Top Books Made into Movies in 2011

Wondering what books were made into movies in 2011? Here's the scoop on some of the biggest movies based on books.

The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly is the store of a lawyer who operates out of the back of his car and is down and out until he lands a big Beverly Hills client. As he prepares to defend his client against attempted murder, though, he realizes he is involved in something bigger than he anticipated. The movie adaptation of this 2005 Michael Connelly thriller was released in March 2012 and starred Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy and Marisa Tomei.

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen opens with a day of disaster at the circus and Jacob Jankowski admitting he kept a secret from that day for over 70 years. The novel then moves to the ninety-something year old Jacob in a nursing home. As the older Jacob fights to survive the indignities of old age he recounts the story of his life with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on earth. Gruen's 2006 novel has been a runaway bestseller and book club favorite. The movie stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon and was released in April.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See is the story of two girls in nineteenth century China and their friendship from age seven. Lily narrates the story as an old woman, relating how her friendship with Snow Flower grew and then fell apart with a major betrayal. The movie adaptation of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was released in July 2011, but never became very popular.

One Day

An international bestseller, One Day by David Nicholls takes on the nature of male-female friendship, love, and career in the post-college years. Set across England in the 1980s and 90s,One Day is a tale of two unlikely friends that is told one day at a time, on the same day each year. The movie adaptation stars Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway and was released in August.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The final book in the Harry Potter saga was be split into two movies. The first, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, was released in November 2010. The second half of the book and final movie was released in July 2011.

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett has been one of the most popular novels of the past few years. Released in 2009, The Help is the story of a young white woman in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s and a group of black maids who work for the families of her friends. Stockett writes about the struggles the women face as they chafe against the written and unwritten rules that limit their lives. The movie version of The Help wasr released in August.

Moneyball

Michael Lewis' 2011 nonfiction book, Moneyball, looked into how the Oakland Athletics were a successful baseball team despite having a minor league level payroll. The 2012 movie of the book was released in September and starred Brad Pitt. It was highly acclaimed.

Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn is the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga, and it will be split into two movies. Twilight fans have eagerly been anticipating the film adaptation of Bella and Edward's wedding and honeymoon. The Breaking Dawn movie was released in November 2011.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Lionel Shriver's 2003 novel, We Need to Talk About Kevin, is written as a series of letters between an estranged husband and wife about their teenage son's sociopath behavior after he goes on a Columbine-like killing spree. The movie adaptation of We Need to Talk about Kevin was released to critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. It will be released in the U.S. in December 2011.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is not only an international bestseller, but the Swedish version of the film has been popular worldwide. The U.S. version of the movie, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, will be released in December. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first in Larsson's Millennium trilogy.

(by Erin Collazo Miller, About.com)

Top Ten First Lines

Bookends: A Booklist Blog

--by Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan

Middle-school librarians Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan prove that two heads are better than one when it comes to discussing YA and children's books

Cindy and Lynn: Author Paul Zindel once set off noise makers that sounded like firecrackers in our library during a presentation to our students. He told them that stories should start with a “Bang!” The added sound effect got the point across to our middle schoolers. We’ve always been on the lookout for good opening lines and so we’ve gathered ten from this year’s books that make us want to read more. How about you? Take time between pieces of pumpkin pie to leave your favorite opening lines here in the comments. We’re feeling thankful for all of our readers so there will be a prize for one of you. We’ll draw one entry from our sorting hat (annoying spammers trying to sell products in our comments will be excluded thank you very much). Don’t miss your chance to win. We don’t know what the prize is, but I’m sure it will be amazing.

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“I’ve confessed to everything and I’d like to be hanged. Now, if you please.” –from Chime by Franny Billingsley (Dial 2011)

“That nice Mrs. Kramer lied to me about third grade.” –from Marty McGuire by Kate Messner (Scholastic 2011)

“My name is Elly Pickering. I’ve lost my mobile phone at the mall and am now facing certain death.” –from I Lost My Mobile at the Mall: Teenager on the Edge of Technological Breakdown by Wendy Harmer (Kane Miller 2011)

“It has been sixty-four years since the president and the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected a cure.” –from Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Harper 2011)

“Being a heroine is nowhere near the fun folks make it out to be.” –from Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede (Scholastic 2011)

“The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.” –from A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Candlewick 2011)

“Finally, Friday afternoon and the last bell–the moment he lived for. He bolted out of school. Another long week of hell over.” –from The Phantom Limb by William Sleator and Ann Monticone (Amulet 2011)

“It wasn’t clear to Serena Shaw which woke her up–the burning smell or the persistent wail of the smoke alarm.” –from Silhouetted by the Blue by Traci L. Jones (Farrar 2011)

“Sitting near Darci Madison on the school bus is enough to put anyone with woman-sprout issues over the edge.” –from The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder (Houghton/Graphia 2011)

“Since Saturday, I’ve fried Sergio like catfish, mashed him like potatoes, and creamed his corn in ten straight games of bowling.” –from How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen (Harper/Balzer & Bray 2011)

“Mal looked in the mirror and saw a road map of mistakes.” –from Those That Wake by Jesse Karp (Houghton 2011)

“They took me in my nightgown.” –from Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (Penguin/ Philomel 2011)

“Whenever Castle Glower became bored, it would grow a new room or two.” –from Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George. (Bloomsbury 2011)

“Sometimes things are dead, but still move.” – from Zombie Mommy by M. T. Anderson (S&S/Beach Lane 2011)

Cindy: Okay, so you counted and are doubting my math skillz. Yes. I know there are more than 10 here. Lynn is busy with the focus group while I am enjoying a day off from school and I decided to use her method of making top ten lists by exceeding my limit a tad. Please forgive me. I am thankful for an abundance of talented authors…