The Book Is Better - Book to Film Adaptation Reviews

Alright baby listeners, this week we’re stepping away from book adaptations and heading straight into theme park chaos. We’re recapping our trip to Universal Studios in Orlando and sharing everything that made the adventure memorable. There were incredible rides, a few unexpected moments, and plenty of laughs along the way as we experienced the parks together.

We talk about the attractions that impressed us the most, the moments that caught us off guard, and why some rides instantly became favorites. It’s part travel story, part family chaos, and completely different from our usual episod...

Alright baby listeners, this week we’re heading to Mars… or are we? We’re diving into Total Recall, where memory is optional, reality is questionable, and Arnold Schwarzenegger solves existential crises with explosives. The original Philip K. Dick story is sharp, compact, and deeply unsettling, playing with identity in a way that leaves you slightly dizzy. The movie takes that same concept and says, “What if we add mutants, political uprising, and the most aggressively 90s action energy imaginable?” We talk about what makes the short story so clever, why the movie is wildly entertaining even when it abandons s...

Alright baby listeners, buckle up, because this episode fought us every step of the way. We’re talking The Lost World: Jurassic Park, a sequel that somehow managed to give us more dinosaurs and less joy. We break down why Michael Crichton’s book, while not his strongest, still feels thoughtful and intentional, and why the movie feels like it was assembled by committee five minutes before filming started. We rant about wasted potential, weird chemistry, and the difference between tension and noise, all while asking the same question over and over: how did this follow one of the grea...

Sink your teeth into this one baby listeners. This week on The Book Is Better, we tackle the granddaddy of vampire lore: Dracula. From Bram Stoker’s surprisingly Christian, diary-driven nightmare to a century of wildly different film adaptations, we debate what actually makes this story work. We cover everything from creepy castles and plague ships to tragic love retcons, over-the-top sensuality, and why Mina deserves way more respect. It’s gothic, it’s chaotic, and it proves that sometimes the scariest thing isn’t the vampire—it’s what filmmakers do to the source material.

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Trust no one. Especially the people who pay you. In this episode of The Book Is Better, we dive into The Housemaid, a psychological thriller that keeps twisting the knife just when you think you’re safe. We cover deeply uncomfortable power dynamics and jaw-dropping reveals.Come unpack what works so well in the book and how the movie adapts those moments for maximum gasp-factor. Expect multiple moments of “wait… WHAT?” because this story does not play fair.

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You’re a mean one… or are you? We are looking at How the Grinch Stole Christmas in all its forms, from the perfectly concise Dr. Seuss book to the iconic 1966 special, the chaotic Jim Carrey version, and the surprisingly heartfelt 2018 animated film. We debate villain backstories, Cindy Lou Who’s glow-up, Max being the real MVP, and why this story still hits us right in the feelings. Cozy, chaotic, and full of Christmas cheer, this episode proves the Grinch might just have the biggest heart of all.

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Grab a marmalade sandwich and your coziest sweater, because we’re talking Paddington! This week, we compare the delightfully episodic book to the movie that said, “Yes, but what if we add a villain, a heist, and emotional growth?” From bath-time disasters and escalator confusion to found family, British charm, and one very polite bear, we break down why both versions work so well—and why this story somehow feels like a warm hug wrapped in a duffle coat.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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We’re off to see the wizard—and unpack a century’s worth of chaos along the way! With tin men who literally chop themselves apart to witches who melt faster than you can say “Technicolor,” we’re breaking down The Wizard of Oz like you’ve never heard it before. Join the family as we wander down the yellow brick road comparing Baum’s bizarre original to Hollywood’s sparkly fever dream. Expect laughs, trivia, and just a pinch of flying monkey trauma.

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Get ready for glitter, guns, and government corruption—it’s The Running Man! 💥 What started as Stephen King’s dark takedown of a dying society became an 80s fever dream where Arnold kills people on live TV… for fun! We’re breaking down the book’s bleak brilliance, the movie’s glorious chaos, and why dystopia apparently looks best with shoulder pads. Spoiler: the movie may win the crowd, but the book wins the soul.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Hold on to your butts, it’s Jurassic Park! With ruthless billionaires and baby dinos to chaos theory and that iconic “clever girl,” we’re diving deep into the prehistoric difference between Crichton’s dark, nerdy novel and Spielberg’s blockbuster masterpiece. Expect family debates, scientific shade, and more screaming than Lex in the kitchen scene. The takeaway? The book bites harder, but the movie roars louder!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Put on the kettle and grab your magnifying glass, besties—it’s The Thursday Murder Club! With sassy retirees and fake priests and more bodies than a British Bake Off weekend, we’re unpacking every twist and tea spill between book and film. The gang’s solving crimes, stirring gossip, and possibly sedating their spouses (it’s fine, probably). Join us as we decide which version cracks the case—and which one should’ve stayed buried in the garden.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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What happens when social satire gets a steampunk glow-up? We’re diving into 1884, where the book’s biting commentary on class and control morphs into a full-blown cinematic rebellion. Expect gears, grime, and government gone wild. Plus all our usual family banter as we decide which version really rules the revolution.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-056-1984/

