Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is Favorite Book Quotes, but in honor of Banned Book Week, I decided to share the banned books with my favorite adaptations.
Hello Readers! If you haven’t had a chance to enter my one year blogiversary giveaway, do it now! It ends tomorrow. 🙂 I hope you’re all doing well. These are stressful, confusing, hard times we’re living in, but as long as we strive to treat others with kindness and keep communicating, we’ll get through. (I’m talking to myself here, too. Ha!)
Thank goodness we have books, right? Especially the banned ones. 😉
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
1
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.
I couldn’t help but be moved by The Hate U Give, both the book and film. I highly recommend both.
Currently available to rent through YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
2
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
Reading The Book Thief is an experience I don’t think I will ever forget, and I thought the film was very well done, too. The first half of the book was somewhat slow, but I sped through the second half.
Currently available to rent from YouTube, Vudu, iTunes, and Amazon Prime Video.
3
The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
With The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne became the first American novelist to forge from our Puritan heritage a universal classic, a masterful exploration of humanity’s unending struggle with sin, guilt and pride.
Sometimes the best adaptations aren’t literal ones. Easy A is a modern day retelling of The Scarlet Letter that is funny, but also carries an important message.
Currently available to rent from Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and iTunes.
4
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
A heroic story of friendship and belonging.
It may be purely nostalgia for me, but The Outsiders film has a special place in my heart. I’m fairly confident I saw the film before I read the book, but I think it was pretty close. The Outsiders is a unique book about friends during a pivotal time in history.
Currently available on HBO Max or to rent from Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and iTunes.
5
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald brilliantly captures both the disillusionment of post-war America and the moral failure of a society obsessed with wealth and status.
I was a fan of the 1974 Robert Redford version of The Great Gatsby first, but I remember thinking there wasn’t a better choice for a modern day version than Leonardo DiCaprio. I know some readers detest The Great Gatsby, but every time I reread it, I find something new. I think it’s beautifully written.
The 1974 version is currently available for free for Amazon Prime subscribers or to rent through YouTube, Vudu, or iTunes. The 2013 version is currently available to rent from YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video.
6
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.
It’s been several years since I saw the film, but I recently reread The Color Purple, and several scenes and characters were brought even more to life thanks to the film adaptation.
Currently available on Hulu or to rent from YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, or Amazon Prime Video.
7
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.
So maybe not read or watch this in the current climate for the first time…. or maybe do?? The Hulu adaptation has the bones of the book, but goes so much further.
Currently available to view on Hulu or to rent through YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, or Amazon Prime Video.
8
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.
While I enjoyed the book for nostalgic reasons, the film brings The Perks of Being a Wallflower to life even more. I thought it was very well done.
Currently available to watch on Netflix or to rent from YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, or iTunes.
9
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
WINNING MEANS FAME AND FORTUNE.
LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.
THE HUNGER GAMES HAVE BEGUN. . . .
I read The Hunger Games before I saw the film, but now the two are almost inseparable in my mind. It’s time for a reread. If only I could find the time.
Currently available for free for Amazon Prime subscribers or to rent from Vudu, YouTube, or iTunes.
10
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
“The first rule about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club.” Chuck Palahniuk’s outrageous and startling debut novel that exploded American literature and spawned a movement.
So, I’ve only seen the film, but I do own the book. I’ve heard many readers say the film is better, but someday I want to actually read Fight Club.
Currently available to watch on HBO Max or to rent from YouTube or Vudu.
Bonus
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
For Banned Book Week (and a prompt on my Popsugar Reading Challenge) I’m currently reading All the Bright Places. I’m trying to prepare myself for possible heartache. I’m planning on watching the adaptation when I finish the book…. because I’m always a glutton for more heartache. 😉
Currently available to watch on Netflix.
Which do you prefer, book or film? Can you think of other banned books with great adaptations? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Good for you for getting up a banned books week post. Great idea to talk about the movies, too. My TTT quotes
Thank you! <3
I love that you chose to showcase Banned Book Week today! And I know what you mean about The Hunger Games—the movie and book have become pretty intertwined in my mind, so a reread would be nice. Especially with the new book out.
Yes! I want to read the new book, but I think I’ll need to do a reread of the original series. Not sure if I’ll do a reread before or after, though. 😉
This is a fun alternate post – I’ve read most of the books and seen about half the shows…..and banned book week is always worth celebrating. I just finished The Hate U Give for my banned book this year – and found it engrossing.
my quotes: https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/ttt-bookish-quotes
Thank you! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed The Hate U Give!
