What to Read Based on Oscar-Nominated Movies

Posted by Cybil on January 23, 2018


We love movies as much as the next person. But let's be honest, you can curl up with a bowl of popcorn and a great book just as easily as you can with a new movie. So, in the tradition of great stories inspiring more great tales, we rounded up some highly rated books (all are above a 3.7-star rating) that thematically pairs with these Oscar-nominated films.

Of course, this year's Academy Awards already has quite the bookish pedigree. Call Me By Your Name is based on the book by the same name. And The Post's screenplay was inspired by Katharine Graham's beloved bestselling memoir Personal History. In addition, The Shape of Water is getting the novelization treatment.

Let us know if a movie has inspired an addition to your Want-to-Read shelf.

Books to read if you loved The Post:



Books to read if you loved Get Out:



Books to read if you loved Dunkirk:



Books to read if you loved The Shape of Water:



Books to read if you loved Call Me By Your Name:



Books to read if you loved Lady Bird:




Comments Showing 1-31 of 31 (31 new)

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Dana Al-Basha |  دانة الباشا I don't think the book for The Shape of Water has anything to do with the movie... I would recommend anything related to water.


message 2: by Lynn (new)

Lynn Dana Al-Basha wrote: "I don't think the book for The Shape of Water has anything to do with the movie... I would recommend anything related to water."

Not sure what books to read but it is a movie about movies. The Creature from the Black Lagoon, E.T. (which has a novelization of it), any film noir which could represented by several classic hard boiler mysteries from the 40s or 50s, ect.


message 3: by Rhianna (new)

Rhianna Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

Check out the page for "where's the jump" that gives warnings for jumpscares in movies! Get Out doesn't really have many at all, it's definitely worth the watch :)

https://wheresthejump.com/jump-scares...


message 4: by Joshua (new)

Joshua Williams did you like shape of water? then read this horribly boring books. please. anything by mike mignola is a more apt recommendation, or some raymond chandler


message 5: by Lynn (new)

Lynn Rhianna wrote: "Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

Check ..."

I think Get Out isn't so scary. It's a social commentary.


message 6: by Lynn (new)

Lynn Monkiecat wrote: "Rhianna wrote: "Monkiecat wrote: ...

:D thanks Rhianna, but wheresthejump is what made me decide I couldn't watch it... 10 scares! I know, they say minor, but did I mention I'm a wimp? lol serious..."

The Shape of Water is by far the best film in the Best Picture nominations. It is just about perfect. If you've ever seen Pan's Labrynith, it is much better and that is a great film. There is nothing scary about it. It is basically a love tribute to classic films. I forgot to mention the Astaire and Rogers tribute where a dance is performed on a stage copied almost verbatim to the one in Top Hat. Lovely film and I just loved how actors were treated in the film, every character is fully developed into a realized character. I was so impressed. Sally Hawkins was nominated for Best Actress but is barely being mentioned as a potential winner but she should be, not only did she do this performance as a mute, but her performance in Maude this year as a woman with CP was outstanding too.


message 7: by kirsten (last edited Jan 24, 2018 12:35PM) (new)

kirsten Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

There really aren't that many jump scares, especially for a modern horror movie. There is really only one I think off in the movie off the top of my head (I looked at the website and I don't really consider all of those jump scares but I do watch a lot of horror movies.). Otherwise, it relies on atmosphere and the psychological side of it.


message 8: by Robert (last edited Jan 24, 2018 01:18PM) (new)

Robert Lambregts Call me by your name is my favorite book of all times. Have read it years ago, when it was just released. I went into a bookstore to avoid the rain, saw the cover, bought it without reading the back cover and fell in love within the first few pages.
I was very afraid to watch the movie, but I have to say, the movie is nearly as good.
Reading it, I just felt I was in Italy, I could see it all, I could feel and smell it all, the story had the right pace and after finishing it, I have given it to numerous people as a gift. If you want to read one of the books from the Oscar nominees, then read Call me by your name.

And if you want to read something good in the line of Call me by your name, then read Dance on my grave by Aiden Chambers https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...


message 9: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

Oh please see it! It's not horror movie, it's more of a psychological thriller and a social commentary. And it's really funny!


message 10: by KatForsyth (new)

KatForsyth Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

I can't handle scary movies AT ALL - I've never seen any of the big horror/slasher series like Friday the 13th, Halloween, etc. Back in 2003 my friends made me watch The Ring and I still haven't got over it! So when I tell you that I watched Get Out last weekend, and it isn't that scary, you know I'm coming from the same place as you! I only remember one big jump scare, but the rest was more psychological, so I was tensed up the whole movie.

