We have all heard someone say at one time or another “The book was SO MUCH better than the movie.” With time restraints and trying to fit in-depth characterisation into short, visual pieces, films can’t always capture the magic that words on a page can. Not to mention that the big screen can’t always compete with your own imagination either.

We’re not saying we don’t love the movies, we’re just saying that you should never rule out the book versions!

With that in mind, here are 7 books that are better than the movie versions. You should seriously consider reading them even if you have already seen the movie. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

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#1 Wild by Cheryl Strayed

The level of emotion that Cheryl Strayed is able to convey within this book is incredible. There are moments that simply can’t be translated to film. And although the movie was good, I personally found its written counterpart to be much more moving.

#2 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Even the newest movie version ended up incorporating some of the actual text. There are lines read or shown on the screen throughout. Still many extraordinary moments and quotes were left out. Now it’s time to discover the magic of Gatsby for yourself.

#3 The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

This book was so full of twists and turns that not all of them made it into the film. It is full of mystery and suspense, and having that fed to you gradually rather than packed into a few short hours is so much more enjoyable to savor.

#4 Atonement by Ian McEwan

Within the movie version, there are certain themes that don’t get as much attention. One of them is the intensity and reality of war, which many would argue is the greatest attribute that the book offers. Within the movie, this is addressed but in a small way. To really get the full effect, the book is definitely the way to go.

#5 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This classic has a lot of in-depth characterisation that a film just can’t capture. The newest film adaptation does an adequate job in my opinion, however, nothing could beat the book.

#6 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Some of the team have only just watched this film and we all know how well-loved it is, but the book gets even deeper into the minds of Amy and Nick and takes you on an uncomfortable psychological journey that you just can’t stop. If you thought the film was scary, read the book!

#7 Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

The biggest thing I have to say with this one is that you are sure to love Chiyo’s character and when reading the book you have more time to become fond of her. The movie also, like many movies adapted from books, has to cut many parts out. Some people were actually disappointed by the movie as it digresses quite a bit from the actual novel, taking more of the idea of the story than the actual story itself.

These are just a few to start with anyway. Books can often take us deeper into a story as they allow for more space and time to build characters and develop plot. While movies are still very entertaining, don’t pass up reading the book just because you saw the film first. That can go the other way as well. Why not enjoy them both?