Reading the Oscars

It's time for the Oscars! Five of the nine Best Picture nominees for the Academy Awards are based on books this year and several other book-to-film adaptations were nominated for technical awards. Take a look to see what nominated films were based on a book -- you might be surprised!

American Hustle -- inspired by the story of Mel Weinberg and ABSCAM, read the true story in The Sting Man: Inside Abscam.

12 Years a Slave -- an adaptation of Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir, check out a copy and get more of his story in Twelve Years a Slave.

Captain Phillips -- based on the real Captain's account of pirates boarding the Maersk Alabama, read more of his story in A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea.

The Wolf of Wall Street -- adapted from the autobiography about the rise & fall of Jordan Belfort's financial empire, find out more by reading The Wolf of Wall Street (and the follow-up Catching the Wolf of Wall Street).

Philomena -- based on the true story of a woman and the secret she kept for 50 years, read Philomena: A Mother, Her Son, and A Fifty-Year Search to find out more.

Other nominated films based on books include:

• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 
• Lone Survivor 
• The Great Gatsby 
• Inside Llewyn Davis 
• The Book Thief, Saving Mr. Banks  
• Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
• Invisible Woman

You still have time to read a couple before the awards are announced on March 2nd -- which one will you read first? 

Find more book-to-film adaptations on our Book Lists page.