One perk of an assisted living apartment is that you can lose yourself in a good book without any distractions. Many residents at Broadmoor Court love to get cozy in their own special corner with a favorite read, but just as many love to tune in to drama and heroics on the television. Whether you’re looking forward to an outing at the theater for a new classic release or want to catch the next big miniseries streaming on Netflix, here are five classics you might want to read (or reread) before watching an upcoming adaptation.
First published in 1962, this young adult classic from Madeline L’Engle has captured hearts of all ages for decades. The novel delves expertly into themes of spirituality and love, but it’s the characters and their whimsical, dangerous journey that keeps you turning pages (even if you’ve read this one before).
A Wrinkle in Time has been given the film treatment before, but the 2018 version includes an all-star cast and fun special effects that bring the magic of the story to life.
Released in 2017, the film adaptation of one of Agatha Christie’s most famous mysteries has a star-studded cast. Kenneth Branagh plays the enigmatic Hercule Poirot, and the suspect list includes characters played by actors such as Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe and Judi Dench.
Branagh also directs the movie, and he keeps the story fairly close to the novel with a few diversions. Unlike some adaptations of this classic, the 2017 movie does stay true to the original conclusion. Still, fans of the mystery novel will enjoy the cinematography and acting, even if they know “who did it.”
Rudyard Kipling’s story of man-cub Mowgli and his jungle friends has found its way to the big and small screens numerous times. If you love this tale, you can easily find an adaptation to suit you — from more serious live-action movies to the music-filled animated Disney classic. In late 2018, another adaptation of this book is hitting theaters. The live-action movie will come with the voice talents of top actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale.
If you like a bit of scary-movie thrill in your senior living apartment, you might be excited to hear Netflix has an adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House in the works. The horror novel was first published in 1959 and continues to be a favorite terrifying read for fans of all ages. The Netflix adaptation will be a 10-series run, and the premiere date hasn’t been announced as of early 2018.
Fans of C.S. Lewis will be happy to hear that another Narnia movie is in the works, though it’s still early in production for The Silver Chair. That gives you plenty of time to reread the entire classic series and watch the movies that have already been made. Unlike The Haunting of Hill House, these are books and movies you can feel confident enjoying with the grandkids.
