The Book was Better…

Streaming has become increasingly popular and with increasing popularity comes the need for more content. Do you know what makes good content? A good book. Luckily, at the Mercer County Library System books are kind of our thing. Here are six relatively recent streaming shows that are based on books we happen to offer in our collection. The shows are presented in no particular order.

Apple TV+ is currently streaming Silo, a post-apocalyptic story taking place in an underground bunker and starring Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, and Common. Silo is based on the Wool trilogy by Hugh Howey. The books in the Wool trilogy are Wool, Shift, and Dust. Wool is available as a physical copy and as an eBook and eAudiobook through eLibraryNJ and hoopla, Shift is available as a physical copy, and Dust is also available as a physical copy and as an eAudiobook through hoopla. The Wool trilogy is a triumph for self-publishing as it started out as a short story published through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing system and rocketed to success. So much success that now it is on the small screen through Apple TV+.

Lessons in Chemistry is a novel by Bonnie Garmus and has the distinction of being Barnes & Noble’s 2022 book of the year. Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist forced to resign due to 1960s sexism. Instead of quitting, she uses her love of science to become host of a cooking show. Lessons in Chemistry is available in our system as a physical copy, eBook and eAudiobook on eLibraryNJ and hoopla, large print copy, as a book on CD, and in a Spanish language version. Apple TV+ released a streaming series based on Garmus’ novel in October of this year (2023) starring Brie Larson and Aja Naomi King.

Netflix’s Painkiller is a series about America’s opioid crisis starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick. This series is a drama, but it is based on a non-fiction book. The only non-fiction book in this blog post - Barry Meier’s Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic. Barry Meier started investigating Purdue Pharma, OxyContin, and the Sackler family in 2001, and ended up chronicling the devastating opioid crisis from the eyes of perpetrators, victims, and people seeking the truth. Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic is available in our system as a physical copy.

Amazon Prime is offering Daisy Jones & the Six on its service, starring Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, and Suki Waterhouse. The story is about Daisy Jones, a singer who finds success with a band called The Six. During the 1960s and 1970s the band achieves fame, fortune, and success, but is also a powder keg of tension and drama, particularly between Daisy and broody lead singer, Billy Dunne. The Six is loosely inspired by Fleetwood Mac and, according to Stevie Nicks, the show’s stars really capture the creative relationship between her and Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham*. MCLS has the book, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, in a physical copy, eBook and eAudiobook on eLibraryNJ, large print copy, and as a book on CD.

Hulu has adapted Zakiya Dalila Harris’ New York Times bestseller, The Other Black Girl. The plot revolves around Nella, the only black person working at a major publishing house. When Hazel - another black woman - is hired, Nella is thrilled and she and Hazel become fast friends. However, things at the office take some strange and unexpected turns and Nella must search for answers about Hazel and their employers. The series stars Sinclair Daniel and Ashleigh Murray. Fun fact, the show and the book have different endings, so you may want to experience both to get two different perspectives on the story. The Other Black Girl is available in our system as a physical copy, eAudiobook through hoopla, a playaway copy, and as a book on CD.

Victor Lavalle’s surreal horror novel, The Changeling, has been adapted into a series on Apple TV+. Starring LaKeith Stanfield and Adina Porter, The Changeling follows Apollo Kogwa. Apollo is a new father eager to settle into a new life with his wife, Emma, and new baby - but Emma begins acting increasingly strange. A strangeness that goes beyond postpartum depression. When Emma commits an unthinkable act and disappears, Apollo goes searching for her through a surreal, alternate New York to uncover the truth about his family. MCLS owns The Changeling as a physical copy.

This post is only scratching the surface of how much MCLS has to offer. The Witcher, The Wheel of Time, Killers of the Flower Moon, Good Omens, and more are all examples of great books that went on to become great films and television shows, and are great books we happen to own. Please take full advantage of the MCLS collection, you will absolutely find something equal parts interesting and entertaining.

- by Shanna, Acquisitions and Cataloging Department