The trend in the film industry nowadays is to find an amazing novel and then turn it into a film. This is a wise move on their part because these books already have a dedicated fan base to begin with. Film makers are more confident in investing millions of dollars into making something that is already familiar to people. This set-up is mutually beneficial for both the film makers and the people involved in writing, producing and promoting the books.

But, as enjoyable as the movies made from films are, nothing beats perusing the pages of a book. The very act of reading a book inspires people to use their imagination to make the story come alive in their heads.

That's why it's so much better to read the books first before watching the movie versions. Of course, the downside to doing that is a prior knowledge of the characters, the story and how it will end. Thank goodness for brilliant scriptwriting, directing and film editing, because it still manages to surprise those who have already read the book versions before watching the adapted films.

Without further ado, here are 10 must read books with film adaptations that you have to read first before watching the movie versions. These are arranged in order of the dates the films will be shown.

1. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak - (Film Release Date: Nov. 8, 2013)

CREDIT: YouTube/MOVIECLIPS Trailers

"The Book Thief" is a must-read because it is an inspiring story about a brave young girl named Liesel Meminger who is taught how to read books by her foster father Hans. Set during World War II in Nazi Germany when it was still controlled by Adolf Hitler, it gives a glimpse of how life is back then and how people tried to live amidst chaos and fear. It is written by Australian author Markus Zusak and was published in 2005.

It is a must-see (preferably after reading the book) because it would be interesting to see how this beautiful story will be portrayed on the big screen. Plus, it stars Geoffrey Rush, an amazing actor, and promising new actress Sophie Nélisse as Liesel, who reportedly delivers a brilliant performance in the film.

2. "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins - (Film Release Date: Nov. 22, 2013)

CREDIT: YouTube/MOVIECLIPS Trailers

"Catching Fire" is a must-read because it continues to tell Katniss Everdeen's fascinating dystopian adventure in vivid detail, including her romance with Peeta Mellark as well as another round of Hunger Games for them to join in. It was published on September 1, 2009.

It is a must-see because of its stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, who play each of their roles -- as Katniss, Peeta and Gale Hawthorne -- so well that they embody their characters from the book and seamlessly translate it to the film version.

3. "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkein - (Film Release Date: Dec. 13, 2013)

CREDIT: YouTube/Warner Bros. Pictures

"The Hobbit" is a must-read because it is a bit different from the film version. It's great to know the original story before watching the tweaked version. Compared to "The Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) novels, this book is a lighter read, which can be appreciated by more children. But, adults will love it as well.

It is a must-see because it has additional characters and storylines written in. Director Peter Jackson also tries to tie it up with "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy by using flashbacks of characters in LOTR as part of the storytelling. He also brings back beloved characters like Legolas who didn't really have a big role in the book. And of course, the brilliant special effects, costumes and sets as well as the talented actors make this film a definite must-see!

4. "Mary Poppins" by P.L. Travers - (Film Release Date: Dec. 20, 2013)

CREDIT: YouTube/MOVIECLIPS Trailers

"Mary Poppins" is a must-read because of the lovable story about a magical English nanny and her adventures in the Banks household. It is a series of eight books published from 1934 - 1988.

The 1964 musical film version of this book which starred Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins is a classic adaptation produced by Walt Disney. It has a lot of memorable songs. But, the new version based on this wonderful story is called "Saving Mr. Banks," starring Tom Hanks in the title role and Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers. Unlike the 1st film version, this updated version tells the story of the author's childhood and how the novel she wrote was turned into a movie. It includes the story of how she met Walt Disney. It must be seen simply because of the unique angle of the script as well as Hanks and Thompson's portrayals which seem tailor-made for the two actors.

5. "Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead (Film Release Date: Feb. 14, 2014)

CREDIT: YouTube/The Weinstein Company

"Vampire Academy" is a must-read because it is different from the usual vampire novels out in the market today. Unlike "Twilight," and "The Vampire Diaries," it is darker and sexier, not to mention more mysterious and complicated.

It is a must-see because it's always fascinating to see vampires on the screen. And, it's intriguing how the book will be adapted onto film. Will it surpass Twilight's popularity? It stars Zoey Deutch as heroine Rose Hathaway.

6. "Divergent" by Veronica Roth - (Film Release Date: March 21, 2014)

CREDIT: YouTube/MOVIES Coming Soon

"Divergent" is a must-read because the concept of the story is unique. It is set in a world divided into factions and is all about controlling its subjects. But, not all can be categorized or controlled, and these are the "Divergent" ones, like the heroine of the book Beatrice "Tris" Prior.

It is a definite must-see because of Kate Winslet and Shailene Woodley's performances in the film. Seeing the different factions come to life is also enough to whet the audience's curiosity in seeing the movie.

7. "Days of Future Past" by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin - (Film Release Date: May 23, 2014)

CREDIT: YouTube/X-Men Movies

"Days of Future Past" is different from the other books mentioned because it is a comic book or a graphic novel. But, it is still a must-read not only for the story of our favourite mutants, but also for the detailed drawings found on the comic book which are really beautifully drawn.

It is a must-see because it is the X-Men! This means that it will have jaw-dropping special effects and action sequences which will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Plus, it would be cool to see the older versions and the younger versions of these mutants teaming up to save the world.

8. "The Fault in our Stars" by John Green (Film Release Date: June 6, 2014)

"The Fault in our Stars" is a must-read because it lets readers sympathize with the characters Hazel and Augustus, who both have cancer. It gives us an idea of what it's like to live with cancer and knowing that death is imminent.

It is a must-see because it stars Shailene Woodley (again) who gives another great performance as a cancer patient. Also, it has author John Green's seal of approval which means it meets his standards and should more than satisfy ours.

(Click here to see trailer)

9. "The Giver" by Louis Lowry (Film Release Date: Aug. 15, 2014)

"The Giver" is a must-read because it depicts a seemingly utopian world but is actually more of a dystopia. It's great to read about both types of societies for a change, instead of just seeing one side of the story. It was published in 1993 and it won the Newbery Medal in 1994.

It is a must-see because it stars the one and only Meryl Streep! That alone should suffice, but her cast mates including Alexander Skarsgård, Katie Holmes, Taylor Swift and Jeff Bridges who come from different genres of TV, film and music will be interesting to watch as well. Newcomer Brenton Thwaites, an Australian actor, stars as the lead character Jonas.

10. "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner (Film Release Date: Sept. 2014)

"The Maze Runner" is a must-read especially for lovers of mysterious thrillers with lots of action and adventure. Its twists and turns make this book, which is part of a trilogy, difficult to put down.

It is a must-see even if it stars unknown actors because they fit into the mystery of the whole film. Even just for curiosity you'd want to check this film out.

And there you have it, these are the 10 must-read books with film adaptations. Make sure to read these first before watching any of the movie versions, okay? You'll thank me later for that suggestion. Happy reading and enjoy watching!

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