Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Should be Adapted into Netflix Shows/Movies

Now this is a fun topic: Books that Should Be Adapted into Netflix Shows/Movies. There are plenty of books and series that we’d love to see (faithful) adaptations of. Thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl for another great Top Ten Tuesday!

Indiana’s Five

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 

I know that another series by Bardugo is coming to Netflix soon but I think this one would translate really well to that platform. Her writing is action-packed and full of movie-ready dialogue. 

School for Good and Evil by Soman Chiani 

This is another series that would do really well as a Netflix show. Filled fairy tales both old and new, this would make for a great animated series that would appeal to kids and teens alike. 

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 

I would be nervous to see this one done but I think, in the right hands, it would be an incredible noir film.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

I’m surprised this one hasn’t already been adapted to the big screen. Combining the backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness with intense family drama, I could see this doing really well as a Netflix film or mini-series. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune 

Filled with quirky characters, this whimsical novel would make a timely movie about acceptance and following what you know to be right rather than what you’re told to do. 

Pete’s Five

The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

This one comes with a huge caveat: It must be an animated series. Stormlight is simply too massive and VFX-heavy to work as a live action adaptation. Unfortunately, such an adaptation is already in the works.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

By far my favorite of Toni Morrison’s works, this mythical story of a young man exploring the legacy of his family would be amazing to see on-screen. I wouldn’t want a single thing changed, of course.

Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve

We saw an adaptation of the first book in this quartet in 2018, and it was pretty acceptable—an entertaining popcorn flick that portrayed most of the characters well. I’d love to see the rest of the books adapted in similar fashion, maybe paying a bit more homage to the wonderful books. 

The Count of Monte Cristo  by Alexandre Dumas

Another one that requires a bit of explanation: This 1,200-page tome just doesn’t work as a film—many have tried without success. But as a miniseries, it could finally get the epic adaptation it deserves.

Books of Babel by Josiah Bancroft

This one comes with the most specific stipulation of all: It must be adapted by Studio Ghibli. In this instance, I would be okay with some fairly major alterations so long as the characters and the overall atmosphere of the fantastic tower of Babel are preserved.