Five books to read before you watch them
As the pandemic sees us continuing to stay inside and look for ways to entertain ourselves, adaptations of beloved books on screens big and small are just one way to while away the hours.
Here are five books that are worth a read before their adaptations are released.
1. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (Netflix)
The 2008 Booker winning novel will be hitting Australian Netflix on January 14, 2022. Adiga’s darkly humorous debut novel follows the rags-to-riches story of Balram Halwal (played by Adarsh Gourav in his debut role), the son of a rickshaw driver, as he climbs the social ladder in India after murdering his master.
The film will be written, directed, and produced by Ramin Bahrani (Fahrenheit 451, Chop Shop).
2. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (BBC Three)
After the successful TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s second novel Normal People, BBC Three is doing the same with Rooney’s debut novel Conversations with Friends. The book details the relationships between Dublin college students Frances and Bobbi and an older married couple, Nick and Melissa.
The adaptation is due to be released in 2022 and will star Alison Oliver as Frances, Sasha Lane (American Honey) as Bobbi, Jemima Kirke (Girls) as Melissa, and Joe Alwyn (Mary Queen of Scots) as Nick.
3. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Amazon Prime Video)
In 2020, Reese Witherspoon announced her production company Hello Sunshine would adapt Daisy Jones & the Six after claiming she “devoured [it] in a day”.
Reid’s novel tells the story of a rock band’s rise to fame in the 1970s, led by titular character Daisy Jones played by Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road).
The miniseries is expected to air on Amazon Prime Video sometime this year.
4. Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughn (Netflix)
Sara Vaughn’s 2008 thriller is hoped to arrive on Netflix sometime this year as a six-episode series. The book follows the crumbling marriage of James, a Home Office minister, and Sophie, after James’ affair comes to light. Meanwhile, young barrister Kate prosecutes some of the UK’s most serious cases of sexual assault.
The producers behind Big Little Lies and Gone Girl are on board, and the series’ main cast will include Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Friend, and Naomi Scott.
5. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (Hulu)
Following the success of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies as a series, another of her bestsellers is hitting the small screen. Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans will join the series, which follows nine strangers who gather at a remote health resort run by shady host Masha (Kidman).
The series has been filmed in Byron Bay, New South Wales and is set to debut on Hulu from August 18.
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