8 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE THEY HIT THE BIG SCREEN
Join the conversation with these talked-about titles
Words
OLIVIA DURIE
One of those universally accepted truths is that it’s better to read the book before watching the film. And because there are so many great adaptations coming out of the cinemas (or streaming services) over the next year, we’re priming our shelves with the titles that everybody is – or will soon be – talking about. From classic literature to experimental fiction, these stories are worth swatting up on before Hollywood does its thing.
 Nightbitch, Rachel YoderIn her debut novel, Rachel Yoder takes us into the realms of magical realism to explore themes of motherhood, identity and female rage. A middle-class mother in the throes of the ‘terrible twos’ makes for a very relatable protagonist – until, that is, she finds herself turning into a dog at night. Wondering how it’ll translate to the cinema? We can’t wait to see either; Amy Adams takes on the anonymous lead role as the story transitions to the big screen this December. |  Snow White, The Brothers Grimm If your knowledge of the fairytale is based on Disney’s 1937 animation, consider turning to The Brothers Grimm’s distinctly darker tale before the remake lands next spring for a little folkloric context. With Greta Gerwig behind the screenplay for the latest in Disney’s live-action line-up (and Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot starring as Snow White and the evil queen), we’re expecting a fresh take that’s not just for the kids. |
 The Amateur, Robert LittellPartial to a page-turning thriller? This lesser known title from the 80s will scratch the itch. It tells the story of Charlie, a cryptographer, whose fiance is murdered in a terror attack. Suspicion rises when the CIA decides not to pursue the terrorists, so Charlie, the amateur, goes rogue. Rami Malek will be taking the lead in a movie adaptation, alongside Rachel Brosnahan. The novel’s now out of print, so check your second-hand booksellers to nab a copy before it hits the screen. |  Mickey7, Edward AshtonSci-fi might not be everyone’s bag, but add ‘dark comedy’ and ‘thriller’ into the mix and we’re definitely interested. Edward Ashton’s Mickey7 is a story about an ‘Expendable’ – a human assigned to colonise an ice world called Niflheim – whose body gets regenerated whenever his mission results in death. While main character Mickey has always been a team player in his previous lives, something goes a little awry with his eighth regeneration and he becomes, in the words of the movie adaptation’s star Robert Pattinson, “out of control”. This one’s being directed by Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho, so we’re expecting good things. |
 Frankenstein, Mary ShelleyOne of Gothic literature’s greats is going to get a lot of screen time next year, with two movie adaptations of Frankenstein landing in 2025. The first sees director Guillermo del Toro pick up where Mary Shelley left off, with Dr Pretorius (Christoph Waltz) tracking down the assumed-dead monster (Jacob Elordi) to continue Dr Frankenstein’s experiments. The second, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, puts a romantic spin on the sci-fi horror story with Christian Bale as the lead, who seeks the help of a Chicago doctor to create his undead companion (Jessie Buckley) in The Bride. Swat up on the original ahead of those ‘who makes the better monster’ debates. |  Trust, Hernan DiazFour cleverly interconnected texts make up this story of a financier and his wife in 1920s New York (a novel, an autobiography, a memoir and a diary) each leaving the reader questioning the agenda, and ultimately the truth, behind each narrative. The rights have been snapped up by HBO to turn the Pulitzer prize finalist into a limited series, produced by and starring Kate Winslet. Fans of Succession and Industry, get ready to add this one to your watch list. |
 How To Kill Your Family, Bella MackieBella Mackie’s debut foray into fiction landed on the Sunday Times Bestsellers list a few years ago, grabbing the attention of critics, bookworms and, notably, Netflix, who’ve cast Anya Taylor-Joy as the lead in an exclusive eight-part series. Sharp, pacey, wicked and funny, the story follows Grace, an antiheroine who is rejected by her wealthy father and seeks her gruesome revenge by killing off every member of her family. |  Wuthering Heights, Emily BrontëIf you relied on Sparknotes to get through A-level English, now’s the perfect time to give this gothic romance the attention it deserves. The forbidden love story of Cathy and Heathcliffe has undergone more adaptations than we can count, but that hasn’t stopped Emerald Fennell from putting her stamp on the literary classic with her recently announced movie. The internet might be divided on her casting of the two leads – Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi – but we have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of hype around it, regardless. |