“The book was better.” 

“The filmmaker cut too much from the story. It’s not faithful.”

How many times have we all heard this about book-to-screen adaptations? 

We at Booked & Screened often find these are the least interesting observations to make when it comes to watching a new take on an old story. And with adaptations making up a sizable chunk of new releases each week, there are plenty of opportunities to move beyond the question of fidelity. 

We love books. We love film. We love TV. But more than anything, we love a good story.

Adaptations provide you the opportunity to see a different interpretation of a story you’re already familiar with. Maybe a relationship is explored more fully or a magical land comes to life. 

Heck, maybe you’ve come across a terrible adaptation that just gives you a new appreciation for the source material.  

That’s what we’re looking to explore here at Booked & Screened. We want to go beyond the latest news about upcoming projects and reviews of new releases. (Though we’ll do that, too!)

What makes for a successful adaptation? What does a departure from the book say about a filmmaker’s intent? How do different adaptations of the same story reflect the culture of the time?

These are questions we seek to explore and conversations we want to have with you, our readers. 

We started Booked & Screened because we saw the need for a reliable resource on upcoming adaptations. If you enjoy reading the book first, be sure to visit this site regularly to find an updated calendar of releases. 

Over time, we’re also interested in treating adaptations as ongoing subjects rather than one-off events. That means building coverage that accumulates—essays, interviews, reviews and context that live together—so readers can return to a film or series and see how its story has evolved, on screen and off. 

Booked & Screened is an editorial project by journalists interested in how stories move from page to screen—and what gets revealed along the way. 

We hope you enjoy Booked & Screened. We’re hoping to hear from you to learn more about what you love to read and watch and would like to see here.