We are off to a cabin this weekend near Waterton Lakes National Park so I will dash off a quick post now about new releases coming out this month. I usually do these preview posts as a way to help myself put new things on my radar; it helps me organize too about what’s coming out. I hope you might find them useful. November is a time when the volume of literary fiction starts dropping off a bit while the release of notable movies starts ramping up. Still there are a couple veteran authors with books out this month along with a few others, which I likely can’t pass up.
First off, British author Zadie Smith’s new novel “Swing Time” is about two young girls of mixed race who grow up in the same low-income project in North London and become friends, sharing an interest in dance. One is good at it and the other is not. The novel is about their friendship as they grow up and their lives diverge. Having read one of Smith’s books — “White Teeth” — previously from 2000, that’s all I need to know to be excited to read her again. “White Teeth” blew me away with Smith’s talent, and even if “Swing Time” is a fraction of that, it will be quite all right.
I’m also curious about Michael Chabon’s upcoming novel “Moonglow,” which is based on a trip the author took to visit his terminally ill grandfather, a WWII veteran, whose deathbed reminisces serve as the novel’s main narrative. According to Library Journal, “The story builds to core revelations of wartime horror and postwar heartbreak as powerful as they come.” I’ve read two of Chabon’s novels in the past — “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” and “Wonder Boys” — and have liked his personal-based stories. This one, according to the publisher, is an autobiography wrapped in a novel disguised as a memoir. With the prose of Chabon, it’s a book likely not to miss.
I’m also looking at Kelly Luce’s debut novel “Pull Me Under.” It’s about a Japanese-born mother who leaves her family in Colorado and travels back to Japan for the funeral of her estranged father. While there she is forced to confront a violent crime from her childhood and everything that led up to it. “Pull Me Under” has received some high praise and sounds like a psychological novel that explores themes of home and identity amid illuminating descriptions of Japan and Japanese culture. It looks to be a bit of a page-turner and one that I might like.
Finally I wouldn’t mind checking out Nicola Yoon’s young-adult novel “The Sun Is Also a Star” and Ted Russ’s debut war novel “Spirit Mission.” Granted, I don’t read a lot of YA novels, but I did read Yoon’s first novel “Everything, Everything” and thought the author showed quite a bit of promise. Her new one is about two teenagers with nothing in common who fall in love over the course of a day in NYC. Hmm it’s usually not my thing, but Yoon’s novel has been picked as a National Book Award finalist so I plan to read a copy of it that I picked up at BookExpo earlier this year.
As for “Spirit Mission,” it looks to be a fast-moving thriller about a Chinook helicopter team that goes on an illegal run deep into ISIS territory to save an American aid worker. This one has flashbacks to the days at West Point when the Lieutenant Colonel of the mission knew the man being held by ISIS. Judging by the scoop on the novel, it appears to be both a psychological study of military school and a compelling action story. Quite a few are hailing the book on Goodreads so I’m interested to check it out.
As for movies in November, there’s a lot of notable ones coming out. It’s sort of hard to pick which one I’m most interested to see. Amy Adams is in a new one called “Arrival” that seems bit reminiscent to me in subject matter to “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” or perhaps “Contact.” If you liked those, you probably will like this one as well as it’s getting a lot of advance praise. Usually I like Amy Adams, though some of these ET kinds of movies can get pretty predictable, eh?
There’s also three war films coming out including: “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” “Allied” with Brad Pitt, and “Hacksaw Ridge” directed by Mel Gibson, which has been advertised to death. I wanted to see “Billy Lynn” since I read and liked the book and since it’s directed by the wonderful Ang Lee, but it’s received some low ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. So I’m not sure about that. “Allied” should be worth seeing with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. The preview for the movie makes it appear that the character Cotillard plays is suspected of being a German spy during WWII, which her Allied husband, played by Pitt, is later informed about. Uh-oh, sounds like a heap of trouble.
Lastly in November movies, I want to see both “Loving,” based on the true story of the interracial couple that were sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for getting married; and “Manchester by the Sea” about a Boston janitor who is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy’s father dies. Both movies have received a lot of favorable press and the trailers look good. I often like these smaller indie films best, so I will choose these as my picks this month.
As for albums in November, there’s new ones by such popular artists as Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Sting, and Miranda Lambert among others. Sticking with my indie preferences, I’ll pick a combination of Martha Wainwright’s latest album “Goodnight City” along with the new one from Alicia Keys’ called “Here.” Should be a good mix.
What about you — which books, movies, or albums are you looking forward to this month?
This month’s films seem more exciting than the books. NPR had a nice review of Loving yesterday… look forward to seeing that one. I’m attempting to read nonfiction for the month of November, so am glad there are no new releases I must read immediately… especially since I’m still trying to get to Commonwealth and A Gentleman in Moscow. Have fun this weekend!
