Happy June everyone! Summer officially starts later this month so I hope you enjoy it wherever you are. Living in a northern country, it’s become my favorite season — can you tell? I find the warmth of summer days a big plus as well as the long days that stay light till 10 or 11 at night. The only bummer will be if it turns out to be a smoky, wildfire kind of year like it was last summer, which made the air — particularly in August — gray and hard to breathe. But let’s hope for the best this year. Please no more burning.
Meanwhile the Golden Triangle bike ride, which we did in the mountains a couple weeks ago along with 250 other cyclists, was rainy the first two days, which was quite a struggle to ride through, but then the sun came out on the last day and I was able to take these photos on the way home. You can see that when the sun comes out the Canadian Rockies can be pretty spectacular and a national treasure. It’s just that this bike event often seems to be ill-timed (in mid-May) and we’ve faced our share of chilling rain along the route. This was our 10th year doing it, so maybe I’m okay to take a break next year. We’ll see.
Moving onto book news, I see that this past week the movie trailer for the adaptation of Donna Tartt’s novel “The Goldfinch” was released. The movie of it is apparently coming out Sept. 13, starring Ansel Elgort as Theodore Decker and Nicole Kidman as the socialite mother who takes the orphaned Theo in.
For whatever reason — perhaps its length — I passed on reading the bestselling “Goldfinch” novel when it came out — I know I’m one of the very few on planet Earth who did — so I might like to read it sometime over the summer before the movie comes out. I liked Tartt’s debut novel “The Secret History,” which I’ve read twice, so any bets if I will like this one? I gather that some liked it a lot and others not so much.
As for what’s coming out in June, there seems a good variety of novels and I’m wondering if I’m in the mood for something fun and page-turning for summer or something with more depth to ponder. Usually I like to grab a mix, so let’s get started on what’s releasing.
It appears Blake Crouch’s new fast-paced mind-bender thriller “Recursion” could be just the thing for back-deck reading …. it’s about people who are suffering from “false memory syndrome” and a neuroscientist who’s given an unlimited budget to build a machine that allows people — such as her mother with Alzheimer’s — to relive their memories. But when this research goes awry, things take an apocalyptic turn. Uh-oh. I missed Crouch’s 2016 bestseller “Dark Matter” but his themes about the nature of memories interest me so I plan to give this one a try.
Also such notable authors as Elizabeth Gilbert, Joyce Carol Oates, Jean Kwok, and Sadie Jones have new books out this month, but perhaps I will hold on those for now and grab Kate Atkinson’s new novel “Big Sky” instead. Fans, like me, have been waiting for Atkinson to return to her Jackson Brodie detective series and here she has complied with book #5. It is said to be a slow-moving mystery but do we care?
The story touches on Brodie’s family life as usual (he’s now living in a quiet seaside village), and those who seek his help on cases … apparently the main one deals with human trafficking and sexual abuse so beware. But it’s Brodie we come back for. As Kirkus Reviews notes: “The deaths and disappearances that Jackson investigates change with every book, but the human heart remains the central mystery.” Awww.
Next up I’m curious about poet Ocean Vuong’s foray into fiction called “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” which takes the form of a letter from a 28-year-old man to his illiterate mother in which he retraces his coming of age from his impoverished and abused youth in Hartford, Conn., to becoming a writer in New York City. His relatives’ pain from the Vietnam War has long cast a shadow over his life, which he tries to come to grips with.
Much has been written and praised about this “raw” novel that sounds powerfully written. I like too how Celeste Ng describes it: “With a poet’s precision, Ocean Vuong examines whether putting words to one’s experience can bridge wounds that span generations, and whether it’s ever possible to be truly heard by those we love most.” Hmm count me in.
Another wrenching but good read might be Nicole Dennis-Benn’s new novel “Patsy” about a Jamaican woman who leaves her child to her father to raise and immigrates to the U.S. to pursue her dreams, which don’t exactly pan out. It sounds like both mother and child face hardships in the story, with the woman eventually coming to terms with how her immigration affects her family back home in Jamaica and herself.
Judy over at the blog Keep the Wisdom highly praised the author’s first novel “Here Comes the Sun,” which made quite a splash when it debuted, so I think I’d like to check this one out. Dennis-Benn seems a writer to watch — just 37, she worked in public health research before turning to writing.
Lastly I like the looks of Catherine Chung’s novel “The Tenth Muse,” which Entertainment Weekly says “centers on Katherine, an aspiring mathematician whose studies take her deep into her family history, and a legacy of genius and empowerment which probes compelling questions about her identity.”
