"Stop telling me—show me!" "This could be a movie!" "I really felt like I was there." "That character was an absolute movie villain." Does this sound like you? Is your favorite Oscar category "Best Adapted Screenplay?" Are you fascinated by stories about actors, directors, producers, and costume designers? You might be a fan of cinematic storytelling. Whether you're talking about books that have been made into movies, books that "feel" like movies, or books offering insight into the film industry, the interconnectedness of these art forms is clear.
For some readers, a cinematic book features sweeping plots, lots of action, and very strong setting elements. They like books with strong visual imagery that employ montages and quick cuts that create "scenes."
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Other readers define "cinematic" books as those that focus on the film industry, loving the details of what it takes to put a movie together from the characters' perspectives.
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Want to find your next read yourself? We have a few suggestions for further reading and discovery.
- Movies Adapted from Books and Other Materials: Use the term "film adaptations" in your catalog search and filter by format—DVD or Blu-ray disc.
- More Cinematic Books: Check out Novelist Plus. Use keyword combinations like "cinematic", "sweeping", "fast paced", and "atmospheric."
- Film Industry Reads: Try a catalog search or Novelist Plus using phrases like "Film industry and trade" and "Motion Picture Industry."
- Get Individualized Help: Work with our BookMatch or Book-a-Librarian services to get reading suggestions and personalized tutorials on navigating the Library catalog.
Authors with a Consistent Cinematic Style:
- Elliot Ackerman
- Isabel Allende
- Clive Barker
- Marie Benedict
- James S.A. Corey
- Michael Crichton
- Gillian Flynn
- Ken Follett
- John Grisham
- Stephen King
- Ariel Lawhon
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