Happy Halloween weekend. I’m getting an early start as we’re headed out tomorrow to a cabin in the mountains to do some hikes and exploring. Hopefully it won’t be too spooky there like “The Shining,” which is on TV tonight along with Jamie Lee Curtis in the scary “Halloween” flick. Quite a gore-fest. Meanwhile the year is winding down and there are only two months left to cram in one’s reading for 2015.
Speaking of which, this week I finished Herman Koch’s novel “The Dinner” on audiobook. I’m a bit late to the party on this big international bestseller — it was published in the U.S. in 2013 — but I’m glad to have finally gotten to it because it’s both dark and excellent. It’s one of those twisty stories you can’t talk too much about other than to say it’s about two couples (two brothers and their wives) who meet for dinner at a high-end restaurant in Amsterdam to discuss a situation regarding their 15-year-old sons.
At first “The Dinner” is darkly funny as Paul, the unemployed teacher who narrates the story, skewers just about everything around him: from the restaurant and parenting values to his political brother, Serge, a candidate to be the next Dutch prime minister. And oh my, does he skewer his brother! I had to laugh quite a few times. But you also have to be patient wading through the many digressions in the book. Paul’s narration seems to go off on a tangent almost at every whim, which can drive one a bit batty. Luckily most of the tangents are pretty entertaining in and of themselves and serve a purpose.
After awhile “The Dinner” takes a psychological turn as secrets and past histories are divulged and talk of the sons ensues during the five-course meal. It’s disturbing stuff and perhaps not too unlike a dark Gillian Flynn thriller. I was caught up in it and had to fly through till the end to see what happens. It’s a book that makes for an entertaining and compelling audiobook, and it’s excellently read by British actor Clive Mantle. “The Dinner’s” dark and biting nature might not be for everyone, but I admit I was pretty glued to it.
Meanwhile looking ahead to November releases, there’s new books from such popular authors as Stephen King, John Irving, Isabel Allende, and a 64-page re-published stand-alone story by Gillian Flynn. I’m eyeing a couple of these especially since John Irving is speaking at my public library here on Dec. 3. If I’m to go, I better check out his latest novel “Avenue of Mysteries” pretty pronto.
Also Mary Gaitskill’s new novel “The Mare” looks enticing. According to the publisher, it’s “the story of a Dominican girl, the Anglo woman who introduces her to riding, and the horse who changes everything for her.” The book traces the girl’s journey from inner city to small-town stable in upstate New York. So count me in as I want to check out Gaitskill’s style, since she’s renown for her edgy writing.
Also I’m curious about Oscar Hijuelos’s posthumously published novel “Twain & Stanley Enter Paradise” which is inspired by the real-life, 37-year friendship between famed writer Mark Twain and legendary explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley. I’ve heard pretty enthusiastic things about this richly detailed epic, which Booklist calls “an extraordinary feat of imaginative historical re-creation.” Hmm.
Meanwhile the height of fall movie season is upon us and there’s plenty to pick from. Such action block busters as the new James Bond flick, “Spectre,” and the final Hunger Games movie “Mockingjay Part 2” are available this month, as well as one about the trapped Chilean miners called “The 33.” Though if it’s a drama-romance you want, there’s one with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt called “By the Sea,” or the much talked about Eddie Redmayne-acted film “The Danish Girl,” about the journey of a transgender pioneer.
I’m sure these are all fine and dandy but my movie picks for November are “Spotlight” and “Carol,” both of which have received some promising reviews. “Spotlight,” you might know, is about the Boston Globe’s uncovering of the child molestation scandal and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese. The movie has a large cast with Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Liev Shreiber, and Rachel McAdams among others. I usually like these journalism/newspaper kinds of movies since that’s what my job background is, and it’s fun to see how factual or not they are.
“Carol” is another film adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith novel that’s set in the repressively-portrayed 1950s. It’s about a department store female clerk, played by Rooney Mara, who falls for an older woman, played by Cate Blanchett. Todd Haynes is the director again, who did a similar type of film set in the 1950s — “Far From Heaven” — back in 2002. You remember a sad Julianne Moore? That one was excellent and I suspect this one will be as well. If Cate Blanchett is in it, I say “Go.” I also hope to see Blanchett’s other film out from last month called “Truth.” So it could be a Cate Blanchett-kind-of month.
Lastly in November releases, there’s new albums by Sara Bareilles, Chris Isaak, and Tim McGraw among others. They all have such strong voices. But you know, pick of the month has to go to Adele hands down for her upcoming album “25.” I’m not sure yet what to think of the album’s first single “Hello,” but I look forward to hearing more off “25.”
