Books to Read Before Seeing the Movie 2014-Part 1

There are a lot of books being made into movies this year, and this month has been a big one for movie releases! I am a big believer in the book being better in almost any case, but I try to give movies the benefit of the doubt. All of these are movies set to release this year, and you should read the book before you actually see the movie, in my humble opinion.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
We have sang this book's praises on here before, and not without good reason. This book is funny, sad, sweet, and all around memorable. It is the story of Hazel Lancaster, who meets Augustus Waters at a "cancer kid" support group. It may not sound amazing, but it is. The movie will be released this June, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
This award-winning classic depicts one of the first YA dystopian worlds (before dystopia was a thing in every other book). Eleven-year-old Jonas is given his life's work: to be the Receiver of the memories of all who came before. As he takes in all of these memories, Jonas realizes that their utopia may not be as perfect as everyone thinks. Given the popularity of The Hunger Games and Divergent, I would not be surprised if this movie is a box office hit. It has some big names in it: Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, Katie Holmes, and Jeff Bridges are all in it. Out in August.

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
A family fulfills their late father's last wish: that the family live in the same house for a whole week. The only problem here is that this particular family does not get along. Siblings are spread throughout the country, old grudges have never been forgotten, and no one wants to be together longer than necessary. As you can imagine, drama ensues. The movie will be released this September, and has some big names in it too: Jason Bateman, Rose Byrne, and Jane Fonda. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Now, I hated this book. I hated it because I could not find one character to like. Basically, everybody was awful and I didn't trust them. If I am going to hate a book, that's the only acceptable reason, because at least it kept me reading it. It's the story of what happens when Nick finds out his wife is missing, and finds out he didn't really know her that well at all. This movie comes out in October, starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Another bestseller, this time a nonfiction story. The book tells the tale of an Olympic runner turned army officer, who was taken prisoner by Japanese soldiers during WWII. It is a story of resilience, danger, and hope. The movie is one of those "highly anticipated," in part because Angelina Jolie is the director for the film. Not set to release until Christmas this year, you have plenty of time to read it.

What book are you looking forward to seeing as a film? Or are you (like me) quite critical of your favorite books being brought to life?

~Cailey