It’s every college student’s favorite time of year: textbook shopping time! Yes, it’s time to buy books that you’ll maybe or maybe not use over the next three and a half months. Maybe you’ll get money back for them in a few months or maybe they’ll become really nice, expensive doorstops. Luckily, as an English major, I don’t spend an extreme amount of money on textbooks. Bless you my STEM major friends for your insanely priced books.

Just in time for back-to-school, today’s Top Five Wednesday aks us to create a reading list based on a class of our chouce. I’d love to take a class on YA books one day -not just because I would so buy those books instead of rent them and add them to my personal collection. However,I took a class on graphic novels last semester, which influenced me to add a new minor and of course pick up some more graphic novels!

I’d especially love to take a class about books that were turned into film adaptations, featuring the 5 books below. I think it would be really fun to read the book, watch its adaptation, and compare and contrast. While there are SO many books and movies to choose from, I’m going to be focusing on some of my favorites from my own read pile. Syllabus to come next week.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty- Big Little Lies has easily become one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons over the past two years. The class could have discussions about changes between book and adaptation (for example, the book takes place in Australia, while the show takes place in California), female led-shows, its relation to the Me Too movement, and how a adaptation based on a book goes beyond the book (season 1 has an almost identical ending to the book). Having this book on the syllabus would also give me an excuse to talk about all my season 2 theories.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han- Is anyone really surprised that this book is on my list?? Besides its movie adaptation coming out not even two weeks ago, I think a discussion on To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before would be really current when it comes to Asian Americans on screen. I could so see some comparison to another August adaptation, Crazy Rich Asians. I also think it would be interesting to talk about how book series can or cannot be adapted into a film series.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas- While there hasn’t been too much more news about it since early 2018, Constantin Films is currently in development on the film adaptation of Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR. It would be cool to read the book and predict what plot elements, atmosphere, and settings will make it to the screen. I’ll be honest, as much as I love ACOTAR, I am having trouble picturing on screen without making too many changes.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard- Pretty Little Liars is another pop culture phenomenon, but one that people have a ton of mixed feelings over. Personally, I have read all 16 PLL books while only watching season 1 of the ABC Family TV show. While the class wouldn’t be able to read the whole series, even though they are quick reads, I could see reading books 1-3 and watching key episodes in the series to compare and contrast. I think this series would provide a lot of discussion about what makes a TV show popular and why change characters and plot on screen.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes- I guess another theme of today is indeed controversy, because Me Before You caused a ton of it surrounding its film adaptation in 2016. I think Me Before You would act as a great main source to focus on when it comes to controversy both in the book and movie worlds.

Top 5 Wednesday is a collaborative group of book bloggers from various platforms who love sharing lists on Wednesdays. The T5W group can be found here on Goodreads.

What books would you want to read for a blank class? What bookish class would you like to take? Share in the comments!