Those of you in Years 8 to 13 may remember this blog, which was set up during last year’s Book Week.  This year, we’ve renamed it Screen Reads Week, and the focus is all on books that have been made into films (and vice versa, though there aren’t many examples of the process happening the other way around).

On this post, please comment on your opinions of books and films.  What’s your favourite book to film, or film to book?  Which do you usually like better, the book or the film?  Why? 

Use the categories on the left to find books in the genres you most enjoy.  You can also go to the categories for Easier Reads and Harder Reads to find books that suit your reading ability.  Click on the Screen Reads category to see all the books that have been made into films.  You can post comments about any of the books you have read , or any of the films you have seen, at the bottom of each review.   Your comments won’t appear immediately, as they need to be moderated by a teacher first - but keep checking back and you’ll see them!  No rude or silly comments please – they won’t be published and they waste our time.

Older students (years 11 to 13) may find this article interesting – it’s from the Guardian and discusses whether an adaptation (of anything, but particularly books to films) can ever be better than the original.

There are screenings of films based on books in the Study Centre every lunchtime this week – see posters around school for details (you must get a free ticket in advance from Ms Constantinou).  There is also a Screen Reads quiz, with a prize of a £20 Amazon voucher and a prize draw, with the prize of a £10 Amazon voucher.  Plus you will be able to vote during the week for your favourite book to film.

Enjoy the week and get involved!

Ms Falola says…

Rarely do you come across a film whose brilliance matches the novel upon which it is based but Q and A (aka Slumdog Millionaire) is one such gem.  Both book and film sent me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions from sadness and despair to nail biting suspense as I waited to see what would happen to the poor kid from the slums of Mumbai who fought his way through twelve random questions to give himself the chance of a life that he always dreamed about.  Although the stories are slightly different, and there is certainly no dance scene in the book, I defy anybody not to enjoy either the book or the film.  The film rightly deserves its Oscar successes and the book, the author’s first novel, still definitely deserves to be read irrespective of whether you have seen the film or not. 

Ms Falola says…

This is an excellent book and a total let down as a movie. It should never have been made into a film in the first place.  When the book was first published it had a very simple front cover and the blurb at the back merely asked the reader to read the book without knowing about its content.  I found this a very appealing feature of the book, and one which persuaded me to buy it instead of others and then understood, after reading, why the author had stated this preference. 

As you read this book, the story unfolds in the eyes of a nine year old child.  In the book you accompany Bruno on his journey but unfortunately this cannot be experienced on screen.  As the author intended I will not reveal any details of Bruno’s journey so I beg you to read this moving book and not spoil the story by watching the film.

Ms Ware says…

This is McEwan’s longest and most epic book – not actually my favourite McEwan novel (I prefer Enduring Love) but perhaps his most accessible in terms of narrative.  The story centres on a precocious young girl called Briony, who misinterprets a series of events on a fateful day and night in her childhood, with unltimately tragic consequences.  Despite seeming quite conventionally narrated, there is a brilliant twist at the end of the book that makes us consider the whole process of narrative and storytelling.

The film, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, does a good job of trying to echo this focus on storytelling – my favourite aspect is the way that Briony’s appearances in the film are accompanied by rhythmic music that echoes the sound of typewriter keys.  The early parts of the film also offer some clever use of multiple persepctives in terms of the camera work.  However, ultimately, it is a much more conventional story than the book itself, which leans a bit too heavily on its big-name cast and large budget.

Recommended for older readers in years 11-13.

Ms Dickens says…

I loved the way this book managed to draw me in to the world of Henry VIII’s court.  It tells the story of Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne (Henry’s second wife) but it also gives a fascinating insight into life at court.  We have all heard the story of Anne’s ill-fated marriage to the King, but hearing the story from a different perspective makes you feel almost like an observer to their relationship and the people and events surrounding it.

The film adaptation starring Eric Bana, Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson is captivating but fails to create the same all-enveloping feeling because it has to omit many of the key events of the book due to time restrictions. 

I would recommend this story to any lovers of history who are also confident readers, probably in years 10 – 13.

Ms Josty says…

This book tells the story of a wounded soldier in the American Civil War (1861-5) who makes his way back to his sweetheart, Ada in North Carolina.  The book essentially is a story about his journey back home, the people he comes across and the scenery he travels through.  It is also a story about Ada’s survival on her farm and how she struggles to keep the farm going through the hardships of the war.  She is helped by a girl called Ruby and the book also focuses on the friendship they forge.

Essentially this is a story about journeys, whether a physical journey from place to place or an emotional journey, as both Inman and Ada discover things about themselves during the war.

The film was directed by Anthony Mingella and I had high hopes of it, as I had really enjoyed The English Patient, which he also directed.  However the film did not do the book justice AT ALL!  Nicole Kidman and Jude Law playing Ada and Inman were miscast,  and parts of the film just came across as comical when they should not have been.

So, read the book but don’t watch the film!  Recommended for GCSE / A-level students.

Mr Scott says…

One of my favourite books/films is Millions.  Both the screenplay and the novel are by Frank Cottrell Boyce and the film is directed by Danny Boyle, who recently made Slum Dog Millionaire (another film based on a book).  Unusually, this story began life as an idea for a film and Danny Boyle convinced Frank Cottrell Boyce to write it as a book.  It’s funny, sometimes sad, and full of magic.  Read it, watch it (it’s Friday’s screening in the Study Centre), or even better do both!

Mr Amer says…

I would like to recommend Empire of the Sun by J G Ballard, which was directed as a film by Steven Spielberg.

The book focuses on the war time experiences of Jim who is caught up in the terror of World War II in Japan.  J G Ballard draws on his own experiences as a child at the time of these events.  Jim is torn from the protection of his parents, leaving the luxurious background of his up-bringing behind and learning to fend for himself.  He learns harsh life lessons and the barbarity of war and the horror and hardship it can bring.  However, the novel is also filled with thrilling passages, nerve racking tales and poetic description. Steven Spielberg did a sterling job of portraying the spirit of the book on screen.  A true adventure where the usual rules no longer apply and the only way Jim can survive is to embrace this strange new world he finds around him. A truly epic novel, this is a very rewarding read.

Ms Peleties says…

I absolutely love this film!  I love the story, I love the acting (the cast includes Helena Bonham-Carter, Daniel Day Lewis, Maggie Smith), and I love the setting, especially in Italy) and I even love the music!  It’s a funny film – brilliantly ridiculing the English upper classes and it’s romantic – a happy ending where love conquers all!  This film set me on two love affairs, the first with Tuscany (stunningly depicted) and with the novels of E.M. Forster.  When I did eventually get to visit Florence in my twenties, I searched and searched for a room with that view…..but I couldn’t afford one!

Ms Peleties says…

When I was about thirteen I decided that ‘Tess’ had to be seen on the ‘big’screen – in those days it meant going to the Odeon Leicester Square as opposed to the ABC in Turnpike Lane! To this day, ‘Tess’ remains one of my most favourite films.  It’s beautifully shot – the cinematography is breathtaking and along with the locations totally captures the essense of the novel bringing Hardy’s descriptions to life.  At thirteen, I was totally overwhelmed and moved by Hardy’s tragic tale and by Natassja Kinski’s striking beauty (in real life she was only sixteen and the lover of the infamous Polanski!).  I watched it recently again on DVD and it had exactly the same effect!  A classic, and a must for anyone studying Hardy.

Film Adaptation by Roman Polanski (won 3 Oscars).