Having earned their reputation long before they caught the eye of screenwriters, these critically acclaimed stories are finally hitting the big screen. From classic tales to taut thrillers, these books-turned-movies will satisfy both book lovers and avid moviegoers alike.
We cannot wait to read them!
Contents
- Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
- The Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
- The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
- The Lost City of Z by David Grann
- The Circle by Dave Eggers
- The Legends Of King Arthur And His Knights by James Knowles
- My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
- Wonder by R. J.Palacio
- The Dark Tower by Stephen King
- The Mountains Between Us by Charles Martin
- Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
For those readers who show the clear signs of addiction to hard-boiled crime fiction, this noir-tinged take on Dennis Lehane’s novel supplies a much-needed fix without glamourising the violence. Set in the Prohibition era of the Roaring ‘20s, the story revolves around a bootlegging, rum-running mobster whose tragic infatuation with an alluring femme fatale has all the potential to become his last. With a clear reverence for The Godfather, the author exposes the seedy underbelly of the criminal world where fearsome outlaws vie for the control of Jazz Age America.
Movie release date: January 13, 2017
Starring: Ben Affleck, Chris Messina, Sienna Miller, Brendan Gleeson, Elle Fanning
The Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
For Cornelis Sandvoort, a wealthy merchant of the world’s most coveted flower, life could not get any better. Besotted with his young bride, Sophia, he enjoys all the thrills and luxuries his new life has to offer. Yearning for an heir, Cornelis turns his dream into obsession, putting a strain on his marriage. Determined to become the talk of the town, he commissions a talented painter to immortalise his family on canvas. Yet soon he begins to suspect that he might have opened the doors to the very man whose eyes are locked on his most prized possession of all. This compelling tale of deception captures 17th-century Amsterdam in the midst of the tulipomania with its consequences for two young lovers who are willing to risk it all.
Movie release date: February 24, 2017
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Cara Delevingne, Christoph Waltz, Dame Judi Dench
Buy it on AmazonThe Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
Set in 1930s Poland, the film follows the lives of the director of a thriving zoo and his wife Antonina with a remarkable sympathy for animals. However, the German invasion in 1939 changes their lives irrevocably, destroying the animals during the siege of the city. Having joined the Polish resistance, the couple go to extraordinary lengths to provide a shelter to over 300 Jews at their zoo premises. A heart-wrenching account of the human courage and humility during World War II.
Movie release date: March 31, 2017
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Daniel Brühl, Johan Heldenbergh.
Buy it on AmazonThe Lost City of Z by David Grann
Eighty years after myriad explorers searched for the lost expedition and the city of Z in vain, David Grann sets off on his own journey into the perilous wilderness. An impenetrable jungle that has already claimed the lives of many through starvation, attacks of wild animals and poisonous arrows fired by Amazonian tribes, holds a secret to an ancient civilisation. Fascinated by the myth of El Dorado, David attempts to uncover the truth hidden in the depths of tropics.
Movie release date: April 21, 2017
Starring: Sienna Miller, Robert Pattison, Charlie Hunman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland.
The Circle by Dave Eggers
Having been offered a chance to work for one of the most prestigious high-tech companies in Silicon Valley, Mae Holland knows it is a lifetime opportunity she can’t afford to miss. In their bid for transparency, the company inject themselves into the personal lives of their employees by tracking their digital activities. As the terrifying feeling of living under a microscope grows, Mae is forced to decide on how much of her privacy she is willing to sacrifice. A sparkling observation of the modern-day obsession with the web, this thought-provoking tour de force skilfully blends some psychological and mystery elements keeping the readers at the edge of their seats.
Movie release date: April 28, 2017
Starring: Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Patton Oswalt, and Bill Paxton.
Buy it on AmazonThe Legends Of King Arthur And His Knights by James Knowles
Inspired by Thomas Malory’s classic Le Morte d’Arthur, this electrifying reimagining of the Arthurian legend will captivate all fans of mythic fiction. From Merlin’s prophecies and the encounter with the Lady of the Lake to the quest for the Holy Grail, these spellbinding familiar tales ooze a delightful escapism where courage, chivalry and enchantment play a central role. With a rare ability to immerse the readers into the world of knights and nobles, Knowles neatly interweaves historical facts with elements of folklore and mythology blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
Movie release date: May 12, 2017
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Eric Bana.
