Shelf Life: From Page to Screen
Published on 15th November 2024
Welcome to our new Dublin City Libraries book blog, Shelf Life! We will bring you the best of our library catalogue and help you find your next great read.
2024 has seen a bumper crop of books being adapted for screen. For loyal fans of a book, it can be devastating to see that your favourite hero looks NOTHING like you imagined! Worse again when the ending of the book has been changed beyond recognition. Sometimes though, the screen adaptation becomes an instant classic and brings a whole new audience to the book.
To the age-old question, is the book better than the movie or series? You'll just have to read the book first to make up your own mind! Check out our top picks of recent releases which are all available on our library catalogue. Looking for more inspiration? Check out our extended reading list here.
Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their graduation on 15 July 1988. They have an instant connection but the next day they go their separate ways. The book revisits them on the same day every year for twenty years. Very few authors write about love and relationships as well as David Nicholls. This book will make you roar with laughter and sob your heart out.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
This bestselling romance novel tells the story of Lily and the two men who she falls in love with. The book deals with difficult themes such as domestic violence and childhood trauma. It became a huge hit on BookTok and has topped book charts worldwide.
Set against the backdrop of 1980's Thatcherite Britain, Rivals tells the story of the intense rivalry between two powerful men - Tony Baddingham, managing director of a TV company, and Rupert Campbell-Smith, retired polo champion and government minister.
The characters are rich, entitled, immoral, and absolutely hilarious. Great fun.
The pope has died and the cardinals have gathered to elect a new successor. Against this dramatic background, Harris weaves an engrossing tale of power, intrigue and treachery. An excellent historical thriller.
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
The heart breaking story of two black boys, Elwood and Turner, who are sent to a reform school in Florida called The Nickel School. Loosely based on true events, the book recounts the hellish experiences of the children who were incarcerated in these institutions where racism, abuse and violence were rife.
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
A powerful book which tells the story of the abduction of mother of ten, Jean Mc Conville, from her home in Belfast in 1972. An excellent investigative journalist, Radden Keefe uses this terrible crime as a starting point to explore the Troubles. He reflects on the long-term damage to communities, families and society in Northern Ireland.
This is a powerful memoir steeped in the wild beauty of the islands and the ability of nature to heal. Amy Liptrot's 2016 book tells the story of her return to the Orkney Islands as she attempts to recover from a decade of addiction.
Small things like these by Claire Keegan
Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, makes a horrific discovery while delivering fuel to the local convent. Bringing up painful memories of his own past, Furlong is torn between making a stand or remaining silent to protect his own family. Set in New Ross in 1985, Keegan shines a light on a darker corner of Irish history in this beautiful devastating novella.
Lady in the lake by Laura Lippman
In 1960s Baltimore, a bored housewife turned crime reporter investigates the disappearances of two girls, one black, one white. This is a terrific psychological crime novel with a fascinating character study at its core.