"Three books that should be made into movies" is today's topic for the book list at Lost in Books, and I can't resist telling you about my choices. When I am in charge of the world, these are the three that I will assign to Hollywood directors:
The Borrible Trilogy by Michael De Larrabeiti. Like other books that have recently been made into movies (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter), this one would have posed some technical challenges in the past, but we're capable of putting it on screen now. And it's such a good story; it deserves to be more widely known. The three stories would have to be filmed separately, of course. I'd like to see the Rumbles fight the Borribles in the first book, Flinthead's fight with Spiff in The Borribles Go For Broke, and how the horse is rescued in Across the Dark Metropolis.
My other two choices are similar: Un Lun Dun by China Mieville and Summerland by Michael Chabon. I would like to see these worlds visualized on screen, even if some of the copious detail has to be cut.
I would like to see the spider windows from Un Lun Dun, particularly the black window (even though some of the wordplay would be lost).
And I would like to see the "little giant" from Summerland, and the "big liars" playing baseball.
It's not an accident that all my choices are books aimed at a young audience; they would make good movies because so many of the scenes are plot driven and much larger than life.
What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
Oh gosh, Madeline and I talk about this all the time and now I can't think of a single one. I'll have to get back to you.
At the risk of making you run away screaming--Iain Banks has some sci fi novels I'd love to see made into movies. I'm just not sure they'd translate well to film. I think the novel "Matter" would make a very cool movie (but Wasp Factory would not).
Summerland is one of my favorites. In the hands of a good director, it would be just lovely!
I've always wanted to see Anansi Boys on the Silver Screen, but I'm not sure it could ever live up to the brilliant audiobook read by Lenny Henry. :-)
FreshHell, yes, tell me more children's books that should be made into movies!
Elizabeth, I'm Considering Phlebas for my next venture into reading Banks.
Betty, that audiobook is how I first "read" Anansi Boys, and I agree, it would be a good movie! Also I'm glad to find another fan of Summerland.
I can't wait to read Un Dun Lun!
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is the one I most want to see made into a film. I've heard rumors that it might happen.
I loved the audio of Anansi Boys too. I bet Chabon's Kavalier and Clay could make a gerat movie too (if it was done right.)
April, this is the site for news on the movie of Ender's Game: http://endersgamemovie.blogspot.com/
Yeah, I just don't see an EG film coming for some time. There are just too many issues complicating an effective production of the film. I'll console myself with the graphic novels for the moment.
SO many of Diana Wynne Jones's books! I'd love to see a more faithful film version of Howl's Moving Castle.
Top two scenes I want to see on the big screen: the phones ringing in Neuromancer and the fight in the Georgetown Mall in Android's Dream. (I suspect Neuromancer would be overall hard to film, but Android's Dream played out in my head like a movie.)
On rather the other side of the aisle, The Good Soldier would make a beautiful Merchant-Ivory kind of film.
A former student of mine once told me that I would really like
"Consider Phlebas" and its sequels. I have had it around my bed (which is where my "to be read" stack sits) for some time now. Maybe I will pull it closer to the top.
About books to movies.... most of the movies being mentioned are very visual. Are there just some favorite stories out there that we would like to see made into movies? Do you think they could pull off a good movie version of "Broken for You"?
The Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. I want to see _Taran Wanderer_ as a coming of age film.
I put Un Lun Dun on my list too!
Avid Reader, I do think Chabon has a very visual imagination, although I haven't yet gotten interested in Kavalier and Clay enough to finish it.
Tedleach, I've never been able to get interested in comics or graphic novels, so I'll just have to reread Ender and the two sequel lines (I like the Shadow series better than the Speaker for the Dead series).
Jenny, another animated version? I would, of course, prefer a live action version of any of her books.
Joe, The Android's Dream is an excellent suggestion! I like your others, too.
CSchu, I think books that should be made into movies are mostly visual. Broken for You is too internal--if someone tried to make a movie of it, I suspect I wouldn't like it. Also it's too long. Children's books really make the best movies.
If you don't get around to Considering Phlebas soon, lend it to me because I don't have a copy yet!
John, yes, Prydain! Although my kids loved the animated Black Cauldron when they were little, the series really should be more about coming of age.
I have a special objection to the animated Black Cauldron--the way they do it, it looks like necromancy pays! Not true to the book, of course.
Kristen, maybe we can start a movement!
Right now I'm thinking Leviathan, but I'd like to see someone take another (better) crack at the Borrowers film.
On a related note you're about the 90th person I've seen mention China Melville this month.
All books I need to read. I would share the book I hope to see in movie form but I have dreams of adapting into the screenplay. I'm afraid if I voice the title, someone else will steal it. Silly, huh? :)
Jodie, I like those two choices.
Mieville is fairly prolific and writes a lot of very different types of fiction--or do you mean everyone's suddenly talking about Un Lun Dun, which would be great?!
Care, maybe a little silly to think anyone connected with movie-making reads this blog, but not a silly dream at all! Now I am curious.
I haven't read these books, but they sound like they would make good movies. Thanks for playing, Jeanne!
Post a Comment