Category Archives: Top Picks

March is over now. It went by in a blur. It was consuming but not exactly conducive for reading or blogging. I had a good time on our biking and camping trip in Arizona mid-month, but sadly the close friend … Continue reading →

Happy March. We’ve just about made it to the start of spring, which is always a bit exciting for those living in a Northern country. Though May is usually the time when a lot of flowers open and things turn … Continue reading →

February is already here and trying to escape me. Tomorrow I leave for D.C. and Virginia for a week to visit friends and my old digs. It should be fun but what’s this talk about a chance of more snow … Continue reading →

Happy New Year everyone. It’s hard to believe it’s 2016. I hope everyone had fun and safe holidays. We just arrived home from California and were met with about six inches of new snow here in Canada, which will be good for cross-country skiing this weekend.

Over break we saw the movie “Brooklyn” (adapted from the 2009 Colm Toibin novel), which turned out to be a perfect film to take my parents to — not violent, not racy, not action-packed, just nostalgic, and who can pass up that? Set in the 1950s, it’s about an Irish girl who comes to New York City and ultimately must choose between the two countries, boys, and the lives that exist within. Actress Saoirse Ronan does a great job as the innocent-eyed, conflicted immigrant. She seems to shine in these roles adapted from well-known novels; besides “Brooklyn,” Ronan’s also been in “The Lovely Bones” as the murdered girl in purgatory, and in “Atonement” as the tattle-tale, lying sister — who can forget that role? This time she’s quite a bit less nefarious and has grown up since those days. Have you seen “Brooklyn” and what did you think?

Meanwhile I’ve been looking at what’s coming out in January releases. This month, there’s new books by such popular authors as Melanie Benjamin, Sebastian Faulks, Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Hill, Chris Bohjalian, and Bill Bryson among others. Quite a good lineup, but I’ll probably need to narrow my sights, so I’ll likely grab Elizabeth Strout’s slim new novel “My Name Is Lucy Barton” as I’m a fan of her books and have read all of them so it’s not like I can pass this one up.

Besides Strout, there’s three books by debut novelists that have received considerable praise that I’m curious to check out. First, Sunil Yapa’s novel “Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist,” which is set amid Seattle’s 1999 World Trade Organization protests. Apparently it involves seven characters whose lives change forever over the course of one afternoon. From blurbs I’ve seen, the novel looks to be a pretty powerful and visceral read; some are calling it the first great read of 2016. Is it? Author Smith Henderson says it’s “a story that is as tragic as it is relevant, as unflinching as it is humane.” Hmm. I’ll have to read it to see.

“The Lightkeepers” by Abby Geni is another debut novel that I’m curious about. It’s about a nature photographer who takes a one-year residency on the exotic Farallon Islands off the coast of California. Need I say more? The Farallon Islands, people! I haven’t gotten over the Farallons since Susan Casey’s 2005 nonfiction book “The Devil’s Teeth.”) Anyways, the photographer’s only companions there are a group of scientists who are studying the birds and sharks. But after an assault and death occur on the island, each member falls under suspicion. “The Lightkeepers” sounds like a haunting adventure set against the backdrop of a wild and incredible habitat. I likely can’t pass it up.

Lastly in debut novels Garth Greenwell’s novel “What Belongs to You” is apparently about an American teacher who finds himself caught in a relationship with a hustler that causes him anguish and forces him to confront his fraught past and Southern childhood. Kirkus Reviews calls the novel “a luminous, searing exploration of desire, alienation, and the powerful tattoo of the past.” It might not be for everyone, but author Hanya Yanagihara hails it too — as well as all the reviews so far on Goodreads, which says it’s beautifully written. Hmm dark but worth a read?

As for movies in January, I’ll likely see Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant” which is based partly on the 2002 novel by Michael Punke. I know it looks like a grisly (get the pun?) survival/revenge story set in the 1820s, but it was filmed near where we live — in our local mountains — so of course we’re going to see it; it’s full of nature scenes. I’ve heard the filming was quite hard on Leo; he was out there standing in freezing water and weather, gripes. And how did they film that scene with the grizzly? I’d like to know. Holy smokes I don’t want bad dreams of running into bears in the woods — as just this fall we had a grizzly on the trail up a ways in front of us. Luckily we went our own separate ways.

