Written by Lindsey Williams
I don’t know about you, but I will admit: books and television are a few of my life’s greatest joys. And occasionally, when the two get put together, magic happens!
We’ve compiled a list of 10 great TV series that you may not have known were adapted from books! This list is perfect if you’re looking for something to cross off challenge #34 from The Nerd Daily’s 2018 Reading Challenge—a book adapted into a TV series. So whether you’re looking to cozy up with a cup of tea and a great book, or pop some popcorn and binge-watch a quality show, this list is certain to help you find what you’re looking for!
Read on to discover 10 TV series you may not have known were adapted from books, and let us know in the comments below which ones you’ll be checking out!
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) | Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang
Based on chef Eddie Huang’s best-selling memoir of the same name, “Fresh Off the Boat” takes a humorous look at the lives of immigrants in America. In the 1990s, Eddie, a hip-hop-loving 11-year-old, relocates with his parents and two brothers to suburban Orlando from the Chinatown section of Washington, D.C. As Eddie’s dad, Louis, pursues the American dream by opening a Western-themed restaurant named Cattleman’s Ranch Steakhouse, Eddie and the rest of the family try to acclimate to their new, strange surroundings.
The 100 (The CW) | The 100 by Kass Morgan
When nuclear Armageddon destroys civilisation on Earth, the only survivors are those on the 12 international space stations in orbit at the time. Three generations later, the 4,000 survivors living on a space ark of linked stations see their resources dwindle and face draconian measures established to ensure humanity’s future. Desperately looking for a solution, the ark’s leaders send 100 juvenile prisoners back to the planet to test its habitability. Having always lived in space, the exiles find the planet fascinating and terrifying, but with the fate of the human race in their hands, they must forge a path into the unknown.
Big Little Lies (HBO) | Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Based on the same-titled best-seller by Liane Moriarty, “Big Little Lies” weaves a darkly comedic tale of murder and mischief in the tranquil beachfront town of Monterey, Calif. Amidst doting mothers, successful husbands, beautiful children, and stunning homes exists a community fuelled by rumours and divided into haves and have-nots, exposing fractured relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbours. Told through the eyes of three mothers — Madeline, Celeste and Jane — the series’ narrative explores society’s myths regarding perfection and its romanticization of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley star as the three prominent “mothers of Monterey.”
Alias Grace (Netflix) | Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Based on the 1996 Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, “Alias Grace” tells the story of young Grace Marks, a poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who is accused and convicted of the 1843 murder of her employer and his housekeeper. Stablehand James McDermott is also convicted of the crime. McDermott is hanged, but Grace is sentenced to life in prison, leading her to become one of the most notorious women of the period in Canada. The story is based on actual 19th-century events.
Olive Kitteridge (HBO) | Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Oscar-winner Frances McDormand (“Fargo”) and Oscar-nominee Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”) star in the four-part drama “Olive Kitteridge,” adapted from Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which spans 25 years. Outspoken middle school teacher Olive has a complex relationship with husband Henry, a good-hearted, selfless pharmacist. She is very critical, and he finds her harsh and hurtful, yet each has traits the other adores, but their son, Christopher, resents her behaviour and hates his dad being a victim. The program depicts life in a coastal town and the effects of mental illness.
The Sinner (USA) | The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr
Young mother Cora Tannetti is overcome by an inexplicable fit of rage that leads her to commit a startling — and very public — act of violence, with no explanation as to why she did it. When Detective Harry Ambrose begins his investigation and grows obsessed with uncovering Cora’s hidden motive, the two work together to try to get deep into her psyche to learn about the violent secrets that are hidden in her past. The eight-episode thriller — which tries to uncover the “why” instead of the “who” or “what” — stars Jessica Biel, who also serves as an executive producer, and Bill Pullman in the lead roles.
Dexter (Showtime) | Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Dexter Morgan is a Miami-based blood spatter expert who doesn’t just solve murders – he commits them too. In fact, he’s a serial killer, but he only kills the guilty, so he feels justified with his lifestyle choices. His policewoman sister and his cop co-workers have no idea Dexter lives a double life; however, adoptive father Harry knows his secret, and does, in fact, help Dexter hone his skills. It’s a unique brand of justice for which charming Dexter feels a psychological hunger.
Queen Sugar (OWN) | Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile
“Queen Sugar” tells the story of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Louisiana. At the center of the family are Nova, a journalist and activist; Charley, the wife and manager of an NBA player; and formerly incarcerated father Ralph Angel, who is searching for redemption. Following a tragedy in the family, the siblings must put their complicated lives aside so that they can come together to run the clan’s struggling sugar cane farm. Also involved in the farm are Aunt Violet and family friend Remy Newell.
Mindhunter (Netflix) | Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas
Catching a criminal often requires the authorities to get inside the villain’s mind to figure out how he thinks. That’s the job of FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench. They attempt to understand and catch serial killers by studying their damaged psyches. Along the way, the agents pioneer the development of modern serial-killer profiling. The crime drama has a strong pedigree behind the camera, with Oscar-nominated director David Fincher and Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron among the show’s executive producers.
The Leftovers (HBO) | The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
In a global cataclysm, “The Sudden Departure,” 140 million people disappeared without a trace. Three years later, residents of Mapleton, N.Y., try to maintain equilibrium when the notion of “normal” no longer applies. Intense grief has divided families and turned faith to cynicism, paranoia and madness, leading some of the traumatized to join the Guilty Remnant, a cultlike group. Kevin Garvey, a beleaguered police chief, must keep peace between townspeople and the cult, a task made tougher with concern about his kids. His daughter alternates between apathy and rebellion, and his wayward son befriends a charismatic prophet. “The Leftovers” is based on the best-seller by Tom Perrotta, who is one of the series’ executive producers.
