Hi all. Thanks to everyone for their very kind words and thoughts last week about my post about Stella. Every bit helps … when you go through a loss like that. We’re hanging in there and I’ve been trying to stay busy with summer activities — golf and tennis — and yard work. Our other dog Willow is doing okay … I think she’s been subdued like us, but we’ve taken her swimming a couple times, which makes her happy and given her extra cuddles. The process will take a while. Here she is in the vegetable patch.
Now August is here and I wonder about your summer. Is it winding down or still ramping up? We’d like to stretch it longer here. Meanwhile my reading has taken a hit — amid several things — but I still hope to get it back on track. And there’s much to discuss in book news. You probably saw the Long List for the Booker Prize came out last week, woo woo. Many of these titles (below) I don’t know but could be compelled to get interested in. I’ve read the Elizabeth Strout novel and I have John of John by Douglas Stuart in the wings on my Summer List. I’ve liked Emma Cline’s books, so plan to read her Switzy (due out Sept. 8), and I’m curious about The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley. Do you know any of the others on the Long List? What looks like a strong contender?
- The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis
- Switzy by Emma Cline *
- Helen of Nowhere by Makenna Goodman
- The End of Everything by M. John Harrison
- The Disappearers by Marlon James
- Black Bag by Luke Kennard
- The Renovation by Kenan Orhan
- May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
- The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley *
- The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout *
- John of John by Douglas Stuart *
- All Them Dogs by Djamel White
- The Vivisectors by Missouri Williams
In other news I see that Claire Foy has signed on to star in the movie adaptation of David Nicholls’ romance/hiking novel You Are Here …. along with the guy from Succession Matthew Macfadyen … though he’s been in a few bad guy roles over the past years so I’m not sure he’d be my pick. Maybe someone a bit more rugged handsome would fit better. What do you think? I have read the book and it’s about a group who are off to hike part of the Coast to Coast Walk in Northern England. I can’t say too much more … but the scenery should be terrific when it’s not raining along the trail.
Meanwhile let’s see what’s releasing this month. In fiction there’s new books coming out by such notable authors as Richard Russo, William Kent Krueger, Chang-Rae Lee, and Liane Moriarty among others. Not to be outdone, her younger sister Jaclyn Moriarty also has a new novel out this month.
I’m looking at those and a few others, including the twisty new thriller by Chris Bohjalian titled The Amateur (due out Aug. 4) about a freak golf accident that sets off an investigation that apparently goes down quite a rabbit hole of secret affairs. I’m not usually a thriller reader but once in a blue moon I’ll go there. And this one has received starred reviews from various publications. It’ll likely make for good back deck reading as some say it’s “unputdownable.” Well, is it?
Next is Paul Yoon’s new novel Etna (out Aug. 4) about a combat-trained dog that sets out for home in the aftermath of an unnamed war. Thus begins an “exhilarating odyssey” — says the publisher — “told through the eyes of a dog as he traverses across ruined landscapes and fights to survive in a world that, even in peacetime, proves to be just as precarious.”
Usually I wouldn’t be up for novels told through animals — and a tough survival story at that — but I’m going to give this one a shot as it’s received much praise, and Yoon is an acclaimed writer who I haven’t read yet. He has five other novels that have gained quite a bit of attention over the years. Have you read him?
Also Tea Obreht has a new novel Sunrise releasing Aug. 11 about three protagonists decades apart who wind up in a Wyoming ghost town called Sunrise by some chance or another. They are separated by time and circumstance — one woman is from a plane crash — yet apparently you come to see the town is full of secrets and there’s a connection between the three storylines.
I have read two of Obreht’s earlier novels — The Tiger’s Wife and Inland — and she is an interesting author whose tales often can surprise or leave one wondering. I plan to check this new one out sometime maybe this fall.
On the screen this month, only two things really caught my eye. Of course one of them is the much-anticipated return of the series Ted Lasso, which is back with Season 4 starting on Aug. 5 on Apple TV. The plot this time centers on the coach leading a women’s soccer team. I know it’s been a very popular show over the years and why I haven’t watched a full season or many episodes I can’t really say (I know I’m the last on earth not to), but perhaps I will have more impetus now to do so. I need to give it more of a go.
