{"id":10415,"date":"2025-10-08T00:48:59","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T00:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/books-we-read\/?p=10415"},"modified":"2025-09-27T00:49:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T00:49:23","slug":"banned-books-to-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/books-we-read\/banned-books-to-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"Banned Books to Movies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"[SPOILERS AHEAD!]<\/p>\n

I love movies! Sometimes even more than books. I especially love movie adaptations of popular books I\u2019ve never read because if they as good as a movie, they might be even better as a book. Maybe watching the movie will inspire me to check out the book at my local library or buy it on sale. It\u2019s especially important that banned books adapted for film are read in order to show how needed they are, despite being banned.<\/p>\n

The American Library Association (ALA) released their Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024. <\/a>Two on the list are film adaptations I have seen:
\n3. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower<\/a><\/em> by Stephen Chbosky and
\n6. (TIE)\u00a0Me and Earl and the Dying Girl<\/a><\/em> by Jesse Andrews.<\/p>\n

I saw these two movies years ago, and they both have inspired me to add the books to my very<\/em> extensive To-Be-Read (TBR) list for this year\u2019s Banned Books Week.<\/p>\n

The Perks of Being a Wallflower,<\/em> by Stephen Chbosky<\/h4>\n

I wrote about this movie last year for Banned Books Week 2024<\/strong><\/a>, and I still feel the same way today. After main character Charlie (Logan Lerman) becomes afraid of making new friends as a result of being bullied at his last school, he meets a group of misfit friends who show him what life is really about. The movie also includes other familiar faces like Emma Watson from Harry Potter<\/em>, and Nina Dobrev from The Vampire Diaries<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The chemistry between Logan Lerman and Emma Watson throughout the movie is the sweetest connection in the world. Watson plays Sam, Charlie\u2019s friend and crush who does her best to make Charlie feel included. I also love the connection between Charlie and his older sister, Candace, played by Dobrev. I thought their relationship was very tender and heartfelt, especially since Candace is going through her own domestic violence with her boyfriend.<\/p>\n

One of the most poignant moments of the movie was when Charlie asks his English teacher why nice people choose the wrong people to date. And his teacher replies, \u201cWe accept the love we think we deserve.\u201d That line is such a staple for why people accept bad behaviors and being treated poorly because they think they deserve it.<\/p>\n

Another powerful moment was when Sam and Charlie kissed for the first time. Sam felt safe with Charlie and wanted to make sure that the first person he kisses does love him. This was such a sweet moment for them both. More moments throughout the movie explore Sam and Charlie and their friends putting on Rocky Horror Picture Show<\/em> performances, with an emphasis on LGBTQIAP+ culture and the joy it means to young people.<\/p>\n

I could go on and on about this movie. Wonderful and quietly determined, it features incredible characters and great storytelling. I\u2019ll definitely pick up the book to see if it holds up to this awesome movie.<\/p>\n

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,<\/em> by Jesse Andrews<\/h4>\n

I remember this movie being an incredibly sweet, weird, goofy and wonderful representation of childhood friends reconnecting through tragedy. Jesse Andrews, the author of the 2012 novel, also wrote the screenplay, a good sign that the movie would remain faithful to the book. In most cases, I trust the movie more when the author plays a huge role in their film adaptation. The movie is about Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann), a socially awkward high school senior growing up in Pittburgh. His only friend is Earl (RJ Cyler), who he calls his \u201ccoworker\u201d, and together they make goofy versions of classic films. Greg\u2019s mother (Connie Britton) insists that Greg reconnect with his old friend Rachel (Olivia Cooke), who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. As Rachel goes through treatment, Greg and Earl decide to make a short film dedicated to her. The pressures of making the film strains the friendship between Greg and Earl, but it makes for a great fight scene! Another impactful scene is when Rachel tells Greg she\u2019s stopping her treatment. The cinematography, with the camera angle of Greg standing in one end of Rachel\u2019s room, makes the scene more heartbreaking for both of them. After Rachel passes, Greg finds out that she wrote his college explaining their summer experience, and how much she appreciated his kindness. Completely touched by this, Greg decides to send the letter, along with his application and short film for Rachel, to his college.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I thought the chemistry between the actors was great, especially between Mann and Cooke; I loved seeing their friendship evolve throughout the movie. I also loved the friendship between Cyler and Mann. Their scenes together were funny and goofy, much like a real friendship between boys. I absolutely cried over Greg showing Rachel the final film! I always found the meta of having a movie within a movie stand out the most because the short film movie shows the main movie\u2019s true identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to some other book blogs who have both seen the movie and read the book, the movie tones down the book\u2019s vulgar language and suggestive humor. Rachel\u2019s character has more depth in the movie, and the movie adds in cinematic elements like breaking the fourth wall. Knowing this much about the movie makes me want to check out the book even more.<\/p>\n

It’s funny how some movie adaptations can be so good that people want to read the book that inspired them, yet people work so hard to ban or challenge them in libraries and schools. So if that\u2019s the case, why not ban movies, then? Because that defeats the purpose of making great art and showing amazing talents. Book banning still makes no sense to me, but at least it makes for a great movie.<\/p>\n

Happy Banned Books Week!<\/h4>\n
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More on books and movies<\/h4>\n