I was recently sat down with my family enjoying a curry while we watched something nondescript on the television. An advert for the recently adapted ‘Noughts and Crosses’ television series appeared (it’s incredible, by the way, please go watch it) and it just so happened that I was reading a book that I thought would make an excellent television show which made me think this would make a most excellent blog post.
I’d just like to clarify that television and film are not superior to books and vice versa; I truly believe that all these forms provide different types of audience experience that help them engage with a text in a special way that is unique to them. In fact, there was one particular book I wanted to place on this list but I just think it’s too perfect as it is (of course I’m not a television and/or film producer so what do I know?!) Below are a few books that I love and think would make great television programmes or films, please feel free to add your own. As you will see once you start reading, my literature interests are somewhat varied… The Time Rep Series by Peter Ward I absolutely love this series and have followed it since the first book, ‘Time Rep,’ came out in 2013. The story focuses on Geoffrey Stamp, a 21st century dwelling male, who is recruited by a company called Time Tours from the 31st century to act as a travel guide to tourists from the future. The series consists of three books and each one is silly, suspenseful and sci-fi goodness in equal measure. His writing is very reminiscent of Douglas Adams, which I particularly enjoyed in the most recent book ‘Time Rep: Pandemonium’ as his digs at popular television shows and Brexit genuinely made me chuckle. I can definitely see this working as a television series as there’s so many elements to it than can be explored and amplified. I’d love to see how the various time periods would come to life and the scrapes the characters would find themselves in. I’m just a sucker for a time traveller story. Who’s That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane I could have picked any of McFarlane’s books to put on this list; her characters are so relatable and they have some of the most believable dialogue I’ve ever read, even though they always seem to be in pretty unbelievable situations. I chose ‘Who’s That Girl?’ because the central character, Edie, is sarcastic, intelligent, hilarious and basically everything I love about a female lead. She also goes through some shit and handles it like a boss (and by that I mean she still expresses and acknowledges emotion without the bastards fully getting her down, so to speak. Women don’t have to be an emotionally void robot to be empowering, see previous blog posts.) The main premise of the book is that Edie attends a colleague’s wedding and ends up kissing the groom; chaos ensues and she ends up moving back to her hometown of Nottingham in a bid to hide away from the bullies. It’s such an accurate portrayal of how women are treated in society while still being really bloody funny. And it’s one of the sweetest romance stories you’ll ever read. I know the rom-com seems to be dead or a dirty word these days but I think that this book has the potential to bring the genre firmly up to date. Edie is a wonderful romantic heroine and, yes, she does conform to some tropes because it is a romance novel but I never feel like she’s a victim of the genre and is the kind of character I’d like to see more of on screen. Boy: Tales of Childhood and Going Solo by Roald Dahl Why hasn’t anyone made a biography about this incredible human’s life?! Just why? The man had one of the most adventurous and interesting lives to have ever existed from the moment he was born and I know that I would be running to buy a ticket if his story ever made it to the big screen. For anyone who has read the books the ‘Great Mouse Plot of 1924’ is a particular standout moment that would just be brilliant on the big screen as well as his time as a fighter pilot in WWII. And can you imagine all of that with some Quentin Blake illustrations thrown in, too? Magical. Just someone go make this, please.
2 Comments
5/11/2020 06:52:04 pm
Glad you liked Pandemonium Ellie, and I wish you all the best with The Arben Bridge! As for a big/small screen adaptation of the Time Rep series, who knows what the future may bring... Anyway, stay safe and well, and thanks for the kind comments on the books - it's always nice to hear when someone enjoys them! Pete
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Ellie Rees
5/11/2020 07:18:46 pm
Thank you that’s very kind! I would make a joke about seeing into the future but I’m better than that...
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