Though streaming services provide endless content to watch from the comfort of your phone, nothing beats the feeling of a novel in your hand. Even if you prefer the silver screen, old fashioned text often contains more compelling plots and characters. If you love reading, are a former bookworm, or haven’t touched a book since middle school, you should try your hand at these titles based on movies you may have watched during your binge sessions.
“Truman Show” >> “The Memory Police”
“The Truman Show” was an instant classic when it hit theaters in 1998. I love Jim Carrey’s outstanding performance as Truman as he slowly questions the world built around him, and the storyline is truly unique. Like “The Truman Show”, “The Memory Police” by Yōko Ogawa also takes place on a dystopian island with a curated reality. On this island, a secretive and threatening force, known as the Memory Police, makes items disappear physically and from the minds of the residents on the island. When a young writer discovers that her editor, R, is able to remember everything that was lost, she sets out to protect him from the Memory Police at all costs. Both “The Truman Show” and “The Memory Police” have a timeless feel to them; they ask us to ponder questions we may not have the answer to.
[House of Leaves] is the perfect read for puzzle enthusiasts, decoders and those looking for an enticing challenge.
“Inception” >> “House of Leaves”
If you liked “Inception” you will love “House of Leaves” by Mark Z. Danielewski. Both feature abstract concepts and plots which are rewarding once you figure them out. In “House of Leaves” however, the twists and turns of “Inception” take a physical form. The text of this horror novel is abstract and experimental, mimicking the nature of a strange house in which rooms seem to expand and appear out of thin air, creating a mysterious labyrinth filled with puzzles and ciphers. This book is the perfect read for puzzle enthusiasts, decoders and those looking for an enticing challenge.
“Interstellar” >> “A Wrinkle in Time”
Despite being a decade old, “Interstellar” is still regarded as one of the best space films ever made. It has been praised for its scientific accuracy and riveting storytelling. Though “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle is a more fictional tale, its charm and wonder is similar to that of “Interstellar’s” intriguing plot. Like “Interstellar”, space travel is central to the novel. Using an object called a tesseract, the main characters are able to navigate across the fabric of time and space to mysterious worlds. “Wrinkle” follows a girl named Meg whose physicist father disappears without a trace. When she learns the true nature of his disappearance, she embarks, with her brother Charles and friend Calvin, on a mission to rescue her father from an evil entity in space bent on taking over the universe. Both movie and book are respectively considered modern and traditional classics, and are perfect for lovers of the sci-fi genre.
“The Watcher” >> “None of This is True”
Though Netflix’s “The Watcher” is not a movie, I felt it deserved an honorary mention. Its suspense and plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. “None of this is True,” by Lisa Jewell, shares a similar feel. While celebrating her 45th birthday at a local restaurant, podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an otherwise ordinary stranger, Josie Fair, who is also celebrating her 45th birthday. Intrigued by this phenomenon, Josie suggests this must be fate, and recommends that Alix records a series on her life. Alix, bored with her current podcast series, agrees. As the story unfolds, however, Alix begins to realize that Josie is not who she seems, and she becomes the center of her own true crime novel. Both “The Watcher” and “None of This is True,” might have slow starts, but they are extremely gripping. I promise, you will be hooked from the first page.
“Red Notice” >> “Six of Crows”
Though critics deemed it “rotten”, “Red Notice” captivated audiences around the country. This comedic action movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot soared to the top of Netflix’s charts, becoming its most watched original movie to date. Like “Red Notice”, “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo is an action packed story filled with witty one liners and quips. It follows Kaz Brekker, a clever con man seeking to pull off the ultimate heist.
If you love a story with compelling characters and equally intriguing worldbuilding, then [Six of Crows] is for you.
However, he cannot do it alone. Each member of his crew are as skilled as they are ruthless, and they all have secrets to hide. If you love a story with compelling characters and equally intriguing worldbuilding, then this book is for you.
