Hi All, we’ve made it to March! Does it feel like spring where you are? Or are you still under a layer of snow? We had some snow last week but now it’s forecasted to be in the 50s this week … so it looks like a massive melt is already on. The only trouble is mud season is not that glamorous. The dogs paws constantly have to be toweled off whenever they come in from being outside, but at least it’s one step closer to spring. Meanwhile over the weekend I was busy officiating the U12 provincial indoor tennis tournament here, so I’m a bit late posting my March Preview. But it was a good event and the kids behaved and played plenty of tennis.
Of course, my mind is also on all that is happening in the Middle East. War is a scary, dangerous thing and I don’t think it should be up to any one person or executive branch to decide on waging a major conflict. I thought that’s what Congress was for. Who knows what will happen, but I hope that it won’t turn into a lengthy expanding awful dreadful thing. Don’t you miss the good old days when it was just the Olympics?
Let’s turn to books and new releases for a brief diversion. March has much on the horizon including new fiction from such notable authors as Tana French, Colm Toibin (stories), Yann Martel, Louise Erdrich (stories), Elizabeth Berg, Mieko Kawakami, M.L. Stedman, and Cecile Pin among others.
You can see Tina’s good review of Cecile Pin’s novel Celestial Lights (due out March 24) here — about a man who becomes an astronaut and reflects back on his life. And I read an advanced copy of Stedman’s novel A Far-Flung Life (out on March 3), which was an absorbing — albeit grim — family epic set in 1958 on a remote sheep station in Western Australia. After tragedy strikes the family, an incident follows that turns into a dark secret that has ramifications for all. It plays out in somber kinds of ways.
Other novels I’m looking at this month include Woody Brown’s debut Upward Bound (due out March 31) about the interlocking lives of residents and workers at a care facility for autistic and other disabled adults in Southern California. Each chapter tells a member’s story that draws you in.
I’m not exactly sure why this book appeals to me right now but from all the praise it’s received it sounds like quite a moving and illuminating portrait of a community often overlooked. The author — who apparently was the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA — is said to capture the humanity of his characters in insightful, funny, and tender ways. I’ll be checking it out.
Next up I can’t decide between Karan Mahajan’s novel The Complex (due out March 10) and Frances Crawford’s gritty crime novel A Bad Bad Place (out March 3). The Complex is about a prominent family from Delhi who amidst political upheaval in India are constantly at odds with one another. It looks to be a weighty novel with a large cast of various dispersed family members from an author I’ve liked before from his 2016 novel The Association of Small Bombs.
While A Bad Bad Place is said to be a coming-of-age novel about “a young working-class girl in 1979 Glasgow who happens upon the body of a murdered woman—and must face an insular community desperate for answers, as well as herself.” It’s said to be an exciting debut from a new voice in crime fiction, so I’ll be looking at that as well.
There’s also Tara Menon’s debut novel Under Water (due out March 17) about a woman’s attempts to move on after surviving the 2004 tsunami in Thailand … just as she experiences Hurricane Sandy bearing down on New York City in 2012. It’s a story said to involve a close friendship with a person the woman grew up with in Thailand and the natural world they explored together there.
Author Katie Kitamura says it’s: “A novel of remarkable delicacy and power … about grief, friendship, home, and longing.” The cover is beautiful too, so what are we waiting for. Apparently the author Tara Menon grew up in Singapore and now teaches English at Harvard University.
On the screen in March, Nicole Kidman takes on the role of forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta in the eight-part TV series Scarpetta (on Prime, starting March 11), which is based on the crime novels by Patricia Cornwell. In the series, Scarpetta juggles her complicated relationship with her sister Dorothy (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) while trying to catch a killer. I remember when Cornwell started writing these crime books set in Virginia (her first being Portmortem in 1990) … and I moved there in 1993. They were sort of scary or chilling — Scarpetta’s crime cases, but I haven’t read one in many years.
