Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

A brief guide to the books that inspired this year’s Oscar nominees

Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck in Gone Girl.
Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck in Gone Girl.
Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck in Gone Girl.
(20th Century Fox)

Some of the most popular films Hollywood has produced have been based on books. And that’s no less true of the best films of 2014. Of the many movies nominated for Oscars at this year’s ceremony, six are book-to-movie adaptations.

Here, from BookBub, is a handy graphic of information about the films and their source material.

Oscars book graphic

(As the graphic notes, those box office numbers are as of January 15, 2015. Both Imitation Game and American Sniper have soared well past those totals.)

Each of the above books was well received, but some are standouts. Wild, for example, by Cheryl Strayed, peaked at no. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list for seven consecutive weeks, while Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl spent eight weeks at no. 1, and 91 weeks overall on the bestseller list.

Check out these books at your local library. Or you can purchase each of them below:

(H/t Electric Literature)

More in Culture

Advice
What trainers actually think about the 12-3-30 workoutWhat trainers actually think about the 12-3-30 workout
Advice

Have we finally unlocked exercise’s biggest secret? Or is this yet another lie perpetrated Big Treadmill?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Technology
The case for AI realismThe case for AI realism
Technology

AI isn’t going to be the end of the world — no matter what this documentary sometimes argues.

By Shayna Korol
Podcasts
How fan fiction went mainstreamHow fan fiction went mainstream
Podcast
Podcasts

The community that underpins Heated Rivalry, explained.

By Danielle Hewitt and Noel King
Culture
Why Easter never became a big secular holiday like ChristmasWhy Easter never became a big secular holiday like Christmas
Culture

Hint: The Puritans were involved.

By Tara Isabella Burton
Culture
The sticky, sugary history of PeepsThe sticky, sugary history of Peeps
Culture

A few things you might not know about Easter’s favorite candy.

By Tanya Pai
The Highlight
The return of resistance craftingThe return of resistance crafting
The Highlight

Want to fight fascism? Join a knitting circle.

By Anna North