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10 Books You Should Read Before Seeing The Movie (in 2008)

geeksofdoom.com — That’s why I ’ve compiled a list of 10 movies coming out this year which were adapted from book/graphic novels, along with related source material to get you ready for the 2008 mega-movie season.

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  • 0U8I2, on 05/17/2008, -4/+62BOOKS! Very cool. Not enough book talk going around (okay, even if it does involve movies which is cool too). Looks like I have some reading to catch up on. I think from this list I only read Caspian.
    • TheMime, on 05/17/2008, -4/+5You haven't read Harry Potter?
    • Cottonmouthy, on 05/17/2008, -4/+3*Warning: something of an advertisement follows*

      On the subject of book talk: if you're finding yourself not reading as much as you'd like and you spend most of the day in front of the computer, you should check out http://www.dailyreader.net - they deliver books over email, so you can have a few minutes sent to you at work and you sneak it in during the middle of the day. They don't have many (any?) modern books, but they do have A Journey to the Centre of the Earth from this list: http://www.dailyreader.net/content/book/Journey-to ...
      • Emmo213, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1So they send you books to your e-mail for free? Looks like a good idea - thanks!
    • rpgmaker, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1In my opinion everybody should read the books before watching the movie. But what happens most of the times is that you watch the movie and then you read that it was based on a book, like the Shawshank Redemption was for me.
    • MasterPain, on 05/18/2008, -0/+0I think people should watch the movie first, because everyone always says the book was better. So reading the book first would just ruin the movie. But if you watch the movie first you can still enjoy the book. Also it w'ont annoy everyone when you say the book was so much better.
  • in2apps, on 05/17/2008, -17/+2If there isn't enough book talking then you need to create a social network for book lovers - you can include a group for books you should read before the movies - although the books are usually better - power to the book clubs with in2community.com
    • macatizor, on 05/17/2008, -1/+3Way to make use of the reply and edit features.
  • in2apps, on 05/17/2008, -14/+1Actually you could put that social network directly on your Geeks of Doom website - that's how in2community works.
  • MajorJJH, on 05/17/2008, -2/+33I love that Horton Hears a Who is in there... that's freakin' awesome!
    • brundlefly76, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4Jackass II read much differently than the film, the characters were much more fully developed and they dropped a major subplot.
  • decepticrat, on 05/17/2008, -2/+12Clive Barker is my favorite author of all time. It's a shame that they've yet to be able to make a successful adaptation of his work. Sadly, even he couldn't do it when he directed Hellraiser. Sure, that was a decent enough film, but nothing compared to the brilliance of the Hellbound Heart. Midnight Meat Train is a simple enough story so maybe they won't screw it up too much, but from what I've read so far my faith in it is lacking.
    • KaiUno, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2I don't know, I kinda liked Nightbreed. Or Cabal. Whatever you want to call it. Might not have been 100% true, but it really felt like Barker.

      Tim Burton should do his adaptations.
  • mark076h, on 05/17/2008, -0/+19i plan to pick up City of Ember, it sounds really good
    • empressofmetal, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4I highly recommend City of Ember. It was a great book and it looks like they're doing a good job on the movie.
    • FrenchAnarchy, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1It was a decent book... for a pre-teen/ teen.
    • Patrickdnj, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1I read this book too........and another book is coming out soon from this series.....and don't be bothered if it's in youth fiction.....SOME of the BEST books are in there............
    • JesusDeluxe, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Simple read but I'm very excited to see Bill Murray in the film. The trailer is out now btw
  • socivitus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+8I had no idea Jumper was a book, I thought the movie was decent, but I may check out the book for curiosity's sake. Thanks for the share.
    • cabernetsav, on 05/17/2008, -0/+9The book for Jumper is extremely more enjoyable than the film. I'd suggest not even wasting your time with the movie.
      • copperplated, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4I heard the same thing. I haven't seen the movie yet, but it just didn't look all that good. I did pick up the book, but haven't read it yet.
    • Acglaphotis, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1The books (Jumper and Reflex) have much more character depth and plot than the movie. Griffin's Story not so much.
  • thenonhacker, on 05/17/2008, -9/+691 Book you should read and Avoid seeing the movie: The Da Vinci Code.
    • FrenchAnarchy, on 05/17/2008, -8/+0The book was good, but the movie wasn't that bad. I don't understand why every critic unanimously trounced it.
    • thesparrowband, on 05/17/2008, -1/+6another good book ruined by the movie: The Golden Compass. the movie was ***** horrible. the book is the first of His Dark Materials series, which i thought, and still think is ingeniously written and very engaging.
      • MsGo, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1OH GAWD, I agree on Golden Compass.
        They pussied out on the Christian elements, didn't take their time developing the characters, and the ending was SERIOUSLY, *****.

