I Watched It and Now I Want To Read It: Books and TV and Movie Adaptations
Welcome back to My Jamaican Vignettes. Today’s posts is all about books, films and TV. Book to TV or movie adaptations to be precise. This was inspired by a random TikTok I saw months ago that I really wished I had saved so I could embed it here. Let me search my saved items and see if I can find it. If I do, it will be below.
But here is the premise, have you ever watched something – a movie or TV show and then found out it was based on a book series and you felt compelled to read the books.
This has happened to me a few times.
Books And TV And Movie Adaptations
I think this urge must’ve happened during my childhood years but I don’t remember anything to share. But in my early adulthood the first TV series that I got my attention and I was hooked that I needed to get the books was HBO’s True Blood. And I devoured The Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlene Harris. I read all those books, I think it was around 11 or 12 books. But here’s the thing, I never finished watching True Blood, I lost interest after maybe season three.
A few months ago, maybe sometime last year, I attempted to rewatch season one of True Blood but I never made it past the first episode.
Now 2025 me would probably not like Harris’ writing or the lack of diversity in the books but 2008 me, enjoyed them so much.
Next up, was Bridgerton. I love that Netflix series so I read The Duke and I by Julia Quinn and I did not like it. But I am curious about the Queen Charlotte book so I may try that one.
The most recent experiences of wanting to read the books because of the TV series is a little more of a mixed bag. Two books and TV series come to mind. And in both instances I read book one of the series before I watched the TV show and after completing season one, I feel like I should go back to the books before I continue watching. The TV shows/books are Outlander and A Discovery of Witches.
I rewatched season one of Outlander last year and I read the book in maybe 2015 or 2016. Then just last month Netflix released A Discovery of Witches and I read book one in that series in around 2017 or 2018.
Have you had this experience where you watch and enjoy a TV series so much that want to dive into the books?
Let’s chat about it.
Next week, I am doing my first Beverly Jenkins author spotlight post. I say first because I feel as if I am going to deep dive further into her work.
Chantel DaCosta
Chantel DaCosta is a storyteller, editor and lifestyle blogger. She is passionate about mental health awareness and Jamaican women's own-voices stories.
