Well we’ve come about full circle now. It’s the last month of the year and one of the best — especially in the days following Christmas and Hanukkah — for reading and reflection. It’s not over just yet but the Year in Books is winding down and the busy holiday season is now upon us. How is your shopping going? I have yet to start singing the Whoville Christmas song from the Grinch soundtrack (what are those lyrics anyways?), but I’m getting pretty close. We don’t leave town for a couple of weeks and I’m just starting to get into the holiday spirit … thanks to the lights around the neighborhood.
For those who like to check out lists of the 10 Best Books of 2018: I’ve added several below for you to peruse:
The New York Times
The Washington Post
Amazon
Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
I noticed that author Lisa Halliday’s novel “Asymmetry,” which came out last February, made quite a few of these lists so I will have to check it out. It’s a tale that’s told in three distinct sections and is said to draw on Halliday’s brief relationship in her 20s with author Philip Roth among other things. Hmm, have you read it yet?
I’m also thrilled to see Esi Edugyan’s novel “Washington Black” made quite a few of these lists. I’m almost finished with her book and have loved it for its adventure, humanity and storytelling, which is very engaging, as was some of the storytelling in Tommy Orange’s novel “There There,” which also made a few of these lists. I’ll be commenting more in later posts about Best of 2018 Book lists but for now I’ll let my mind meander over these a bit more.
In other book news, the biggest announcement I heard lately was that author Margaret Atwood plans to put out a sequel to her 1985 novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” due out in September 2019. (Check out this interview Atwood gave the L.A. Times about it). In fact she says she’s almost finished writing the novel, which will be called “The Testaments.” Wow, how big is that?! I just revisited “The Handmaid’s Tale” last year in light of the TV series and thought it seemed as prescient as ever. Which is I think why Atwood finally decided to write a sequel — the current political climate felt ripe for Offred’s story to return. The new novel will start 15 years after the ending of the last book, so the characters will be older and time will have passed — which leads one to wonder: how things will be in Offred’s neck of the world — worse, better or unchanged?! Ohh “The Handmaid’s” was such a dark tale about the State of the Union, but I’m glad Offred has returned. As one would say: the Resistance continues. I for one, will snatch it up once the novel becomes available next fall.
And now just a peek of what’s coming out in December. Honestly there’s not much notable literary fiction that releases this holiday month, but I am keen to check out British author Diane Setterfield’s new novel “Once Upon a River,” which Judy at the blog Keep the Wisdom had mentioned was coming awhile back. I’m not sure there’s ever been a book club that hasn’t assigned Setterfield’s 2006 debut novel “The Thirteenth Tale” to discuss — my club being no exception. We read it too! She seems to be an author with a vast imagination who can weave magic and the power of storytelling into her tales. Her new novel is about a mysterious young child that is found along the River Thames and no one knows whose she is. Three families are keen to claim her — though each family has mysteries of its own, and many secrets must be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known. Ahhh it’s that kind of story. Apparently it’s a “beguiling tale, full of twists and turns like the river at its heart,” so says author M.L. Stedman, so count me in as it’s getting much praise.
Meanwhile I think I’ll pass for the moment on Anna Burns’s novel “Milkman,” which recently won the 2018 Man Booker Prize and has been called the last great novel of the year. Set amid the Troubles in Northern Ireland and narrated by a bookish, alienated 18-year-old girl, it sounds quite alluring and is said to be quite memorable, but apparently it’s also said to be one of the most challenging reads of the year because of how it’s written, so says Ron Charles of The Washington Post.
Dwight Garner, too, of the New York Times calls the novel “interminable,” and says he would not recommend it to anyone he liked. Yikes. I don’t think I can handle a slog right now, so I guess I will pass on it for the time being. Still if you read and like it, let me know.
Meanwhile for movies it’s the month to be merry. There’s an array of notable ones I hope to see heading to theaters including: “Mary Poppins Returns” starring Emily Blunt in the lead role and “Mary Queen of Scots” starring Saoirse Ronan as Mary Stuart and Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I. Wouldn’t you like to see those two duke it out? There’s even another pop music diva story “Vox Lux,” this time starring Natalie Portman as the pop star with problems. You recall the recent movies “A Star Is Born” then “Bohemian Rhapsody” and now “Vox Lux” so pop music is surely making its way into movie storylines lately. Even Disney is banking on the songs of Mary Poppins to lure you in. Though I’ve read that the songs won’t be the same as those in the 1964 original movie with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, though Dick Van Dyke apparently makes a cameo in this sequel, which is cool. I’m not exactly a big Mary Poppins aficionado though I do recall having to sing all the songs in my grade school chorus. So I’m quite familiar with: Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo.
