Greetings, happy March! Can you believe we made it? Well technically today is Leap Day, an extra day tacked on to February, every four-ish years, which is awesome. Speaking of which, we arrived home from our road trip through parts of Montana and Idaho to meet up with relatives for a ski long weekend — wow it was good fun, and beautiful too.
I mostly stuck to the cross-country ski trails with the dogs, while others took to the downhill slopes, though they also joined me for a foray on the skinny skis up a scenic wooded valley. It was such pretty terrain and the dogs and everyone had a blast.
While in Ketchum, Idaho, we visited author Ernest Hemingway’s grave in the cemetery there, as well as a sculpture of him that overlooks the river. His fourth wife Mary Welsh Hemingway is buried along side him in the cemetery. She lived for another 25 years after his passing in 1961, and was responsible for publishing his posthumous works including “A Moveable Feast,” “Islands in the Stream,” and “The Garden of Eden.”
At the Chapter One bookstore in town, I bought a new Scribner paperback copy of Papa’s 1940 classic “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” which I plan to reread sometime this year. I think I read it last in the 1990s and so I will refresh my memory of the novel, which many consider his best … though there are various good ones.
All in all it was a trip we shan’t soon forget. It’s renewed us greatly, so we can plow on into March now, which looks to be a month with a feast of notable new releases. There’s novels due out by such well-known authors as Hilary Mantel, Louise Erdrich, N.K. Jemisin, James McBride, and Anne Enright among others. There’s also many debut authors with highly praised novels coming out. Good grief, it took me a long while to decide which ones to pick, but I got to say these five novels below caught my eye.
“The Glass Hotel” by Emily St. John Mandel (due out March 24) is about the collapse of a financier’s massive Ponzi scheme and the connections of a cast of disparate characters that are caught up in it. Parts of the plot sound a bit strange, but regardless I need to check it out since I loved Mandel’s 2014 novel “Station Eleven,” which was amazing.
With this new one, I’m trying not to see too many reactions about it so I can go into it a bit blind and feel it out for myself. Already there are 327 reviews of the novel on Goodreads that I’m avoiding at the moment; it appears many advanced copies were sent out.
“Writers & Lovers” by Lily King (due out March 3) is about a Boston-area waitress and aspiring novelist who tries to find herself after turning 30 and losing her mother. She manages debt, grief, medical troubles, and romantic complications as she works to finish her book. It’s said to have insights about writing along the way, so what more do you want?
Count me in as Lily King’s previous 2014 novel “Euphoria” — loosely based on anthropologist Margaret Mead’s life in New Guinea — was a winner for me. So where Lily King goes, I will follow.
“The Night Watchman” by Louise Erdrich (due out March 3) features a cast of Chippewa Native American characters on North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain Reservation who are trying to save their lands from being taken by the U.S. government in the early 1950s.
I admit I haven’t read much Erdrich over the many decades she’s been writing, but I’m curious to start. Her books have won many awards, most recently she won the National Book Award for her 2012 novel “The Round House” and the National Book Critics Circle Award for her 2016 novel “LaRose,” which will need to be backlist reading for me.
“The Mountains Sing” by Nguyen Phan Que Mai (due out March 17) is a sweeping tale that follows the Tran family’s shifting fortunes in Vietnam across half a century through war and renewal.
This is one of the many debut novels that’s getting high praise this month, and since I’m often drawn to Vietnam stories, I’m eager to snatch it up. The author, who was born in Vietnam in 1973 and witnessed the war’s aftermath, has been a poet in her home country and also learned English in order to write her first novel. For more on her inspiring story see the video here.
“Valentine” by Elizabeth Wetmore (due out March 31) is a debut novel that explores the lingering effects of a brutal crime on the women of a small West Texas oil town in the 1970s.
