Top Ten Tuesday: Missed List
I actually missed last week, so I am going to do my list of "10 Books I'd Like to See Made Into Movies."
10. Graham Swift, Waterland: I can imagine how beautiful and dark this would be as a movie. It is epic in scope, but the sense of place is so important in the book, that I think it would be visually stunning.
9. David Nicholls, One Day: I am aware that this movie is coming out this summer. I am excited to see it since I think this book is totally cinematic. However, I kind of wish that the movie version was British rather than American.
8. Zadie Smith, White Teeth: I think this would make a fantastic, funny movie. There is a Channel 4 miniseries that I never heard much about, but I would like to see it on the big screen.
7. Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: This has potential to be really awesome, or really bad. I had fantasies in college of writing an amazing script based on these graphic novels, and I still think it could be pretty awesome.
6. Bret Easton Ellis, Glamorama: I have been hearing rumors forever that there will be an adaptation of this novel (likely starring some of the people in the other novels, since they all overlap). I really like adaptations of Ellis, and this one would be awesomely hip and grotesque.
5. Michael Chabon, The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay: This book is very popular, and I'm kind of surprised that it hasn't been made into a movie already. It hasn't, right?
4. Jay-Z, Decoded: This is kind of a strange answer, because the book doesn't necessarily lend itself to filming. However, I think that Jay-Z would be a great subject for a biopic.
3. Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita: Yes, I am aware that this already exists. However, I'm ready for an update. Kubrick is brilliant, but so is this novel. I also took a screenwriting class in college, and one of my classmates was writing an adaptation of Pale Fire. It was super interesting.
2. J.D. Salinger, Franny and Zooey: I would love to see Salinger on the big screen, and this isn't as iconic as Catcher in the Rye, and thus would be less likely to piss off casual readers (if anyone could ever get the rights).
1. Jonathan Tropper, This Is Where I Leave You: I really mean this as number one this week. As I was reading it, I could see it as a movie. The tone and the scope are perfect for an adaptation.
Oh, Cavalier and Klay would be a fun one! Make that happen somebody!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with the Jay-Z biopic idea. Decoded is a fantastic book. There are a lot of good movie ideas on this list. Nice!
ReplyDeleteHmm. The only ones I know on your list is Lolita and The Sandman.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting list. *crosses fingers for all the books listed to be made into GOOD movies* ;)
~new follower (and thank you for visiting my blog and Top Ten list)
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I have a hard time wanting any of the books I love to be made into a movie for fear that it will cause people to stop reading the book!
ReplyDeleteIf i did this list i would have to say "the distant hours" by kate morton. you said on my list that you like "mrs dalloway"? i've read the whole book and am unsure if she is actually alive at the end. it just says "and there she was" is she like hanging from the rafters or something?
ReplyDeleteSounds like I need to add some of those to my TBR pile! Thanks for stopping by my blog :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic list. You have some of my favourite books on there. I LOVED One Day too and also feel it should be British rather than American. After all it's a British based book. I think some of it will have to be changed because of that and it will lose it's charm. When I did this both White Teeth and Kavalier and Clay almost went on mine. I read White Teeth a few month ago and it's a firm favourite read of this year. It would have to be set in Britain too as it has a lot of British dry wit in it.
ReplyDeleteI have only read the first Sandman book. Must rectify that.
I thought there was a film version of Waterland-but maybe I dreamed that! White Teeth is one that would be fun. Love that book. Actually, good answers all around. I couldn't think of anything for this list myself, but I agree with all your choices.
ReplyDeleteI am sadly unfamiliar with most of these. I've thought of reading Glamorama, though. Wasn't there a remake of Lolita, though, with Jeremy Irons, a few years back?
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with a couple of these titles. I'm always anxious to see anything from Neil Gaiman on the big screen! I loved Stardust.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
Great list! There are a lot of books on there that I wouldn't have thought to adapt but, if done right, would make interesting movies. An updated Lolita would be really cool.
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of fun doing this list last week. What I can't figure out is how some movies get done over and over again, and others seem to take forever to get off the ground. With all the fabulous books out there, Hollywood can't possibly be running out of ideas.
ReplyDeleteOh good call on Glamorama - that would certainly be an interesting movie!
ReplyDeleteI heard The Sandman was being made into a television series, probably just rumors. Yeah, a movie would be totally awesome though.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I like the 'look' of your blog very much. I'm a new follower. I'm currently reading KAVALIER AND CLAY and I'm wondering, too, why it hasn't been made into a film. I'm familiar with some of the authors you mentioned, and LOLITA, of course, but haven't read any of the other books.
ReplyDeleteOooh. Waterland is an interesting choice. There's so much going on in that novel, I'd be interested to see how they deal with time. And all the eels (ew!).
ReplyDeleteYou're right about Cavalier and Clay--I can't believe it's not a movie yet. That would be fantastic!
And This is Where I Leave You--awesome choice! Much hilarity will ensue with the right cast trapped together sitting shiva for eight days.
I don't know several of these, but I think IMDB says a version of Kavalier and Clay will be made in 2012. Here's hoping it's worth watching!
ReplyDeleteAlso have you seen the Jeremy Irons/Dominique Swain version of Lolita? It's done really well--creepy, but well.
Definitely agree on Glamorama. I could see that one being made with super-saturated color.
Good list!
I literally have no idea what was going on in Glamorama... So a film would probably be useful to make it make any sense at all to me! American Psycho was a pretty awesome film adaptation I thought, but then I can't fault Christian Bale for anything he ever does ever, so I might be a bit biased hehe
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I have not read any of these, but some of them sound really good!
ReplyDeleteI love Franny and Zooey and could totally see it as a movie. Kind of India, off-kilter type film. Great list and great blog. Thanks for hopping by and I'm a new follower.
ReplyDeleteGreat list - especially Cavalier and Clay!
ReplyDeleteMine is here:
http://abookwormsblog1.blogspot.com/2011/04/top-ten-tuesday-most-hilarious-book.html
I've never read Sandman, but my fiance raves about it. I'm slowly getting more into Gaiman as I get a bit older. He's got great stuff, but I think a lot of it gets missed by kids. Nice list!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see the Tropper book made into a movie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just gave you the Stylish Blogger Award.
You might not be an award person, and that's ok, too;)