For this edition of Like This? Try That!, we’re going to talk about books you might enjoy if you liked certain movies. Today I’d like to focus on some older movies that have been out for at least ten years or more, all of which were big movies of their time, and recommend some newer books you might enjoy based on those movies. Each of these three recommendations is from a different genre, so I hope there’s something you’ll like from this list!
Ready to see my picks?
The quintessential eighties movie, The Breakfast Club is about five high school students who all are serving detention on the same Saturday and discover they have more in common than they thought. Taking a twist on that concept, One of Us is Lying is about five students in detention one afternoon but before the detention is over, one of them is dead, and the rest of the book tries to solve what actually happened. Both of these stories explore themes of identity and stereotyping that teenagers of all times deal with. If you’re a fan of The Breakfast Club and are in the market for a mystery, I suggest giving One of Us is Lying a shot!
Both Hackers and Phantom Wheel follow a group of teenagers who are not only tech-savvy, they are also being incriminated for creating a virus. These are fast paced, action packed stories that explore tech related issues of their time and are fun to binge. If you enjoyed the cult classic Hackers, Phantom Wheel might be right up your alley!
The Departed follows an undercover cop and a mole in the police as they attempt to identify each other, while Sirens follows a damaged detective working undercover in an attempt to infiltrate a criminal’s inner circle. Not only do these crime stories have similar summaries, but they also have similar gritty tones. They also both explore concepts of identity and how it affects one’s actions and vice-versa in intriguing ways. If you liked The Departed, I don’t think it’s a long stretch at all to say Sirens might be a good pick for you!
So, there you have three book recommendations based on older movies! Have you seen or read any of these? What are your thoughts on them?