Also this month is the release of the movie adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 debut novel The Dog Stars (out Aug. 28). It’s a post-apocalyptic tale — after a virus has wiped out most of humanity — about a protagonist Hig, who’s a pilot, and Bangley, a former Marine, who have settled at a country airstrip in Colorado, trying to fend off occasional attacks from roaming survivors and trying to find a better life. Their families didn’t survive the pandemic, but Hig still relies on his very dear dog companion Jasper, a Blue Healer mix (in the book).
I remember reading The Dog Stars in 2015 (it came out before our recent pandemic) and it had some good suspense, but judging from the movie trailer …. director Ridley Scott has taken the story to a whole new level … and it’s going to be violent. Jacob Elordi (formerly Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights) stars as Hig and Josh Brolin is the gun-toting Bangley. I don’t want to say too much but one day while out flying his Cessna Hig hears a voice on the radio and he wonders if there’s a haven out there he should try to get to. Uh-oh. And if you’re thinking the movie is of Colorado like in the book … apparently the filming took place in Italy in 2025, which is a really nice substitute. So see the movie at your own peril. Ridley Scott last directed Gladiator II and that was a good doozy.
In music this month, there’s new albums by Sara Bareilles, Phoebe Bridgers, Grace Potter, Alabama Shakes, Brandon Flowers, and Carly Simon among others. All of these seem pretty good, but I’m curious about the solo album Thrasher (out Aug. 21) by Brandon Flowers (of the band The Killers) since it’s apparently a country-western album, which he says is inspired by his father’s music. Though it’s not his typical sound or genre, Brandon can pull off country with his versatile beautiful voice. Check out his song Plans here.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are you looking forward to? Have a great week.
Can’t wait for the new season of Ted Lasso. We are currently rewatching season 3 so I need to get a move on so we are finished in time!
Hi Marg, good to know! Yes we have started Season 2 …. to gather momentum for Season 4. I’m trying it out. Have a great week.
That’s a fabulous garden and I love the shot of Willow sitting there. Lots of good books in that stack you have there. I’m way down the list for John of John but look forward to it.
Still balancing two classics about teachers and although both are short, my brain has been checked out this past week so my reading time is down. I need to change that today.
You have been in my thoughts more often than you hear from me.
Thanks Tina, I appreciate your thoughts. We are hanging in there. And the garden is in good shape though we are waiting for the tomatoes to turn color. I look forward to hearing what you think of the classics you have going. Chat with you soon.
My reading has been virtually at a standstill this year as I have been preoccupied and concerned about so many other things, but I’m determined to make an effort to get back on track. Your list gives me inspiration, so thank you for that. Lots of good books and interesting authors there to choose from.
Thanks for the picture of lovely Willow and your great garden. I’ve missed having a vegetable garden of my own this year so I enjoy yours vicariously.
Hi Dorothy, I too have been at a standstill with my reading and it’s a bit agonizing but good to know you are there as well. We need to slowly get back on track. It is hard to get the mind to turn off everything else and devote some time to it. But we will … slowly but surely. The garden looks like it’ll provide a lot this year … I will post updates, thanks.
Still thinking of you guys and your loss of Stella. Hope all of you (including Willow) are recovering. Summer is definitely here – it is August after all. Yes, it will be hot, but we’re hoping for a bit less humidity and then it won’t feel quite so sticky. Fall will come and school is will be starting in a couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to trying Liane Moriarty’s new book. And likely a few others. Take care!
Thanks Kay … appreciate your kind words, we’re trying to recover. I hope your August isn’t going to be killer hot & humid. It’s a bit hard to imagine fall & school for kids is around the corner now. If you get to the Moriarty novel …. let us know if it’s any good. Cheers. and thanks.
