Like most everything else, the global pandemic greatly disrupted television production this past year. Many old favorites are still on hold, while plenty of planned new shows were delayed or scrapped altogether. The upshot is that we've all had more time to watch tv, yet with fewer options. So in this narrower field, perhaps we're holding our favorites of what did air a bit closer.

The annual Emmy awards, recognizing excellence in television, take place this Sunday and—not unusually—feature many programs with strong ties to books. Especially if you've run out of things to watch, take a look at some of the nominated shows and the books that inspired them or related reading.

The Flight Attendant

Nominated for: 

Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Kaley Cuoco)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Rosie Perez)

Read: 

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

 

The Boys

Nominated for:

Outstanding Drama Series

Read:

The Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (comic book series)

 

 

 

 

Bridgerton

Nominated for:

Outstanding Drama Series Nominee
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Regé-Jean Page)

Read:

The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
See also: 30+ Bridgerton Readalikes to Steam Up All Your Nights

 

 

The Crown

Nominated for:

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Josh O'Connor)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Olivia Colman and Emma Corrin)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Tobias Menzies)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Gillian Anderson, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emerald Fennell)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Charles Dance)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Claire Foy)

Read:

The Crown is based on real people and events. Fans will enjoy both volumes of The Crown: The Official Companion.

Lovecraft Country

Nominated for:

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jonathan Majors)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Jurnee Smollett)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Michael K. Williams)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Aunjanue Ellis)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Courtney B. Vance)

Read:

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
See also: TV's 'Lovecraft Country' and Its Literary Goodies
 

The Handmaid's Tale

Nominated for:

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Elisabeth Moss)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, and Bradley Whitford)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski,  and Samira Wiley
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Alexis Bledel and Mckenna Grace)

Read: 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Shrill

Nominated for:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Aidy Bryant)

Read:

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West
 

 

 

 

In Treatment

Nominated for:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (Uzo Aduba)

Read:

In Treatment isn't based on a book, but we think you'll enjoy any of these Emotionally Gripping Reads for Fans of In Treatment

 

 

 

Mare of Easttown

Nominated for:

Outstanding Limited Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Kate Winslet)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Julianne Nicholson and Jean Smart)

Read:

Mare of Easttown is an original story, but if you're looking for something similar try Moody Crime Reads for Fans of Mare of Easttown

 

I May Destroy You

Nominated for:

Outstanding Limited Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Michaela Coel)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Paapa Essiedu)

Read: 

I May Destroy You is loosely based on creator and star Michaela Coel's experience of sexual assault. Her new book, Misfits: A Personal Manifesto, speaks to themes of trauma, race, class and gender through personal anecdotes from her life and career.
 

The Queen's Gambit

Nominated for:

Outstanding Limited Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Anya Taylor-Joy)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Moses Ingram)

Read:

The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
See also: 22 Books for Fans of The Queen's Gambit

 

 

The Underground Railroad

Nominated for: 

Outstanding Limited Series

Read:

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
See also: NYPL Podcast, Colson Whitehead on The Underground Railroad and Poker (2016)

 

 

 

Oslo

Nominated for:

Outstanding Television Movie

Read:

Oslo is based on real people and events and inspired by J.T. Rogers' play Oslo .

 

 

 

 

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia

Nominated for:

Outstanding Television Movie

Read:

This biopic of the legendary gospel singer draws from many sources. If you'd like to learn more about Jackson's life, try Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel by Jules Schwerin.

 

 

The Undoing

Nominated for:

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Hugh Grant)

Read:

You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz from which the show is adpated.
 

 

 

 

Ratched

Nominated for:

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Sophie Okonedo)

Read: 

Perhaps the most famous fictional nurse, this series imagines the origin story of Mildred Ratched, first introduced to the world in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

 

 

 

Genius: Aretha

Nominated for:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Cynthia Erivo)

Read:

This biopic of the Queen of Soul draws from many sources. Learn more about Franklin's life and career through these books: Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul by Mark Bego and Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin by David Ritz.

 

 

Halston

Nominated for:

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Ewan McGregor)

Read:

Creators based this story about the rise and fall of iconic designer Halston on Steven S. Gaine's biography Simply Halston: The Untold Story which is in NYPL's research collection and availble to use in the Library. For a circulating work, try: Halston: Inventing American Fashion by Lesley Frowick.

 

Hamilton

Nominated for:

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr.)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Renee Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff, and Anthony Ramos)

Read:

Creator Lin-Manual Miranda was inspired to write Hamilton after reading Ron Chernow's biography Alexander Hamilton. For fans of the musical, we also suggest Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton: Portraits of the Revolution by Josh Lehrer, Hamilton and the Law: Reading Today's Most Contentious Legal Issues Through the Hit Musical edited by Lisa A. Tucker, and Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical Is Restaging America's Past edited by Renee C. Romano and Claire Bond Potter