For book-lovers, the movie release of a favorite book is a bittersweet experience. You can't wait to see the story brought to life, but your excitement is tempered by the knowledge that some things are better expressed in words than acting. Here are five great books to read before you see the movies!
1. "The Rosie Project" by Graeme Simsion
Don Tillman is a somewhat obsessive genetics professor who lives his life in an exceedingly organized fashion. (His "Standardized Meal System" ensures that he receives the proper nutrition at every meal without any additional food waste.) In his quest for love, Don creates a 16-page scientific survey to weed out the unsuitable partners. (If only we all had one of those.) Rosie Jarmon personifies every unsuitable characteristic listed on Don's survey.
Nevertheless, Don decides to help her search for her biological father. Along the way, Rosie teaches Don about life, love, and the frightening unpredictability of the world we live in. This book is a funny, lighthearted read that you will miss as soon as you turn the last page. The movie version is currently in production and set to be released in 2017.
2. "The Dinner" by Herman Koch
Set in Amsterdam, this psychological thriller tells the story of two couples united by the hateful crime committed by their teenage sons. The parents are torn between their fierce love for their children and the complete shock and abhorrence over the incomprehensible act that was committed. The novel plays out over the course of a dinner (hence the title), and the suspense is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages. The subtitled Italian film was produced in 2014.
3. "A Long Way Down" by Nick Hornby
Four strangers meet at the top of a building on New Year's Eve, each intending to end their lives. They decide to hold off on their plans until Valentine's Day, and unite for a common mission in the meantime. The book is incredibly funny despite the dark topic, and will make you want to read every Nick Hornby novel ever written. Plus the movie was released in 2014, so you don't even have to wait for it come out!
4. "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
If you enjoyed "Gone Girl," you have to check out this absorbing and suspenseful thriller. Every day, Rachel Watson takes the same train into London. During her commute, she begins to observe a happy-looking couple, whom she refers to as Jason and Jess. Everything about them is seemingly perfect -- until one day Rachel sees something that she cannot ignore. I won't reveal any more details, but you have to check out this fantastic book before the movie is released in the fall.
5. "Sister" by Rosamund Lupton
A fantastic psychological thriller (sensing a pattern?) about the unbreakable bond between Bee and Tess, two very different sisters. When Tess's body is found in a public bathroom, her death is ruled a suicide by the police, but Bee is convinced that foul play was involved. She moves into Tess's apartment in an attempt to discover what led to her sister's death, risking her life to uncover the unsettling secrets of Tess's life. According to Lupton's website, the film rights are currently being optioned.