Hope you are coping alright given the circumstances and are giving Willow lots of extra cuddles. Always fun to see the Booker longlist. Based on the blurb, Switzy sounds interesting, but normally I wait for all the reviews which will inevitably be posted for the longlisted books. Many people seem to like Helen of Nowhere. Summer in London has been HOT this year and it seems to continue for the foreseeable future. I am actually starting to long for autumn, woollen sweaters and not being sweaty all the time… (I know, crazy)
Hi Stargazer, thanks, Willow is getting many cuddles and we are trying to cope. Good to know your thoughts on the Booker list. I will have to find out more of what Helen of Nowhere is about. I’m sure Switzy will be a must for me. I have heard it’s broiling in Europe and London and the fires in France & Spain … yikes sounds awful. I hope it cools soon for September. I watched some of Wimbledon tennis and it did look crazy hot. I hope you can avoid it. Stay with the air con.
I hope you’re feeling a bit better. It’s nice to see Willow in the garden; she must be feeling kind of weird now that she’s on her own. Your garden screams summer, and it’s extra nice this year to have one with the clusters of cyclospora popping up everywhere. Anyway, I checked the Booker titles. I haven’t read any of the synopses but I plan to read most of them (fingers crossed) because, except the Marlon James’ at 600+ pages, most of them are on the shortish side. I have Helen of Nowhere to read today, hopefully. It’s just 145 pages long. So I’ll be done in a sitting provided there are no distractions. The Palm House is also 140+ pages long, easily doable. Black bag is supposedly really funny. The remaining books are somewhere between 200-350 pages. I already read Strout’s, and I have John of John on hold at the library from earlier in the year.
From this month I’m interested in The Amateur, and Sunrise. I have read a few of Bohjalian novels and I really enjoy his writing; he always comes up with something interesting and different than his previous works. Obreht is also a favorite of mine. I have read Inland and The Morningside, which was a bit of a curveball compared to the others. I still have to read The Tiger’s Wife, which I bought when it came out but never got into. Anyways, with so much to read now in the Fall, plus the Booker, plus like 11 books I still need to read from the first half of the year, I think I’m biting more than I can chew, but there’s always next year if I can’t finish all that load by December. 😮 Have a good week, reading and otherwise!
Hi Carmen, great to get your report. Love hearing your reading plans. Yeah the Booker List is a bit daunting but as you say most are short and seem doable. I guess I’m going to first focus on the three: John of John, Switzy, and Palm House …. but if you find another great one let me know! I hope Sunrise is good and not just odd. Obreht is a bit of an oddball writer of plots but sometimes she hits it out of the park. I agree we have snowball hill of reading to do … I need to get back on track. I’ve been off. But wishing you a great month of reading. Keep me posted on what you get to.
I probably will skip the movie adaptation of The Dog Stars even though I liked the book a lot; I don’t like violence. John of John by Douglas Stuart is a book I’ve been thinking about reading. Look at your garden. Wow. Ours has just about played out except for the peppers.
Hi Deb, Yes I agree … the novel Dog Stars was good but I think the movie adaptation looks to be overboard and I don’t like watching a lot of violence either.
The garden seems like it will be gangbusters this month — fingers crossed … the tomatoes are slow to turn color, hmm. Your garden comes very early!
I too plan to get to John of John soon. It looks good. Happy reading this month!
Your garden looks so lovely and organized! It was tough for Peanut to lose his buddy, our cat Lynx, and he was depressed for a while. We were all devastated. I’m sure it’ll take some time for Willow and you to come to terms with the loss. My heart goes out to you.
I’ve never watched Ted Lasso so you aren’t the last one! Maybe someday. I like the sound of The Dog Stars! I’ll check it out.
Thanks Rachel, I really appreciate your words …. as I know you’re a big animal person and have gone through loss. It is a long process I think. We are taking it slowly. It is new for Willow to be the only dog … so I think like we are — she misses Stella. But we are giving her more attention.
I might try Ted Lasso …. good to know I’m not the only non-watcher, lol. Enjoy your week.
No, you’re not the last person for Ted Lasso. I am. I’d love to see it — I just don’t have Apple. I liked it better when there were fewer options. I think water cooler conversations have taken a hit with streaming. Either one does (or doesn’t) have the service a show is on or even if they do, haven’t watched it yet!
My reading is down too, but mine is due to summer guests at the lake and so I’ll take it! Some very interesting titles in your list!
Dogs (and cats) grieve too. I’m glad there are some extra treats and love going on in your world. It takes a good deal of time — animal or human — to deal with such a sad loss.