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Grab your life jackets, baby listeners—we’re diving into The Poseidon Adventure! 🚢 From rogue waves and upside-down ballrooms to a reverend who really needs to chill, we’re breaking down the wild differences between book and film. Expect fiery deaths, awkward romances, and Shelley Winters absolutely stealing the show. Come for the chaos, stay for the family banter—this episode proves that sometimes disaster is just more fun on screen.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Welcome to season three, baby listeners — and we’re diving straight into the weird with Annihilation. Think body horror, shimmer rainbows, and an alien bear that screams like your dead teammate (yep, nightmare fuel). In true Book Is Better fashion, we break down how VanderMeer’s trippy, nameless expedition turned into Hollywood’s neon fever dream, complete with Oscar Isaac flashbacks and a finale that left us all wondering if anyone’s really themselves.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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The book is a magical island-hopping journey with deep spiritual moments, dragon transformations, and just the right amount of sea serpent chaos. The movie? A glowy, green fog mess that tries to force a plot where there wasn’t one—and somehow makes Eustace less annoying and more interesting than anyone else.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-053-the-voyage-of-the-dawn-treader/

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We’re back in Narnia—where centuries have passed, trees are silent, and Caspian suddenly has a jawline and unresolved feelings for Susan. The book meanders with deep themes minus our favorite talking beavers; the movie says “what if Aragorn, but teenaged?” We’ve got opinions, laughs, and one big question: did anyone actually want that castle raid scene?

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetter...

We opened the wardrobe and walked straight into a world of epic battles, deep magic, and one extremely dramatic witch. The book gave us cozy allegory and Turkish Delight; the movie gave us slow-mo action and a fur coat budget for days. Join us as we unpack what worked, what didn't, and why Lucy Pevensie deserves more respect.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod...

Welcome to the magical trainwreck that is Artemis Fowl, where the book gave us a cold-blooded boy genius and the movie handed us a confused surfer in designer sunglasses. We’re breaking down fairy kidnappings, missing character arcs, and a plot so scrambled it might’ve been written by a troll with a head injury. From unhinged jaw moments (literally) to “Did they even read the book?” energy, this episode is part therapy, part roast, and 100% proof that the book was better. Bring snacks. We’re going in.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah...

We made them an offer they couldn’t refuse—and then debated whether the book or the movie actually delivered. We’re talking horse heads, gender politics, and why Michael might be the least charismatic protagonist of all time. Spoiler: it’s a crime saga, but the real drama is in the pacing.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/category/bibpod-episodes/

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Turns out, the How to Train Your Dragon book and movie are about as similar as a Viking and a housecat. We dove into the wildly different plots, questionable dragon names, and yes, the infamous “breast hat” made a comeback. The live action remake gave us feelings, but the animated original still holds the dragon crown.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page:https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-049...

We re-enter the silo armed with wild theories, questionable tech knowledge, and zero chill. Will Juliette crack the code or just break another server? Tune in for bold predictions, reluctant IT villains, and the strong possibility that Bernard’s about to lose his last marble.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-047-silo-season-2/

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What do you get when you mix post-apocalyptic drama, endless stairs, and a strict “no questions asked” policy? A book we couldn’t put down and a show that made us yell “just read the manual!” at the screen. We’re talking secrets, sabotage, and whether we’d survive five minutes in a silo (spoiler: probably not).

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episode...

Get ready to enter Flatland, where everyone’s a shape, women are literal lines, and political satire stabs as sharp as a triangle’s point. We’re breaking down the wildest novella you didn’t know you needed and the bizarre animated movie that tried (and sort of failed?) to bring it to life. Come for the Victorian shade, stay for the math jokes and CGI chaos.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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We have a super special guest with us this week to talk about one of his favorite movies. Introducing... Nathan! He’s here to guide us through all the ins and outs—especially if he “remembers correctly” (We love you, Nathan!). Even though some of the characters can be total jerks at times, this book/movie departure was a fun step into the whimsical world created Diana Jones.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Let's be honest, The Hobbit movies could have been one movie. But because we love you, baby listeners, we watched all three!Check out our review of the book-to-film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's original take on the world of Middle Earth, and let us know what you think.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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What do you get when you combine a book all four of us love, a movie release we've been waiting patiently for over two years to see, and one director who just does not understand the source material?