Read it Free Here Buy it on AmazonMy Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries – and there he dies suddenly. Racked by suspicion, Philip prepares to meet his cousin’s widow with hatred in his heart. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious Rachel like a moth to the flame. And yet… might she have had a hand in Ambrose’s death?
Movie release date: July 14, 2017
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger.
Buy it on AmazonWonder by R. J.Palacio
At first glance, Wonder might appear to be anything but fictional eye-candy. However, don’t be fooled by its cover, as it packs some powerful punches. Born with several facial disfigurements, 10-year-old August struggles to fit in at his new school. Having no confidence to draw on from his home-schooled years, socially inept and self-conscious Auggie becomes a prime target for bullies. Relayed from different perspectives, the story draws you in to witness the ripples the size of the tidal waves set off by abusive behaviour.
Inspired by a real life incident, Palacio creates a cautionary tale that might teach society a lesson or two about compassion.
Movie release date: April 7, 2017
Starring: Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Joe Chen
Buy it on AmazonThe Dark Tower by Stephen King
The first in the Dark Tower series, this riveting tale portrays the adventures of Roland Deschain, the Last Gunslinger whose entire existence is driven by his desire to save his dimension from extinction. On his quest to reach the mysterious Dark Tower, the lonely ranger is yet to battle the monstrous creatures and evil sorcerers dwelling in the desolate world that frighteningly mirrors our own. Stephen King works magic by engaging readers in the development of a complex character as he walks the line between the darkness and the light. This epic fantasy with a twist is guaranteed to pull you in and grip you until the last page.
Movie release date: July 28, 2017
Starring: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey
Buy it on AmazonThe Mountains Between Us by Charles Martin
From the author of Where the River Ends, comes this page-turning story of love and survival. On a stormy winter night, Ashley Knox and Dr. Ben Payne wait for a flight at Salt Lake City airport. When the last outgoing flight is cancelled, Ben finds a charter plane that can take him and one more passenger around the storm. Knowing how important this flight is to Ashley, who is eager to get back in time for her wedding, he offers a seat. And then the unthinkable happens. The pilot has a heart attack mid-flight and the plane crashes into the High Uintas Wilderness. Both gripping and tender, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.
Movie release date: October 20, 2017
Starring: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet
Buy it on AmazonMurder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie
One of the best-known gems in Agatha Christie’s collection of crime stories, this novel presents a mind-boggling case to be solved aboard a luxurious train travelling across Europe. When the snowstorm stops the Orient Express in its tracks, the passengers start to fear for their safety. However, they soon find that the bitter cold might be the least of their worries, when one of their travel companions is stabbed to death. The mystery surrounding the murder intrigues the Belgian detective, who promptly launches his own investigation. Capitalising on adverse weather conditions, Hercule Poirot makes the most of his captive audience by juggling the clues and the interviews with the most eccentric suspects.
Movie release date: November 22, 2017
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer.
Buy it on AmazonAnnihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
Exquisitely crafted by the master of creepiness, this eerily dreamlike Sci-Fi tale offers a chance to lose yourself in disturbing world of obliteration. Abandoned ‘for reasons that are not easy to relate’, unspoilt coastal Area X has been puzzling scientists for decades. After all, anyone who has ever ventured into this lush eden came to regret it. Determined to uncover its deadly secret, four hopefuls set off on a perilous expedition, where inexplicable moans, unmapped tunnels and mass hallucinations are just a few of many surprises that are yet to unhinge their minds. The fans of H.P. Lovecraft will particularly appreciate this highly unsettling tale which has the power to sneak under your skin and haunt you for days after you read it.
Movie release date: TBC, 2017
Starring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson
Buy it on Amazon
Stella
Stella is a Marketing Consultant and has been writing content for Full Text Archive since 2015. When she is not writing, she is meticulously planning our social and e-mail campaigns. Stella holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Russian Literature, which has provided a broad foundation from which she continues to explore the written world.
She spends her free time reading, visiting old castles and discovering new coffee shops. She can be reached at stella