Favorite Book-to-Movie Adaptations

ByDani Pettrey
16 Comments

Hi friends!
Happy Wednesday. I’m excited to spend a little bit of today with you. One thing you might not know about me is how much I love movies. Love. Love. Love. But I love them all the more when they are based on my favorite books. Today, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites, and I hope you’ll share some of your favorites in the comments.

Jane Eyre

Starring Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska

I am wowed at the job Michael Fassbender did. He and Mia worked so well together, and their gentle and loving chemistry worked. The costume design is lovely, as is the beautiful moors on which it was filmed.

Sense and Sensibility

Starring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman

I can’t help but love the movie nearly as much as I love the book. Alan Rickman (who I adored) and Kate Winslet displayed so well what true love is. The sisterly bond is portrayed with heart, and all of the relationships throughout the film convey the deep emotions weaving through the characters so well.

Pride and Prejudice

I know I’m going to take a lot of flak over this choice, and I understand why. I first saw and fell in love with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Who couldn’t? But my favorite adaptation has become the one starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

I love the dynamic between Elizabeth and Darcy portrayed by Keira and Matthew. Their banter is so witty and balanced just right, whether they are fighting or flirting. The set design is amazing. I felt like I was back in Regency England. But it’s the longing Darcy shows at the end of the film when he’s crossing the grounds with the fog swirling about this open coat and the simple words Elizabeth uses to give him his “yes” answer.

Persuasion

Starring Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis

Last but not least, this is my new favorite despite the fact that it was filmed in 2022. I just discovered it on Netflix and have watched it so much that I’m driving my family crazy. I love the way they tweaked the adaptation to have Anne speaking to the camera and her fun, strong, and quirky personality. They did a wonderful job. And, Cosmo Jarvis…the way he responds at the end, it was like he was Wentworth. I haven’t seen a scene as emotion-filled and well-acted when he’s hugging her near the end. If you haven’t seen it, proceed directly to Netflix and enjoy! And the score is lovely, too.

    I hope you enjoyed my list and maybe found a new movie to try. Can you tell I’m a classic literature fan? I’d love to know your favorite book-to-movie adaptations. Thanks for spending part of your day with me.

    Blessings,
    Dani

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    Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as "a name to look for in romantic suspense," Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

    16 Comments

    1. What wonderful choices, Dani! Jane Eyre is my favorite, though I prefer the William Hurt version. 🙂 I have to admit that with many book to movie adaptations, I have only seen the movie version, so I don’t know how true to the book they are but some favorites of mine are The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society and the old North and South British mini series. One TV adaptation that I love where I actually HAVE read the books is the PBS series All Creatures Great and Small. The fifth season just released, and I look forward to watching it soon. I read the books by James Herriott when I was a teenager.

    2. Love your choices, Dani. I disagree on Pride & Prejudice. Yes, I love the Colin Firth mini-series. But the movie with Keira and Matthew had me loving it right up to the New Age ending. The “call me goddess” line at the end ruined it. It was so 21st century instead of early 19th century that I left the theater mad because it pulled me out of the fictitious dream. Jane Austen would never have written such a line, and I remain offended on her behalf. LOL!! But I will still watch that movie until the end. I stop it before Keira can say those words and spoil it all over again.

      1. I’m totally with you, Robin. Here in Europe the old schooled DVD has 2 different endings, the “goodness” version is titled as alternativ ending or US version. The European end is after scene Dany described and Mr. Bennett gave his blessing 🙂

      2. Thanks, Robin. Yep. That line really does ruin it. Hadn’t thought about it until now. Excellent point. That’s a smart way of watching it 🙂

    3. You’re not going to get any flak from me over your Pride and Prejudice choice of Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. It’s my favorite version and I’ve watched it NUMEROUS times. The hand flex makes my pulse race. Every. Single. Time! TV and film industry take note….you don’t have to be graphic or explicit to show attraction and passion.

    4. Great books-to-movies. I love, love, love that version of Sense and Sensibility. But I have to disagree over Persuasion! I adore the Cirian Hinds/Amanda Root version!

    5. I love that you love Jane Austen adaptations! I love that S&S as well as the one with Hattie Morahan & Charity Wakefield.

      Other adaptations I love are Bleak House with Gillian Anderson & Little Dorrit with Claire Foy.

      I generally overall prefer the book to the movies in most cases (though I enjoy both), but one notable exception is the Scarlet Pimpernel with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellan. . Very old but amazing and so funny! They greatly improved the original book by changing some things and adding parts of other books in the series that just made it better, I think.

    6. My very favorite movie adaptation is SOMEONE LIKE YOU by Karen KIngsbury. She and her family produced the movie and it is amazing! It’s available on DVD now and coming to Pure Flix soon. The book followed the movie exactly and the characters were exactly as I pictured them to be. I especially loved the setting; if you watch the movie, look for the house on the hill that is made of glass. Unbelievably gorgeous!

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