Television Shows Based on Books

Three of my absolute favorite television shows are based on books. When it comes to movies, I have found that reading the book first tends to ruin the movie for me.  The books provide a much greater amount of detail and are better able to flesh out the characters and the story. Reading the book also allows you to picture all of the characters in your mind.  Two specific films I remember being disappointed with were The Firm (John Grisham) and Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice).  Simply because of the length of the movies, it was necessary for them to exclude a lot of the details from the books and I didn’t envision Tom Cruise in the lead role in either.  Consequently, or perhaps due to laziness, I have not read the books that these television series are based on.

Shooter (Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter) – USA Network

Point of Impact by Stephen HunterRyan Phillipe stars as Bob Lee Swagger, a marine sniper who is adapting to civilian life in the States after serving for many years.  He is contacted by his former commanding officer, now a Secret Service agent, who seeks his help after learning that there is a plot to assassinate the President.  As a patriot and expert sniper, Swagger agrees to assist in thwarting the assassination attempt, only to discover that he is being set up to take the fall.  The show unfolds as Bob Lee, now a fugitive, seeks to protect his family, find the real shooter, and clear his name.  The book was also adapted into a film starring Mark Wahlberg. 





13 Reasons Why (Jay Asher) – Netflix

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay AsherHigh-school student, Clay Jensen, receives a box of cassettes recorded by his classmate Hannah Baker, who recently committed suicide.  The cassettes reveal the series of events that lead up to her death.  Clay discovers that many of his classmates who are mentioned on the tapes have already listened to them and are paranoid about what he will do with the information.  The sensitivity of the topic and the quality of the acting make for stunning, powerful, and eye-opening television.  Despite the disturbing nature of the events that unfold, you can’t wait to watch the next episode.  I must admit that I did have to pause one episode to regroup before I could continue.   





Bosch (Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly) – Amazon Prime

The Harry Bosch Novels by Michael ConnellyHarry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver, is a Los Angeles homicide detective who has a reputation for going the “extra mile” to solve cases.  This gains him the respect of his fellow police officers, but often lands him in court on charges of excessive force.  Bosch, the son of a prostitute, has spent most of his police career searching for her killer.  His experience growing up as an orphan along with the time he spent in Special Forces in Vietnam has shaped him into the tough, complex, justice-seeking police officer he has become.  Throw in his love of jazz, his teenage daughter, and his ex-wife (former FBI profiler and professional poker player) and this is so much more than a typical cop show.  The cases are intense, the characters are three-dimensional, and the jazz is exquisite.




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