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Books on Film is another regular feature that I develop, write, edit, and produce for BookSense.com's many member websites. A recent example:

BOOKS ON FILM: HOLIDAY SEASON 2003 (November, 2003)
Considered to be the second most lucrative box office season after summer, studios role out prestigious big-budget blockbuster after prestigious big-budget blockbuster between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the hopes of capturing the hearts, minds, and wallets of moviegoers and Oscar voters across the country.

The few short weeks before Turkey Day saw a swarm of literary adaptations: Seabiscuit, Matchstick Men, American Splendor, Under the Tuscan Sun, Mystic River, The Runaway Jury, The Human Stain, The Far Side of the World, and The Cat in the Hat all met with some sort of critical or financial success -- or both. The upcoming weeks will see a similarly diverse group of novels hitting the silver screen.

Sweeping historical dramas, science fiction thrillers, a (literally) big family comedy, a beloved children's fantasy: there's something for everyone to see -- and read -- this holiday season!

The Missing
by Thomas Eidson
Samuel Jones is 76 years old and slowly dying. In order to rest peacefully, he must first make amends with Maggie, his estranged daughter who he abandoned 30 years earlier to marry an Apache woman. When Samuel suddenly shows up on Maggie's doorstep, she understandably wants nothing to do with him...until a group of renegade Apaches kill Maggie's husband and kidnap her daughter. Maggie and Samuel have to work together to rescue the young girl before she's whisked away into Mexico -- but will they be able to set aside their differences in time? "The Missing" is directed by Ron Howard, and stars Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett.

Timeline
by Michael Crichton
Crichton's intense science thriller starts when an eccentric billionaire genius planning a high-tech theme park (sound familiar?) around the Middle Ages hires a group of young historians to make his elaborate venture as authentic as possible. During their research, the historians discover an S.O.S. message from their beloved project leader that dates from the 14th century! Soon, the group is whisked away by a time machine to feudal France where they face catapults, broadswords, giants, bandits, crazed knights, and ancient torture devices. Will the film version of Timeline be able to capture the book's manic, ludicrous, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court-inspired fun? Action auteur Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon," "Superman") directs.

Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions
by Daniel Wallace
In an attempt to get to know his dying father and reconcile their strained relationship, William Bloom ponders the many local legends and tall tales that have sprung up around the charismatic man. Wallace's debut novel is delightfully imaginative, clever, and poignant, and should be the perfect fit for director Tim Burton's capacity for extraordinary visual brilliance. Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Helena Bonham Carter, and Steve Buscemi star in one of the season's most anticipated films.

Girl With a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier
An elegantly written piece of speculative historical fiction, Chevalier's romantic, best-selling Girl With a Pearl Earring explores the story behind one of Dutch master Johannes Vermeer's most famous paintings. Sixteen-year-old Griet is the Vermeer household's newest servant. Working sometimes as Vermeer's assistant, she becomes close to the painter, which causes more tension in the already stormy relationship the artist has with his demanding wife and brooding mother-in-law. What will happen when Vermeer asks Griet to sit for him as a model? Director Peter Webber will try to capture the serene beauty of Vermeer's paintings and Chevalier's prose with a cast that includes Scarlet Johansson and Colin Firth.

The Statement
by Brian Moore
A psychologically and morally intense novel of World War II and its aftermath, Moore's disturbing thriller is partially based on a true story. Duplicitous Frenchman Pierre Broussard aided in the deportation of Jews during the war, and thanks to an underground network of aging Nazi collaborators and sympathizers, has managed to avoid capture and punishment for more than 40 years. Now, the French government, a secret organization of assassins, and a famous Nazi hunter are all on his trail. It looks like Pierre will finally have to face the consequences of his actions -- but it seems the crafty old man has one last plan... Hard-hitting drama vet Norman Jewison ("In the Heat of the Night," "The Hurricane") directs Michael Caine in what's sure to be one of the year's most talked about releases.

The Return of the King: The Lord of the Rings--Part Three
by J.R.R. Tolkien
The final chapter in the greatest fantasy saga of all time! As Frodo, Sam, and Gollum continue to make their way towards the fires of Mount Doom, two great armies meet in an apocalyptic battle that will decide the fate of Middle-earth. An epic to end all epics, Tolkein's conclusion to his masterful saga manages to be full of excitement and adventure while packing considerable emotional punch. Director Peter Jackson will no doubt continue to amaze critics and the general public alike with his big-screen adaptation, which will once again feature Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, and hordes of computer-generated orcs.

Cheaper by the Dozen
by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Hilarious turn-of-the-century family hijinks abound in this perennial classic. Based upon the experiences of the authors, Cheaper by the Dozen is the engaging story of the loveable clan Gilbreth: a man, his wife, and their twelve (!!) rambunctious children. The latest adaptation of the novel -- the popular 1950 version starred Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy -- transfers the Gilbreth's (mis)adventures to the 21st century, where the sprawling brood must face modern-day parenting duties and vocational hazards. Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt play the parents, with Hilary Duff, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo, and ostensibly nine other spirited youngsters rounding out the cast.

Cold Mountain
by Charles Frazier
Winner of the National Book Award, Charles Frazier's mega-bestselling Cold Mountain is a lyrical Civil War saga loosely based on Homer's Odyssey. Towards the end of the war, Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier, decides to desert his regiment so he can make his way across the harrowing mid-19th-century American landscape back to his sweetheart, Ada. Meanwhile, Ada's having trouble running the family farm by herself -- until a drifter named Ruby shows up to lend a hand. Directed by adaptation specialist Anthony Minghella ("The English Patient," "The Talented Mr. Ripley"), "Cold Mountain" features Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, and Renee Zellweger.

Paycheck
by Philip K. Dick
In this latest futuristic memory puzzle inspired by a Philip K. Dick short story, Michael Jennings is a freelance engineering genius who gets big bucks to do classified work for high-tech corporations. In fact, his work is so classified that when Jennings completes the job, his memory is erased. The trouble starts when Jennings finishes up his latest assignment, and instead of the expected paycheck, he receives an envelope full of random objects and a note telling him that he's forfeited all payment. Since he can't remember anything, he can't collect what he's owed...or figure out why there are men after him for a crime he supposedly committed. Action maven John Woo is sure to pull out all the stops on this thriller, which stars Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, and Aaron Eckhart.

Peter Pan: The Original Story
by J.M. Barrie
Yes, yet another adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic is set for release this holiday season. Peter Pan, Tinkerbelle, and the Lost Boys will once again take Londoners Wendy, John, and Michael Darling on a self-powered flight to a magical place called Neverland, where they'll have to face the nefarious Captain Hook and his band of pirates! Early word is that director P.J. Hogan's sumptuous and dark adaptation relies more on Barrie's original book than other versions. Could this be the best Pan yet?

House of Sand and Fog
by Andre Dubus
A former Oprah's Book Club pick, Dubus' acclaimed bestseller is a bleak look at the American immigrant experience. After his daughter gets married, struggling former Iranian colonel Massoud Amir Behrani rashly spends all of his remaining life savings on a house he buys at an auction. But the house's past owner, the recently evicted Kathy Nicolo -- a recovering alcoholic and drug addict -- wants it back at any cost. On her side is her new lover, local sheriff Lester Burdon, a man with troubles of his own. An understated and disturbing novel, the film version of House of Sand and Fog stars Ben Kingsley, Jennifer Connelly, and Ron Eldard.