The other movie I might need to check out is the action-adventure with Chris Pine, Eric Bana, and Casey Affleck called “The Finest Hours,” which is about a death-defying 1952 Coast Guard rescue in stormy seas of workers on a couple of oil tankers. I’m not sure if the special effects of the high seas will ruin it and make it look too fake, but I usually have to revisit Eric Bana in anything he’s in, ever since his role in the film “Munich.” Add in Pine and Casey and you basically have a film. But we will see. And for now, I’m skipping the Benghazi film “13 Hours” because director Michael Bay has put out some terrible flicks over the years and I’m afraid that this might be more of the same.

Lastly for January, there’s not a lot of new album releases for the month: David Bowie is putting out “Blackstar,” Sia is putting out “This Is Acting,” and the Tedeschi Trucks Band is releasing “Let Me Get By.” All of which could be good, but I’ll pick little-known Tennessee bluegrass artist Sierra Hull with her fourth album “Weighted Mind” for my pick of the month.

What about you — which new books, movies, or albums are you most looking forward to this month?

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We had a fun time in the Bay Area for Thanksgiving at my sister’s. It was warm enough to go for some scenic walks, ride bikes, and take a boat ride — in addition to eating plenty of turkey and stuffing and visiting with my relatives. What a great place!

But it was a short, world-wind trip and now we’re back amid December with the whole Christmas season upon us. I’m hoping it won’t be too much of a mad rush, but it likely will. How was your Thanksgiving?

For books this month there’s only a couple coming out that I have my eye on. First off, I’m curious about Italian author Paolo Giordano’s new novel “Like Family” as a few years back I liked his offbeat debut novel “The Solitude of Prime Numbers,” which I heard the author read from at our city’s annual book festival. I would also like to read Giordano’s Afghanistan war novel “The Human Body,” which I missed somehow. But this new one, his third novel, is about an older woman who becomes a nanny and housekeeper for a couple about to have their first child. Over time she becomes essential to their small household but then later gets a cancer diagnosis that affects each family member in different ways. It sounds like a heartrending story and I’m game to find out more.

Secondly, I’m interested in checking out Matthew FitzSimmons’ debut thriller “The Short Drop” since a lot of readers have given it high marks for a suspense novel. I typically don’t read suspense thrillers but every once in awhile I’ll take the plunge if something is said to be a great ride — so to speak. This one is about the U.S. vice president’s missing daughter, which is a case that has remained unsolved for a decade. But now new evidence surfaces just as a legendary hacker and Marine is set to covertly investigate the case, while the VP is campaigning for the presidency. It sounds pretty juicy and might be a good fast read during this busy holiday season.

Meanwhile major movie season is upon us and this month brings a slew of new offerings to theaters. Much of the talk is about the return of “Star Wars” after a number of years absent with “The Force Awakens,” but I haven’t seen the franchise since “Return of the Jedi” in 1983 and I don’t plan to venture again to the galaxy far far away — even though the old crew of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher are reuniting for it. Who knows what shape they’ll appear, or what this latest script will bring forth.

After checking out the December film list, I don’t think there’s one movie that sticks out majorly to me but perhaps I’m most curious to see “In the Heart of the Sea” and “Macbeth” with Michael Fassbender. I hear some critics are ticked that Shakespeare’s lines have been cut in the new Macbeth film and that it focuses a lot on atmosphere and style but still I’m drawn to see it. I’m game to see most of the films Fassbender is in. He rocked in the “Steve Jobs” movie and so if he’s in this too, then all hail Macbeth that shall be king!

