I love books and movies about writers too. Like Eric, I loved Misery and Secret Window, but cannot do any other Stephen King, apart from his book "On Writing", which is great.
A book that comes to mind, especially with the Agatha Christie theme in mind, is Hazards in Hampshire by Emma Dakin. Not exactly about a writer but it features a book club, and mystery book tours with an Agatha bent. Despite the twee title it is very readable, a cosy but of the older classic style. I find modern cosy mysteries mostly unreadable.
Others I can recall are I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith (a favourite classic), Verity by Colleen Hoover (not a fan), and The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz, which is a bit different... kind of like The Magpie Murders. There are lots! Also, not books, but I am guessing you will have watched the Kominksy Method with Michael Douglas, which is brilliant and of course The Dead Poet's Society.
Just been through some of my older book journals, I must start a section for books about writers! I found The Hours by Tim Cunningham, about Virginia Woolf which was made into a brilliant move later, and of course Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, but the latter, especially, may be a bit too dark. The movie Sylvia was good about Sylvia and Ted Hughes, but again not lighthearted.
I loved I Capture the Castle and I’ve watched the first Magpie Murders and need to read the book (which is in my office somewhere). Not read any Colleen Hoover! Thanks for all the recommendations I’m going to add them to my reading journal.
Thinking about Michael Douglas I remembered the novel Wonder Boys, (loved it), by Michael Chabon, which was made into a film also starring Michael Douglas.
I love books like this as well. “Paperback Writer” comes to mind, as well as “Bag of Bones,” “Misery,” and the short story “Secret Window, Secret Garden,” these latter three by Stephen King.
As far as movies about writers, I also love “You’ve Got Mail” and one of my favorites is “Stranger Than Fiction.” “The Man Who Invented Christmas” is a great Christmas movie/book about Charles Dickens’ frustrations with writer’s block while writing “A Christmas Carol.”
I loved Misery when I was younger - both the book and the film. I don’t think I could watch it now though! And yes, You’ve Got Mail is fabulous. Thanks for the other recommendations!
Where are my crappy ex-fling's glasses because I'm crying, laughing, and learning Italian over this post! SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE is my second favorite film, only to be topped by YOU'VE GOT MAIL. Most of my favorite movies and books are about writers and I've read the entire stack featured in this piece for that very reason. Wouldn't it be fun to be part of a Books About Writers Book Club?
Oh yes, I’m absolutely here for books and films about writers too. In fact thank you as I hadn’t heard of the Salinger one and will add it to my list! I thoroughly enjoyed romantic comedy, but definitely more for the behind the scenes of SNL vibe than the romance bit. I read Lily King’s Writers and Lovers last year, which was good for the same sort of reason. Love the Little Women illustration ❤️
I loved “how to end a love story” last year 🩷
And by the way: I just checked out your TikTok and LOVE it too 🧡🩷♥️
Helen have you read 84 Charing Cross road by Helene Hanff? A poop writer with an antiquarian taste in books. It's espistory
I have it on my to be read pile! I’ll bring it to the top. Thank you!
I love books and movies about writers too. Like Eric, I loved Misery and Secret Window, but cannot do any other Stephen King, apart from his book "On Writing", which is great.
A book that comes to mind, especially with the Agatha Christie theme in mind, is Hazards in Hampshire by Emma Dakin. Not exactly about a writer but it features a book club, and mystery book tours with an Agatha bent. Despite the twee title it is very readable, a cosy but of the older classic style. I find modern cosy mysteries mostly unreadable.
Others I can recall are I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith (a favourite classic), Verity by Colleen Hoover (not a fan), and The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz, which is a bit different... kind of like The Magpie Murders. There are lots! Also, not books, but I am guessing you will have watched the Kominksy Method with Michael Douglas, which is brilliant and of course The Dead Poet's Society.
Just been through some of my older book journals, I must start a section for books about writers! I found The Hours by Tim Cunningham, about Virginia Woolf which was made into a brilliant move later, and of course Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, but the latter, especially, may be a bit too dark. The movie Sylvia was good about Sylvia and Ted Hughes, but again not lighthearted.
I loved I Capture the Castle and I’ve watched the first Magpie Murders and need to read the book (which is in my office somewhere). Not read any Colleen Hoover! Thanks for all the recommendations I’m going to add them to my reading journal.
Thinking about Michael Douglas I remembered the novel Wonder Boys, (loved it), by Michael Chabon, which was made into a film also starring Michael Douglas.
I love books like this as well. “Paperback Writer” comes to mind, as well as “Bag of Bones,” “Misery,” and the short story “Secret Window, Secret Garden,” these latter three by Stephen King.
As far as movies about writers, I also love “You’ve Got Mail” and one of my favorites is “Stranger Than Fiction.” “The Man Who Invented Christmas” is a great Christmas movie/book about Charles Dickens’ frustrations with writer’s block while writing “A Christmas Carol.”
I loved Misery when I was younger - both the book and the film. I don’t think I could watch it now though! And yes, You’ve Got Mail is fabulous. Thanks for the other recommendations!
Hi Helen, I really enjoyed reading this and learning about your inspiration. I like to visual of films depicting writers, it is inspiring.
Where are my crappy ex-fling's glasses because I'm crying, laughing, and learning Italian over this post! SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE is my second favorite film, only to be topped by YOU'VE GOT MAIL. Most of my favorite movies and books are about writers and I've read the entire stack featured in this piece for that very reason. Wouldn't it be fun to be part of a Books About Writers Book Club?
Oh yes, I’m absolutely here for books and films about writers too. In fact thank you as I hadn’t heard of the Salinger one and will add it to my list! I thoroughly enjoyed romantic comedy, but definitely more for the behind the scenes of SNL vibe than the romance bit. I read Lily King’s Writers and Lovers last year, which was good for the same sort of reason. Love the Little Women illustration ❤️
Yes, the behind the scenes are the best bits! I've also read Writers and Lovers, forgot about that one.
I did really enjoy it. I think I’ve written some articles on it on my Substack some time ago.