Let’s Talk Bookish: Graphic Novel Adaptations

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022.

Few days late on this one but that’s okay. And it looked like such a fun topic I really did have to give it a go!

Let’s Talk Bookish November 3rd
Graphic Novel Adaptations

Prompts: Have you ever read a graphic novel adaptation of a book that was originally a novel? What books would you like to read as graphic novels? Are there certain genres or types of books that you think translate better to the graphic novel format?

I have – the one that comes straight to mind is the Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire graphic novels. They were really excellent, and I hope I get to continue the series at some point. I think that might possibly be the only one, unless you include graphic novels inspired by literature, such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Oh! And I’ve also read a couple of The Dark Tower ones, too.

I’d love to see some Horror and Fantasy books adapted as graphic novels, as I think they tend to work better in that medium. I don’t think adapting a Contemporary Romance would work as well, and though I keep meaning to read them one day, there are classic novels adapted into graphic novel form, but I’m not quite sure how well some of them would work. His Dark Materials could be an interesting one, maybe Sci-Fi like These Burning Stars could make a good series. As well as The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, oh and The Foxglove King, books that have these wonderful settings that transport you to another world.

Like I said above I think horror and fantasy (and sci-fi, too) tend to work better in graphic novels. Especially where we get these strange, different worlds or, in horror, a darkness that stretches out. Horror I think lends itself well because you can use the visual side really well to emphasise whatever the horror is. In something like gothic horror, you can play around a lot with light and shadows.

What about you – have you read many graphic novel adaptations of books? Do you enjoy them and, also, do you have any recommendations for me?