This one sounds a bit powerful and has been touted by such writers as Ann Patchett, Elizabeth Gilbert, Claire Fuller and Mary Beth Keane among others, so I’m curious to check it out. I’m also drawn to its setting in West Texas, having gone to university in the state once upon a long time ago, so count me in.
As for movies in March, there doesn’t appear to be much coming out that I want to see at the theater. Though there’s a new Ben Affleck movie “The Way Back” in which Ben stars as a one-time high school basketball phenom who’s struggled with alcoholism and is offered a job to coach at his alma mater. Sounds like the story is personal to Affleck who has shared similar struggles. I’m glad Ben is “back,” but I wonder if the basketball team/coach story will be a bit predictable, just judging from the trailer. Still I’ll root for it.
Other than that, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are back for the horror thriller sequel “A Quiet Place Part II,” which you might remember from Part I features a post-apocalyptic world inundated by creatures that hunt by sound. You must be very very Quiet whenever they’re around. The poor Abbott family did their best to stay alive in Part 1, which was all said and good, but I don’t think I really need to see the second one, which looks a bit crazier and more violent than the original, judging from the trailer.
Last up, Disney appears to be banking big bucks that its live-action war epic “Mulan” — a remake of its 1998 animated feature — about a young Chinese maiden disguising herself to become a warrior — will rule at the box office. It’s been advertised just about everywhere, but now the coronavirus could throw a wrench into its release.
Cinematographically it looks pretty awesome though I seem not to be overly drawn to its story. Something on a smaller scale would suit me just fine. Speaking of which there’s a new documentary “The Booksellers” due out in March that explores the rare book business trade in New York City. It looks pretty good for book nerds, especially if you’re into collecting or dabbling in antiquarian books, wink wink.
As for albums in March, there’s new releases due out by Pearl Jam, Alicia Keys, Mandy Moore, Basia Bulat, and Julia Bardo among others. I’m curious about a few of them, but I’ll pick Mandy Moore’s “Silver Landings,” which is her first studio album in 11 years and her first since divorcing songwriter Ryan Adams. Check out her single “Save a Little for Yourself” here. Welcome back.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are you most looking forward to this month?
Your trip sounds completely awesome!
I am with you on all the new releases. Along with the ones you highlight I also plan to read the last Hilary Mantel. Only thing is, it has been so long I wonder if I need to reread the first two and that feels exhausting right now.
Ha. I know Judy. I read the 2nd Hilary Mantel trilogy book : Bring Up the Bodies … but I’m not sure I have the fortitude to do her new one at 764 pages. I liked her book but it took me quite awhile … it moves slowly. Though I liked the atmosphere she does of the court. A lot of suspicion there!
What a fabulous trip! I’m glad things went so well.
I know Erdrich is a respected writer but her work is too smart for me. Or maybe I’m not smart enough for it.
My movie going friend and I were complaining about the lack of good movies coming out just the other day.
Thanks Kathy, yeah the trip went really well. I guess I haven’t read enough Erdrich yet to know if I like her or not. Hmm. I will give her book a try.
I agree …. there’s no new movies that look appealing to me. Luckily I’m still catching up with a few last year I haven’t seen … like Marriage Story, Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood … and maybe Jojo Rabbit.
I was just thinking about Erdrich’s upcoming visit to Houston, wondering if she had a new book (well, of course she has a new book). I must see if I can put in a request for it at the library.
Hey Deb, you always get the big authors coming through Houston. Erdrich seems to put out novels fairly regularly now. I too am on the wait list for her new one. Apparently it’s based on her grandfather’s life as a nightwatchman.
We do!
Sounds like a nice trip, glad you had a nice time. Several of your March books are on my list as well.
Thanks Diane. Yeah I find we share similar tastes in books, judging from the reviews on your site. Have a great March!
March is shaping up as an exciting month for new book releases. I have been waiting impatiently for Hilary Mantel’s third book in her Thomas Cromwell saga since I read Bring Up the Bodies. I’ve already pre-ordered the new book. But there are a number of the other books that you referenced that I will want to read. So many good books, so little time.