Then the Academy Awards are on March 15, if you plan to watch any of the nominees. We saw the ping-pong movie Marty Supreme with Timothy Chalamet, which was a bit weird, but I sort of want to see the movie Hamnet. Though the big movie of the month is Project Hail Mary (coming out March 20) based on the novel by Andy Weir, starring Ryan Gosling as science teacher Ryland Grace who wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth. He’s on a mission to save the planet — but will he be able to do it?
Leave it to Canadian Ryan Gosling to try, lol. The great German actress Sandra Huller will play his superior in the movie and the head of the Hail Mary project. I still haven’t gotten around to the novel, which everyone has really liked, but the movie should be a winner too.
Also for those reading the Alexandre Dumas classic The Count of Monte Cristo, the eight-part TV series will begin March 22 on PBS. (It was originally released in Europe in Dec. 2024 but now it’s finally here.) This time actor Sam Claflin stars as Edmund Dantes who is wrongly jailed, and Jeremy Irons plays Abbé Faria, his mentor in prison.
Apparently this famous and popular classic has seen at least 15 TV and movie productions over the past century. I remember as a kid loving the 1975 movie version with Richard Chamberlain, who I think will always be the real Edmond to me, lol.
Other TV series to look for this month include: Season 5 of For All Mankind (on AppleTV+ starting March 27) and a sort of funny one called Bait (on Prime, March 25) about a struggling actor played by Riz Ahmed who learns shockingly that he’s being considered for the role of the next James Bond, which lands him with a full-blown existential crisis and conspiracy at the same time.
Also there’s the four-part TV series The Lady (on BritBox, March 18) that tells the story — based on true events — of Jane Andrews who came from humble beginnings to work as a dresser for the Royal family, only to get caught up in a murder trial that ended her fairy tale dreams. If that’s too dishy for you, you can always watch the three-part documentary on naturalist Henry David Thoreau starting March 30 on PBS.
Lastly in music for March, there’s new albums by such notables as Harry Styles, Morrissey, James Blake, the Black Crows, Kim Gordon, The New Pornographers, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, David Gray, and Melissa Etheridge among others. I like several of these artists, but the bluesy soulful voice of Susan Tedeschi is tough to beat. So I’ll pick the band’s new album Future Soul out March 20. Here’s the single Who Am I performed live from Red Rocks and the song I Got You as well.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are you looking forward to this month?
A lot of tv and movies to look forward to. We are still covered under snow.. but the days are ever so slightly less cold and the snow is melting. Yay.
I don’t know how what is happening is possible. And just because we have a rouge president that likes to bomb places doesn’t mean he can.. as you said what is congress doing?
Hi Hena, hard to believe the snow is there still around. Ours is melting quickly.
I agree about the war. And it seems scary & chaotic. Thx for stopping by here. Enjoy your travels & reading.
A Far Flung Place is my pick so far; I’m not sure I will be adding more new releases this month since I’m still behind with the ones from the prior two months. I saw Hamnet but wasn’t as enamored of it like the rest of the world seems to be. Part of the problem stemmed from the Shakespeare play bit, which I didn’t understand. I also saw Bugonia (4*), Nuremberg (5*), It was Just an Accident (4*), Blue Moon (4*), Train Dreams (3*), Frankenstein (4*), Sentimental Value (4*), and Song Sung Blue (4*). There are a few that I still want to watch, so we’ll see. Project Hail Mary sounds enticing, but I don’t like that they changed the shape of Rocky in the movie. I hope it delivers big time though because I loved the novel.
Hi Carmen, Wow you’ve been watching quite a bit of movies. We did see Nuremberg as well, interesting. And enjoyed Song Sung Blue. I’m glad for your ratings of these other films. I’m not sure what I’ll think of Hamnet. We were going to go to Wuthering Heights but then haven’t gone yet. I think Project Hail Mary should be pleasing. We recently watched H Is for Hawk and liked it all right … with Clare Foy. Enjoy your reads. I’m behind as well, figures. After that Wharton class, just have taken a bit off ….. Cheers.