As for “In the Heart of the Sea,” most of Ron Howard’s films are usually quite good, and it’s based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s 2000 award-winning nonfiction book about the loss of the Whaleship Essex in the Pacific Ocean in 1820, so what more do you need? It’s an event that inspired Herman Melvin’s “Moby-Dick.” I still hope to read Philbrick’s book beforehand, which I should have done years ago. Chris Hemsworth as the lead character is not too shabby to look at either. I once sat through an entire rental of the crazy “Blackhat” movie because of Hemsworth, though I never got around to seeing him in “Thor” or “Rush.”

In other December movies, “Concussion” and “Joy” could be worth seeing, though it appears “Concussion” has received only a 65% critic approval rating so far on Rotten Tomatoes, so go figure. Bloggers seem to be liking the “Concussion” book though by Jeanne Marie Laskas. I’m not sure what to think of the movie “Joy,” which appears to be another David O. Russell film starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper (more Silver Linings plus American Hustle stuff). Surprisingly the financial movie “The Big Short,” based on the book by Michael Lewis, has received high praise and a 78% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I’m not sure about wanting to see a financial flick at Christmas but the all-star acting cast of Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling could be worth seeing. There’s also a Michael Caine-Harvey Keitel buddy retirement movie set in the Swiss Alps called “Youth” that looks to be poignant and have a few laughs.

Lastly I will save talking about the Leo DiCaprio movie “The Revenant” till January when it comes out nationwide. Suffice it to say, the trailer of it slightly reminds me of the film “Jeremiah Johnson,” which I’ve seen half a dozen times, but on steroids perhaps, and I will likely have to see it. It looks pretty intense. But if you’re looking for a small but pretty entertaining film in December and January, you might check out “The Lady in the Van” with Maggie Smith. I saw it at our city’s film festival a couple months back and it’s a nice sleeper hit. Written by British playwright and author Alan Bennett, it tells the true story of an elderly woman who lived in a dilapidated van on Bennett’s driveway for 15 years. The movie is one of those quiet gems that’s not to be missed either as a home rental or as a matinee at the theater.

Lastly for new albums in December, I’m sure there’s a lot of great Christmas music out to get in to the holiday spirit. I usually play the same Christmas albums every year by Sarah McLachlan, Chris Isaak, and the soundtrack to “Love Actually” along with classical pieces to get me in the right mind-set. But for new, non-Christmas albums, I’ll pick Coldplay’s seventh studio album “A Head Full of Dreams” as my pick for the month.

What about you — which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?

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October is here now and there’s a crispness in the mornings. It’s pretty outside though with all the leaves bright yellow and orange. It’s a fabulous time for a few last bike rides in the country. See my photo from earlier this week. It’s also a good month for a plethora of new releases.

In fiction, such popular authors as Geraldine Brooks, Jane Smiley, Adriana Trigiani, Kate Morton, and Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling) have new books coming out. Any of these I’m sure will be quite good. I like the character of Galbraith’s detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. What happens to them in this third book in the series will be worth finding out.

But for my book picks this month, I’m going to pick Anthony Marra’s collection of nine interconnected stories, all set in Russia, called “The Tsar of Love and Techno.” I’m curious to check it out because Marra’s debut novel “A Constellation of Vital Phenomena” received so many accolades when it came out in 2013 that I figure he’s a writer to flock to whenever he puts out something new. And judging by this book, he seems to continue to draw inspiration from the time he lived and studied in Eastern Europe.

I’m also interested to get a copy of Stacy Schiff’s new nonfiction book “The Witches: Salem, 1692.” Schiff last wrote about Cleopatra, and I still have that book on my shelf awaiting me. But now “The Witches” looks equally enticing. In her books, Schiff brings history vividly to life in accessible prose. And this time her research has delved into the infamous Salem witch trials — a chilling chapter in American history. Schiff’s book “The Witches” has been highly praised by historians David McCullough, Joseph J. Ellis, and Robert K. Massie among others.

