens Christmas Day.
Number 9: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Brad Pitt is starring. Enough said. I’m there…Movie Release Date: December 21.
Number 8: Life of Pi
It’s been a few years since I have read this, so I need to reread it to refresh my memory before watching the movie. Movie Release Date: December 21
Number 7: The Hobbit (Movie Tie-In)
Lord of the Rings Fan, holla! I love The Hobbit just as much as LOTR and can’t wait to see Peter Jackson’s masterpiece (because you know it will be!). Movie Release Date: December 14.
Number 6: Les Misérables (Signet Classics)
Movie Release Date: November 7
I’m so glad they are remaking this as a musical (again). This version stars several of my favorite actors: Hugh Jackman will play Valjean, with Anne Hathaway starring as Fantine and Russell Crowe as Javert.
Number 5: Cloud Atlas: A Novel
Whatever this book and movie is about, my Kindle ads really, really, really want me to find out. Movie Release Date: October 26
Number 4: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, Book 2)
Don’t tell me you haven’t read the entire Hunger Games series yet. Read the book!
Movie Release Date: November 23, 2012
Number 3: Thérèse Raquin
Movie Release Date: December 28, 2012
Somehow I missed reading this classic Émile Zola book. It’s about how a young woman is pushed into an unhappy marriage to her first cousin at the hands of her aunt. After the family moves to Paris, Thérèse has a steamy affair with her husband’s childhood friend.
Number 2: Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga)
If you haven’t already read book 4 of the Twilight saga, you will need to crawl out of whatever rock you have been hiding under the past few years in time to jump on the bandwagon! Twilight fans will want to re-read Breaking Dawn before heading to theaters this November 16.
Number 1: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Yet another classic book I have never read. There’s still time, though, movie starring Kristin Stewart and Kirsten Dunst releases on December 27.
Note that this list does not include Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
(Movie Release Date To Be Announced.) I just can’t bring myself to begin reading this bestselling trilogy. I just don’t get the widespread appeal of a romance novel. Am I really missing out?
Sherri Lewis says
Yikes… I have only read numbers 2 & 4 on the list….. I better get moving! And in my opinion… you haven’t missed anything by not reading the Fifty Shades trilogy. I made it through the first book with a lot of eye rolling and gritting my teeth and sighing….. no interest in punishing myself through the other 2 🙂
Nicole says
Thanks for the feedback on Fifty Shades. I still haven’t brought myself to even attempt reading it. LOL People either love it or they don’t. Just from the little bit I know about it, I think I’d be in the “don’t love it” group with you! 🙂 Oh and I found out that there is Anna Karenina screenplay (lots shorter than the original book that I should have added to this list. Although I LOVE the original Anna Karenina and definitely recommend reading that one, too. Happy Reading! – Nicole
Katherine says
While I do believe that everyone should read Catching Fire before it comes out, they have another year for that. It will be released November 22, 2013.
Nicole says
Good point! I didn’t even catch that when I posted the date. duh. What year is it again??!?! Thanks!