Over this past decade, many trends have made their way into the mainstream. Between putting feathers in your hair, and wearing those abominations called Crocs, we have been through quite some trying times. However, nothing was more impactful than the book-to-movie epidemic of the 2000s-2010s. Now, time for the age-old question:  Was the book or the movie better?

The Perks of being a Wallflower

Netflix has recently released The Perks of Being a Wallflower on their streaming platform, which has caused a lot of nostalgia-based discussion on social media. Author Stephen Chobsky released the book in 1999, roughly 13 years before the film was released. However, many seem to forget the book that told the story. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie arguably superior to its book. While it is fun to imagine these characters and their stories, the film radiates such warmth through beautiful shots and charming acting performances. Logan Lerman is the perfect embodiment of Charlie. Witnessing this story unfold on camera adds a lot more relatability to the Wallflower world.

Harry Potter

Whether you have or haven’t invested in the world of Harry Potter, you certainly know of it. With 8 movies and 7 books under its belt, this series undoubtedly took the world by storm.

I personally believe that the Harry Potter books are better than the movies, however. When you’re a kid and are forced to read a book for class, the first book that caught your eye was always a part of the Harry Potter series. The child-like wonder that lies within these books leaves so much room for imagining the complexities of this unlikely world. The movies are a huge staple in culture, but they don’t feel as down to earth compared to its books.

Twilight

If there’s any series that fueled America’s random obsession with vampires, it was definitely this. For years, people would walk out in public with “Team Edward” t-shirts. Even the Minooka Three Rivers Library still has a poster up of Taylor Laughtner’s Jacob reading a book. 

Though the movies greatly capture the world that was created in the books, there’s something very special about reading and imagining this story. Fifth-grade me would never go near a book that was over 300 pages; however, I read all three of the Twilight books that are all over 500 pages. Author Stephanie Meyers’ use of cringey description words and glamorization of terrifying creatures is absolutely fascinating

The Hunger Games

The complexities that lie beneath the world of this Dystopian-type setting of the Hunger Games is something that intrigued the whole world. The book alone acclaimed such success that everyone was awaiting a movie.

This is one of the few times that I would say both the book and the movie are equally great. Hearing the whistle tone and the insane score of the film adds an element of intensity that doesn’t have as great a payoff in the book. However, the book made you understand the world in a more personal way, and it somewhat terrified you into thinking that something like this could actually happen. That alone is a genius tactic for a book.