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Winter Reading List: 50 Books to Read Before They're Movies

Books Becoming Movies Winter 2014

Winter Reading List: 50 Books to Read Before They're Movies

Books Becoming Movies Winter 2014

We've got tabs on what books are being adapted into movies, and with Winter still raging on (no, like literally raging), we've got a whole new crop of reads to recommend. There are recently announced adaptations, books that have been recently cast, and big-screen books that will be coming to the theater soon. It's getting colder outside, so curl up with one of these reads, and start envisioning who you'd like for the adaptation.

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick
  • What it's about: A woman dealing with the breakup of her marriage heads back to her hometown to clear the name of a former teacher.
  • Who's starring: Sam Raimi will direct the movie, which is not yet cast. Mike White is adapting the script.
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1984 by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell
  • What it's about: This high school reading classic explores a dystopian society in which a totalitarian government, AKA Big Brother, lords over the nation.
  • Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but Paul Greengrass is directing.
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The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen

The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen
  • What it's about: This sci-fi thriller follows a young boy after he suffers a near-fatal fall on his ninth birthday.
  • Who's starring: Aaron Paul is playing Peter, and Jamie Dornan is playing Dr. Pascal.
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Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
  • What it's about: A young, disturbed man plans a murder-suicide in this YA drama.
  • Who's starring: Channing Tatum and his producing partner Reid Carolin are codirecting, and Tatum may star in the film.
4 / 51

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
  • What it's about: Fourteen-year-old Meg Murry's father goes missing after working on a government project, setting off Meg's fantastical journey through space and time.
  • Who's starring: Frozen's Jennifer Lee will direct the as-yet uncast movie, which Disney will produce.
5 / 51

Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
  • What it's about: In E L James's sexy bestseller, college student Anastasia meets Christian Grey, a handsome billionaire who turns her world upside down when he approaches her about a sexual relationship.
  • Who's starring: Dakota Johnson will play Anastasia, and Jamie Dornan is Christian; see who else is in the Fifty Shades of Grey cast.
  • Watch the trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey.
6 / 51

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue
  • What it's about: A 5-year-old boy grows up in a small shed, which becomes the only world he knows because his mother hides the truth — they're being held captive.
  • Who's starring: Brie Larson is starring as Ma, the mother — see who else is starring.
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Inferno by Dan Brown

Inferno by Dan Brown
  • What it's about: The Da Vinci Code series continues with Robert Langdon's latest adventure as he tries to stop another international scheme by following clues in Dante's The Divine Comedy.
  • Who's starring: Tom Hanks will reprise his role as Langdon, and Felicity Jones will costar as Sienna Brooks.
8 / 51

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
  • What it's about: The book tells the story of the Essex, a ship that was sunk by a whale in 1819, leaving the crew at sea for more than 90 days.
  • Who's starring: Ron Howard is adapting the book for the big screen, and the film will star Chris Hemsworth as first mate Owen Chase, Cillian Murphy as second mate Matthew Joy, and Benjamin Walker as Captain Pollard.
  • Watch the trailer for In the Heart of the Sea.
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The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
  • What it's about: The love stories of two couples — an elderly one and a young one — are intertwined in a North Carolina setting.
  • Who's starring: Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson are playing the younger couple.
  • Watch the trailer for The Longest Ride.
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Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
  • What it's about: A young woman named Bathsheba Everdene has to deal with the difficult, sometimes tragic consequences of being in relationships with three different suitors at the same time.
  • Who's starring: Carey Mulligan, Tom Sturridge, and Matthias Schoenaerts will star in the film adaptation.
  • Watch the trailer for Far From the Madding Crowd.
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Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
  • What it's about: In this love story, young Louisa forms a bond with Will, the paralyzed man she is employed to help.
  • Who's starring: Emilia Clarke is playing Louisa opposite Sam Claflin.
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Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green
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Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
  • What it's about: The second installment of the Maze Runner series continues as the Gladers and Thomas have escaped the maze but find themselves in their next test.
  • Who's starring: Dylan O'Brien will play Thomas again, along with much of the original cast; see who else is starring.
14 / 51

Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill
  • What it's about: The true-crime novel follows the infamous mobster Whitey Bulger, the head of the Irish mob in the '70s, and his relationship with childhood friend John Connolly, who grew up to work for the FBI.
  • Who's starring: Johnny Depp will play Whitey Bulger with Joel Edgerton as Connolly. Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, and Juno Temple are also in the supporting cast.
15 / 51