It's worth it, though, as it's very good and very funny (surprisingly).


message 11: by Magalys (new)

Magalys Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

I hate scary movies too but loved Get Out. Get Out is terrifying but only one scare is a jump scare. I recommend it SO much!


message 12: by KatForsyth (new)

KatForsyth Monkiecat wrote: "Okay, I'm doing it :D
I can't stand everybody having seen this without me
...and I'm glad I'm not the only wimp LOL"


I wimped out until last weekend, when my husband finally wore me down and made me watch it. It took him AGES! Enjoy! Let us know what you think afterwards!


message 13: by Pearce (new)

Pearce Dana Al-Basha wrote: "I don't think the book for The Shape of Water has anything to do with the movie... I would recommend anything related to water."

For example, Lake and Reservoir Management by S.E. Jorgensen, Heinz Loffler, Walter Rast & Milan Straskraba?


message 14: by Rain (new)

Rain All these movies were so bad to begin with. Wow.


message 15: by Alyssa (new)

Alyssa "A Discovery of Witches" for "A Shape of Water?" No. Just no. "A Shape of Water" deserves a lot better than a poorly written, generic, book about witches.


message 16: by Yaaresse (new)

Yaaresse For those who have not seen The Post yet, I suggest reading the Graham autobiography first. I watched The Post this weekend, and if I had not read the book first, I think I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. The movie doesn't really do justice to Graham's intelligence (subverted as it was by various factors) nor did it really give the viewer a good idea of the way the Graham-Bradlee relationship worked. Hanks and Streep did a great job with the material they had to work with, but there was so much more going on behind the scenes that couldn't make it into the movie without turing the thing into a mini-series.


message 17: by Karin (new)

Karin 'Shiver' and 'A Discovery of Witches' if you liked 'The Shape of Water'? Nope.
No, no, no. I don't know about the third one (has someone read it, can tell me if it fits there?), but the only book that comes to mind that might fit in that category is 'Like Water for Chocolate' by Laura Esquivel...


message 18: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Ramirez Rhianna wrote: "Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

Check ..."


I'm totally gonna start using that site! :)
And I agree, "Get Out" isn't a traditional horror movie...it's definitely more of a psychological film with dark elements. The extra-twisted parts are toward the end, so make sure to finish the whole movie!


message 19: by Ebru (new)

Ebru Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

I think it's not about jump scares. It's more like a psychological thriller and then some. You should give it a chance and watch the movie. I'm scaredy cat as well, and I wasn't that scared while watching the film.


message 20: by James (new)

James Lawner Some of these books just don't intrigue me. And wasn't Call Me By Your Name based on a novel? Why isn't the novel listed here? Seems like bad form to me.


message 21: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

It's not really jumpy, more head-twisting, psychological horror in my opinion. Give it a try!


message 22: by KatForsyth (new)

KatForsyth James wrote: "Some of these books just don't intrigue me. And wasn't Call Me By Your Name based on a novel? Why isn't the novel listed here? Seems like bad form to me."

It does say that in the article itself. Ditto The Post.


message 23: by Orestis (new)

Orestis I would recommend the "Swarm" for the shape of the water.


message 24: by KatForsyth (new)

KatForsyth Monkiecat wrote: "Okay, that was totally worth it :)"

Yaaaaaayyyyyy! I'm so glad! Did you get scared at all? I only jumped once when someone walked across the doorway/window behind the main character unexpectedly. The rest of it I was just really tensed up.


message 25: by KatForsyth (new)

KatForsyth Yep, it was Georgina - that damn jump music! Music is everything to a film!

The deer didn't get me; I was more "Whoa, the hell was that?" than anything.


lawyergobblesbooks Dana Al-Basha wrote: "I don't think the book for The Shape of Water has anything to do with the movie... I would recommend anything related to water."

If you're referring to the Inspector Montalbano book, definitely not. It's good, though! The whole series is!


message 27: by Steph (new)

Steph Lord wrote: "All these movies were so bad to begin with. Wow."

I find it hard to believe you actually saw any or all of these movies to begin with in order to make such an obtuse statement.


message 28: by Frances (new)

Frances Texidor Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

no jump scares. almost no gore. and a humorous thread running thru it. i figured it was dumb. it was really very very good. worth watching. i saw it on xfnity on demand.


message 29: by Simon (new)

Simon Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

There aren't that many jump scares. it's more of a psychological chiller. Some violence towards the end, but most of the film is about creating a creep atmosphere of unease and fear, rather than showing people being attacked by monsters jumping out from the shadows.


message 30: by Janice (new)

Janice Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

Same here. I've heard a lot of great things about the movie but I don't do scary anymore. I get lots of nightmares.


message 31: by Robynn (new)

Robynn Monkiecat wrote: "I really wish Get Out was a book instead of a movie. From all I've read about it, it's really worth watching, but I'm a wimp and I can't handle jump scares. Like, at all."

I've seen the movie. One very scary movie. Not sure I'm happy to have those images in my head. But for the genre it was really well done.


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