You don’t have to be a film critic to know that there’s something special about movies directed by Wes Anderson. Meticulous attention to symmetry, gorgeous color palettes, beautifully shot slo-mo scenes — his distinct creative style has helped make him one of the most accomplished directors of our time with films like Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
But, as visually striking as his works are, his emotionally evocative storytelling is where the magic truly lies.
I often find myself searching for books like Wes Anderson films that incorporate powerful themes of grief, family dysfunction, and loss of innocence, balanced by humor and quirky charm. These kinds of stories — ones that leave you thinking about them long after you finish them — aren’t easy to find but they’re always worth the read.
Get ready to laugh, cry, and laugh again. Here’s a list of books that capture an Anderson-esque sense of nostalgic whimsy. If you only have time to read one, I highly recommend The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, a Pulitzer Prize winner that is begging for a Wes Anderson adaptation.
1. The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Rajini, Jezmeen, and Shirina must overcome their differences and unite to fulfill their mother’s dying wishes. As they journey together to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, they’ll learn more than they ever thought possible about themselves, their family, and the importance of making peace with the past. A fantastic companion read for Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited.
2. Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
As the credits roll at the end of The Grand Budapest Hotel, sharp-eyed viewers will note that the very first one goes to Stefan Zweig. Anderson has stated on many occasions that the Austrian writer and his 1939 novel inspired his hit film, making this a must-read for fans who appreciate nostalgia for bygone eras.
3. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Imagine The Royal Tenenbaums with Arrested Development Bluth family quirks mixed in, and you’ve got a good idea of how the Fang family operates.
Caleb and Camille have made a name for themselves as guerilla artists who sow chaos wherever they go. However, their unconventional success has come at the cost of their less-than-well-adjusted children, Annie and Buster. As the adult children’s careers flail, they return home and find themselves — not quite willingly — embroiled in their parents’ latest performance piece.
4. Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia
Take one fading hotel with a tragic history of murder-suicide, add a group of insanely talented high school musicians, toss in an isolating blizzard as a prodigy mysteriously vanishes, and you’ve got the makings of a breakneck page-turner of a whodunnit.
Light on macabre and heavy on quirk and ’90s nostalgia, Racculia’s delightful read is perfect for fans who appreciated the glorious scenery of The Grand Budapest Hotel.
5. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Chabon’s book blends comics, Jewish lore, and New York City history starting in 1939 to create a page-turning, smart, and deeply enjoyable novel that's been hailed by critics and readers as a modern classic.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning story chronicles the pursuits of two cousins who create the superhero The Escapist as a symbol of hopes and dreams during World War II. We would absolutely love to see Wes Anderson bring Chabon’s comic epic to life on the silver screen.
6. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Like Proust, but if Proust was fun and actually wrote in an accessible manner. This unexpected hit is a philosophical treatise on the importance of art that dives deep into the internal lives of its eccentric main characters. Hedgehogs are present only in metaphors, of course.
This French novel strikes a fine balance between melancholy and triumph, much like many of Wes Anderson’s films that make audiences laugh one minute and cry the next.
7. Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
Anderson’s films often tap into the darker side of humanity with scenes that touch on depression and other mental health struggles, despite the pretty French soundtracks and whimsical cinematography. So it’s not hard to imagine Zappia’s 2015 YA debut as an Anderson film, complete with his signature monochromatic color palettes and witty banter.
Alex is the ultimate unreliable narrator. As she struggles to make sense of reality and delusion, her determination to lead a “normal” life collides with hallucinations that may or may not include her best friend Miles.
8. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
FItzgerald glamorizes a young couple’s tragic downfall with beautiful, lyrical prose in his debut novel, a cautionary tale as extraordinary as The Great Gatsby. The semi-autobiographical novel set in post-World War I observes themes of greed, ambition, and love via the life of Amory Blaine, a privileged and handsome Princeton student.
9. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
If Wes Anderson’s zany and eccentric characters are what you find most appealing about his work, add Winesburg, Ohio to your TBR shelf immediately. Anderson (no relation to the filmmaker) observes the turbulence of small-town Ohio through the eyes of George Willard, the local newspaper reporter.
Each chapter focuses on a different resident, each dealing with their own struggles and strife. Somehow simultaneously a depressing and uplifting examination of the human spirit.
10. Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
Snicket strikes again with a brilliantly bewildering murder mystery (his own murder, to be precise). The A Series of Unfortunate Events author takes readers down a rabbit hole of investigation, all the while making amusing and surprisingly profound observations of his discoveries.
11. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Despite its title, this uplifting charmer from Backman (A Man Called Ove) is sure to boost your spirits and restore your belief in the power of community. Involving a bank robber, hostage situation, and a police investigation, this is a surprisingly light read that will keep you smiling with quirky plotlines reminiscent of Bottle Rocket.
It also makes a great book club read.
12. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Many readers have a fondness for Hemingway’s first full-length novel, The Sun Also Rises. It follows Jack Barnes, a foreign correspondent living in Paris who suffers from a terminal case of unrequited love (and a horrific injury from WWI that rendered him impotent).
While the story is primarily concerned with exploring the loss of masculinity, it continues to resonate for its message about the pitfalls of taking up the assumed roles that society has prepared for us.
13. The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman by Julietta Henderson
A sweet and tender tale for those who like the unlikely intergenerational friendships common in Anderson’s films (think Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel). At 12-years-old, Norman and Jax have big plans. The BFFs are the perfect comedic duo, and they’re determined to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe.
When tragedy strikes, Norman’s left alone and grieving. But with the help of his mom, Sadie, and their octogenarian pal, Leonard, Norman can honor Jax’s memory by carrying on their performance at the festival.