Lastly in books, I’ll pick David Mitchell’s spooky new novel “Slade House” because it seems a perfect read for right around Halloween time. Apparently “Slade House” is an offshoot of Mitchell’s novel “The Bone Clocks,” but I think it might also be comprehensible as a stand-alone novel, or at least I hope so. I haven’t read Mitchell’s acclaimed novels “Cloud Atlas” or “The Bone Clocks,” but this upcoming one is his “shortest and lightest to date” says Publishers Weekly, so I’ll use it to check out the author’s much-talked about style and literary magic.

As for movies in October, there looks to be some great offerings. Of course as a reader of Andy Weir’s bestselling 2014 debut novel “The Martian,” I can’t wait to see the film adaptation with Matt Damon as Mark Watney. In fact, the previews look so good, I plan to see it this opening weekend. How could a team of astronauts leave Matt Damon (er, I mean Mark Watney) behind on Mars?! Oh my, No! With Ridley Scott directing, I figure “The Martian” is going to be a sure winner and it’s my pick for the month.

But there are at least two other strong film contenders. Holy smokes, the fact that Michael Fassbender is starring as Steve Jobs in the movie, with Danny Boyle directing, and Aaron Sorkin adapting the screenplay, has me now more interested in Steve Jobs than I ever was before. Fassbender is such a great actor to watch. I’ve seen him in “Prometheus” and “12 Years a Slave” both of which he was scary in but terrific. So it looks like the film “Steve Jobs” will undoubtedly be entertaining, and hopefully a bit more.

Lastly in October movies, I can’t pass up Steven Spielberg’s Cold War thriller “Bridge of Spies” from the adapted screenplay by the Coen brothers and Matt Charman, and starring Tom Hanks. My husband is a Cold War history buff and now has turned me into an enthusiast for such stories. We’ve seen and liked most of the films based on John le Carre’s novels. But alas, “Bridge of Spies” is based on the 1960 U-2 incident and has Tom Hanks playing a lawyer who is recruited by the CIA to help rescue an American pilot detained in the Soviet Union. Whether it’s a strong and balanced film, we will have to see.

Honorable mentions for other films this month go to: “The Walk” (too scary for my acrophobia); “Truth” (a must-see with Cate Blanchett in it); and “Room” (based on Emma Donoghue’s bestselling book but likely too rough for my claustrophobia).

If it’s new music you’re looking for in October, there’s new ones by female powerhouses Janet Jackson, Carrie Underwood, and Vanessa Carlton among others. But wait, Janet Jackson?! I don’t think she’s had a new album out since like 2008. I was going to pick Blue Rodeo’s “Live at Massey Hall,” but for old time sakes, I’ll go with Janet’s new “Unbreakable” album as my pick of the month. For all those ’80s fans, who out there remembers her lyrics: “Nasty boys don’t mean a thing. Oh you nasty boys”?

That’s it for new releases. So how about you — which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?

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I want to wish everyone a very enjoyable Labor Day weekend and happy barbecuing. I feel a bit weepy though that summer is ending soon. Ugh, it’s already getting cold here in the mornings. But September is my favorite time of year because, for one thing, it’s my birthday month, and for another, it’s always so gorgeous wherever you are. It’s also one of the biggest months of the year for new releases in books, movies, and music. So I’ve been wading through all the titles and artists, and we have plenty to discuss.

First off, there’s a few big-name authors with books out this month, namely Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, and of course Jonathan Franzen. I admit I haven’t read Franzen’s two other pillars of Lit, which he’s known for, namely “The Corrections” (2001), and “Freedom” (2010), but I have read his tome of essays called “How to Be Alone” (2002). Now his new novel “Purity” is out and I’m wondering if I should experience it. The critics really like it, but what do you say? Is it accessible, and is it good?

Meanwhile there’s a few other authors I’ve liked in the past who have new books out, specifically Ron Rash with “Above the Waterfall,” William Boyd with “Sweet Caress,” and Stephen P. Kiernan with “The Hummingbird.” You might recall Kiernan’s debut novel “The Curiosity” from 2013 about a man frozen in ice for a century who’s brought back to life. I enjoyed it, so I’d like to see where Kiernan goes with “The Hummingbird,” which apparently is about a hospice nurse who tries to help her husband overcome the demons he suffers from his deployments in Iraq. Count me in.