        The worst part is they screwed up any chance of a sequel, which would have ROCKED, done right.
    • whatthefu, on 05/17/2008, -5/+11The book wasn't good either.
    • bastardprince, on 05/17/2008, -1/+10the book was "hollywood"ized way before the movie was. how about the fact that the book claims to be based on true facts such as the louvre has 666 window panels when in fact there are 673 glass panes (603 rhombi and 70 triangles). Dan Brown is a terrible writer who doesnt know the meaning of pacing and writes for teenagers imho. but each to his own :D
    • Syphon8, on 05/17/2008, -2/+6Angels & Demons was much better than The Da Vinci Code.
    • Netrilix, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4I did the opposite of what most people did for that one. I saw the movie first, and then read the entire book the next day to get more content of the story. Personally, I thought this was a better way of doing it, because I didn't spend the entire time thinking "Whoa, they just skipped important stuff that was in the book", I'd get "Whoa, this is a cool fact that wasn't in the movie."
      • bastardprince, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1yes but none of the facts were true, he is full of bs.....
      • Elranzer, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3I've done that too. Reading the book *after* seeing the movie is like getting to experience a better version of the movie you just saw. If you read the book first, you are often disappointed with the movie. Not the other way around if you read the book after the movie.

        This even goes back to the beginning of cinema. Currently, I'm doing The Jungle Book (and yeah, it's way better).
    • heffae, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3The Da Vinci Code was defiantly a page turner but my big problem with it is that Dan Brown adds in little "facts" I guess to add color to the book and show how smart he is but a lot of these "facts" are wrong. I'm generally ok with authors changing things about the real world in order to tell a better story but a lot of things Drown gets wrong don't have much to do with the plot they just show sloppy research.
    • Falldog, on 05/18/2008, -0/+2It's been a while since I saw the movie but I felt like it was pretty much the same as the book and one doesn't loose anything one way or the other.
  • aforsberg, on 05/17/2008, -10/+3The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
    Iorn Man?
    Da Vinci Code?

    :[ this list makes me sad
    • antonio97b, on 05/17/2008, -2/+8#1 Iron Man isn't a book you *****.

      #2 Da Vinci Code came out in 2006 (this list is for 2008) you *****.

      #3 THGTTG came out in 2005 (again, list is for 2008) you *****.

      What makes me sad is your reading comprehension.
      • bob12321, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3There is no way anyone should ever see the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy movie. The book is much better.
      • nicktheawesome, on 05/17/2008, -2/+1Dude, I love Iorn Man!
    • BevansDesign, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Personally, I think Iron Man qualifies as a "book", even though it's really a series of comics. They collect them into trade paperbacks, which are definitely books. But which books/issues? You can't just expect people to read EVERY comic before they see the movie. And they should, because it's a really good movie.

      I've only seen Iron Man in animated form. So I wonder, is there a list called "10 animated series/movies you should see before seeing the movie"?

      Oh, and Antonio: lay off. Try not to blow a gasket.
  • zen53, on 05/17/2008, -4/+21I'd add Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. The book is even more insane than the film!
    • empressofmetal, on 05/17/2008, -1/+12Fear & Loathing was a great book. But the list is only for films coming out this year.
    • demiurgency, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4I actually have to disagree. As a big fan of the film (seen it at least 10 times) I finally read the book last summer. And with the exception of one or two passages, I found that the book and the film were almost exactly the same.