Another stunning photo! Nice shot, Susan.
Yes, it feels a bit like spring around here. We were in the mid-50s today with sunshine. I should have gone for a walk, but was home catching up on laundry and such. Tomorrow, I drive back to Corvallis to visit my mom. I’ve been going every other day or so since it’s about 140 miles round trip. (Thanks for your email. Will respond soon!)
Oh, yeah. Really missing the Olympics right about now. They were definitely a good distraction for the news.
I really enjoyed A Far-flung Life, and have Celestial Lights in my stacks (thanks to Tina!).
I used to read Patricia Cornwell, but somehow can’t envision Kidman as Scarpetta! Not sure if I remember much about those books other than they were gritty and also filled with a lot of mouthwater meals that Scarpetta made for a coworker, I think. I’m super excited about Project Hail Mary. I hope it lives up to the book. I loved the audio production.
Have a good week, Susan.
Hi Lesley, thanks. I hope your Mom gets to come home this week. That will be better for all. She sounds to be coping despite how hard it is.
I’m having Olympics withdrawal too. Now I have awful dreams of war. Sigh.
I’m glad you liked the Stedman novel … not sure when I’ll get to Celestial Lights … I hope you like it.
I agree Kidman is a bit of an odd choice for Scarpetta. I think she’s trying to be a bit like Winslet doing Mare of Easttown. But we will see if it’s any good. I think Project Hail Mary will be a crowd-pleaser. Have a good week too. Wishing your Mom a safe trip home.
I’ve added A Bad, Bad Place to my TBR list. I’m so interested to see if Project Hail Mary is as good as the book.
Hi Olivia, yeah I’ve added my name too to the library wait list for A Bad Bad Place. I think it’ll be good. And Project Hail Mary should be a crowd-pleaser. I hope you enjoy it. Cheers.
March is always a big month for new books and movies and music. March is the spring for books and movies and music, I think, after a long winter. In the old days, many of these new books and their authors would have been at the Texas Library Association Conference. I wonder if that will be true this year.
I’m glad the snow is melting and the dogs are able to get out (even if it is muddy) and you are officiating.
Thanks Deb, we are managing up here with the wet muddy melting conditions, lol. And you’re right … March is big with new books …as I went through the list of new releases I saw that a ton are: suspense, crime, and mystery books — which I don’t read a lot of. You’ll have to let us know which books & authors are at the Library Assoc. Conference this year. I suspect many will be there … like Kate Quinn I hear. Enjoy it! Cheers.
I agree that the picture is beautiful. Always love your pictures. We’re moving right along into spring, though still not much moisture. Maybe some later this week. I did see some bluebonnets yesterday and that is early. We’ll see how wildflower season progresses. I have been curious about Scarpetta and I also was a bit surprised about Nicole Kidman being cast as her. Long time since I read any of the books. I read them in the beginning, but there hit a point where I was very annoyed with one of them and just never picked up the series again. Of course, TV adaptations are never exactly like the books so I may try it. Hope you have a good week!!
Hi Kay, I hope you get rain. Keep us updated on the bluebonnets & wildflowers there. They are always so amazing.
And I agree Kidman is a bit of an odd choice for Scarpetta. Not who I pictured as her. I think Cornwell’s early books were good but I can see where the series would go off the rails at some point. This TV series talks about a sister Scarpetta has … but I remember the books talked about Scarpetta having a niece, Lucy. Remember? It’s been a long while for me. We’ll see about the series. Cheers. Have a good week.
You’ve been busy! Glad the tennis officiating went well but yeah…I can well imagine standing quite a bit got tiring with your knee still in recovery.
Thanks for the link to my blog on the Cecile Pin book. That one made me read her previous book whihc had been languishing on my Kindle. I like her style. The Stedman bok is still being catalogued at my library. Did you like it more than her previous book? My goodness, it took her about 15 years to come out with this one.