Thanks JoAnn. Yeah I agree about the films this month. For nonfiction Nov. I’m liking Springsteen’s autobiography right now, awesome! I too would like to get to the Towles novel and likely Patchett’s too.
I didn’t know Chabon had a new book coming out. I haven’t read any of his books, but this one sounds good – I might have to start at the wrong end!
It’s hard to believe that in 1958 (not really so long ago) you could go to jail for getting married. I’d love to see that movie, but I might rather watch it at home as I was tearing up just watching the trailer. 🙂
Yeah I agree Naomi: the movie about the Lovings will likely not be easy to watch. It’s hard to believe, but important perhaps to see. As for Chabon, I have not read a novel of his in a long, long time. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is one of his I really should read.
Another interesting looking group of books.
Moonglow looks particularly good. I really liked Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. The plot of this book also makes it sound well worth reading.
Thanks Brian. I’m glad you mention The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay as I’ve heard such great things about it over the years. I really should read that Chabon novel first.
Yes!! on Swing Time and Moonglow! Also T C Boyles’ The Terranauts, actually came out at the end of October. Then, as you say, the big releases taper off so we can read our own damn books. Ha!
Thanks for the movie list. Lots there to enjoy.
We went on a Bob Dylan listening spree because…the Nobel. That led to digging out old CDs of our favorite roots musicians and downloading into our respective computers. Rodney Crowell, Emmy Lou, Bonnie Raitt, etc.
Hi Judy: Yes to TC Boyle too. I wonder if I’ll become claustrophobic by his novel The Terranauts. Living under a dome & all. I’m glad to hear you went on a Bob listening spree that led to others. I like all of those musicians. I hear Bob would like attend the ceremony to pick up his Nobel, hmm that would be interesting. Speaking of Bob, I’m enjoying the Bruce autobiography right now; more to come on that.
Oh my god your selection of films for this month is really great. I want to see them all. Enjoy your weekend 🙂
Thanks RT, yes the movie releases are really picking up this month! Hooray! Some good ones coming out.
The films look really good! I am also curious about Yoon’s books; I haven’t read Everything, Everything, but have been seeing it around.
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Hi Laurel: yeah I’m not too into YA books, but I’m trying, LOL. Yoon’s first one was pretty good, so I do plan to read her again. Enjoy your week.
So many great new books coming — I’m especially excited about the Michael Chabon. I read The Sun is Also a Star and liked it very much.
Oh good to know Ann. Glad to hear you liked the Yoon book. I have a copy. And the Chabon book does sound interesting. thanks for stopping by.
I’m excited about the Mel Gibson movie; it has received a lot of praise. I’m also curious about Allied because of the so gossiped chemistry between Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt, which may or may not have triggered Brangelina’s divorce. I think overall I will be watching most, if not all of them, depending on the ratings.
I don’t own any album by Alicia Keys because they don’t come out on sale, but I would love to own the new one if it becomes a hit.
Yes Carmen : I want to see too both Allied and Hacksaw Ridge. I guess I often see the war films. I’ve listened to some snippets of Alicia Keys’s new album and like some songs on it more than others. Still she is an interesting artist with a pretty great voice. Sometimes I wait for the album prices to come down before getting them.
I’m listening to and really enjoying The Sun is Also a Star right now. I picked up a book about the Lovings at SIBA this year but haven’t read it yet.
Oh good to know Kathy. Glad you are liking the Yoon book. I have a copy I need to get to. The movie about the Lovings looks quite good. I plan to see it. Enjoy your week and thx for stopping by.
Cabin time sounds wonderful. I hope you had an amazing time.
I just downloaded Everything, Everything to my Kindle. I know of the new book but my library didn’t have it so I settled for this other one. I have a lot of books I need to get to. I should do a post like this to keep it all straight. I have a spreadsheet but bah… boring.
Hi Ti, yeah this kind of monthly preview post helps me keep track a bit of what’s out there or coming out. The only thing about Yoon’s novel Everything, Everything is that it has a pretty big twist near the end which I didn’t care for and it sort of ruined the story for me. But perhaps it will be worthwhile to you. I am still likely to read her 2nd novel.
I’m always interested to see what books you are interested in. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Great Deb, I’m glad these previews might be of some use to you and others. Hope you have a good reading month!
It has been a horrific week and your book recommendations reflect some of those themes: WWII, ISIS, love and diversity. I’ve read some of these authors but not any of these books. YA is crossing over more and more to adult readers lately. It’s only a marketing category. Good books are good books. Thanks for these reviews/previews! I’m back to blogging myself after a 2 month hiatus.
Thanks Sarah. I like how you remind me : good books are good books whether adult lit or YA. Glad you’re back blogging, I’ll stop by.
Moonglow and Swing Time are both must reads for myself. I am trying to be more selective with an impossible TBR in front of me, and so many fascinating new releases coming out.
Yeah Toady, it’ll take me quite awhile to get to some of these. Narrowing down the TBR is always good. I try to be selective too. Thx for stopping by!