Hollywood has plundered bookshelves since its inception, but not all adaptations are equal. Most often, when screenwriters and directors attempt to tackle the best stories ever written down, they fall far short of devoted readers’ expectations. Not deterred by this, many hopeful cinematic auteurs bank on the quality and popularity of the original to draw crowds and revenue. Rarest of rare are those film adaptations that successfully capture the magic of a book, elevating its source rather than merely capitalizing off of it.

Since the 97^th Academy Awards are this month, I thought it would be interesting to list the “Best Picture” book adaptations that have won within the past 50 years. Loosely based or line-by-line, these films have been recognized as excellent transformations worthy of even a literalist’s acclaim.

March's Featured Review

Hop on the Holds List

Blood Moon – Sandra Brown

The Summer Guests – Tess Gerritsen

Marble Hall Murders – Anthony Horowitz

The Maid’s Secret – Nita Prose

My Friends – Fredrik Backman

Quote of the Month:

"The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader."- Paulo Coelho

Bookish News and Links:

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Love Lists? Try these:

As always, Goodreads has a list for that! Here is a list of lists that name books whose adaptations have won an Oscar in at least one category.

Want to see the official list of nominees for the 2025 Academy Awards (airing 3/2/25) as well as the winners for the past 96 years? Here you go.

Scott Feinberg of the Hollywood Reporter predicts the 2025 winners and gives an inside view of the selection process.

Brilliant Books, an indy bookstore located in Traverse City, MI has proposed some books that they think should be made into movies.

Adaptation News: Upcoming movies and shows based on books:

The Leopard based on the classic by Giuseppe di Lampedusa will premiere as a series on Netflix on March 5.

On March 7, Mickey 17, based on the book by Edward Ashton, will arrive in theaters.

Liz Moore's Long Bright River will be adapted into a series on Peacock and will be available on March 13.

AppleTV will air Dope Thief, the movie based on the book by Dennis Tafoya.

The series of Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light can be seen on PBS starting on March 23.

Recent Reads

I have recently finished reading Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix and Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman. I also just finished listening to She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge.

I am currently reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck and The Last Party by A.R.Torre. I am also listening to the audiobook of Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

How many of these films have you seen? Did you also read the book? Before or after? Tell me which was better!: jnmegan@gpl.

Until next time: Be safe, be well, and be well-read!

Joelle

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So, who am I, anyway? I am a resident of West Groton, with a husband, 3 children in college (and one at GDRHS) and a Samoyed that keeps my vacuum well-employed. I am currently working part time at the Groton Public Library and writing monthly reviews for Bookllist Magazine. In a former life, I was a Director of PR/Marketing at a high-tech consulting firm. My BA is in Psychology, but most of my time was spent in college earning a Concentration on the Novel. That is all to say that I make no claims at being an expert of any kind and my thoughts, opinions and mistakes are solely my own. I am just a person whose passion for books has continued to grow from the moment I was first able to grip and gnaw on them. I have been devouring them ever since.