You might say, “Wait, how can any movie that has Natalie Portman fighting herself as a mirror alien have a book version that’s better?” I might respond, “Sounds like you haven’t read Jeff VanderMeer’s mind-bending Southern Reach Trilogy!” BookPeople’s reading group focused on bringing attention to literary materials mined for film adaptations turns their sights to this eco-sci-fi thriller this month: Do the descriptions of Area X outclass cinematic depiction? Do the frightening transformations by the all-women investigative crew give better goosebumps on the page or onscreen? One thing’s for ding-dang sure: You’ll have to crack open the book to be sure. – James Scott