Meanwhile we haven’t even talked about sequels yet and two popular authors have novels out this month that complete their series. First, Italian author Elena Ferrante has Book Four out of her Neapolitan Novels called “The Story of the Lost Child.” It’s the final volume in her series about two lifelong friends, Elena and Lila. I haven’t read any of them yet, but I’ve heard really good things about them so far, so I plan to check them out in the future.

The other big sequel coming this month is Jojo Moyes’s follow-up to her 2012 hit novel “Me Before You,” which paired Louisa Clark with Will Traynor, a quadriplegic from an accident. Many of Moyes’s fans seem ecstatic that the author is returning with a sequel called “After You,” but others think without Will Traynor why return with another. I admit to liking Will’s character the best in the first book and wonder if a sequel was necessary. What do you think?

I’ve also got my eyes on reading Hester Young’s debut novel “The Gates of Evangeline” which has been called a Southern Gothic mystery and is about a journalist who gets involved in a missing child case from long ago. It’s quite popular now and I look to snatch up a copy.

Another highly praised debut novel is Bill Clegg’s “Did You Ever Have a Family,” which, according to Amazon, is “a story about a circle of people who find solace in the least likely of places as they cope with a horrific tragedy.” Judging from all the positive comments about Clegg’s book, I need to obtain a copy pronto and devour it soon.

Lastly in books out this month, I’d probably be remiss not to mention Chrissie Hynde’s memoir “Reckless: My Life as a Pretender,” which I’m sure will be quite a colorful account of her years as a seminal rock star. I was a big fan of her early music with The Pretenders so I need to check out her raw tell-all story as soon as I can.

For movies this month, there’s a couple of comedies that look halfway decent: “The Intern” with Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNiro, and “A Walk in the Woods” with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Though I’m not sure the movie of “A Walk in the Woods” will come close to Bill Bryson’s 1998 classic of it. The movie seems like a different version of it, a bit weaker, with older characters. I’m worried it will miss the mark by a large margin.

Meanwhile a couple of true-story dramas look very enticing. First Tobey Maguire plays U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer in the story about his match-up with Russian Boris Spassky in “Pawn Sacrifice.” And then there’s “Black Mass,” with Johnny Depp starring as notorious crime boss Whitey Bulger and Benedict Cumberbatch as his brother Bill. It looks pretty creepy, but I know I’ll likely have to see it.

But if it’s action-adventure you want, “Everest” will likely be your pick. It’s another movie based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster in which a number of climbers were caught in a blizzard near the top of the mountain. If you recall Jon Krakauer’s book “Into Thin Air,” then you know what I’m talking about — chaos on the mountain in terrible conditions that turns into a nightmare. You remember it now. This movie has Jake Gyllenhaal as mountain guide leader Scott Fischer and stars a number of other well-known actors. I plan to weather the storm and see it.

Lastly for September, there’s new albums out by veteran artists Keith Richards, Don Henley, Duran Duran, Shawn Colvin, and Jewel among others. But I got to go with Glen Hansard’s new one “Didn’t He Ramble” and Patty Griffin’s “Servant of Love” as my picks for this month.

Check them out if you get a chance.

How about you — which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?
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Taking a cue from Laurel over at the blog Rainy Days and Mondays, my hub and I set out last week to see the small, slice-of-life movie “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” It’s definitely the opposite of the action blockbuster fare that is out nowadays for summer, but in that way we found it to be a refreshing change.

As its distributor, Bleecker Street, puts it: “I’ll See You in My Dreams” is about a widow and former songstress, Carol, played by Blythe Danner, who’s everyday activities lose their luster after her beloved dog passes away. With the support of friends, she decides to branch out socially, starting an unlikely friendship with her pool maintenance man, going on dates with a new love interest, and reconnecting with her faraway daughter.

