Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Ten Books That Should Be Made into Movies

A Top Ten meme from The Broke and The Bookish.

This week's topic: List ten books I'd like to see made into movies . . .

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - I know, I know, there are a few versions of this already out there; however, I would like to see a big budget hollywood remake of the John Cameron's Titanic sort. Why has this never been done? Rebecca is a great story! A sweeping story! I want to see it on the big screen with A-list actors, not some made-for-TV Sunday night special.

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni - This was a pretty good book, despite the lame ending. It would be an incredible Da Vinci Code type spectacle on the big screen.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - With all the European travel, interesting characters, history, and vampire lore, this book has all the elements of a fabulous movie. Hey, Hollywood, this book came out in 2005. What gives?

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - Another fabulous book with some great scenery and quirky characters. A movie's got to be in the works by now, no?

The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich - I have not read this yet, but the description sounds like an exciting historical story that would make not only a fab book but a great movie too.

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier - I've already griped about this book being too convoluted for my liking, but the story would make a good Last of the Mohicans or Dances With Wolves type movie, I think.

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky - Although this is written as a collection of short stories, they are all related and interwoven enough to make a pretty decent movie.

The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo - There is a large message here, in a shortish story. I'd love to see a visual version of it on a big screen.

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls - This is the (much lighter, somewhat fun) prequel to Walls' unforgettable memoir The Glass Castle. Set in the 1930s, Half Broke Horses puts me in mind of To Kill a Mockingbird. It would make a pretty decent movie too.

A Time of Gifts by Patrick L. Fermor - This one is on my TBR list and the more I see it around the more I want to get my hands on a copy. Soon. It's a travelogue of the author's journey from London to Constantinople by foot as an eighteen year-old in 1933. It already sounds like an epic, why not make it into a movie?

Previous Top Ten - Bookish Pet Peeves

20 comments:

Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic said...

I have the Historian on my book shelf. I couldn't get into it initially. I don't know what was going on with me. I'll have to revisit sometime soon.

Two Bibliomaniacs said...

I would also love to see a big budget Rebecca production. It's one of my favorite books! The Historian and The Thirteenth Tale would also make fantastic movies!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I love Suite Francaise, but it would kill me if they made a bad movie out of it!

Here's my post for today's Top Ten Tuesday.

Bibliophile said...

I read somewhere, shortly after the book came out, that The Historian was going to be made into a movie. Same for The Thirteenth Tale, but both seem to have sunk without trace.

The problem with A Time of Gifts is that Fermor never finished telling the story, but I think it would make a wonderful, if somewhat rambling, TV miniseries.

Anonymous said...

Have you seen Hitchcock's adaptation of Rebecca? If not, I reviewed it on my blog a while back. Here's the link if you want to check it out.
Hitchcock's Rebecca

I loved The Thirteenth Tale. It holds a special place in my heart since it's the book that sparked my adulthood foray back into reading.

Your list also reminds me that I want to read Walls' sequel. The Glass Castle was such a powerful book!

Dorothy A. said...

The Thirteenth Tale is on my to-read list, as is Half Broke Horsesa and The Alchemist.

I'm a new follower. :) Hope you'll stop by and check out my blog!

KarenSi said...

Great list. The Historian and Rebecca are two of my favourite books. Think if they got the atmosphere right the Historian would make a fantastic film

Lisa said...

I think The Thirteenth Tale would make an amazing movie. Great choice!

George said...

I would love to see someone film any of Jack Vance's works.

Sam (Tiny Library) said...

The Historian could be an amazing film, if done properly. You've made me want to read it again :P

Loni said...

I've seen The Historian on a few lists. I think it could be a fantastic film.

Grace at Feeding My Book Addiction said...

The Alchemist and Half Broke Horses are great books! They would have definitely made my list if it was a top 20 list!

Megan B. said...

The Alchemist would be interesting. I didn't think of that.

Misha said...

I liked Hitchcock's adaptation of Rebecca, but I would love another version. The Historian and The Thirteenth Tale would be great as movies.

Willa said...

What a great list! There are a lot of books here, that I need to check out :-)

Jorie said...

Thanks for commenting on my post... I've got a copy of The Historian on my bedside table at home. It's definitely on my "TBR" list.

Dani said...

So many good choices here! I'd love to see Rebecca, The Historian, and The Thirteenth Tale as well.

Ann Summerville said...

I haven't heard of many of these but I agree that Rebecca should be made into a big budget movie. We have a version of Jane Eyre every year for heaven's sake.
Ann

By Book or By Crook said...

ooh, the Historian would be so good, wouldn't it!

Anonymous said...

It's James Cameron, NOT John. Geez.