November Releases

Who can believe we’re already into November. Pretty soon Christmas will be here and that’ll be crazy. I think fiction offerings this month (see list at right) are a bit down from the huge number of releases in September and October. But still there’s a few big-name literary authors with novels out, notably Amy Tan, Robert Stone, and Russell Banks among others. There’s also some popular storytellers with books due out like those from Fannie Flagg, Adriana Trigiani, Sebastian Faulks, Anita Shreve and Mitch Albom.

But after checking out their books a bit, none of them really grabbed me. So I’m selecting a few dark horses this month that hopefully will be diamonds in the rough. First off is the second short-story collection from Laura van den Berg called “The Isle of Youth,” which the back cover says explores the lives of women mired in secrecy and deception. Hmm. It also carries ringing endorsements from authors Ann Pachett, Dave Eggers, and Karen Russell, which isn’t too shabby. I’m game for short stories these days so this one looks enticing.

Next up, if you like historical fiction, you might want to check out “Hild” by author Nicola Griffith. Set in seventh-century Britain, it’s about the rise of the most powerful woman apparently in the Middle Ages and is based on what little historical record there is of her. The novel sounds captivating, and it intrigues me that it’s about the Middle Ages. Who doesn’t want to read more about this mysterious time period!

Also there’s a few strong debut novels out this month, notably “Red Sky in Morning,” a tale of vengeance set in the nineteenth century that traces the path of the main characters from Ireland to rural Pennsylvania; “Where the Moon Isn’t,” an affecting and insightful account into mental illness and modern health care; and “Buying In” a novel about a small-town girl’s floundering in the high-stakes world of Wall Street. All of the topics are so different, yet each seems quite alluring. You might also like “Fractures” by veteran author Lamar Herrin, which is a sprawling family drama about a patriarch who must decide whether to lease his family’s land to gas companies for hydro-fracking.

As for movies in November (see list at left), three books, which I’ve read, are making their way to the big screen!, notably “Ender’s Game,” “The Book Thief,” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Of course, I want to see all of them and compare them to the novels. But I’m especially geared up for “Catching Fire,” which should be huge! I can’t wait for the second in the trilogy. So if you’re feeling the same, get thee to a theater!

Lastly in albums for November (see list at bottom right), the biggest release is undoubtedly Lady Gaga’s “Artpop,” which likely will be loud and pop-ish and perfect for her fans. I admit to liking her old “Poker Face” days, but wouldn’t include myself as one of her minions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I’ll pick Blue Rodeo’s new album “In Our Nature” because country rock is cool and I like this old Canadian band, which I plan to see in concert in January.

How about you, which book, movie, or album releases out this month are you excited about?