Hi Jeanie, I really appreciate your words … it is a sad loss … so we are taking time. We actually have company staying here this week … so that gets us out of the gloom a bit. We are preoccupied for a few days.
And I understand what you’re saying about these streaming options — sometimes we have the service they’re on and other times we don’t. We have it at the moment, so I might Ted Lasso in the near future.
It’s good you’re having fun on the Lake …. the reading can come later! Enjoy your August days!
I hope the rawness of your grief begins to fade soon.
I recommend Jaclyn Moriarty’s Time Travel for Beginners, it’s been a while since I’ve read anything of Liane’s.
I haven’t watched Ted Lasso yet. I recently watched the adaptation of Chris Hammer’s Treasure and Dirt which was good but not great.
Have a lovely week
Hi Shelleyrae, thanks for words. This loss is an awful shock to the system but we are doing our best. Time should help.
Good to know others haven’t seen Ted Lasso either! lol. And I’m glad to hear about the Jaclyn Moriarty novel … I think I might have tired of Liane’s a bit … the Apples Never Fall didn’t hit the spot for me. But Jaclyn’s has gotten positive reviews … glad you liked it. I might add it to the TBR, thx. Cheers. Have a great week.
My deepest condolences. It is never easy losing a loved one.
I have been in a huge reading slump. But I did watch many things based on books.. if that counts.
I am very much looking forward to Ted Lasso returning. I too read You Are Here.
Thanks Hena, for your words. It’s been a tough couple of weeks without Stella.
Like you …. I’ve been in a big reading slump …. I think it’s a snowball effect due to a busy summer and everything. Now we have company here. I hope we both can ease back into it. See what you think of the new Ted Lasso season. The movie of You Are Here could be good … fingers crossed. Happy August to you.
I am really looking forward to the new Ted Lasso season. I hope I haven’t built it up too much in my mind.
Hi Helen, it seems like it’ll be a good new season of Ted Lasso … with a female team. We will see. I’m watching episodes from Season 2 now … Cheers. Happy August.
Still thinking of you all as you continue to heal and hope each day is a little easier. The Booker list seems even more random than usual this year. I loved the Strout, have my John of John hold suspended and plan to read it late Sept/Oct, am vaguely interested in Emma Cline and The Palm House, but will wait for the longlist before taking action on those. Hmm..
The August releases I’m interested in are Richard Russo and Chang-Rae Lee, but my plan is to go all in on Austen in August this month. Very excited about the adaptation of You Are Here though! Hope your week is off to a good start.
Hi JoAnn, thanks, it seems like it’ll take some time with the loss but we are staying busy …. it’s just a shock that upends you.
I agree the Booker list seems sort of weirder this time … much to read but I still seem to be in a slump … of focus …. but I hope to get back into it. John of John could be my next read. Enjoy your Austen month. And it’s nice to think Claire Foy is taking on You Are Here … the character in the book was quite scattered so we will see. Have a great week too.
Hi Susan,
I hope things are getting a little better each day and for Willow too. She was close to Stella and so its great that you guys are making things fun for her.
Regarding the Booker Awards I plan to read John of John and the new Elizabeth Strout book. Regarding the new books coming out Sunrise sounds interesting because its set in a ghost town out west and those abandoned ghost towns fascinate me.
Hi Kathy, thanks for your words …. Willow is getting much attention so we hope she’s okay … We seem to be all going through a different process without Stella.
More time should help.
And yeah I’m not sure what to think of the novel Sunrise but I’m curious to get it from the library. I’m on the wait list. Ghost towns are pretty interesting. I gather the one in the book is an old mining town. And John of John could be one of my next reads … I have copy of it! I think it could be a favorite on the Booker List. We will see. Have a great week.
Willow looks so sweet. Keeping the rabbits out of your vegetable patch? 😉 I’m glad you have her to snuggle with, as I know the house would even more empty & quiet without her companionship.
I never feel like summer is winding down once August rolls around. Our weather is usually the nicest, and we start planning more road trips since a lot of folks have kids returning to the classroom. My reading has also slowed down this past week or so, but I’ve been distracted with our new toy. I think I can finally get back to my reading and not shopping for storage items to keep everything tidy in the new RV. It should be fun to drive it north, hopefully with a return trip to Alberta & BC in the next year or so.