Yeah I agree Dorothy. Many new ones to read. I will let you vet the new Mantel book for me. I did read the 2nd book but don’t think I can fit in her new one this month. I think you will like it if you liked the others.
Your trip sounds amazing! I remember reading For Whom the Bell Tolls back in high school, but have never revisited it. The Sun Also Rises in the next Hemingway on my list… have never read that one.
I’m not dying to read any of the new releases, though Lily King’s might be interesting. It’s been a slow reading month for me. The rhythm of my year seems different living in Florida… might take some time to adjust.
Hi JoAnn : You likely need time to adjust. You’ve been busy there. You might like the Lily King one. I’m reading Forty Autumns now which you touted and I’m really enjoying it. Great book! Happy March for you.
Holy cow! I need to save like, your entire post there’s so much packed into it that I want to investigate. Thank you! And your snow trip sounds mega fun. I love snow. Sigh.
Hey Jinjer. I’ll send you snow in the mail, ha. I’ve chocked this post as full as I could …. much to see & do in March. But will I get to very much? I don’t know.
Your trip sounds wonderful. I haven’t been to Ketchum for a long time, but remember loving it there.
Our March reads have quite a bit of overlap including The Glass Hotel, Writers & Lovers, and Valentine. I think I’ll listen to The Glass Hotel, but read the others.
Hope March brings you an early Spring!
Thanks Susie. Ketchum was fun and we’re already considering it for next winter? I’m glad we have reads in common this month (as usual). I also want to see what you think of My Dark Vanessa (is the subject matter too disturbing?) and A Good Neighborhood. I’m on lists at the library for a lot. I’m enjoying The Second Sleep on audio right now by Robert Harris …. you might like it. Happy March to you.
Welcome back, Susan! I’m glad you had fun on your trip. March is packed with reading goodies. I pre-ordered Mantel’s latest, but I haven’t read the first two books in the trilogy, so I’ll save them for later in the year. I have a copy of The Mountains Sing, and have started it several times but the writing hasn’t clicked; nowadays I’m having better luck with matter-of-fact writing. I noticed you didn’t mention Therese Ann Fowler’s A Good Neighborhood, which I loved. Lily King’s novel is featured in the Amazon’s Editors’ ‘pick of the month’, though reviews were mixed on Netgalley. I’m glad there’s nothing terribly exciting movie-wise going on because I still have lots of movies from last year to catch up with. ‘Portrait of A Lady on Fire’ seems to be good, but I haven’t seen it.
Hi Carmen — thanks for the good info. Yes there are a few popular books that I didn’t mention such as: A Good Neighborhood, My Dark Vanessa, Code Name Helene, and You Are Not Alone … all of which I’m still mulling over for quick reads. I likely will get to Fowler’s book though I’m on a long library wait list for it, sigh. I’m still catching up on last year movies too. I’m way behind on that especially since we’re about to start Homeland Season 8, which should consume me for awhile. Mantel’s book could be slow — beware, and thx for letting me know about Moutains Sing. Have a great week & March too!
Nice pilgrimage to Ketchum—I need to reread For Whom the Bell Tolls, myself. It was my first Hemingway and it left a deep impression.
The Night Watchman is on my TBR list after hearing an interview with the author on NPR.
And, of course, the new Hilary Mantel is a must read.
I’m eager to see Milan—I never saw the animated version, but my daughter loves it and made me promise to see the live action when it comes out.
The Booksellers sounds terrific—maybe after I finish season 3 of The Crown…
Happy reading and watching! Hooray for spring.
Hi Jane: thanks for your input. Indeed so much to read out there! We are missing Season 3 of the Crown since we no longer have Netflix (argh) but are onto Season 8 of Homeland. I hope an early warm spring might slow the virus all over the world?! We can only hope. take care & happy March to you.