I hope everyone had a nice Easter. It’s been windy and warmer here and most of the snow has melted away. We went for our first bike ride of the season despite my having remnants of last week’s head cold, sigh. It was nice to get out and then watch the final holes of the Masters golf tournament. Afterwards, I did a bit of raking and yard work. It feels like the early stages of spring, yay. Next Sunday we’ll be flying to visit my parents in California for a little over a week so that should be a good break. We’ll go to the desert and the beach and do some biking there.
I’m a bit behind for April as here is it the 10th and I’m just now posting my Preview. So let’s dive into new releases and see what looks good this month. It appears there’s new novels by such notable authors as: Charles Frazier, Curtis Sittenfeld, and Dennis Lehane among others. I reviewed Susanna Hoffs’s debut novel This Bird Has Flown last week that came out April 4, and I have a copy to review of Lee Smith’s Silver Alert due out April 18, so stay tuned for that. And here are a few of my other picks.
Ramona Ausubel’s new novel The Last Animal due out April 18 looks fun. I first heard about it on AJ’s blog Read All the Things and found it got starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. It’s about a scientist mom who takes her two teenage daughters on summer vacation to the permafrost of Siberia, where they stumble upon a preserved woolly mammoth baby. Therein they engage in an experiment with the species and discover themselves in the process.
I’m a sucker for prehistoric awakenings and Kirkus says there’s an amazing amount of humor, wisdom, and wonder in this novel, so what are we waiting for.
Next is Brendan Slocumb’s new novel Symphony of Secrets due out April 18 that comes after his successful debut The Violin Conspiracy. I liked his first one, and various sources are saying his second novel is even better. It’s about a music scholar who finds out a shocking secret about his favorite American composer, long since deceased, that he tries to uncover, all the while the composer’s foundation is trying to quash.
I like how Slocumb, an accomplished violinist, has been able to blend music, mystery, and race into engaging, twisty tales, so count me in for this as well.
Lastly in books is a tie between Karl Geary’s novel Juno Loves Legs (out April 18) and Isabella Hammad’s novel Enter Ghost (out April 4). These are more serious-minded novels than the above choices. Geary’s novel is said to be a heartbreaking coming-of-age tale about two young outsiders who become friends and are unable to conform to the confines of 1980s Dublin. It’s said to be in the vain of Shuggie Bain and A Little Life so likely prepare yourself for sadness and abject poverty.
While Hammad’s novel Enter Ghost “follows a British Palestinian actor who travels to Israel, where her sister lives, and is pulled into a production of Hamlet staged in the West Bank, prompting a deeper look at her own political and artistic values.” Ahh. I like the sound of that. Both are new to me authors.
On the screen this month, the movie Air, out April 5, about the basketball player Michael Jordan and how he was pursued by a Nike shoe salesman, is getting favorable reviews. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Viola Davis star among others.
We just saw Matt Damon in a 2021 movie called Stillwater and he was good as usual. He’s also in the upcoming big Oppenheimer movie, directed by Christopher Nolan, coming in July. Damon, it seems, still has the goods, whether he’s Mark Watney on Mars, or Jason Bourne on the run. He’s still getting top roles.
There’s also the new eight-episode TV series Tiny Beautiful Things, (out April 7 on Hulu) based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, about a struggling writer who reluctantly takes over an advice column during a period of turmoil in her life. It’s a comedy-drama starring Kathryn Hahn, who’s said to give a soulful performance as the woman whose life is quite a mess.
I think I last saw Hahn in the 2018 amusing movie Private Life opposite Paul Giamatti. We don’t get Hulu here, but apparently her new series is on Disney+ in Canada, which we might have to splurge on someday.
Next up to mention is the seven-episode TV series The Last Thing He Told Me, which is on AppleTV+ starting April 14. You remember the 2021 thriller by Laura Dave right? It’s about a woman who forms an unexpected relationship with her stepdaughter while searching for the truth about her husband who has mysteriously disappeared. Jennifer Garner plays the woman who works together with her stepdaughter, played by Australian actress Angourie Rice.
It was filmed on location in Sausalito, Calif., and San Fran, and I’m hoping it holds up to the book, but we’ll have to find out.
Also there’s the movie Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (due out April 28) based on the 1970 novel by Judy Blume, about a 11-year-old girl whose family moves to the suburbs and she must navigate new friends, feelings, and adolescence. I don’t think Judy Blume has ever let her books be made into films before, so this is a big first. And apparently Blume says the movie, which stars Rachel McAdams as the Mom and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, is better the book. Really?
I recall the novel being sort of taboo when I was a kid because it was too dicey or embarrassing or something or other. I think I was too chicken at the time to find out, lol.
