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It usually takes a lot to get me to put down a book for more than a few minutes at a time, but one series that recently managed to completely blow my mind was Stranger Things.
I’m sure many of you have heard of it, or either watched it by now, but for those of you who haven’t, this 8-episode series is basically an 80s-inspired science fiction show that chronicles the events following the disappearance of one boy and the strange occurrences that are set in motion following his vanishing.
It’s a series that’s jam-packed with creepy and supernatural elements and one that cleverly pays homage to the 80s without it looking ridiculously cheesy. In fact, the series feels like it could have been a book written by Stephen King.
It's interesting how TV series and books actually complement each other. The one is simply a visual interpretation of the other, although my heart will always prefer the text-based one because it allows me autonomy over how the characters and settings play out in my head.
That said, I do still appreciate a good series and thought I’d take some time to pair up some books and series. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them, and as always, I’m keen to hear what you’d recommend too.
TV Series: Stranger Things
Books you should read: It by Stephen King (actually, any of Stephen King’s older books to be honest) and The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
I’ve already mentioned that Stranger Things is pretty much pays homage to Stephen King, but if there’s one book that captures the atmosphere and pervading sense of unease that lingers in the background, I’d highly recommend reading The Girl with All the Gifts. Like Stranger Things, The Girl with All the Gifts also features a girl who is different to everyone else and whose role is pivotal in the strange events that unfold.
Read our review here
TV Series: Dexter
Books you should read: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
If you love your characters a bit darker, a little more unreliable and a whole lot less wholesome than the average Mary Sue, then Dawn Kurtagich’s The Dead House and Michelle Hodkin’s trilogy, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, are reads that will perfectly suit fans of Dexter.
We’ve reviewed The Dead House and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.
TV Series: Criminal Minds
Books you should read: The Anniversary Man by R.J. Ellory
I’m a huge fan of the series that is about a team of FBI behavioural profilers who study and analyse the behaviour of criminals in order to catch them. One of my all time favourite crime thrillers I’d pair with this show, is a book called The Anniversary Man which is written by R.J Ellory.
The book is essentially about a man who survives a brutal attack and eventually helps to solve a new case when a series of seemingly random murders are committed. There are plenty of other crime thrillers I could recommend, but for me, this book really captures the idea behind Criminal Minds.
TV Series: Once Upon a Time
Books you should read: All the fairy tales and fairy tale retellings you can get your hands on!
I love all things fairy tale related so you can imagine how absolutely delighted I was when Once Upon a Time first started showing.
If I were you, I’d first start by rereading all your favourite classic Grimm’s, Hans Christian Andersen or Charles Perrault collections (they never get old), and then get around to fantastic retellings like The Lunar Chronicles series by Marisa Meyer (includes Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter, retellings of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White and connects all of these characters in one epic show down), A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas (marvellous retelling of TamLin and Beauty and the Beast) and Daughter of the Forest (The Six Swans), to mention but a few.
TV Series: Game of Thrones
Books you should read: You mean, besides the actually books the show is based on?
There are a good number of epic fantasy series out there that are worth checking out. There are actually too many to mention, so I’m just going to point you in the direction of this curated list on Goodreads which has a comprehensive guide to the best epic and high fantasy novels.
What are some of your favourite TV series? And which books would you pair them up with? I need some new recommendations to add to my ever expanding list of books to read.
Here are this month’s top 10 reads:
Summer Days and Summer Nights edited by Stephanie Perkins
Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory
Out of Orange: A Memoir by Cleary Wolters
The Last One by Alexandra Oliva
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
Mount by Jilly Cooper
In the Woods by Tana French
Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts
Giveaway
In celebration of Jilly Cooper’s new book, Mount, in which Cooper revisits Rupert Campbell-Black, we’re giving you the chance to win 1 of 3 copies of the book. The book is quite hefty, but Lili (whose review you can read here) says it makes for easy reading.
Simply send us an e-mail and tell us what your favourite Jilly Cooper novel of all time is (and why) and you could stand a chance of winning
Until next time,
Yours in good books and series
P.S. Congratulations to Charlene Smith who is this month’s book club winner. Happy reading!
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