“I’ll See You in My Dreams” is a heartfelt, touching movie about people who feel their lives are lacking in purpose and feel pushed aside. Though it’s geared toward older audiences, it won’t only appeal to retirees. Blythe Danner, of course, really makes the movie, and does one heck of a job singing “Cry Me a River” at karaoke. I’ve always liked her in movies. I’m sure many know her from “Meet the Fockers,” but I remember her more from “Prince of Tides” in 1991 and “The Great Santini” in 1979. She always seems to play the shafted wife, which she does very well, but this time she’s a bit different in this leading role.

Anyways, I’m sure “I’ll See You in My Dreams” is not for everyone. There’s not a lot of action or drama in it and it’s a bit slower paced. But though it may seem to be simply a glimpse into an older woman’s life, it has some laughs and just the right ingredients that make for an uplifting and delightful movie. So catch it if you’re so inclined.

Besides that, I’ve been caught up in watching the Women’s World Cup soccer, which is going on throughout Canada now. The games are getting pretty close so I’m sure it’ll come down to the wire on who will win the final on July 5. I’ve been pulling for the USA and Canada, but then England had to rain on that parade by beating the host country. Still, go USA!! Then of course there’s Wimbledon, which starts this week and will trap me, too, for a couple of weeks.

But it’s not a bad way to start July. It’s hot here! Hot and dry in the West. We could use some rain. In looking ahead to books out this month, the most hotly anticipated one of course is Harper Lee’s newly discovered novel “Go Set a Watchman,” due out on July 14. Need I say more? Atticus, Scout and Jem. GET thee a COPY. I plan to reread Lee’s classic TKAMB (better known as “To Kill a Mockingbird”) before that date so I’ll be ready.

I also plan to grab Paula McLain’s new historical novel “Circling the Sun,” set in colonial Kenya of the 1920s, about record-setting aviator Beryl Markham. Are you kidding me? Ever since I read Markham’s book “West With the Night,” (one of my all-time favorites), I’ve been a huge fan of anything Beryl Markham. So this new book is very welcomed. Undoubtedly Markham was a complex person, who had a slew of love affairs; she also was a racehorse trainer, and one of the first bush pilots in Africa before becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. As Jojo Moyes says of Markham, she was: “a woman who persistently broke the rules, despite the personal cost. She’s a rebel in her own time, and a heroine for ours.” Well said.

Lastly in books out in July, Shannon over at the blog River City Reading sparked my interest to get “The Last Pilot,” a debut by Benjamin Johncock set during the early days of the Space Race about a test pilot who’s family faces a sudden tragedy that haunts them and strains his marriage. Shannon says it’s “wonderful but also incredibly heartbreaking,” which has me thinking since I just read the saddish novel “Everything I Never Told You” maybe I should hold off and pick up something a bit happier and summery —

— such as William Finnegan’s memoir “Barbarian Days: a Surfing Life,” which could be a perfect read during this hot weather month. Finnegan’s a staff writer at The New Yorker, and this memoir is about his addiction to surfing and his lifelong adventures, chasing waves all over the world. It seems like an interesting read, and maybe could shed some light on my youth at the beaches in California.

As for movies in July, there’s another “Terminator” and “Mission Impossible” coming out, as well as another “Magic Mike.” All of which I won’t see. There’s also a new Woody Allen film called “Irrational Man” with Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, and a movie adaptation of John Green’s book “Paper Towns.” Do you plan to see it? I’m still looking, however, for something I can sink my teeth into, perhaps Jake Gyllenhaal’s upcoming boxing film “Southpaw” will do the trick. It looks rough and down-and-out and Jake is ripped for the role. I might be sorry later but for now it’s my pick of the month.

Lastly in new albums for July, I don’t see much coming out. Singers and songwriters are already busy on the road playing concerts and summer festivals. But I do like Jason Isbell, the former member of the Drive-By-Truckers who has his fifth solo album coming out. So I’ll pick Isbell’s new album “Something More Than Free” as my pick this month.

How about you — which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to? Continue reading →