My two favorite movie adaptations are both by Merchant/Ivory’s and are E.M. Forester books: A Room with a View starring Helena Bonham-Carter, Daniel Day-Lewis and Howard’s End with Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham-Carter & Anthony Hopkins. That new adaptation of Persuasion is an abomination.
I really enjoyed the book “The Help” and thought the movie might suck, but it was very well done and stayed true to the book. That is for your best list. On the other hand I also enjoyed the entire Wheel of Time book series, and although the television adaptation is entertaining, it has taken its own liberties with the series that is nothing like the books at all and slightly annoying. Robert Jordan is rolling in his grave. That is for your worst list.
I have read and seen The Help though both were too long ago for me to remember much!
I haven't read or seen Wheel of Time, but what you're describing sounds like something that some adaptations do where they kind of want to do their own thing, and they just latch their vision onto a popular book to attract more audiences - I'm always so frustrated by this!
I tend to agree with your choices re adaptations. Atonement is another example of a good adaptation. Of your list of nine books, I have read Wide Saragossa Sea. Loved it.
Atonement was great! It’s been a while since I’ve seen it so I don’t remember much - I’ll have to revisit it soon.
Our podcast discussion for Wide Sargasso Sea will be out tomorrow! We hope you enjoy it, and maybe feel inspired to pick up some of the other books we’re covering this season after listening to the episodes.
Our podcast is hosted through Acast so it is not published on Substack each week. However, the latest episode is always linked in our weekly newsletters here on Substack! To get the podcast directly in your feed as soon as it's published, you can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast player of your choice, via this link:
I've been meaning to watch A Room With A View but I want to reread the book first so I'm holding off. Yes, Daisy Edgar-Jones is rumored to be playing Lizzy!
My favorite Anna Karenina was 2000 TV mini series with Helen McCrory, Kevin McKidd and Steven Dillane. Wonderful casting, especially McKidd who looked Russian and very manly.
Great adapts I immediately think of: Normal People, Station Eleven, The Hunger Games, Dune, The Hours, Gone Girl, The Remains of the Day.. On my worst list: Rebecca (the most recent), The Time Traveller's Wife, The Goldfinch.
Complete agreement on your assessments and the fact that GWTW is problematic, but I love it as well. No point in hiding my love for Meryl Streep. Two of my favorite adaptations star her: Out of Africa which was stunning and Sophie's Choice, the only movie where I couldn't get out of my seat when it ended because I was crying so hard.
Normal People is… one of the best shows I have ever seen and i traditionally HATE book to screen adaptations. literally finished the series and started it over from the beginning. I feel like it’s the only one i can think of that is truly comparable in quality and emotional impact to the book (which i also love)
It is SO good! We are typically quite critical of screen adaptations, too, so I was honestly blown away by how amazing it was. I can't wait to rewatch it.
I think the biggest problem the latest Gatsby remake was they made it for a 3-D. Whoever thought that was a good idea needs to be fired. I did like a lot of it though.
i was expecting the sally rooney ‘conversations with friends’ adaptation to be on here haha. one of my favourite books ever, but i was underwhelmed by the tv show, which is surprising due to how amazing normal people was.
My two favorite movie adaptations are both by Merchant/Ivory’s and are E.M. Forester books: A Room with a View starring Helena Bonham-Carter, Daniel Day-Lewis and Howard’s End with Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham-Carter & Anthony Hopkins. That new adaptation of Persuasion is an abomination.
I'd like to get more into EM Forster's works so I'll queue up these movies once I've finished them!
I would like to nominate Never Let Me Go to the list of best
Wow, until you commented I didn’t even know it was adapted! And with such a stacked cast?? I must watch it immediately -S
I quite loved the Netflix adaptation of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han.
Haven't read the book - we'll have to check it out!
I really enjoyed the book “The Help” and thought the movie might suck, but it was very well done and stayed true to the book. That is for your best list. On the other hand I also enjoyed the entire Wheel of Time book series, and although the television adaptation is entertaining, it has taken its own liberties with the series that is nothing like the books at all and slightly annoying. Robert Jordan is rolling in his grave. That is for your worst list.
I have read and seen The Help though both were too long ago for me to remember much!
I haven't read or seen Wheel of Time, but what you're describing sounds like something that some adaptations do where they kind of want to do their own thing, and they just latch their vision onto a popular book to attract more audiences - I'm always so frustrated by this!
I agree on The Help!! The movie and book were fabulous!
I tend to agree with your choices re adaptations. Atonement is another example of a good adaptation. Of your list of nine books, I have read Wide Saragossa Sea. Loved it.
Atonement was great! It’s been a while since I’ve seen it so I don’t remember much - I’ll have to revisit it soon.
Our podcast discussion for Wide Sargasso Sea will be out tomorrow! We hope you enjoy it, and maybe feel inspired to pick up some of the other books we’re covering this season after listening to the episodes.
Will you announce the podcast on Substack?
Our podcast is hosted through Acast so it is not published on Substack each week. However, the latest episode is always linked in our weekly newsletters here on Substack! To get the podcast directly in your feed as soon as it's published, you can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast player of your choice, via this link:
https://linktr.ee/thenoveltea.pod
The 1995 Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds is perfection. Also A Room with a View (1986 I think). I didn’t know a new P&P was in the works!
I've been meaning to watch A Room With A View but I want to reread the book first so I'm holding off. Yes, Daisy Edgar-Jones is rumored to be playing Lizzy!
The film script is so very faithful to the book for Room with a View. It’s such a treat and I think the casting was sooooo excellent.
The Bridges of Madison County as one of the best!
My favorite Anna Karenina was 2000 TV mini series with Helen McCrory, Kevin McKidd and Steven Dillane. Wonderful casting, especially McKidd who looked Russian and very manly.
Haven't heard of this one, I'll check it out thanks!
-S
Great adapts I immediately think of: Normal People, Station Eleven, The Hunger Games, Dune, The Hours, Gone Girl, The Remains of the Day.. On my worst list: Rebecca (the most recent), The Time Traveller's Wife, The Goldfinch.
Complete agreement on your assessments and the fact that GWTW is problematic, but I love it as well. No point in hiding my love for Meryl Streep. Two of my favorite adaptations star her: Out of Africa which was stunning and Sophie's Choice, the only movie where I couldn't get out of my seat when it ended because I was crying so hard.
Read Out of Africa years ago and loved it - will have to queue up the movie!
- Shruti
Agree!
Normal People is… one of the best shows I have ever seen and i traditionally HATE book to screen adaptations. literally finished the series and started it over from the beginning. I feel like it’s the only one i can think of that is truly comparable in quality and emotional impact to the book (which i also love)
It is SO good! We are typically quite critical of screen adaptations, too, so I was honestly blown away by how amazing it was. I can't wait to rewatch it.
- Shruti
I think the biggest problem the latest Gatsby remake was they made it for a 3-D. Whoever thought that was a good idea needs to be fired. I did like a lot of it though.
I loved Me Before You, the movie. I thought it really captured the emotional journey well.
i was expecting the sally rooney ‘conversations with friends’ adaptation to be on here haha. one of my favourite books ever, but i was underwhelmed by the tv show, which is surprising due to how amazing normal people was.
I haven't seen it! It's crazy that adaptations of books by the same author can differ so much in style/quality
-Shruti
I didn’t know that was a film adaptation of The Age of Innocence! It is also one of my favorites. I think I’ll give it a watch tonight :)
It's such a beautiful movie! Hope you enjoy it :)