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian by Andy Weir
  • What it's about: Astronaut Mark Watney gets stranded on Mars and must survive alone while NASA tries to rescue him in this sci-fi novel.
  • Who's starring: Matt Damon will play Mark Watney, while Jessica Chastain and Kristen Wiig will costar. Ridley Scott is directing.
16 / 51

The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke

The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke
  • What it's about: After a 19th-century fur trapper gets mauled by a bear and then left for dead by thieves, he embarks on a journey for revenge.
  • Who's starring: Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy will costar in the adaptation, which is being directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
17 / 51

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
  • What it's about: A 100-year-old mental patient, Roseanne McNulty investigates her past and unearths some troubling memories.
  • Who's starring: Rooney Mara and Vanessa Redgrave will play the younger and older versions of Roseanne, respectively. Eric Bana, Theo James, and Jeremy Irons will costar.
18 / 51

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
  • What it's about: Rowling revisits the Harry Potter universe in this book about Newt Scamander, who "wrote" the textbook that Potter and his classmates would study.
  • Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but David Yates has signed on to direct.
19 / 51

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
  • What it's about: A lighthouse keeper and his wife discover a baby and a dead body near their home off the coast of Australia after WWI.
  • Who's starring: Michael Fassbender will star alongside Alicia Vikander as his wife.
20 / 51

Struck by Genius by Jason Padgett

Struck by Genius by Jason Padgett
  • What it's about: Padgett's memoir follows his unusual journey of becoming a math genius after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
  • Who's starring: Channing Tatum will produce and potentially star in this biopic.
21 / 51

The World Made Straight by Ron Rash

The World Made Straight by Ron Rash
  • What it's about: A young man, Travis, gets wrapped up in the drug dealings of his town after stumbling upon a marijuana farm in 1970s North Carolina.
  • Who's starring: Jeremy Irvine is playing Travis, and Noah Wyle and Minka Kelly are costarring.
22 / 51

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • What it's about: Mary Shelley's classic story follows Victor Frankenstein as he discovers the secret of life and puts together a body using corpses. Horrified by the monster he's created, Frankenstein flees until the monster returns to him.
  • Who's starring: Daniel Radcliffe will play Igor, the hunchback assistant to Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy).
23 / 51

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
  • What it's about: A confirmed bachelor falls for the girl next door in this 2007 novel from the romance master.
  • Who's starring: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, and Tom Welling will star.
24 / 51

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
  • What it's about: In Roth's follow-up to Divergent, Tris and Four leave the crumbling Dauntless and seek help to get to the bottom of what's going on in their dystopian society.
  • Who's starring: Shailene Woodley is playing Tris, and Theo James is playing Tobias. See the whole Insurgent cast here.
  • Watch the trailer for Insurgent.
25 / 51

The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff

The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff
  • What it's about: The story of real-life artist Einar Wegener, who was one of the first people to have transgender surgery.
  • Who's starring: Eddie Redmayne will star opposite Alicia Vikander and Amber Heard, while Tom Hooper will direct.
26 / 51

You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers

You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers
  • What it's about: Two 20-something friends go on an international trip to find themselves after one of their best friends dies.
  • Who's starring: Daniel Radcliffe is attached to star.
27 / 51

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
  • What it's about: This true story follows the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who helped to save hundreds of people from the Nazis in World War II by smuggling them into empty cages.
  • Who's starring: Jessica Chastain will star in the movie.
28 / 51

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
  • What it's about: Two sisters live alone in a crumbling house and try to survive in the near future.
  • Who's starring: Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood will play the sisters, with Max Minghella costarring.
29 / 51

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
  • What it's about: This thriller from the author of Gone Girl tells the story of Libby Day, whose mother and sisters were murdered at the family's farmhouse when she was only 7. Her testimony sent her older brother, Ben, to prison for life, and 25 years later, Libby decides to meet with the Kill Club, a group of crime enthusiasts who investigate the case and force her to rethink what really happened.
  • Who's starring: The Dark Places cast includes Charlize Theron — also a producer — as Libby Day, plus Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, and Chloë Grace Moretz.
30 / 51

A Hologram For the King by Dave Eggers

A Hologram For the King by Dave Eggers
  • What it's about: A struggling businessman heads to Saudi Arabia for a fight to save his finances, hoping to steer clear of foreclosure and pay his daughter's college tuition.
  • Who's starring: Tom Hanks will star in the film adaptation, which Tom Tykwer is directing.
31 / 51

