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Read Before You Watch {TV Series Edition}

With a long, hot summer approaching, some of us may need some new book and television recommendations. It’s surprising how many television shows are based on books. I’m always a fan of reading the book first and then comparing how different the show or movie is. Many of these television shows have been streaming for awhile now, so you have probably watched some of them. But have you read the book(s) that they are based on? In this first edition of Read Before You Watch, catch up on your summer reading and watching with these books and the television shows that they inspired. While this list isn’t comprehensive, it’s a good start!

Newer Shows:

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Read: The Black Echo (Book #1 in the Harry Bosch series) by Michael Connelly. There are 22 books in the series.
Watch: Bosch on Prime Video if you like police drama and suspense. Season 6 began streaming in April 2020.

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Read: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Watch: on Hulu if you like family drama. This show started streaming in March of 2020.

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Read: Stealing Home (Book #1 in The Sweet Magnolias series) by Sherryl Woods. There are 11 books in the series.
Watch: On Netflix if you like southern small town drama, friendship and romance. The show began streaming in mid-May.

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Read: Normal People by Sally Rooney
Watch: Normal People on Hulu if you like Irish coming of age dramas. The show began streaming at the end of April.

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Read: Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman
Watch: on Netflix if you want to learn more about Hasidic Judaism and one woman’s journey escaping her religious roots. The show began streaming in March 2020.

Older Shows:

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Read: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Watch: on Netflix if you like teen drama that deals with heavy topics like suicide and rape

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Read: Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Watch: on Netflix if you like action, science fiction and mystery

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Read: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Watch: on HBO if you like family/friendship drama

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Read: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (8 books in the series)
Watch: Dexter, originally aired on Showtime. You can now watch it on Netflix if you like crime, psychological

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Read: The Feed by Nick Clark Windo
Watch: on Amazon Video if you like futuristic, dystopian, psychological thrillers

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Read: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (7 books in the series)
Watch: on HBO if you like fantasy, action-packed, drama

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Read: Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar (13 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like YA drama involving wealthy teens

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Read: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Watch: on Hulu if you like dystopian fiction

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Read: House of Cards by Michael Dobbs (3 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like political dramas/thrillers

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Read: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
Watch: on Netflix if you are interested in seeing a woman’s prison comedy/drama, based on a true story

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Read: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (9 books in the series)
Watch: on Starz if you like historical fiction, romance, time travel and fantasy

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Read: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (There are 16 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like YA teen drama and mystery

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Read: The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Watch: on Netflix if you like mystery/thrillers

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Read: The Awakening by L.J. Smith (There are 7 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like YA supernatural drama, fantasy

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Read: Westworld by Michael Crichton
Watch: on HBO if you like action-packed, dystopian science-fiction thrillers

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Read: You by Caroline Kepnes
Watch: on Netflix if you like psychological suspense thrillers featuring a stalker

Foodie TV Review: Mind of a Chef, Season 1

The first season of Mind of a Chef is currently available on Netflix but originally aired on PBS at the end of 2012. The show finished its third season. Each 16 episode season features a different chef or chefs and takes and a look into their inspirations and quests to bring new creative food to the table. Anthony Bourdain acts as both executive producer and narrator. I’m sure we’ll be seeing him again in an upcoming review as he hosts several food-related shows. Season one exclusively features chef David Chang, the award-winning chef and creative mastermind behind the Momofuku restaurant empire. It’s easy to see why he deserves his own season as he is widely regarded as one of the best things to happen to food in the last decade.

The series explores his childhood and heritage while following him around the world. He meets with old and new friends during his travels to locations such as Japan, Spain and various US stops to share the foods that made him who is today and the innovations that he is developing now. He takes the heritage and history of food and presents it in a new and unique way. He also takes a look at some of the other chefs that inspire him and drive him to continue innovating. David Chang has certainly left a mark on food and future generations of new chefs are looking to him as inspiration to become great in their own right. We have not yet had the opportunity to eat at any of his restaurants but look forward to doing so. Watching the show gives a detailed and inside look at his life of cooking and is a great way to see an excellent chef at the top of his game. Next step is to eat some of this greatness.

Have any of you enjoyed David Chang’s restaurants? Please share some of your favorite experiences in the comments section.