      It's a testament to how great Terry Gilliam's adaptation is. Unfortunately, I was really hoping to be wowed by the book, but it felt more like I was reading the script to the film. Still, both works, amazing.

      The exact same thing happened to me when I read Fight Club.
  • dcmusicfusion, on 05/17/2008, -0/+15Given that the DVD just came out.....Into the Wild was freaking amazing--Emile & Sean Penn did fantastically compelling work together....I bet the book is even better.
  • dcmusicfusion, on 05/17/2008, -7/+2No social network for booklovers? Bookthing, Amazon (which could add more social features), and Shelfari (which has one of my favorite applications for Facebook) not enough? I'm sure there are a couple on Ning, but why not start your own Booklovers community on Ning?
  • aZombie, on 05/17/2008, -0/+25Too bad it's not coming out this year, but I'm looking forward to the World War Z movie that they're making from the Max Brooks book. ZOMBIES! Some good adaptations coming out this year though.
    • TheZorch, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4I can't wait for that one to come out.
  • ToeCracker, on 05/17/2008, -1/+5Good list. I always though reading the book could spoil the movie however, I may have to re-think that though.
    • cabernetsav, on 05/17/2008, -1/+4I absolutely disagree. I am of the opinion that movies can ruin a person's reading experience. Imagine, not being able to come up with your own vision of the characters and scenes because hollywood has already shown you what they're *supposed* to look like. It's a shame really.
    • CybrStuff, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Actually, I tend to agree with the OP. I read The Bourne Identity and finished it just before I saw the movie, and it just about killed the movie for me, because all I could think was "well, this isn't how it was in the book." However, when I watched the movie again later, I realized that it was actually quite a good movie. I understand cabernetsav's point about imagination, but I feel like going from a movie to a book, there's going to be so much that the movie couldn't show you that you're going to have to rely on your imagination to fill in the gaps anyway, whereas going the other direction, all you're going to see is "well, they changed this, left out my favorite scene," etc.
  • MuntrealCanada, on 05/17/2008, -4/+12Whoa... "Midnight Meat Train" sounds promising...

    hhhaha, meat train..
    • Sirlolalot, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1yes theres a joke about riding the midnight meat train there somewhere...
  • debuffplx, on 05/17/2008, -5/+51Sex and the city? GTFO
    • MsGo, on 05/18/2008, -0/+2It's not a bad read, for us chicks and gay men.
    • eurynome420, on 05/18/2008, -0/+2hahaha i'm pretty sure that all the digg downs you have are from the very few females/gay guys on digg
  • MiamiRox, on 05/17/2008, -0/+8I always like reading the book before seeing the movie just in case ***** acting ruins the story for me.

    Although you'd have to pay me to read the Sex & the City book.
    • endlessoul, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1You'd have to pay me not to kill you for asking me to read that book.
  • N3M3515, on 05/17/2008, -1/+2#11 NEMESIS by Chalmers Johnson.
  • alx1507, on 05/17/2008, -3/+25- "The book was much better than the movie"
    - "Oh yeah? The thing I enjoyed most about the movie?: no reading. Yeah. Only took two hours and then I could take a nap."
    -Jim Gaffigan
    • hiPpymIck, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3i like audio books
      if they get a good actor to read..its a hell of a lot easier than reading and interpreting it yourself
      and it still leaves the visuals to your imagination - if that is what you want
      i also like good movies ...oh and books too
      • Elranzer, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2The audiobooks for Chronicles of Narnia are read by Patrick Stewert, whose just perfect for it. Also check out the Lemmy Snickets' Series of Unfortunate Events audiobooks, as read by Tim Curry (much better than a Jim Carrey movie).
        • MJDub, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Picard needs to do more books on tape.
  • antonio97b, on 05/17/2008, -0/+5Apparently, people who want a social network specializing in books have no idea how to use a reply button.
  • Laminarcissus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4I don't know, I made a point of reading the David Foster Wallace-annotated Martinus Nijhoff edition of "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" and I still couldn't follow the movie.
  • MattBD, on 05/17/2008, -0/+6A Scanner Darkly was one book I was glad I read before watching the film - they complemented each other well that way and the film made it easier to understand what went on in the book.
    • BevansDesign, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2I went the opposite way. I saw the movie, which was pretty well-done and interesting but definitely not perfect. It got me wondering about the book, so I dropped by the library and picked it up.