So how about you — have you read Herman Koch’s novel “The Dinner,” and if so, what did you think? Or which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?
The Dinner was not a favorite of mine but I get why so many readers liked it. I have read a bit of Mary Gaitskill and like her gritty and honest writing, so I am also looking forward to The Mare. Thanks for the movie updates, especially the Cate Blanchett ones.
Thanks Judy. Yeah I’m interested in checking out The Mare. I have not read Gaitskill before.
I haven’t read The Dinner yet, but I’ve read great things about so I guess I have to read it. The Mare and T&SEP sound good. Growing up I had a phase about horses and read many books related to the topic; I still like to read books about horse riding thus I suspect I would enjoy The Mare. Also growing up Mark Twain was my favorite author. I would read Tom Sawyer every other Sunday, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say I memorized it (!).
I’m excited about Spectre and Mokingjay Part II. Daniel Craig is my favorite James Bond and knowing this one may be his last Bond movie makes it bittersweet. Also, I would like to know how The Hunger Games saga ends. Mokingjay, part I was very subdued; I didn’t like it much. Spotlight sounds good too, but Carol not so much. It’s getting tiresome to watch Rooney Mara in lesbian roles (too many by now).
Last, but not least, I’m not sure I like Adele’s latest single Hello, but I’m looking forward to the album to see what else is there.
Thanks Carmen, appreciate your comments about everything. You’d probably be the perfect person for the Twain & Stanley book as you seem to now Twain so well. I read the Mockingjay book but not sure if I will see the movie.
The Dinner sounds really good.
I often like darker stories but some things do disturb me a bit too much.
Digressions within a book can be bad or they can work very well. Dis you ever read Les Misérables? There are digressions in that book that go on for dozens of pages.
Ha, Brian, I didn’t know that about Les Miz. I haven’t read that Tome yet. I agree that digressions in books can either work well or be bad. In The Dinner they seemed to work. You might like that novel; it’s a bit different but interesting.
Enjoy your weekend at the cabin!
The Dinner does look good…and the movies you listed are definitely going on my list…both Spotlight and Carol.
I am a Cate Blanchett fan.
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Thanks Laurel, yeah we will have to compare notes on the Cate Blanchett movies, once we see them. We’re enjoying the cabin. Have a good week!
I’ve got my eye on the Gaitskill as well. I have a copy of the new Allende in my purse that I meant to start the other day (I got distracted talking to another mom at soccer and didn’t crack it open) and I’m really looking forward to that.
Sounds good Kristen. I’ll be eager to hear if the Allende book is any good. We’ll see about Gaitskill’s novel.
The Dinner was dark and excellent. I read it one weekend – could not put it down!
May Gaitskill’s writing is so good. I remember reading Veronica with my book club quite a few years ago. The cover of her new book seems a little creepy…
Thanks JoAnn. Glad you liked The Dinner. Pretty dark eh? I think if I like The Mare, I’ll probably go back and read Veronica as that received quite a bit of recognition when it came out.
I have read The Dinner. It was not what I expected in terms of the “foodie-ishness”, that element was there but I wanted more. I did expect some of the intensity and darkness but I got a big surprise when I realized there was more than one whack person in the story. But I’ll not say more, to not spoil it for anyone. (That was some crazy stuff.)
And oh my gosh, you HAVE to go see John Irving!!
Please, post about that too!
Hi Darlene: Yeah I wasn’t sure what to expect with The Dinner going in, but it did get pretty crazy and dark. I’ll see what I can do about John Irving! Good you are back!
This post is so awesome! It really gets me all excited for this time of year! I’ve been dragging a bit and it just put a smile on my fave. SO many good movies and books coming out. The Bond movie looks so good. It’s his last Bond movie according to Craig so I hope he goes out with a bang.
The Irving book comes out today and I am once again a little behind. I hope you have fun at the cabin! I never got to see one scary movie this last week! I have them all and at the beginning of the month I told my husband we have to start watching them soon because last year we ran out of time and look what happened this year. Not a one. It’s just hard because The Girl goes to bed later now and she cannot stand these types of movies. She just gets too scared even with it on in the background. Makes it impossible to watch unless we watch them around 10 and please, that won’t happen with my 4 am wake-up.
Oh thanks Ti. Glad you liked the post. Yeah we were flicking back & forth between The Shining and Halloween movies on Friday night and my are they still hair-raising! Fall movie / & reading season is usually my favorite time of year too, but I’m already falling behind. Hope the Bond flick is good if it’s Daniel Craig’s last.