Lots of good books and shows out in March and I always appreciate you posting about them. Many I had not heard of and I am interested in Under Water, sounds good. Yes to the Hail Mary movie! I can’t wait to see it streamiing. If it’s not picked up by Amazon or Apple we will rent it if we can. Wish Ridely Scott was directing as he did a bang up job on The Martian. Did not know they were doing another adaption of the Count of Monte Cristo. Last one I watched had Richard Harris.
Today I will be out weeding the front flower bed while Loki suns. Won’t be long until the heat keeps me in…and complaining, lol.
Hi Tina, I hope to get to the Cecile Pin novel sometime but I think it might be later in the year. I was glad for your thoughts on it. And I think I liked the first Stedman novel about the Lighthouse and washed up baby better than her new novel. But it’s worth reading. Just the plot goes in a direction – you think argh.
The Project Hail Mary movie should be a good one. We enjoyed The Martian. I still should read the PHM book. Robert liked it.
I’m envious you’re out weeding the flower beds, nice! Perhaps spring is there, somewhere! Cheers. chat later.
Your booklist just filled up my amazon wish list. I don’t know if I’ll catch up by the time all these new books are published.
Hi Mae, I’m glad to have put more books on the wish lists, lol. I’m always glad for your thoughts on the books you get to. Enjoy your week.
It definitely feels like spring where I live ,though I’m hoping for more snow. We desperately need it. And Scarpetta with Nicole Kidman looks awesome.
Hi Lark, yeah winter out West has not seen the snow we need. But I hope your mountains get some this week. I know Park City was like dirt earlier in the season, argh. That’s hard.
We will see if Kidman can deliver as Scarpetta. Cheers. Have a good week.
I used to love the Scarpetta books so may have to try watching the TV show.
Spring has definitely arrived in Santa Barbara; it’s been beautiful here. I need to get out and enjoy it more.
Hi Helen, Wow spring in the S.B. area must be amazing. It seems early but I guess the flowers are ready to spring.
I hope the Scarpetta series is good. I enjoyed the early books too. Cheers. Have a great week.
That photo is beautiful! Our snow melted and we got rain, but now we’re having lots of sun and beautiful weather. I listened to and loved The Martian and thought they did a good job with the film I want to listen to Hail Mary. I’m so excited for the Kay Scarpetta adaptation! I read a bunch of her books years ago and stopped reading when the series kind of went off the rails. I started reading the new releases a few years ago when she did a reboot of the series and have been loving them! I skipped a bunch of the prior books.
Hi Rachel, thanks. You sound like you know the Scarpetta books more than most. I read the early ones — but then stopped. I’m glad you are back on them. It seems the adaptation includes Scarpetta’s sister … though I recall the books involved more about the niece, right? Anyways I hope the show is good. I just googled how many Scarpetta books there are — apparently 29!! I might have read the first 4. lol. Enjoy your sun there. & Happy spring.
That is a nice snow scene pictured at the top of the post. Sorry that you will have lots of mud soon. It had been warming some here but today was a bit coolish.
Upward Bound sounds interesting to me. I like connecting short stories, usually.
Hi Tracy, thanks, we have some interesting sky & clouds come as spring starts to arrive, but it’ll be a while yet. It seems like you might have an early spring there.
Upward Bound does sound like it’s interlocking short stories …. and it’s received so many strong reviews that I’m wondering about all the fuss. So I’m on the list for it at the library. Enjoy your week & Happy March to you.
Years ago I read Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell. I don’t know why I didn’t continue with the series because Cornwell writes very well and I found Scarpetta to be an interesting character. I will check out the Amazon Prime series.
Hi Kathy, yeah the first four books of Scarpetta long ago were quite good … but then I didn’t continue either. But I hope the series will be entertaining. See what you think. I hope you are having some nice spring weather there in FLA! Happy March.
March is always a good time for new books and movies. Other than M.L. Stedman, I’m not familiar with most of the others you mentioned. I’m most looking forward to Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney.