      In this case, I think it's probably better to read the book first. I had a hard time seeing past Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr. and Woody Harrelson.
  • esaun, on 05/17/2008, -2/+4Choke?

    Not too many positive comments going around on imdb.com about the movie. And only 89 minutes?! WTF... Fight Club was 140 and that STILL missed out on a bit from the book. I hope this movie doesn't destroy the book.
    • TremorX, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Given the rather .. ahem... explicit content of the book and the somewhat graphic ending, I can't imagine the movie recreating much of the book. I want to believe it's going to be good, but I have little faith in it. Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.
    • quazywabbit, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1with Fight Club I felt that both the movie and the book worked together. There were things not in the movie that were in the book and vice versa and both are good on there own or together.
    • esaun, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I think Choke doesn't actually have NEARLY the budget Fight Club did.
    • nienhulm, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1Choke does have a graphic ending. His book "Haunted", however, left me completely disturbed. Each successive book he puts out messes with my psyche twice as much as the previous.
  • Bahimiron, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2I imagine other non-canon tidbits in the adaption of Wanted will be a whole lot less abject racism and probably less of a focus on how much the main character just loves committing rape and then murdering the women he rapes. Oh, and I doubt the scenes where he spree kills police for fun will be excised. Did I mention the rapes? In addition to his serial rape/murder, he goes on a spree of raping celebrities because he thinks it's funny. I bet they take that out.
    • jax9999, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1They are going to core the heart out of Wanted. They removed the whole hidden universe super hero aspect. All the ***** up versions of the DC villians. The random violence. I'm betting it won't open up withe the father of the main character taping a gay threeway.
    • Bahimiron, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Fine by me.

      Wanted was one of the worst things I've ever read. Ever.
  • kolinkoolface2, on 05/17/2008, -1/+4another chuck palihnuik book to movie..... i am there without a doubt.
  • eniven, on 05/17/2008, -0/+6How is Blindness, by Jose Saramago (who won the freakin' nobel prize for literature) not on the list??? The movie due out in September stars Julianne Moore and opened the Cannes Film festival!
  • Diablohuman, on 05/17/2008, -0/+6Golden Compass? (Northern Lights)
    • FrenchAnarchy, on 05/17/2008, -2/+0This year...
    • Fartbandit, on 05/17/2008, -0/+0Poor adaptation of probably the greatest fantasy fiction novel of the past 100 years... (yes that includes the LOTR books despite them being good books also)
    • Enasni1212, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1First of all, the article is talking about 2008; Golden Compass came out last year. Second, Golden Compass isn't just a case of, "the book was better." The book is really amazing, but the film was just terrible. 113 minutes of my life that I'll never get back.
  • Goldennova, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4No Blindness? I read that book a few years ago and was so happy that the movie is coming out.

  • codyp, on 05/17/2008, -1/+4hahaha who the hell reads the book before they see the movie? The movie is never as good as the book. I see the movie, then I read the book. Its so much better that way. I mean.. when you see the movie, and then discover so much more in the book, the movie seems alot less disappointing that way. A book may ruin the movie, but the movie wont ruin the book, if its truly a good book.
  • stellamaris, on 05/17/2008, -1/+8I've got a shirt that says "Don't judge a book by it's movie."
    • Acglaphotis, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Where can i get one?
      • stellamaris, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1I dunno, I got mine at a thrift store when I was in high school. I just recently refashioned it into a tank top. :)
    • CybrStuff, on 05/17/2008, -3/+12Your shirt has a typo.
      • DuneAdx, on 05/17/2008, -3/+4People like you ruin the internet.
      • Acglaphotis, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Where? I can't see it. (I'm asking seriously)
        • ehsteve23, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2it should be "its movie" not "it's movie".
      • ZigVicious, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2grammatical error != typo
  • samard2002, on 05/17/2008, -0/+7This a list? How about:

    1. Read every book before you see the movie

    There, now your list is done.
  • bdbr, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3Its always been my experience that movies feel terribly lacking after reading the book. There is just a lot more detail that can be explained in several hundred pages than a couple hundred minutes. I find it more enjoyable to read the book after seeing the movie, as it adds so much more depth.
  • kazimir22, on 05/17/2008, -0/+5http://duggmirror.com/movies/10_Books_You_Should_R ...
  • sparkleyflowers, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3Clive Barker's writing is amazing. The Books of Blood is an excellent read.
    • Konrad9, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3Have you tried Clive Barker's Clive Barker's Jericho by Clive Barker?
    • sparkleyflowers, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1I've played the demo on the 360. It's a pretty cool concept.
  • cheech794, on 05/17/2008, -0/+7The Watchmen should be on that list since the movie is coming out.
    • jax9999, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3I have nothing but hope for watchmen. AS long as they pull the twist off well, it has a glimmer of being good. "I've already done it" best villian line ever.
      • databeast, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1absolutely right there with ya man... everyone is worried about them ***** up Rorshach , Rorshach is easy, hell he's virtually a one-dimensional character in comparison to Veidt.. Getting Rorscach right will make the fanboys happy, but getting the Naked Blue God and The Smartest Man On The Ashpile correct is what will make the film work.
    • xtinamo, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Watchmen is coming out in March of 09 which explains why it's not on this list. I can't wait though!
      http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/
  • Goodfeeling32, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1Best adaptations I've seen are "Misery" and "The Shining".

    Although I haven't read those books.

    /Sarcasm
    /Blonde quote
  • Varner13, on 05/17/2008, -1/+3dugg for Chuck Palahniuk
  • pandikukka, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3The time travellers wife by Audrey Niffenegger.. an excellent love story
    • fotoman, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I know my wife is looking forward to the movie and loved the book.
  • heradecart, on 05/17/2008, -4/+1What about Atlas Shrugged? Surely, if J.K. Rowling made the list Ayn Rand should have.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/
    • missmorgie, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2I'm not sure Ayn Rand and J.K. Rowling are exactly comparable writers...

      That being said, bring on the Dagny Taggart!
  • schrutefan, on 05/17/2008, -1/+4Reading the book beforehand ruins a lot of movies in my experience. You'll be keeping track of stuff they changed, scenes they cut, etc. instead of simply enjoying it.

    If you like the movie, read the book afterwards to get more depth and a greater appreciation of the work.
  • deadlyrice, on 05/17/2008, -0/+0i recommend reading Bringing Down the House, but I don't recommend watching 21.

  • OJdidntdoIT, on 05/17/2008, -11/+1***** a book
    • TheZorch, on 05/17/2008, -1/+2If the majority of people in this country as like you then the US truly is *****.
  • ibeetle, on 05/17/2008, -1/+510? *****. You should always read the book before seeing the movie.
  • D3koy, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Am I the only one who is really exited about midnight meat train? Maybe it just sounds ***** hilarious to me, who knows...
  • hiPpymIck, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1maybe a
    (watch the movie then read the) book club
  • RandomNetUser, on 05/17/2008, -1/+4Dugg for all being on one page.
  • dyreschlock, on 05/17/2008, -7/+2buried. books are boring.
    • robthom, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1I'm sure most diggers agree, but your not supposed to say that. Its a dirty secret of modern "geekdom".
    • TheZorch, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1And you are brainless.
  • Tboy1039, on 05/17/2008, -0/+4Dugg because its on one page.
  • yodug007, on 05/17/2008, -1/+2choke is terrible.
    • spargett, on 05/17/2008, -0/+3Are you ***** retarded? Great book.

      I guess some people should just stick to the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter.
  • Andytom, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1I am legend - read the book be disappointed by the films.
    • Fartbandit, on 05/17/2008, -0/+0***** too true... the film was a will smith Scientology wankfest compared the the classic novella.
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