Apparently Katherine is a biracial Asian American who looks back on her life growing up in New Umbria, Michigan in the early 1950s and particularly on the early stages of her academic career, in which she seeks to solve a mathematical theorem whose history ends up helping her unravel her family’s story and its roots in WWII. Ahh, what more do you want? Despite quite a bit of math in it, this novel sounds enticing.
For lighter, fun summer fare I’m also considering Linda Holmes’s debut novel “Evvie Drakes Start Over” about a relationship between a young widow and a major league pitcher who’s lost his game, and Lauren Mechling’s debut “How Could She” about three mid-30-year-old female friends in NYC and their loves and lives in media. These reads could be just the thing for the back deck this summer.
As for movies in June, Emma Thompson’s new movie “Late Night” — about a TV talk-show host who suspects she may lose her long-running show — looks to have a few laughs to it. Mindy Kaling, who wrote the screenplay, co-stars as the show’s new hire who shakes things up.
I’m curious too about the movie “Wild Rose” about a rebellious Scottish singer who dreams of becoming a Nashville star, while grappling with the responsibilities of being recently released from prison and a young mother of two children. There’s so many music movies these days but this one seems to have a fresh take, and Jessie Buckley as the singer with a complex past seems quite authentic.
Finally, the submarine movie “The Command” about the 2000 disaster of the Russian nuclear sub — the Kursk — seems scary but likely a must for my husband and me, as I usually follow him to see all the sub movies, which he never seems to get enough of. It gets me claustrophobic just thinking of being in a sub under the sea, so having a surviving crew in the Kursk sink to the bottom of the Barents Sea after an explosion will likely be enough for a sweaty palms experience.
Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts plays a Russian crew member in the sub and Colin Firth plays the British navy chief who offers aid. Gosh I remember when the Kursk was in the news and it was a paralyzing situation.
As for albums in June, there’s new ones by Dylan LeBlanc, the Black Keys, the Raconteurs, Madonna, and Bruce Springteen among others. Wow I repeat: Springsteen has a new album coming out June 14.
Being a Bruce fan, I’ll pick his new one “Western Stars” as my choice this month as it’s his first solo album since 2005’s “Devils & Dust.” Apparently Bruce has said it was influenced by “Southern California pop music” of the 1970s and such artists as Glen Campbell and Burt Bacharach. Nothing wrong with that.
That’s all for now. What about you — which releases this month are you most looking forward to?
I really liked The Goldfinch but don’t know if I’m happy they’ve made a movie of it. I saw The Recursion at Book Expo but passed on it – I think it will be big but don’t think it’s for me. I’m very excited about Evvie Drake Starts Over. Happy June!!
Thanks Kathy. That Evvie Drake novel does look like fun & warm-hearted. I better start Goldfinch soon as I’m sure it’ll take me a long time to finish. I didn’t even know they planned to do a movie of it …. till I saw the trailer.
I’ll need to add The Goldfinch to my summer reading list, too. It’s been on my kindle for quite a while (thanks to a daily deal) but the audio won an Audie Award for literary fiction in 2014. Maybe a read/listen combo is in order since it’s so long.
Hi JoAnn: thanks for the word about the Audie Award for Goldfinch. I’m on the wait list for the audiobook download at the library. I probably will get the print version as well. I like your combo idea.
Happy June. I am also glad that the days are longer and warmer. I hope that there are no more fires.
Recursion sounds good. The Tenth Muse also sounds intriguing. Mixing math with what sounds like a good plot and characters seems original.
Yeah Brian – I really wish we don’t have a smoky summer — it’s so bleak here with that. I agree about The Tenth Muse. Apparently the novel has a considerable amount of math talked about in it … so if you like math then this is it!
I am so excited about Big Sky & Jackson Brodie! I re-read Started Early, Took My Dog last month and have been watching the TV series in preparation.
I heartily recommend The Goldfinch but I certainly had to read a lot of happy & light books after I had finished 🙂
Happy reading!
Hi Jillann! Thanks for letting me know about the Brodie BBC TV series. I was totally oblivious but now we will watch it too. I think it’s on Amazon Prime right? Good to know too about your liking The Goldfinch … I better start soon as it will take me quite awhile.
Your photos of the Canadian Rockies are as stunning as the mountains themselves!