It’s been ages since I read a Kay Scarpetta novel, but will be curious to see what Nicole Kidman does with the role. The Count of Monte Cristo was such an all-consuming novel for me… and I’m definitely up for a new adaptation!
Spring has finally come to Florida. After complaining about how cold it’s been for the last two months, I actually turned on the AC today! That was mostly because of the humidity, but it seems like we haven’t had any “in between” yet. Good luck with the muddy pups… beautiful photo, as always.
Hi JoAnn, good to hear — you’ve warmed up there. So many new releases in March! I saw Sweeney’s new novel … and might consider it — if you like it. I listened to her novel Good Company a few years back and I was a bit up & down on it. But there was enough good to try her new novel.
And I agree I’m a bit curious about Kidman in Scarpetta … I sort of have low expectations … so hopefully it’ll work out. The new Monte Cristo looks pretty good. Enjoy your beach walks. And we’ll see if I can stop the muddy dog paws from coming inside, lol. Cheers.
Looks like you are off to a great start for March. It’s good to see that several new novels from some of my favorite authors are on the horizon. I’m particularly looking forward to the ones from Louise Erdrich, Yann Martel, and Colm Toibin. I’m curious, too, to see if the movie version of Hail Mary can come even close to matching the novel’s suspense and emotional impact considering the limited cast they have to work with. I’m rooting for the movie, but that’s not going to be easy for them to pull off. And that Scarpetta series on Prime is something to look forward to – even though I gave up on the series about six books in, and that seems like a long time ago.
We are up into the mid-eighties here, with the lows coming in about 67 degrees. Very pleasant for the moment, with a nice breeze and fairly low humidity. Things are really starting to green up.
Hi Sam, yeah it sounds like everyone gave up on the Scarpetta novels long ago, ha … but maybe the TV series can salvage something. And I will likely need to read the new Toibin collection of short stories … so I’m going to add it to my library list. He’s too good to miss.
I liked The Martian novel so will still need to get to Project Hail Mary …. but I’m hopeful for the movie. Though it’s hard to beat or come near a good book. I think you should go in with lower expectations … just in case.
It’s nice you’re having warm weather — it sounds like your spring is in motion there! Love to see spring emerge. Have a great week.
I’m listening and watching a thunderstorm, right now — which is definitely an experience that I associate with spring.
I really liked the novel Project Hail Mary, so I’m looking forward to the film. It might even get me to the theater, but we have such a nice set-up at home that I usually just wait until it’s available streaming.
Hi Joy — Wow a thunderstorm? …. That seems early. I guess spring is on the way. I hope the flowers come out soon.
I think the Hail Mary movie might be good on the big screen … but I agree seeing it at home is comfortable. My husband still likes to drag me out to the theater, lol. Old school. I hope you enjoy the movie. Enjoy your week. & Happy March.
The books you mentioned sound interesting! My husband and I just finished watching Season 3 of School Spirits. We agreed that Season 1 was the best, but it’s looking like they’re setting up a Season 4 and we’ll probably end up watching that too.
Hi Karis, thx for telling me about School Spirits …. I don’t know that show so I will look it up. I hope you enjoy the next season. It looks spooky, lol. Cheers. & Happy March.
It’s a little spooky for sure, but I have low tolerance for creepiness and I did fine with it!
Good to know! I usually can handle a little spookiness. Cheers.
My daughter wants to see Project Hail Mary, which is weird because sci-fi is not what either of us really like. Maybe it’s the Ryan Gosling factor. I will go with her 🙂
I’m setting up to record The Count of Monte Cristo. Should be great.
None of the books really appeal, and my TBR shelf and Reading Scotland is consuming me currently.
Hi Jane, I think Project Hail Mary might be a fun movie even if we’re not into sci-fi. Perhaps it’ll be the humor … and Gosling factor — I agree. lol.
And it’s quite amazing how many productions of Monte Cristo there have been. But I’m open to seeing the latest one too. I hope you like it. Enjoy your Scotland reads & have a great week.