Why Modern Adaptations Are Better Than Ever

We started off this Fully-Booked: Literary Podcast episode by greeting everyone with excitement for July and reflecting on how summer used to be a time packed with massive blockbuster releases. We remember those days fondly, when movie theaters were our second homes during the hot months, and every Tuesday felt like a holiday because we could catch the latest release with cheap tickets.

There was a nostalgic vibe as we recalled our favorite old, run-down theaters and how those experiences shaped our love of cinema. We laughed about how everyone’s collective obsession with Jonathan Bailey and his iconic glasses proves some things never change.

We also acknowledged that the movie industry slowed down during the pandemic, but now it feels like we’re back to seeing huge summer releases again, reigniting that buzz we missed. This shift inspired us to look at how adaptations of books to film and TV have evolved over the years, especially with the rise of streaming services and changes in how we consume stories.

The Evolution Of Adaptations: Then vs. Now

The hosts pointed out a striking difference between adaptations from the ‘90s and early 2000s compared to what we see today.

Back then, it was all about flashy blockbusters: big budgets, famous stars, and marketing campaigns that cared more about spectacle than staying true to the book. We shared examples like The Godfather and James Bond films, where audiences often didn’t even realize they were adaptations of books.

Even classics like Jaws, Psycho, and The Princess Bride fit this pattern; movies overshadowed their literary origins, and the books themselves rarely got a spotlight.

We agreed that while there’s still some of that today, there’s a clear shift.

Audiences are savvier, and studios now emphasize the source material more. Actors talk openly about reading the books to prepare for their roles, which feels like a refreshing change compared to the past when many proudly skipped the novel altogether. We explored how adaptations before 2016 felt more like cash grabs, focusing on box office appeal, but since then, there's been a noticeable effort to respect the author’s vision.

Book Chat: What’s On Our Nightstands?

In the middle of the conversation, we took a delightful detour to share what we’ve been reading. Shirin told us about Death in the Downline, a hilarious dark comedy-meets-murder-mystery involving an MLM scheme.

She loved how Maria Abrams nailed the dark humor of direct sales culture, people using tragic events to shill products, which is both absurd and eerily true to life. We couldn’t stop laughing at examples of characters offering discounts in honor of the dearly departed.

Meanwhile, Meaghan shared her excitement for Girl Next Door, an upcoming debut rom-com with LGBTQ+ themes that touches on complex relationships, high school crushes, and small-town drama. She appreciated how the book balanced lighthearted moments with serious topics, promising readers both depth and laughs. Meaghan promised to post a full review when she finishes, noting its September release.

The Rise of Series Adaptations And Author Involvement

We dove deep into why series adaptations have become the gold standard for book-to-screen translations. We argued that movies simply don’t have enough time to do justice to complex plots, inner monologues, and rich world-building.

For books with multiple installments or intricate character arcs, a TV series allows creators to flesh out the story over several episodes, or even seasons, giving characters and themes room to breathe.

One of the biggest changes we observe