Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary” was made into a movie back in 1989, and similarly to King’s “It,” the movie is getting a remake this year. (screenshot/Pet Sematary trailer)
We all know that books are usually better than their movie adaptations, and if you want to maintain your “ahead of the game” status by reading the book before your friends want to go see the movie, then you have a long reading list ahead of you for the year. There’s an array of books being adapted for the big screen in 2019, so grab your library card and get ready. I’ve picked out some highlights from a variety of genres, so you’re bound to find something that interests you.
“Pet Sematary” by Stephen King: That’s right: 2019 is bringing us yet another Stephen King movie adaptation. “Pet Sematary” was made into a movie back in 1989, and similarly to King’s “It,” the movie is getting a remake. The book is about Doctor Louis Creed, who moves his family out to Maine. When their pet cat dies, they bury it near an old pet cemetery, but the cat comes back from the dead with murderous intent. The movie comes out April 5.
“The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon: “The Sun Is Also a Star” is an interesting take on the recent trend of love stories written in dual perspective from both the guy and girl, as Yoon introduces additional narratives into the work. Some are written about background characters, like the train conductor, and others are written by the Universe itself. The book follows the story of Natasha and Daniel, two strangers who bump into each other in NYC and try not to fall in love with each other while Natasha harbors the secret that her family is set to be deported in a week. The movie comes out May 17.
“Five Feet Apart” by Rachael Lippincott: Lippincott’s book is essentially a mix between John Green’s “The Fault In Our Stars” and Nicola Yoon’s “Everything, Everything,” which is probably why it was adapted for a movie before it had even come out as a novel. The story revolves around Stella and Will, two sick teens who can’t get within six feet of each other because the germs could threaten Stella’s ability to have a lung transplant. Will is played by none other than Cole Sprouse, so you can be sure to see me in theaters when it comes out on March 22.
“Artemis Fowl” by Eoin Colfer: When I first heard that “Artemis Fowl” was being made into a movie, I was honestly a bit surprised that it hadn’t happened before. The plot follows titular character Artemis Fowl, who kidnaps a fairy for ransom in order to restore his family fortune. The full series contains eight books and is well-known for being one of the classic fantasy series of the 2000s. The movie is set to premiere on Aug. 9.
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott: If you’re a fan of classics, you’ll be happy to hear that “Little Women” is being adapted for the big screen this year. The plot follows four women as they grow from childhood into adulthood. The prospect may not sound super enticing, but the movie is packed with huge stars. Most notably, the cast includes Emma Watson and Timothée Chalamet, who are bound to draw large audiences into the theater. “Little Women” comes out this Christmas, Dec. 25.
“All The Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven: “All The Bright Places” is one of the saddest books I’ve read, and it’s known in the book community as the kind of book you’re likely to throw at a wall when you finish. This statement always makes me laugh because before I learned this, I actually did throw the book at a wall. Again, it’s kind of a mix of “The Fault in Our Stars” and Rainbow Rowell’s “Eleanor & Park.” Violet and Theodore, who is referred to as the school freak, meet each other when they’re both standing at the top of their school’s belltower and contemplating jumping off. The resulting rumors like to say that Violet was there to talk Theodore out of it, but the truth is a lot more complicated. It leads to an unlikely friendship between two teens who are struggling mentally and don’t really have anyone else.
The movie’s release date has yet to be announced, but it’s supposed to come out sometime this year and stars Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. A warning for this title: The book deals with a lot of dark subject matter, including depression and suicide, and for this reason, it may be a bit triggering.
That’s just six of the roughly 25 books being made into movies this year. Between the star-studded casts and well-known authors, 2019 is bound to be an amazing year for both books and movies. Give one of the books a read and go annoy your friends by gloating that you read the book before it was cool.
Courtney Gavitt is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at courtney.gavitt@uconn.edu.