The Mortdecai Trilogy by Kyril Bonfiglioli

The Mortdecai Trilogy by Kyril Bonfiglioli
  • What it's about: Charlie Mortdecai is a sophisticated art dealer who finds himself caught up in a web of mystery.
  • Who's starring: Johnny Depp will play Charlie Mortdecai in the film, titled just Mortdecai.
  • Watch the trailer for Mortdecai.
32 / 51

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
  • What it's about: In this YA novel, a teenager named Jacob explores the ruins of a strange house on an island near Wales, UK.
  • Who's starring: Eva Green and Asa Butterfield will star, with Tim Burton directing.
33 / 51

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
  • What it's about: It's a twisted spin on Jane Austen's classic novel that puts heroine Elizabeth Bennett in the middle of protecting her family and town from the undead.
  • Who's starring: Lily James will play Elizabeth Bennett; see who else is starring.
34 / 51

Silence by Shusaku Endo

Silence by Shusaku Endo
  • What it's about: Set in 17th-century Japan, the book follows the story of Jesuits who are trying to bring Christianity into Japan.
  • Who's starring: Andrew Garfield is playing Father Rodrigues in the film, which will be directed by Martin Scorsese. Adam Driver also has a supporting role.
35 / 51

The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri

The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri
  • What it's about: An MI-5 agent trying to solve a murder works for the FBI and uncovers a terrifying new truth.
  • Who's starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor will play the MI-5 agent opposite Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts.
36 / 51

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

American Pastoral by Philip Roth
  • What it's about: The life of Seymour "Swede" Levov is chronicled beginning in 1960s New Jersey and following him for decades.
  • Who's starring: Ewan McGregor will play Seymour and direct the film.
37 / 51

Climb to Conquer by Peter Shelton

Climb to Conquer by Peter Shelton
  • What it's about: This true story recounts the ordeal of WWII's 10th mountain division ski troops, who trained in the snowy mountains so they could take on snowy conditions in the war.
  • Who's starring: Robert Redford will produce the film, which has not been cast yet.
38 / 51

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
  • What it's about: A young slave nicknamed "Onion" joins forces with an abolitionist who travels around the country for the cause.
  • Who's starring: Liev Schreiber is playing the abolitionist, with Jaden Smith as Onion.
39 / 51

The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman

The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman
  • What it's about: The biography of the iconic magician explores his life and career.
  • Who's starring: Johnny Depp will play Houdini.
40 / 51

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
  • What it's about: Two young soldiers are taken under the wing of an experienced sergeant in Iraq.
  • Who's starring: Benedict Cumberbatch is playing the sergeant, with Tye Sheridan and Will Poulter as the soldiers.
41 / 51

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
  • What it's about: Two siblings from a family of performance artists have to learn to live in the real world.
  • Who's starring: Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman are playing the siblings, with Bateman directing.
42 / 51

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
  • What it's about: This coming-of-age tale tells the story of a boy and his fascination with a tiny but special painting.
  • Who's starring: The adaptation has not been cast yet, but we have many ideas about who should star.
43 / 51

Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon

Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
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East of Eden by John Steinbeck

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
  • What it's about: Two generations of brothers with very different natures come of age in the Salinas Valley, CA.
  • Who's starring: Jennifer Lawrence will play Cathy, the cold mother of the two boys.
45 / 51

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
  • What it's about: After her mom, Bernadette, disappears, 15-year-old Bee dives into emails, documents, and secret correspondence to find her.
  • Who's starring: Casting hasn't been finalized yet, but Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber — the writers behind (500) Days of Summer — are set to write the screenplay.
46 / 51

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
  • What it's about: Spanning decades, the book kicks off in 1962 on the Italian coast, following the ups and downs of a love affair that ends in Hollywood years later.
  • Who's starring: Imogen Poots will play Dee Moray, and Todd Field will direct the film adaptation.
47 / 51

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

American Sniper by Chris Kyle
48 / 51

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
  • What it's about: A young boy deals with bullying and his mother's illness by inventing a fantasy world filled with monsters and other creatures.
  • Who's starring: Felicity Jones will play Mum, with Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver costarring.
49 / 51

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
  • What it's about: Set in the Prohibition era of the '20s, the novel tells the story of a Boston thief who finds success as a rum runner.
  • Who's starring: Ben Affleck is writing, directing, and starring in the film, marking his second time adapting one of the author's books — his directorial debut came with the adaptation of Lehane's Gone Baby Gone.
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50 Books Becoming Movies

50 Books Becoming Movies
51 / 51
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