Top Ten Tuesday: Stagey Book Recommendations
Who doesn’t love a good book? Snuggling up in a cosy blanket with your favourite warm drink in your favourite mug? Ahhh, bliss!
This week Besties, we are counting down our top ten stagey book recommendations. From books that feature storylines about theatre to novel that come alive on the page, this list is the perfect starting point if you want to read more stagey books.
10. The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride
Coming in at number 10, we have Eimear McBride’s intense and sexy book, The Lesser Bohemians. Using a series of thoughts and speech using broken sentences, the story follows an 18-year-old girl studying theatre in London and explores her journey as she falls in love with an older actor who is handsome but damaged. It is a very clever book and an absolute pleasure to read.
(Age Warning: It is my opinion that this book is best for those aged 17+).
9. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
It would be rude to have a list of stagey book recommendations and not list the novels that inspired our favourite shows. For this reason, Phantom had to make the list. Though the events in the book are dramatically different to the musical, it is still a fantastic read. The book reads well and the story of the Phantom is brought to life on the pages, just like it is on the stage. Although this book is a ‘classic’, I would recommend it to any stage lover, but it is like marmite - you either love it or you hate it.
8. Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini
The novel that inspired the fun and thrilling musical. A brilliant story about accepting yourself and who you want to be. Similar to the musical, the book reads like an absolute dream, and it has a really interesting plot. Blending sci-fi, comedy and drama, this interesting idea is brought to life on the page incredibly well.
7. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
This story is absolutely charming Besties, and I always recommend it to anyone who loves theatre. Inspiring the incredible stage show, this story explores the adventures of Christopher, an autistic boy who spends most of the plot trying to discover the truth behind who killed his next-door neighbour’s dog. Along the way, he uncovers some truths that were always meant to stay hidden.
6. When the Curtain Falls by Carrie Hope Fletcher
The official Waterstones description opening to this book is “Moulin Rouge meets The Phantom of the Opera in this spellbinding and magical story of unrequited love and revenge.” I do not believe, Besties, that this needs any more explanation!
5. The Grimm’s Fairy-tales
Though not necessarily a straightforward book (although there are many compilations), the Grimm Fairy-tales are interesting stories to dip in and out of every so often. It is exciting recognising similar themes from these books in our favourite musicals. Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods takes inspiration from these tales and it is amazing how many different ways they can be interpreted.
4. Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Although this book is not explicitly a fiction book, it reads like one and is an incredibly fascinating account of one of the most successful musical theatre composers. The life of Andrew Lloyd Webber is beautifully formed and has a wonderful blend of tender moments explaining the key moments of his life, as well as some charming humour that makes the reading experience even more interesting. Although this account is very long (528 pages to be exact!), it is a really easy read and can definitely be done in a long weekend or just a chapter every so often to feed into curiosity.
3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
It doesn’t matter how many book recommendation lists I produce, this one is always in the top five. Although this book has nothing to do with theatre, it is a beautiful friend to lover’s story based in the romantic city of Paris. This book would be a brilliant read if you are a fan of She Loves Me or An American in Paris. It is a charming love story with entertaining and meaningful characters. There is not a page in this book that does not contribute to this story and for that reason, it makes the number three spot on this list.
2. Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood
This is a more mature read and was written by the incredible Margaret Atwood, author of the sensational The Handmaid’s Tale. The novel is a modern re-telling of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and is based on a man who teaches Literacy Through Theatre to the prisoners of a facility. It is discovered that the prisoners most relate to the character of Caliban. If you are a fan of the original Shakespeare play, this book would be an incredible source to dip in to.
1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Although this book has been used for theatre productions in the past, it takes the top spot on this list because it is a magical and heartfelt book that will give you butterflies. The characters, though there are few, have so much depth and their characteristics are so brilliantly defined that you can picture them in your mind. Their interactions are beautifully written, and you believe every word. And let’s not forget the garden. The descriptions are vivid, and the atmosphere just leaps off the page and you picture this on the stage. Although it is a book, the action feels so real that it is virtually impossible to think this would do anything but succeed as a show.
And there we have it, Besties, our top ten stagey book recommendations. Do you agree with our choices? Please let us know of all your amazing stagey book recommendations and we will see you next week for our next episode of Top Ten Tuesday!