# What book would you make into a movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187 "2008-11-17T22:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/101 "2008-11-24T02:28:33Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I haven’t seen it, but there was a made-for-tv adaptation just a few years ago that didn’t get very good reviews. RE: A Wrinkle in Time. This movie was so hideous that it actually made me cry! The special effects were beyond lame. This is one of my favorite books. I can honestly say that I have never been more disappointed in a movie…NEVER! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/102 "2008-11-24T02:43:07Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > RE: A Wrinkle in Time. This movie was so hideous that it actually made me cry! The special effects were beyond lame. This is one of my favorite books. I can honestly say that I have never been more disappointed in a movie…NEVER! I am glad I didn’t see it, then. They also ruined (or tried to) The Phantom Tollbooth when I was about 11 or so. The movie made from that wonderful book was horrid. Maybe Roger Ebert is right: good books make terrible movies and vice versa. But there are lots of counter-examples, so… ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/103 "2008-11-24T05:34:21Z")
I’ve been waiting for somebody to do Methuselah’s Children for about 30 years now. I suspect I’ll be waiting a bit longer. And just for shits and giggles, who should play Lazarus Long if they ever did? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/104 "2008-11-24T16:24:46Z")
> [@](#): > > by **eleanorigby** > The Mary Stewart Merlin Trilogy, but we can ignore the “fourth” book, please. Hey, I liked _The Wicked Day_! How about we film the first three as a set, and then film the fourth with a completely different cast and crew? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/105 "2008-11-24T17:45:08Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Hey, I liked _The Wicked Day_! How about we film the first three as a set, and then film the fourth with a completely different cast and crew? You are dead to me now. (ok, but have the fourth film come out after I’m dead and gone). ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/106 "2008-11-24T18:17:32Z")
I’d take the most comprehensive biography of Napoleon Bonaparte as the book I would make a movie from. Except, I wouldn’t make a movie, but a mini-series to be shown on one of the premium channels. Sort of like what HBO did in “Rome”. Truly, where is the great epic tale about one of the most compelling persons of the last 1000 years? My God, the drama, the romance, the gory wars. What more could you ask for? ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/107 "2008-11-24T18:30:45Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > [Slaughterhouse Five](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069280/) was made into a movie back in 1972. It was actually one of the better cinematic adaptations of Vonnegut’s stories but that’s not really saying much. Most movies based on Vonnegut’s works have turned out horribly. The non-linear structure of the stories has proven difficult for Hollywood to adapt as is the fact that his stories have a lot of satire, surrealism, dark humor, and scenes that would likely offend most the non-Vonnegut-reading audience. There are very few directors who could take all of these potentially off-putting elements and make a film that would please both Vonnegut fans and moviegoers. (Maybe Terry Gilliam?) If any Vonnegut book is made into a movie, Gilliam _ **must** _ be the director. He’s the only one who can do it. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/108 "2008-11-25T01:25:44Z")
After hearing the suggestions of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, I realized how amazing a movie version of Cryptonomicon would be if written and directed by the Coen Brothers. They would be the only ones who could capture the subtle humor of that book. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/109 "2008-11-25T01:33:44Z")
[She Hates My Futon](http://www.famousboot.com/?page_id=3), by Craig Mitchell. Just as soon as he finishes it. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/110 "2008-11-25T01:40:04Z")
THE LOSERS by David Eddings. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/111 "2008-11-25T02:03:05Z")
I’m a big fan of Patrick McManus’s stories about the great outdoors–especially the ones about his childhood, and I think a good screenwriter could take a few of the best and weave them into a hilarious, memoir-like movie (ala The Christmas Story). ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/112 "2008-11-26T18:02:55Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I’m a big fan of Patrick McManus’s stories about the great outdoors–especially the ones about his childhood, and I think a good screenwriter could take a few of the best and weave them into a hilarious, memoir-like movie (ala The Christmas Story). Yes! ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/113 "2008-11-26T18:17:01Z")
> [@AllWalker](#): > > Depending on how the third book turns out, I think the Waterwalker arc in Hamilton’s Void Trilogy could make a good movie. … the Void books will be a TRILOGY??? :mad: Jeezopete. (I just finished the first one.) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/114 "2008-11-28T22:55:15Z")
Sorry to resurrect, and with a hijack, at that, but I just wanted to thank everyone who brought the book **The Sparrow** to my attention in this thread. I picked it up a couple of days ago and have not been able to put it down. It has been a long time since a book captured me so immediately as this one has. I also picked up **Cloud Atlas** , and can’t wait to start that, too. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/115 "2008-11-29T04:33:52Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I’m a big fan of Patrick McManus’s stories about the great outdoors–especially the ones about his childhood, and I think a good screenwriter could take a few of the best and weave them into a hilarious, memoir-like movie (ala The Christmas Story). [QUOTE=Danalan] Yes! [/QUOTE] There have been attempts been they never got out of the proposal stage. Patrick McManus is an acquaintance of my family (my father had him as a journalism instructors many years ago and we later owned property that was close by). One time during a visit, the subject of movie and TV adaptations of his stories came up and McManus mentioned that there was interest in turning them into a project featuring Jim Varney (this was in the early 90s). I told him (probably much to his chagrin) that I thought for the more contemporary stories, someone like James Garner would be a good lead. In any case, I haven’t heard anything about any TV or film adaptations of his work since then even though they have been turned into several one-man plays. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/116 "2008-11-29T04:44:34Z")
Call me crazy, but I think **Walden** could make an amazing movie if you found the right creative way to depict the complexity of thought (I’m thinking of **A Beautiful Mind** but better). You’d also probably need to use flashbacks and dreams in order to introduce other characters. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/117 "2008-11-29T13:32:57Z")
Tabitha King’s trilogy–The Book of Reuben, Pearl & One on One–would make damn good movies, mini-series, or TV show. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/118 "2008-11-29T15:35:31Z")
I would love to see a movie version of “Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.” You could do it like the “Conan the Barbarian” script and cherry pick the best/most adaptable stories from the books and weave them together. The biggest problem would be getting the casting just right. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/119 "2008-11-29T15:48:10Z")
I’ll second the Jack Reacher novels and **The Talisman** suggestions, and add **They Thirst** by Robert R McCammon, **By Reason Of Insanity** by Shane Stevens and **Abel Baker Charley** by John Maxim. p.s. Is Clancy Brown big enough to play Jack Reacher? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187/120 "2008-11-29T15:56:51Z")
_Mirror of Her Dreams_ and _A Man Rides Through_ by Stephen R. Donaldson would make an excellent TV miniseries. It’d probably stretch out to a full season, or maybe two (in American terms, probably 20-40 one-hour shows.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-would-you-make-into-a-movie/473187.md?page=7)