We often talk about different movie adaptations of books. And, when these discussions happen there tends to be a lot of strong opinions on which version is better. The biggest complaint often centers around the movie leaving out different elements of the book. This is understandable as most movies try to fit an entire book into a 2 hour film. However, what happens when a TV series is created instead? Are they more successful in bringing favorite characters to life? Do they keep more of the original story in place?
Find out for yourself, by reading one of the books listed below and then watch its show.
Good Omens - This series was released in May on Amazon Prime. It is based off the book of the same name written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Some of the stars in this production are Jon Hamm, David Tennant, Michael Sheen, and Frances McDormand.
Game of Thrones - This HBO show just wrapped up its final season. It was a series based off of the series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The first book in the series,
A Game of Thrones was published in the mid-1990s.
Outlander - This show can be found on Starz and is based on Diana Gabaldon's series of the same name. This is a story of historical time travel.
A Discovery of Witches - This series is based off of Deborah Harkness' novels and is a British television production. It later aired in the U.S. on AMC. It has already been renewed for a second and third season.
Sherlock - Four seasons have been produced at this time. Each episode focuses on a single crime or puzzle that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson work to solve. This show stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson.
NOS4A2 - This is a supernatural horror story based on the novel by Joe Hill. The first season premiered this summer, and it has been renewed for a second season. It stars Zachary Quinto as Charlie Manx.
The ABC Murders - Based on the novel by Agatha Christie, this show aired on BBC One in 2018. It stars John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot and Rupert Grint as Inspector Crome.
His Dark Materials - This adaptation of the Philip Pullman series will be released on HBO later this year. This series stars Dafne Keen as Lyra, James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby. The first book is
The Golden Compass.
Catch-22 - This is a satirical comedy miniseries based on the novel by Joseph Heller. It premiered in May 2019 on Hulu. Some of the stars of this production include Hugh Laurie and George Clooney.
Watchmen - Another HBO production, this series is based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The first season will be premiering later this year.
The Magicians - This is a fantasy series that airs on Syfy. Based on the novel by Lev Grossman, The Magicians has been renewed for a fifth season.
Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments - This series is based on the series written by Cassandra Clare. It aired on Freeform and wrapped up in May 2019. The first book is entitled
City of Bones.
The Handmaid's Tale - This TV show is based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood and airs on Hulu. Its first season won 8 Emmy Awards including one for Outstanding Drama Series. The show has been renewed for a fourth season.
Big Little Lies - This HBO drama series is based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. The cast for this series includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz, and Alexander Skarsgard. Meryl Streep joins the show in the second season.
The Alienst - This is a period drama series based on the novel by Caleb Carr. It aired on TNT in 2018. A sequel has been ordered that will be based on Carr's novel
The Angel of Darkness.
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danzinger