The answer — you (unfortunately) get a film that had a ton of promise based on a great book that left us bummed... and, honestly, kind of annoyed.

Hear our family's take on the book-to-film adaptation of Mickey 7, including some rants about political commentary gone rogue.

CORRECTION: We incorrectly state during this episode th...

We're wrapping up the original LotR trilogy today, and we have just... so many thoughts!

Find out how we feel about the book-to-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's final book in The Lord of the Rings.

Click here to learn more about the New Zealand tunnel-web spider that Shelob is based off of.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Finally, less walking around! We talk about one of the installments in the epic Lord of the Rings series with the most changes by filmmakers.

But do we love it, or hate it? Guess you'll have to journey with us hobbits to Isengard to find out!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-040-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers/

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Three of us LOVE this book and its film adaptation. One of us is... shall we say... ambivalent? But you'll have to listen to find out who it is!

Our family of four discusses our feelings about one of the most major book-to-film adaptations in history, plus a bit of fun trivia.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-039...

We're trying our hand at a middle-grade book, and we were all big fans of this heartwarming story!

We talk about the differences between Roz and her wild compatriots in Peter Brown's bestselling children's book and the 2024 film adaptation. (Spoiler: We really liked both works!)

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-038-the-wild-robot/

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We watch it every year, and so far, none of us has managed to shoot our eyes out!

Learn about the charming collection of short stories pulled together to create one of the world's most iconic Christmas movies. Was the film a worthwhile adaptation?

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.co...

It's been done once as a TV movie, then released in 2024 as a wildly successful theatrical release by director Dallas Jenkins. As a film about a group of misfit kids rejected (and accepted) by a local church as they crash their way into the yearly Christmas pageant, this book-to-film adaptation was close to many of our hearts.

We discuss what we loved most, how the 2024 film compared to the original book, and a few heartfelt Christmas memories along the way.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

The family gets our first taste of Neil Gaiman's work as we review Stardust and its film adaptation. (Will it be our last? Because, seriously, this might be one of the strangest books any of us has read...)

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/s02e03-stardust/

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Rebekah is the one who writes these summaries, and she's not a fan. Josiah is, though, so she will pretend this isn't just two hours of her ranting...

But seriously, unreliable narrators make for some of the most frustrating... and intriguing. What did we think of how Gone Girls book was adapted to film?

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bi...

What do you get when you combine an early 2000s flick, a female empowerment (?) novel, Anne Hathaway, and Meryl Streep?

The answer: The Devil Wears Prada.

But how does the film compare to the original book that inspired it? We share all the gritty details!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-033-the-devil-wears-prada/

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It's been a year since we launched this podcast, and we wanted to start our Season 2 off by telling you what we learned and how we've grown so far.

Plus, we answer a TON of listener questions!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-032-year-one-review/

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The series ends, and we — love it? hate it? — you'll have to listen to find out! We complain about review the book-to-film changes for Deathly Hallows compared to both movies and also cover some fun details about the franchise as a whole.

Don't miss the final episode in our SUMMER OF POTTER!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls096753011/

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_differences_between_the_Harr...

Why, exactly, is this such a bad movie created from such a fantastic book? (Oh, sorry, they let Rebekah write this episode description so I guess we're getting my opinion up front...)

Find out what we think about the adaptation of this bomb-dropping Harry Potter penultimate novel as we continue this SUMMER OF POTTER!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_differences_between_the_Harry_Potter_books_and_films 

It's Dad's favorite book!

Just kidding, Professor Umbridge makes him lose all sense of decency.

Learn our thoughts on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, how it compares to the film, and whether or not we believe the book is superior.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_differences_between_the_Harry_Potter_books_and_films 

https://www.potter-search.com/

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It's book four of the series, and you know what that means! We've passed the halfway mark!

Is Goblet of Fire better in its book or film form? Which of the hosts thinks this is the weakest book of the series? Why did we spend so long arguing about whether or not Ludo Bagman was a genuinely pointless character?

Discover the answers to all these and more in this week's release for our Summer of Potter!

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.