I’ve got the Elizabeth Strout book ready to go tonight, and I have John of John in my stacks for this month. And, yes! So excited about Claire Foy in You Are Here!! I haven’t read a book by Chris Bohjalian in quite some time. I’ll wait to see what you think of it.
I’m back to watching Ted Lasso, but am only a couple of seasons in, so it will be a while before I get to Season 4. I am enjoying the program, laughing out loud here & there, which is always a good thing.
Oh. My. Gosh! I had no idea The Dog Stars was going to be a movie! I loved the book, so I hope the film does it justice. Hmmm. I’m not a big fan of Josh Brolin, so we’ll see how it goes.
Hmmm, I like Brandon Flowers, but haven’t listened to him for several years. I’ll check out his new album and give Plans a listen.
Enjoy your golf & tennis (and bike rides?). Hope it isn’t too hot up there. Did you get any smoke from the fires near Vernon? We camped north of there when we were in BC. Such a beautiful area all around those lake communities.
Wow Lesley … you got a new RV! It looks fantastic on your site. What a terrific choice. Did you exchange your other RV? I’m guessing so …. the new one seems fancy and streamlined. What kind? How much fun … Congrats to you both. It’ll be great!
And I hope you like the Strout book …. I’ve been in a slump for a while but might be too distracted with summer. We have company here now. But I hope to get back to the books soon. I actually have liked Land quite a bit on audio. It’s long though. I hope John of John will be a winner, I plan to start soon.
Enjoy the Ted Lasso … I’ve watched some episodes from Season 2 … And the Dog Stars movie looks quite violent … if you can handle that … we might see.
And I think the new Brandon Flowers country solo album will be good. I’ve listened to a a few songs … so far. I give him credit for trying something new.
We have had some smoke from the Eastern Washington state fires … around Spokane. Have you had any smoke?? Now I wish for a north wind to blow it back. We probably are also getting BC smoke too. But luckily it hasn’t been huge yet. Knock on wood. But I’m sorry to the communities like Spokane with such loss of buildings and nature.
Enjoy your RV! chat again soon. Happy August.
I’m glad to hear the Willow is doing okay–losing a mate is so hard.
I haven’t read a single one of the titles on the Booker long list.
Glad to hear a movie version of You Are Here is coming. Claire Foy is a good choice–I thought she was terrific as Anne Boleyn and QEII and Amy Dorrit. I loved the book and listened to it twice. Should make an excellent movie…at least, my kind of movie!
Starting season 4 of Ted Lasso tonight–now that we finished Smigadoon! last night.
I will not be watching The Dog Stars. I have to say that Peter Heller is the author who most disappoints me. I love his adventure stories and hate it when he morphs them into post-apocalyptic nonsense. I really wish he would still to Colorado-based adventure stories, but maybe they don’t sell as well 🙂
Thanks for the monthly preview. I have come to depend on these posts for my reading/viewing options.
Thanks Jane. I’m glad you like these Preview posts … I need to stick with them. I almost scuttled them for summer. You’ll have to let us know about the new Ted Lasso season …. We are watching Season 2 at the moment.
And Claire Foy seems to be everywhere lately, yay. I saw her in H Is for Hawk not too long ago. But the You Are Here character might be a challenge for her as the character seems quite talkative and scattered. And Claire the opposite?
We’ll have to see about the Booker List. Interesting to see that Mary Beard is the chair on the Booker panel. I need to read some of the titles. Hope you have a great week.
Lovely photo of Willow and your vegetable garden.
I did see the Booker Long List and I still don’t know much about the books. I will be reading the Elizabeth Strout book and for some reason Black Bag by Luke Kennard is on our wish list, but neither Glen nor I can remember why. I will check out some of the others if I have time.
Thanks Tracy, we are starting to get vegetables from the garden, which is fun. It takes a while this far north to get things growing, but the next few weeks should be good for lots of veggies. And we are including Willow in our summer activities. Still we’re sad without Stella … though trying to manage.
I will look into seeing what Black Bag is about. I only know 4 titles from the Longlist, which is a bit crazy. I hope all is well there.