The book was better? Read these before watching

Some stories are worth experiencing twice: First through the words on a page, then through the performances, visuals and music that bring them to life on screen.

This year, readers have plenty of reasons to revisit their bookshelves, with literary classics, contemporary bestsellers and Filipino graphic novels finding new audiences through film and television.

1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Netflix)

A story about grief, unlikely friendships and second chances take an unusual turn when an octopus becomes one of its central characters.

Shelby Van Pelt’s bestselling 2022 novel follows Tova, an older widow who works at an aquarium and finds companionship in Marcellus, an observant octopus with a mind of his own. The arrival of Cameron, a young man searching for direction, brings unexpected changes to their lives.

The screen adaptation stars Sally Field, Lewis Pullman and Joan Chen.

2. The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles (Released in cinemas in July)

Long before modern fantasy franchises filled cinemas, Homer’s The Odyssey gave readers a sweeping adventure involving mythical creatures, dangerous detours and a hero desperate to return home.

The ancient Greek epic follows Odysseus after the Trojan War as he struggles to reach Ithaca, where his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, await him. His journey becomes a test of endurance, loyalty and judgment as he encounters temptations, enemies and forces beyond his control.

3. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (Released in cinemas outside the Philippines in August)

Before Anthony Bourdain became a familiar face on food and travel television, he wrote candidly about the demanding, chaotic and often unglamorous realities of working in professional kitchens.

His 2000 memoir, Kitchen Confidential, pulls back the curtain on restaurant culture, drawing on his experiences in the culinary industry. Bourdain’s sharp humor and willingness to discuss the less polished side of professional cooking helped turn the book into a major success and laid the groundwork for his later career as a television host and storyteller.

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

4. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (Screen release on 23 October)

What does it mean to love someone, and can a machine ever understand the people it is built to serve? Kazuo Ishiguro explores these questions through the perspective of an artificial companion in his bestselling novel Klara and the Sun.

Klara is an Artificial Friend designed to keep a young person company. While waiting in a store to be selected, she studies the people around her, carefully observing their behavior and trying to make sense of human emotions. Her life changes when a family brings her home, placing her in the middle of relationships shaped by affection, uncertainty and fear.

The film adaptation is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and stars Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Natasha Lyonne and Steve Buscemi.

5. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (No Philippine release announced)

The Summer Book follows six-year-old Sophia and her grandmother as they spend time together on a small island in the Gulf of Finland. In the aftermath of Sophia’s mother’s death, their days unfold through conversations, disagreements, discoveries and moments of companionship.

The film version, directed by Charlie McDowell and starring Glenn Close, has screened in select international markets.

6. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (Netflix)

Family relationships can be complicated enough without the added weight of rivalry, betrayal and generations of unresolved conflict. John Steinbeck’s East of Eden examines these tensions in a sweeping novel set in California’s Salinas Valley.

The story follows interconnected families whose experiences echo the biblical account of Cain and Abel. Through their struggles, Steinbeck examines jealousy, morality, the influence of family history and the possibility of choosing a different path from the one laid out by the past.

7. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (16 October)

Romance, social expectations and the question of whether to follow your heart or your head remain central to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. First published in 1811, the novel follows sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they navigate love, disappointment and the financial constraints facing women in their society.

Elinor approaches life with restraint and practicality, while Marianne expresses her feelings more openly. Their contrasting temperaments shape their romantic experiences, but the sisters also learn from one another as they face the consequences of their choices.

8. Ella Arcangel: Lupa at Dugo by Julius Villanueva (No specific 2026 release date announced)

Filipino graphic literature is also getting a place in the page-to-screen conversation through Ella Arcangel: Lupa at Dugo, the comic book series created by Julius Villanueva.

First published by Haliya Publishing in 2017, the series draws on Filipino folklore and supernatural horror while addressing problems rooted in everyday life. Its themes include poverty, corruption, unemployment and the drug war, giving its fantastical elements a distinctly social dimension.