The Stranger Things Book Recommendation List

TL;DR

The Stranger Things reading list recommends Ready Player One, Stephen King novels, Paper Girls, Annihilation, and NOS4A2. Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One is the clearest choice for an 80’s fix, packing references to games such as Pac-Man and Joust and films such as Back to the Future and WarGames. Read on for the complete list and the show’s key 80’s influences.

Transcript

Maybe it’s the dog days of summer but I have been a distracted reader as of late. My bookish numbers have taken a mid year dive as other things start vying for my attention. My latest, non-bookish obsession has been the Netflix show Stranger Things. It’s been pure word of mouth with tons of people telling me I needed to check out this love letter t... Read More

Key Insights

• 💢 "Stranger Things" successfully captures the nostalgic essence of 80's Spielberg and King, making it highly enjoyable for fans of the era.
• 🤠 The trio of boys on bikes is a nod to the popular 80's trope, representing a sense of adventure and freedom.
• 🚲 Finding suitable 80's bikes was a challenge for the show's prop master, leading her to create some bikes herself.
• 🖤 The show depends on the lack of parental supervision and the freedom kids had in the 80's, which may not be the case in today's safer environment.

Questions & Answers

Q: What books are recommended for fans of Stranger Things?

The recommendations are Ready Player One, Stephen King novels, Paper Girls, Annihilation, and NOS4A2. The list is intended to satisfy a reader looking for another Stranger Things-style 80’s fix.

Q: Why is Ready Player One recommended for Stranger Things fans?

Although its plot is very different, Ready Player One is also presented as a major homage to the 80’s. It is filled from front to back with 80’s Easter eggs.

Q: Which 80’s games and movies appear in Ready Player One?

The cited video-game references include Pac-Man, Joust, Defender, and Galaga. Its movie references include Heathers, Back to the Future, and WarGames.

Q: What makes Stranger Things feel like a love letter to the 80’s?

The show draws heavily on the work of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. Its trio of boys riding bicycles around town also recalls the 80’s imagery associated with ET and The Goonies.

Q: Who gives the standout performances in Stranger Things?

Winona Ryder is consistently convincing as the distraught Joyce Byers. David Harbour’s Police Chief Jim Hopper serves as the emotional anchor, while Millie Bobbie Brown conveys a great deal as Eleven with very few words.

Q: Why are the bicycles important in Stranger Things?

The bicycles are central to the show’s 80’s atmosphere and to the boys’ search for Will. Their banana seats, low-rider handlebars, improvised lights, and poor paint jobs reinforce the period setting.

Q: Why was it difficult to source bicycles for Stranger Things?

Prop master Lynda Reiss struggled because many bikes from the era had been destroyed after being considered unsafe. Production also needed a riding bike, a backup, a stunt version, and a stunt backup, so she ultimately created some bikes herself.

Q: Why does the speaker think Stranger Things could not happen today?

The plot depends on children biking after dark, knowing local paths and shortcuts, and freely entering places such as forests and junkyards. The speaker argues that today’s safer, more supervised environment would have prevented Will’s disappearance and restricted the children’s search.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Stranger Things" is an excellent show that captures the essence of 80's Spielberg and King, with standout performances by Winona Ryder and David Harbour.

• The show's homage to the 80's includes nostalgia-inducing elements like the trio of boys on bikes, which is reminiscent of movies like "ET" and "The Goonies."

• Prop master Lynda Reiss faced challenges finding suitable 80's bikes for the show, leading her to create some of them herself.