Lots of good books coming up. I think the publishing industry is doing just fine. I can’t even keep up with all the good stuff coming out. Thanks for the shout out on Here Comes the Sun. I will be reading her new one for sure.
If you liked The Secret History you will like the Goldfinch. It is more expansive as a story but the writing, the characters, the angst are all still there. I am excited about the movie.
Thanks Judy! Good to know your reaction to the Goldfinch and Patsy. June has a lot of notable new books coming out and I think I’m going to be buried. I’m already buried from spring books. The Rockies inspire me when I see those peaks so amazing, just about 1.5 or 2 hours away.
I also passed up Goldfinch. I think because even though everyone else loved it, my mom didn’t and I didn’t want to take the chance that I wouldn’t either since it’s so long.
I’m looking forward to On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous simply because Celeste Ng is recommending it. I love her and trust her opinion completely!
So many great books this month!
Thanks Rachel, yeah I trust Celeste Ng’s opinion about books too. I think my sister didn’t like The Goldfinch either — so after I knew that then I let it go by. But now I might resurrect it. hmm
I absolutely loved The Goldfinch. It did take a little while to get into it but once I did, I was hooked. You really need to read it.
Yay for completing the race. I can imagine that rain was annoying but also a safety concern. Slick roads and a bike don’t jive well. So impressed that you have managed to compete each year.
Weather here is a cool 75-80 so far. It’s very cold at night for this time of year but I like it.
Hi Ti, I’m glad it’s still “cool” where you are …. how unusual for SoCal. Thanks for the word on The Goldfinch … I will get to it. Luckily the bike weekend was more of a ride than a race, but I was pleased to make it through in one piece.
You have some great options ahead for June! I read On Earth and it is beautiful, but it won’t be for everyone. He writes like a poet, which is fine with me, but it’s slow going.
I tried Patsy but gave up. This is going to sound terrible, but I’ve been reading more immigrant fiction this year than ever before and this mother emigrating without her child plot is one I read last month and I’m just tired. I know they’re important stories but I have to take a break.
I’m starting The Tenth Muse tonight!
Recent travels back and forth to Michigan mean I have watched more movies in the last 2 months than I have in the last 2 years! I just watched A Simple Favor with Anna Kendricks and thought it was fabulous. It was twisty, creepy, sharp, and funny. Did you see it?
Hi Catherine: I think I did rent the Anna Kendricks movie: it was Crazy! But also entertaining too. Glad you liked On Earth — I wonder what I’ll think of it … poetic writing & all. Not sure I’ll like the protagonist of Patsy but I thought I should put it on the list. The Tenth Muse looks more up my alley. Hope you like it. Good luck with your move to Michigan. Sad a bit you are leaving the West.
How exciting, an author from Hartford! I haven’t read The Goldfinch nor The Secret History, though I own both books in Kindle format (one day…) Among the lighter fare I would choose The Tenth Muse (math, genius, and identity, oh my!) Isn’t there another movie about the Kursk? I think so, but don’t quote me on that because I haven’t seen it. I, too, love that sub-genre. I visited the Nautilus a few years ago and felt like I was going to have a heart attack in there. The passageways were soooo narrow. I wanted to get out but the queue went only in one direction. Never again. 😮 This month I’m reading Washington Black. I haven’t paid attention to this year’s book releases as I put on my TBR several from last year that I wanted to read ASAP, so I’m doing that, though I’m feeling tempted to skip the backlog and read historical fiction on English history as that is what I’m watching the most lately in TV series.
Hi Carmen, so glad you are back! You have so many great observations & comments. I can relate to your Nautilus experience. Not sure I could do it, too claustrophobic. But submarine movies are usually interesting. I hope you are liking the adventures of Washington Black. I enjoyed that book.
You seem to know so much about English history. I’m always in awe. I didn’t do so well with Tudor history in a class in college, but maybe I could try again.
I admire you for taking on that long bike ride rain or shine. I couldn’t do it!
I had a long run of either DNFing or completely disliking Pulitzer Prize winning books, but The Goldfinch broke that streak for me. It is completely different from The Secret History and could have been about 75 pages shorter, but I still liked it and am excited to see the movie. I just saw the trailer last night.
I’ve stayed away from On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous because the author’s background as a poet has scared me off. I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it.
Okay Susie. Thanks for the word about The Goldfinch. I’m not a big long novel reader but I think I will like it. I’m a little nervous about Briefly Gorgeous but there’s been a lot of hype so I’ll try it. We are headed out on another long bike ride next week in Montana. Hope it’s not too rainy.