8 great books made into fantastic movies

Winter is approaching quickly, and one of my favorite things to do when it’s cold is snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a good movie — and it’s even better when that movie is based on a cherished book.

I will admit that the book is usually better. There are some things you just can’t capture in a film (like poetic phrases), or you imagine characters in a certain way and are disappointed by the people they cast. Sometimes, though, the movie is just as good as the book! Here are a few of my favorite books made into movies.

Little Women. I often get the itch to reread this classic during the winter, but it really works for all seasons since it encompasses several years of a family’s trials during the Civil War. I have seen several movie versions, and I have to say that the 1994 Winona Ryder film is the most true to the book. I LOVE this movie. Who can compete with Christian Bale as Laurie? I’m also looking forward to the new version coming out this Christmas with Emma Watson. Do yourself a favor and read the book and watch one of the films this winter.

The Help. Yes, Octavia Spencer won an Oscar for her role as Minny in this film (and she definitely deserved it), so you already know that this is a good one. I’m laughing just thinking about the part where Minny bakes the pie. However, the book by Kathryn Stockett is just as good. I loved this story about African-American maids in Mississippi in the 1960s, and it’s the perfect blend of human rights, feminism, and family. I highly recommend it to everyone!

The Book Thief. This book has been in my top 10 ever since I read it in college. Death narrates the story about a little girl named Liesl living in Nazi Germany with her foster parents after the rest of her family dies. The language and descriptions in this novel are so amazing, and I was worried that the film wouldn’t be as memorable. I was wrong. Geoffrey Rush is so great in this movie, and the kids who play Liesl and Rudy are perfect. If you haven’t read this book, know that it is REALLY sad, so maybe don’t watch it on Christmas if you’re looking for something happy.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. I flew through this entire young adult series about a teen who writes love letters to guys she used to love as a way of dealing with her feelings — and then her sister mails them out without her knowing. The books have some strong language and some allusions to sex, so know that going in (I probably would be cautious about having teens read these, even though they are YA), but they are SO GOOD. The Netflix movie of the same name was also really well done, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. In this case — gasp — I think the movie is actually better than the book. I read it years ago and remembered liking it but not thinking it was worth all the hype. Then I watched the Netflix movie when it came out and fell in LOVE with Dawsey and Juliet all over again, so I reread the book. I finally realized that the original author got sick before finishing the book, so her niece finished the rewrites. I can totally tell where the old story ended, because the ending fell so flat. So. Read the book, but then watch the movie for a much more satisfying ending.

Me Before You. I absolutely adored this book (actually, the whole series is great) about a woman who’s hired to help care for a quadriplegic man and discovers he doesn’t want to live anymore. I know the ending is controversial, so I was surprised when they made the movie, but I love it just as much as the book. Casting Emilia Clarke as Lou was the PERFECT choice, because she can play the quirky, joyful character so well. This is another sad movie (so don’t watch it on Christmas), but it’s so well-done and funny at the same time. I recommend reading the book first, though!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Confession: I actually read this book after I saw the movie, but the movie was so captivating that I knew I needed to read the book. This is a quick read, but the movie does it justice. There’s some language and mature scenes in both the book and the movie, so proceed with caution, but I think this story is a fantastic way to talk to older teens about abuse and about the importance of having good friends and being kind to everyone. Plus, Emma Watson really shines in this role.

The Fault in our Stars. My friends were joking a few weeks ago that I only read sad books, and looking at this list you would probably agree with them. This young adult novel focuses on two teens battling terminal cancer (though one is in remission) who fall in love and take a trip to Amsterdam to find out what a beloved writer really meant in his book. That is WAY oversimplifying it, but I loved this book and also loved the movie. As with the other YA books/movies on this list, there is some language and mature scenes, so use your judgment (and don’t watch it with little kids in the room). As a cancer survivor myself, I really appreciated that this book is a realistic view of how teen cancer victims feel. We don’t want to be called a “hero,” and all we want is to be treated normally (though this rarely happens). Watch this one with a box of tissues.

I am snuggled up with my blanket and ready to watch some new movies this winter. What are your favorite book adaptations?