As for new music in April, there’s new albums by Feist, Rickie Lee Jones, Natalie Merchant (!), and I’ll pick the new one from Canadian folk rock band — the Great Lake Swimmers. It’s called Uncertain Country and comes out April 28. The band is still terrific after all these years. They formed in 2003 and this will be their eighth studio album. Here’s a new song from it called When the Storm Has Passed. Enjoy.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are you looking forward to?
A movie of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret that is endorsed by Judy Blume? Sign me up! I also want to see AIR.
I hope the wildflowers are still in bloom when you come to see your parents. I am headed to our local mountains to see them later this week.
Hi Helen: I’m sure it will be beautiful with blooms when we’re in SoCal next week — and after so much rain the past couple of months.
Yeah I was surprised that Judy Blume is finally letting her books be made into movies. I think it could be good. Enjoy your week & trip to the mountains.
That’s an interesting list of books you’ve given us and I’m adding them to my list. I’m especially interested in “The Last Animal.”
Hi Dorothy, yeah I’m hoping The Last Animal will be a winner. It looks fun with a bit of science too. Kirkus & PW gave it starred reviews. Yay. Enjoy. I like mixing light reads with heavier ones. Happy gardening & reading.
I’ve been enjoying the Judy Blume articles that (I assume) are spin-off from the new movie. I’ve never read her books, but would like to see the movie.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, yeah for whatever reason I didn’t read much Blume as a kid either. I guess I missed the hoopla, but the movie look like a charmer. Have a great week.
I liked Slocumb’s first novel and was surprised by the angle it took about racism in the classical music world. I am definitely adding the second book to my reading list.
Happy Easter Week.
Thanks Anne. Yeah I agree, I liked how Slocumb shined a light on race inside the world of classical music in his last novel — and I think he does that again in the new one. So I think it’s going to be good. Enjoy your week too!
The Last Animal sounds very good! It’s the kind of book I think I would really like. 😀
Hi Lark, yes I agree! And I hope it’s a winner. It sounds fun. I’m looking to get a copy soon. Have a great week.
I never read Are You There God either but I’m sure I’ll get to it one year for Banned Books Week. It showed up on their lists as one of the most frequently banned/challenged books in the 1990s and the 2000s. *sigh*
I love Lee Smith and did not realize that she has a new book coming out! Thanks for the heads up. We travel with my husband’s job so I’ve been looking enviously at the Charles Frazier event my bookstore back home in NC is hosting. He’ll be in conversation with Wiley Cash, whose work I also love. Oh well. There are tradeoffs for everything!
I hope you have good weather in California when you visit! We’re currently in Escondido and it’s finally been nice for a couple of weeks, though there’s a cold front moving through the next couple of days.
Thanks Jen. Nice to find your blog today. We are looking forward to Calif. for 10 days. And OMG I’m a fan of Charles Frazier’s – loved Varina and Cold Mountain. I’m curious about his new one. And that’s so cool about Wiley Cash too. I listened to the audio of his last one When Ghosts Come Home. He seems fun.
Will you be on the road for a long time? Judy Blume is a fierce fighter of book banners. She doesn’t seem to put up with nonsense. I have not read her (yet) but I applaud her many accomplishments. And I’m looking forward to the Lee Smith novel about an older couple. I hope it’ll be fun. Enjoy your week & reading.
I requested an ARC of The Last Animal and was denied. 🙁 I’m planning to read The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng, hopefully after I finish two ARCs that are to be released in the upcoming months. All the movies and TV shows sound good. I saw Daisy Jones and the Six (Amazon Prime) last week and wholeheartedly recommend it.
Hi Carmen, yeah I think I will watch Daisy Jones – maybe when my husband is at work LoL. It looks entertaining for us chicks but not sure he’d like it but perhaps. We are caught up in Season 4 of Succession. Conniving rich brats being whacky but there’s some fun acting.
Too bad about the ARC for The Last Animal but good news about The Great Reclamation. I had that on my radar. Let me know of it’s any good. Have you thought of restarting your blog? You have many good tips! Happy reading.
I’m a big Matt Damon fan and I will watch anything he’s in. Love your reviews and you’ve given me some great titles to add to Goodreads.
Thanks for your nice comment about the house painting tv shows and puzzles. We like the British crime shows and have been trying out anything our libray has.
Hi Tina – thanks for stopping by and your kind words. So many new book releases, right? We just moved to a new house and had the inside painted but we might need the outside painted too, sigh. I wish you well having your house painted. It looks good! Cheers.
We were camping over the Easter weekend and it was VERY windy and rainy. Today we had a lot of hail, which looks like snow on the ground. Crazy weather. We may go from winter straight into summer, at this rate.
