Looking for a good book or a fun film this weekend? Grab a warm blanket and a bag of Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, and look no further than your own backyard. Below are three books-turned-movies from current or past Fairfield County residents.
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
My interest in Fairfield County authors began when I discovered that Truman Capote, the writer of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, attended Greenwich High School. He wrote for both the school newspaper and the literary journal The Green Witch.
After leaving Connecticut, Capote wrote the novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s, later adapted into the classic film of the same name. It starred the timeless Audrey Hepburn as the young socialite Holly Golightly, a casting decision that Capote actually hated. Even with this disagreement, he would have to admit that his character, portrayed with large sunglasses and a long black dress, has become one of the most iconic images for cinema in the 20th century.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Quite possibly, my favorite children’s book of all time and winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal, Where The Wild Things Are, was written by longtime Ridgefield resident Maurice Sendak. A true classic in children’s literature, it is a story of imagination and childhood emotion.
It follows a young boy, Max, as he sails away from his bedroom into a world of Wild Things. Its illustrations perfectly match its childlike sentiment, starting simple and then spreading across the pages with the rise of the plot. In 2009, it was adapted into a film. It was praised for being touching and visually beautiful but not necessarily appropriate for young children. Set aside from the movie’s targeted audience, I highly recommend buying or checking out this book, pulling your kids close, and, as Max put it, letting “the Wild Rumpus start.”
THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY
As a young adult and dystopian society addict, I was ecstatic to discover that Suzanne Collins, author of the wildly popular Hunger Games Trilogy, is a fellow Fairfield County mom. Though she was born in Hartford, she now resides in Newton with her husband and two children.
In The Hunger Games, Collins pulls readers into her world, with its unique society and political landscape. It is a story of survival, bravery, and goodness among cruelty. The trilogy has sold over 65 million copies in the US alone and has been adapted into major blockbuster films.
Where the Wild Things Are is my all time favorite book! 🙂