October Releases

Well, the “Gone Girl” movie last weekend was quite good. It’s dark and follows the novel closely; the ending doesn’t stray. I was impressed by the whole Gillian Flynn / David Fincher adaptation of it. It’s done well. What did I expect — from a director with such a resume — a muck of it? But I won’t talk about the movie too much because it would spoil it for others. Suffice it to say Rosamund Pike won me over as “Amy,” and Ben Affleck was believable as the dubious “Nick.” Neil Patrick Harris seemed a different choice for me as crazy Desi — haven’t seen him in a role like that before, but Tyler Perry is excellent as attorney Tanner Bolt. Even Carrie Coon as Nick’s twin sister does a good job. Check out “Gone Girl” if you haven’t already seen it and let me know what you think. Does it live up to your expectations and the novel of it?

So far “Gone Girl’s” my movie pick for October, but there are some other interesting ones coming out (see list at left). Robert Downey Jr. is in the new drama “The Judge” with Robert Duvall, and Brad Pitt is in the WWII film “The Fury” about an Allied army sergeant who commands a tank crew to go behind enemy lines. I’m sure I’ll likely see those sometime. But I’m also a bit curious about seeing the movie adaptation of S.J. Watson’s 2011 bestseller “Before I Go to Sleep,” which stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman (once again together). The movie of it comes out on Halloween, which gives me time to read the novel first. I’m not sure how I missed it when it came out, but it sounds like a good thriller worth racing through.

Meanwhile in novel releases this month (see list at right), there’s a few I have my eye on. First off, Marilynne Robinson, who has “Lila” coming out, is a giant of a writer and I have read only one of hers, “Housekeeping” from 1980. I have not read her more famous novels “Gilead” from 2004 or “Home” from 2008, which are about an elderly pastor and his family in a small town in Iowa, but I know I should rectify the situation ASAP. Her new novel “Lila” revisits the characters and setting of “Gilead” and “Home,” so I think I should start with those first. What about you have you read her novels? Many say “Gilead” is one of their favorite books of all time. Hmm, I must get on it.

I’m also a bit curious about Jane Smiley’s new novel “Some Luck,” which is the first book in a trilogy about the life and times of a family on a farm in Iowa. (What is it about Iowa?!) “Some Luck” starts in 1920 and takes the family through the 1950s. You might recall Smiley’s other novel set on a farm in Iowa — “A Thousand Acres” from 1991. Oh my, was that book potent, it almost killed me. But will this new trilogy be as dark or as good? Hmm we will see.

I’d also love to gobble up British author David Nicholl’s new novel “Us, ” which Amazon says is “the story of a man trying to rescue his relationship with the woman he loves, and learning how to get closer to a son who’s always felt like a stranger.” I didn’t read his previous novel “One Day” but I saw part of the 2011 movie adaptation of it on TV once, with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. As for “Us,” it’s supposed to be both funny and moving and authors Jojo Moyes and S.J. Watson both say they loved it. So count me in.

As for honourable mentions, Marlon James’s sprawling new novel “A Brief History of Seven Killings” looks like a humdinger of a wild ride. Weighing in at 704 pages, the novel explores the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in Jamaica in 1976 with a wide array of characters that are assassins, journalists and drug dealers. It’s about Jamaica and the drug wars from a tumultuous period. I’m not a big reader of really thick novels, but the more I hear about this one, the more I’m thinking I should take the dive. Author Marlon James sounds like a hugely talented, ambitious and creative writer; one that shouldn’t be missed.

Lastly in albums out this month (see list at bottom right), there’s quite a few big names with new releases coming out. There’s Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift, Jackson Browne, and Cat Stevens among others. Right now, I’m taking a different tact and enjoying Frazey Ford’s new solo album called “Indian Ocean.” You might recall Ford from her days singing with the Be Good Tanyas. I didn’t know others played this Canadian folk group until I heard their music at my yoga studio one day while in the States.

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