Sorry to hear that you’ve had a cold. Most of my friends have been sick with colds this year, but we continue to stay healthy (knock on wood!). How wonderful to get out on your bikes, and to do some yardwork. It’s still too cold here for that (we’re wimps!). I hope you have a great trip to CA. The wildflowers in Borrego are stunning this time of year. Actually, most of CA is having a Superbloom right now. Should be gorgeous.
I wasn’t really interested in watching Air, but now that I see the cast includes Damon and Affleck, I’ll be sure to add it to our watch list. Stillwater sounds good, too. We do like Damon in the Bourne series! I read Tiny Beautiful Things (reviewed here) many years ago and thought it was very good. I’m curious to see how it translates to the big screen.
Have a great trip!
Hi Lesley, I’m still trying to get over the dumb cold — my first illness in 5 or 6 years. It’s stuck in the chest but hopefully it will be vanquished in California. Between taxes and cars in the shop, I haven’t stopped much. Ahh April. We’ve had some hail too. Either sun or hail, ha. But California by Sunday.
I hope your cove is beautiful, will you RV again soon? I will check out your Strayed review, I read her Wild book which was a bit crazy but decent. The new show looks a bit zany but perhaps fun.
I’ve been too distracted to read this week so need to get on the stick. Much on the agenda. Hope all is well there. Enjoy.
Judy Blume’s books were big, big, big for my fifth grade readers when I was a classroom teacher way back when. There was a lot of parent talk back then about whether or not children should be reading them. Sigh. I’m glad her books are being made into movies. It will bring a whole new group of kids to the books, I think.
I love to see all things basketball so I’m sure we will look for Air.
I hope you have a great trip to California!
Thanks Deb. Yeah I remember Blume being so popular and taboo back when. Maybe she’s still big? I think the Margaret book has been banned on & off over the decades since 1970! In certain regards, Blume was out in front to write about young adult things for that audience. But as a kid I stayed away from her books for whatever reason.
I hope Air will be enjoyable. Have a great week.
Hi Susan, I must read Judy Blume’s classic Are You There God It’s Me Margaret. For decades now it’s been on my radar and there are no excuses I must read it this year. I understand Cheryl Strayed’s book Tiny Beautiful Things is powerful and has gotten great reviews. I did watch Daisy Jones and the Six and I recommend it particularly because of the two leads, they have great chemistry together.
Hi Kathy, thanks for the tip on the Daisy Jones series (I liked the book). It does seem entertaining and I likely will watch it. I’m caught up in Succession Season 4 at the moment but I could use something lighter & more just fun. And I read Strayed’s Wild book years ago but not Tiny Things (yet). That series could be a bit fun but I don’t get Hulu or Disney+. Do you? I get Prime & HBO.
I haven’t been overly compelled to read the Blume books but let us know if you get to Margaret. And if it holds up! I wonder maybe I read her kids’ book Blubber from 1974. It seems most familiar to me. hmm. I should check it out! Have a great week.
Hi Susan, I don’t get Hulu or Disney. I do get prime though. Just wanted to say that I am currently reading Matthew Perry’s Friend, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. I am only at the beginning of his book so not sure how it will turn out but boy is he honest about himself and where drugs have led him. It’s very impressive and fascinating and I think the book will help people.
Good to know Kathy. I was shocked by how many drugs he was taking. I hope it helps others and that he keeps off them.
You still have snow!! Here in London, the weather has been mixed, but hopefully proper Spring weather is on its way. Hope you got rid of your cold.
I haven’t read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, but I might watch the movie to see what all the fuss is about. And The Last Animal sounds interesting, but for now I am mostly occupied by books from the Women’s Prize and after that, I have quite a few nonfiction to get to.
Hi Stargazer, I think most of the snow has melted away now and luckily my cold is about gone too. Gawd that was rough. We got to California yesterday, hooray. Taking a break. Hope you are well and you’re enjoying the reading from the Women’s Prize. I will stop by soon. Cheers!
I hope you are having a lovely time in California with your parents!
I’m still deciding whether I want to read the book The Last Thing He Told Me first or just watch the Apple TV series…hmmm.
Tiny Beautiful Things sounds interesting. I read the book ten years ago or so and I loved it. Schmigadoon’s second season is out on Apple. That’s been fun catching up.
Hope you have a wonderful time!
Thanks Heather. It’s so nice to be in California! Good to visit. Maybe I should read Tiny Beautiful Things sometime. And I don’t know what Schmigadoon is so I will have to investigate. Thx for the tip! Much to watch these days. Hope you are having a nice start to spring in Utah. It has been cooler in Southern Cal.