Messy Wife, Blessed Life: Bibliophile Date: The Book is Better than the Movie

This post is part of my date idea link-up! Check it out for more unique "pre-planned" date ideas from other amazing bloggers (and add your own)!

source: Piotr Bizior - Bizior Photography

This date idea is inspired by an actual date my husband I had a few months ago. In fact, it was the first date we went on since our daughter was born six months before and I was quite nervous that with all the recent changes in our family and relationship, we wouldn't have anything to talk about other than the baby; however, centering the date around a book and a movie (in our case The Hunger Games) led to ample conversation comparing the book and movie, discussing our favorite parts, analyzing for deeper meaning, etc. I suggest this date for any couple that loves to read and especially for couples that feel like they need some new conversation material. The preparation time is great (the time it takes for both of you to read the book), but so is the date!

Preparation:

Choose a book (and read it): The options for books made into movies are endless. There is something for everyone, regardless of your literary preferences. Although, if you and your significant other have vastly different interests, agreeing on one may be a challenge. Choose a book that neither of you have read, choose one of your favorite books to share with your significant other (or decide to read that book that he's always talking about), or revisit together a classic that you both read back in high school. You can choose a book whose movie has been out for years (for an at-home date) or one that will hit the theaters soon if you are wanting a date night out.

Book Suggestions:

In theaters soon: If you are looking for a classic book that will be in theaters later this year, I highly suggest The Great Gatsby which will be out on Christmas! Also out later this year is The Life of Pi in November. And those with true literary daring, try Anna Karenina also out in November.

Other books: The Hunger Games, Jane Eyre, The Reader, The Time Traveler's Wife, Nicholas Sparks films (Message in a Bottle, The Notebook, A Walk to Remember), Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry Potter books, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Help, Jane Austen books (Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility), Schindler's Ark ["Schindler's List"], To Kill a Mockingbird, Chronicles of Narnia books, No Country for Old Men, Jurassic Park, books turned into Disney movies (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson), Shakespeare plays

Quick reads (for the less-than-enthused reader, to plan your date soon - some you can even read together right before you see the movie): Dr. Seuss books (The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who, Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat), other children's books (Babar, Where the Wild Things Are), short fiction ("Breakfast at Tiffany's", A Christmas Carol, Secret Window, Secret Garden [Secret Window], "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow") or open a volume of Grimm's Fairy Tales to uncover a wealth of movie inspiration ("Snow White" ["Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Snow White and the Huntsman"] "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty", "Rapunzel" [Rapunzel], "The Frog King" ["The Princess and the Frog"])

Looking for more ideas? Check out this extensive book-to-movie list.

Date night:

This date is a twist on the traditional "dinner and a movie" date with the focus being discussion of the movie (and comparison with the book). That said, the movie should be first and the dinner come later! How many times have you finished a date with a movie either at the theater or at home and after the the movie been to tired to do anything but go to sleep? So make (or buy) a few snacks to get you through the movie, then head out to a restaurant or eat in for dinner afterward. (If you eat in, I suggest you make something ahead that you just need to warm up, do take out, or cook together, so you can get right into conversation after the movie). Some suggestions to make the night extra fun:

Some traditional and not-so-traditional movie snack ideas:
sugar cookies in the shape of traditional movie snacks
homemade popcorn popped in coconut oil (and sprinkled with jalapenos if you're a bit odd like me!)
homemade sweet popcorn varieties
savory spinach bites
trail mix
peanut butter bars

Make a book-inspired meal: Depending on which book you pick, you may be able to make (or buy) dishes (or desserts) that complement the book. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

If you are reading/watching….	Eat…
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe	Turkish Delights (or plan a tea like this “Tea with Mr. Tumnus”)
The Hunger Games	Apple-Smoked “Groosling”, Lamb Stew and Dried Plums (or any recipe from The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook)
Matilda	Bruce Bogtrotter’s Chocolate Cake
The Help	Caramel Cake, Grits, Butter Beans
The Great Gatsby	Gin Rickey (or really any type of pretentious booze!)