A bumper crop of well-reviewed bestsellers is hitting the Cineplexes this season. Our take on what Hollywood is doing right—and what gets lost in translation:

THE KITE RUNNER

Khaled Hosseini's tale of friendship and betrayal in war-torn Afghanistan.

THE MOVIE HAS Two astonishingly good first-time actors playing the main boys; great-looking locales.

THE BOOK HAS More fully developed characters; an ending that feels completely organic.

BOTTOM LINE Fans of the novel won't be disappointed.

PERSEPOLIS

Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel about growing up during the Iranian Islamic revolution.

THE MOVIE HAS Movement, music and the lyrical voices of Catherine Deneuve and her daughter.

THE BOOK HAS Powerful, purposefully austere drawings ... which feel monotonous by the last page.

BOTTOM LINE Codirected by Satrapi, the movie is richer and more sensually pleasing than the book.

ATONEMENT

Ian McEwan's meditation on the lifelong ramifications of one imaginative little girl's lie.

THE MOVIE HAS Fab scenery, a stunning bit part for Vanessa Redgrave and Keira Knightley—who gets Cecilia Tallis's transformation by passion just right.

THE BOOK HAS Far more psychological complexity, plus McEwan's sharp, evocative prose.

BOTTOM LINE Great book, good movie. Catch both.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's tale of undimmed passion, growing older and second chances.

THE MOVIE HAS A beautiful travelogue look, a haunting soundtrack and serviceable performances.

THE BOOK HAS Characters who change subtly and believably over the course of 50 years, lush language, a plot that keeps you turning pages.

BOTTOM LINE Read the book, wait for the DVD.