Book to Movie Challenge

I'm too late to 'officially' take part in this challenge (it actually took place last year) but I thought "what the heck" and have decided I'm going to do it anyway just for the fun of it :)
The idea with this challenge is that you pick (and read!) at least 3 books that have been made into a movie. This sort of thing is right up my street :)
I first saw this on SMS Reviews blog, which can be found here and is well worth a visit if you're a bit of a bookworm (like me!)
I think a little bit of a background might be in order here... when I was 18 and at 6th form, for some reason best known to the college, they decided that all 6th formers had to take an A-Level in General Studies. This caused uproar amongst the students as we all thought it was a huge waste of time as there was no syllabus and it was just pot luck as to which questions came up in the exam. Luckily for me, one of the essay questions was a discussion about books that had been turned into films and which was better, the book or the film? Being an English and Media student, this question was perfect for me. I am sure it was the reason I got my one and only 'A' grade A-level in General Studies and has sparked a long time interest in books that have been adapted into films.
Ok, enough rambling. Down to business. Here is my list:

1. Anywhere But Here - Mona Simpson
2. Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman
3. Da Vinvi Code - Dan Brown
4. How to Make an American Quilt - Whitney Otto
5. Mermaids - Patty Dann
6. Notes on a Scandal - Zoe Heller
7. The River King - Alice Hoffman (this is actually a re-read but I love this book and I just found out they made it into a film, so let me off with this one!)
8. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants - Ann Brashares
9. A Slipping Down Life - Anne Tyler
10. Tuck Everlasting - Natalie Babbit
11. White Oleander - Janet Fitch
12. Where the Heart is - Billie Letts
    

Looking at my list in black and white, I can see that a lot of my books / film choices are girly chick flicks but I like chick flicks!!! I'm not sure if I'll get to read all of these by December 31st so if I don't finish by that date I think I might just carry on!
I've also decided that wherever possible I'm going to try and watch the film (after I've read the book) so I can compare the two. There are a couple of books on this list where I've already seen the film (Mermaids and Practical Magic) so I think I might find it strange reading the books as I'll be imaging Winona Ryder and Nicole Kidman as the characters!