Great list! I love Easy A and I was pleasantly surprised by the adaptation of The Book Thief. I haven’t read The Color Purple yet but I really enjoyed the film!
Thank you! Easy A is one I can rewatch. 😉
I didn’t know The Color Purple had an adaptation!! Wew.
Oh yes! It’s from the 1980s but very well done by Steven Spielberg with a great cast, including Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. 🙂
Some of my favorite books and movies! Easy A made me love Emma Stone. She was hilarious in this movie. I’ve read/watched half of these and feel like patting myself on the back 🙂 Great list!
Here’s my TTT: https://www.nbiblioholic.com/2020/09/ten-bookish-quotes.html
Yes, it might be the one that made me love her, too. You do deserve a pat on the back! Ha! <3
Yes, the adaptation of The Hate U Give was quite well done.
My post .
Very powerful!
Great take today, Dedra! I haven’t read all of these but I’ve also not watched any of these adaptations ? I’ve heard really good things about them though — especially Handmaid’s Tale! I loved Easy A though (Emma Stone!) and it made me reconsider my opinion on The Scarlet Letter haha
Right?? Easy A definitely made me rethink A Scarlett Letter, as well. 😉
The Color Purple was an incredible adaptation. They did that book justice, and I will always remember Goldberg and Winfrey’s performances. I think Perks was excellent for the same reason I thought Me & Earl was great — they were adapted by the authors. When they have that much involvement, it’s sure to preserve the vision of the book.
I never did read Me & Earl or see the adaptation. You’ve piqued my interest again. 😉 You’re absolutely right about the author’s involvement having such an impact. It generally helps!
I didn’t realise The Book Thief was a banned book, I love both that book and film! I also really enjoyed Perks, though I actually *whispers* liked the film better than the book. I loved The Hunger Games and thought they did a great job with the film adaptations. A couple of these I’ve actually seen the films and not read the books: I was struggling getting into The Hate U Give book, so I tried the film and I enjoyed that, I will probably go back to the book at some point. I also recently watched all three seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale (quite the depressing binge-watch, I have to be honest, but very well done!). I also really enjoyed Easy A, super funny film, though I’ve never read The Scarlett Letter. The Great Gatsby was one film I actually could not get into, it was way too long!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/09/29/top-ten-tuesday-283/
Ha! I hear a lot of people say they like the film adaptation of Perks better than the book. It’s probably a tie for me. Same for The Hate U Give. It was definitely Young Adult. And wow. You are brave binging The Handmaid’s Tale. 😉 The book is good, but for me, a different feel than the show!
Agreed, I felt The Hunger Games was one of the best movie adaptations of a book ever. They did a really good job especially with the first one. (There was a longer space of time for me between reading the books and watching the other movies in the series, so I don’t remember if I felt the same about them.) I remember enjoying the Redford version of Gatsby, but it’s been so long since I’ve read the book or seen the movie that I can’t say what I think about them anymore.
Yes! Hunger Games is one of the best adaptations ever. If only they could all be that way, right?? 🙂
The Handmaids Tale! That show left me shook after every episode. I can’t wait for the next season!
Here’s my TTT post if you’d like to give it a look!
YES! My husband had to quit watching because he couldn’t handle it. Ha! I’m excited for the new season, as well!
How is it that I never connected Easy A with The Scarlet Letter? It was hiding in plain sight. LOL
Ha! Right?? I don’t think I did at first either. 😉
Thanks for the reminder on Banned Books Week, Dedra. I want to read My Sister’s Keeper this week as my Banned Book Read.
You’re welcome! I’ve never read that one, either. I hope you get to it and enjoy it! <3
I’d like to reread Hunger Games too! Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
Yes! I’m planning on it before I pick up the newest one. Or maybe I’ll reread them after it…. I can’t decide. Ha!
I ADORE the film adaptation of Perks! When/where was The Outsiders banned? Some of my peers read that one for school in grade 8 (not my class but I happened to read it the same term anyway.)
The Outsiders is on the top 100 list of challenged books. It doesn’t say where it was banned, but only that it was banned in a few schools for violence, language, and drugs. But, yes, it’s also on a lot of school reading lists! 🙂
But if you read the Fight Club book, you can’t talk about the Fight Club book.
I found it interesting how some of these banned books are required curriculum in schools sometimes. My daughter was supposed to read The Great Gatsby.
I usually prefer the book to the movie. The biggest exception is Forrest Gump.
Ha! Yes!
Yes, it’s so odd. Depends on the location, I guess. They’re usually banned in more conservative areas. 😉
Most of the time I prefer the book, too. They are a few exceptions…. although I can’t think of them right now. Ha!