Perhaps I’m most curious about the movie “Vice” this holiday season, which is oddly enough about the story of Dick Cheney and his power as vice president under George W. Bush. It hasn’t really been screened for critics yet so it’s hard to say how good it will be, but judging by the trailer it looks to be a funny satire and it’s uncanny how much the actors look and sound like the real politicians. Kudos to Christian Bale as Dick Cheney and Sam Rockwell as President Bush and even Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld and Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney. Wahoo, this spoof seems too good to be true. Gosh who can forget those consequential, dubious days when weapons of mass destruction in Iraq were said to be a “slam dunk.” I think they’re forever ingrained in our brains.
Lastly in albums for December, I’m sure I’ll be surrounded by a lot of great Christmas music this month, but for my album pick: I’ll go with Springsteen’s double album being released Dec. 14 of his show on Broadway. For those like me who didn’t get to New York to see Bruce in person this past year (ugh!), the new album “Springsteen on Broadway” features Bruce’s complete live solo acoustic performance (music and stories) of the show and is the soundtrack to the Netflix film of the same name. The show itself is based on Bruce’s best-selling autobiography “Born to Run,” which I read in a heartbeat in 2016. So thanks to Bruce for these much anticipated Christmas gifts this year.
That’s all for now. What about you — which releases or reads this month are you most looking forward to? And if you saw the Boss on Broadway, please spill the beans.
Also please note: I subbed out my previous post’s Library photo for one of my own that I took of the new facility. Please check it out when you have a spare moment. Many thanks as always to my visitors.
I cannot believe that it is almost Christmas.
I actually have mixed feelings about a Handemaid’s Tale sequel. Something in me would like to see the story left alone. With that, I am almost certain to read it.
I love reading end of the year lists. I do become a little frustrated as I think about how few new books I have read 🙂
Hi Brian: I can see why one might have mixed feelings about a sequel on Handmaid’s … but then again I’m too eager to read more about it. It seems you have read a lot of classic tomes this year. Way to go.
I haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale since the 80s, so I’ll definitely be revisiting it before the sequel. The lists so far have been a little surprising… don’t remember even hearing about Asymmetry before. Maybe I haven’t been paying as much attention this year? I don’t think I’ve read much new fiction. My end-of-the-year should be interesting 😉
That should be end-of-the-year summary… sigh.
Hi JoAnn: You’ve read quite a few classics and nonfiction this year. I’m not sure that many bloggers got to Asymmetry this year — but now I’m a bit curious about it. I hope your holidays are wonderful!
Most of my reading this year has been from this year’s releases, so I agree with some of the chosen “best of”. Some books that are in most of those lists I either was interested on or requested their ARCs. I am currently reading Once Upon A River and it’s outstanding at 30%. The “all-knowing” unnamed narrator changes perspectives and narrative styles often so it doesn’t get boring. It has the makings of a classic, thus far, with distant echoes of M.L. Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans, so I’m not surprised to see that he reviewed it.
Interestingly, most of the best movies I’ve seen this year came from the latest crop of last year’s releases. Some like Thoroughbreds, The Death of Stalin, Tehran Taboo, and Hedy Lamarr’s documentary weren’t released in the U.S. until this year though they had already been shown in the UK. Yesterday was announced Vice’s nomination to 6 Golden Globes. Mary Poppins Returns was also nominated. Vox Lux is expected to make the Oscars. Portman does her own singing and critics say she dazzles. I look forward to all those releases, on rental, of course.
Hi Carmen: Great to know you are liking Once Upon a River. Looks good. I’m curious about the movies you mention from last year — I will look for them on rental. I’m thinking I will see Vox and Vice. Maybe Poppins too. I’m a bit behind on movies: I haven’t seen Widows from November & a lot else — though critics are surprised Widows was snubbed from Globe nominations. Hmm.
I’m almost done with my shopping but still have wrapping, baking, cards, etc to do. I love all the lights and busyness of Christmas.
