Adult Summer Reading Patron Reviews: Books That Were Made into Movies

Our Summer Reading program is winding down, with only 2 days left to log the books you read and any summer programs you attended: mywpl.beanstack.org. Between logging and waiting to find out which 2 patrons won the Grand Prize Kindle Paperwhites, check out these patron reviews on books that were made into movies.  We've got a great selection of fiction titles including mystery, science fiction, and horror.

Enjoy the sunny weather, and happy reading!

And Then There Were None 
By Agatha Christie 
I read this book over 30 years ago. I now know what a great mystery it is and why her works have lasted for so many years. I need the message in the bottle to explain the solution to me. The plot is clever and the writing is realistic.

~Frances N.

Ready Player One 
By Ernest Cline
I wanted to love this book. I wanted it to be awesome. Unfortunately, it just really disappointed me. The writing felt like a fan-fiction, was extremely simplistic and always was telling instead of showing. The main character never faces any REAL challenges, and all the problem-solving he does seems to happen "off screen" (like having played a game obsessively long before the story takes place). It felt completely flat to me, and the dystopian elements weren't enough to save it. I'm so sad, the concept could have been SO cool!

~Rebecca L.

The Cider House Rules
By John Irving
This was a reread for me. It had been 10 years since I first read it, and the story is still relevant as ever. I love how Irving builds his stories so slowly, to have them conclude so quickly. - Spoiler Alert - The part of the plot that didn't sit well with me this time was the Black orchard picker being the reason Homer finally succumbed to giving abortions. I understand the circumstances had to be extenuating for him to do so, but I wish it happened with a different character.

~Tori B.

It
By Stephen King 
A modern classic that builds characters and events in a strikingly real and immersive way. Stephen King is able to weave a story that travels through the past and the future to re-kindle what is found in children but lost in adults. As you travel through this supernatural novel, you will find yourself drawn more into reading about the events and find your childhood imagination rekindling inside.

~Kyle M.

The Call of the Wild
By Jack London
This is regarded as the author's masterpiece. It is based on London's experiences as a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness and his ideas about nature and the struggle for existence. It's also about an unbreakable spirit and the fight for survival in the frozen Alaskan Klondike. A true classic in its own right. Enjoyable read.😊

~Valdajean J.

Wonder
By R. J. Palacio
I enjoyed this text immensely. I read it along with my children, talking about the important messages of being kind that wove in and out. It's amazing how it riveted my elementary aged child's imagination and also held my attention. Far better than the movie, and such an interesting read.

~Loni P.