Bookish TV Shows

Books have been adapted quite often for film, but it seems that more than ever lately there are entire bookish TV shows and mini-series that are being developed around some of our much beloved books. While I have not had the pleasure of watching some of these or even reading their bookish inspirations, I am really excited about quite a few of these bookish TV shows!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

From IMDb: After the loss of their parents in a mysterious fire, the three Baudelaire children face trials and tribulations attempting to uncover dark family secrets.

I have only watched a few episodes of this Netflix Original, but I can tell you that it is really quite incredible and the acting is superb. There are so many fantastic actors in this series that it is hard to imagine that it would be anything short of amazing. If you are hoping for this adaptation to be just like the book, you will discover that there are a few changes, additions and omissions to bring the books to life. I am not disappointed with the changes and the show is so well done that it is easy to accept and embrace this show.

Riverdale

From IMDb: A subversive take on Archie and his friends, exploring small town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade.

Depending on where you live, this series is aired on The CW or Netflix. There has only been  one episode available to watch so far, so it is hard to give a full review on Riverdale at this point. I haven’t read any Archie comics in a very long time, but from what I have seen, this series is a spin-off that has taken the characters into a very dark place. It is definitely a typical teen drama that you will see coming from The CW and I think that it is going to be appealing to some. I have definitely enjoyed the first episode and look forward to seeing more of this series.

13 Reasons Why

From IMDb: Thirteen Reasons Why, based on the best-selling series by Jay Asher, follows teenager Clay Jensen in his quest to uncover the story behind his classmate and crush Hannah’s decision to end her own life.

This show doesn’t come out until March 31st and I couldn’t be more excited for it to hurry up and get here already! Admittedly, I haven’t read Jay Asher’s book yet, but I have enjoyed his other novels and this whole story just sounds amazing. I love a great mystery and I think that the story also tells a deeper message to its audience along the way. This is definitely one book that I will be reading soon to prepare for this new show.

Big Little Lies

From HBO Canada: Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, and featuring tour de force performances by several top Hollywood actors, Big Little Lies is a darkly comic drama set in Monterey, CA that begins with a suspicious homicide at an elementary-school fundraiser. Though the victim and the perpetrator initially remain a mystery, it seems likely that the murder was spawned by rivalries and secrets surrounding three mothers.

I have seen lots of great reviews for Lynne Moriarty’s Big Little Lies on Goodreads and I am super excited to read this book before the series comes out in a few weeks. I have always enjoyed Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley and I have a pretty good feeling that this is going to be one HBO series that is going to be amazing. I am not sure how much of the original story will remain, but the whole murder mystery aspect has me intrigued.

The Handmaid’s Tale

From Hulu: Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values’.

It has been a while since I have read Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and I hope that I will have the opportunity to re-read it before this series comes out in April. I cannot wait to see both Alexis Bledel and Elizabeth Moss in this one. Written more than 20 years ago, it is definitely an interesting concept that still gives me the chills. I haven’t seen any other place to watch the series other than Hulu, however Atwood has indicated that it will be available to watch in Canada at some point.