I saw the trailer for Mary Poppins Returns and I’m not sure I want to see the movie.
Hi Kathy: I’m not sure what to think of the new Mary Poppins either. I like Emily Blunt but is it too kidsy? Good job on your Christmas shopping. I am envious.
Have a wonderful & festive Christmas holiday Susan!
xoviv
Thanks Vivien. You too! My family will all be together this year in California so it should be festive. Merry Christmas.
I love that Whoville song.
I did some shopping online and to be honest, I am kind of already over it. I know I need to get a few more things for the kids but I am not feeling it, nor do I want to spend the money. This year my life group adopted a foster child for Christmas and then my son and I adopted a family too so I really need to focus on getting their stuff together because it needs to be delivered before Christmas. The whole thing has just made me ultra aware that we have way too much already. Do we need more? No.
I have Once Upon a River but I just fell into the Incendiaries which I did not expect to do and I am also reading Michelle Obama’s book. I want to try to get one more book in, maybe Elevation by King. I heard it is super short.
Hi Ti, I hear you about the Christmas shopping. It makes me weary just thinking about it. I’ll be interested to see what you think of The Incendiaries and Becoming. Both were on my list this year — but I haven’t gotten to them. It’s odd that King has written a short novel, wow that’s a first!
We had the Holiday Party for my One Book At A Time club, at my house. It was big fun all around and we discussed Killers of the Flower Moon. My review of that one will be up soon.
I am on a long wait list for Once Upon A River but can’t wait! I am quite excited about the Handmaid’s Tale sequel. I don’t understand how anyone can not be. Never underestimate Margaret Atwood, oh ye of little faith.
Vice sounds quite interesting. I will see that for sure.
Happy Holidays Susan!
Happy Holidays to you too, Judy: Atwood surely has a lot of material to work with (from current events) this time around, egads. I think it’ll be top-notch. Glad to hear your holiday book party went well. Tis the season for festive gatherings. I’ll be curious to see your review. Enjoy your week.
Susan, we celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, although we purchase mostly gift cards except for the little granddaughters , ages 4-6. It’s a fun month for us.
I read Margaret Atwood is planning a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale which I am looking forward to. The audio of HT was so good! Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Diane: it sounds like you have the gift giving season under control. Good for you. Less stressful. I haven’t tried the audio of HT but I’m sure it’s good. We’ll see about the sequel… Cheers.
The Handmaid’s Tale has been on my mind quite a lot in the wake of our current administration here. I can definitely see a Gilead apocalyptic community growing out of the times we are in. I am hoping it doesn’t happen, but it is all so scary.
I loved your comments on my review of HRC’s book. It took me a few weeks to read it, as I couldn’t handle more than a couple of chapters a day. I had a strong emotional reaction, as I’m still feeling the pain of the election, especially in light of how it all happened.
Thanks Laurel: I’m glad you read the HRC book but it must have been hard to relive what happened. The Handmaid’s sequel — I think will be dark but hopefully Offred will find an escape.
I’m giving myself a break from wrapping and packing Christmas presents to catch up on my blog reading!
December is my backlist free-range reading month so I haven’t paid any attention to new releases. I’m loving walking into my library and grabbing whatever catches my eye- and I’ve read some great new-ish books, like Stephen King’s Elevation and My Sister, the Serial Killer. Also, Susan Orlean’s book The Library Book was interesting true crime and a love letter to libraries.
I just finished re-reading Handmaid’s Tale and heard Atwood’s news! I cannot wait. There was an epilogue but it was not satisfying re: Offred. I want to know more!
Not sure I want to see Vice. It was bad enough living through it. And given where we are now, I don’t care about old, rich, white men. I wish they’d shut up and go away. Or be indicted and sent to prison…
Hi Catherine: thanks for stopping, dig your comments. Glad you got to the Library Book and My Sister the Serial Killer novel — as well as Handmaid’s. Offred will return for more Resistance, yea! I can see what you’re saying about Vice. I’m getting antsy waiting for Mueller’s report. Each day I want to Impeach! I find my patience has gone — with all those protecting him too. It’s crazy.
Did you know that Netflix is now showing Springsteen on Broadway for those of us who didn’t get to see it live?
Hey Susie: thanks for alerting me. I’ll have to see it soon!! I wish I had made it to NYC but this is next best. I hope you have wonderful holidays!