Today in honor of Independent Bookstore Day in the U.S., or what is called Authors for Indies Day in Canada, my hub and I visited our closest independent bookstore (Owl’s Nest Books) and ended up buying three books a piece (what a splurge). None of which are the ones I was looking for when I went in there. I didn’t see those instead I saw these: I got Lily King’s novel “Euphoria,” David McCullough’s new biography on “The Wright Brothers” and a novel called “Wolf Winter” by Cecilia Ekback, who was at the store for Indies Day and signed a copy for me. “Wolf Winter” seems to be a murder mystery set in Swedish Lapland in the 1700s. It looks good and has been compared to Hannah Kent’s bestselling novel “Burial Rites” so we’ll see.
I try to support the local indie bookstores when I can and also my local library. In my twenties, I worked at a couple of good indie bookstores — namely Explore Booksellers in Colorado and the University Book Store in Seattle, Washington, which shaped my existence. I still recall being gripped by Pat Conroy’s “The Prince of Tides” in the employee lunch lounge there, LOL. I’m so glad both bookstores are still alive. It’s not easy I’m sure with everything online or on e-readers. Do you have a favorite independent bookstore you visit where you live?
Meanwhile, it’s the beginning of May and I’ve been checking over new releases this month. As I mentioned above, I picked up a copy of David McCullough’s just-released biography on “The Wright Brothers,” which I plan to tear into. Although I know snippets about the Wright family and that they were the first to fly a motor-powered airplane in 1903, I’m curious to read the brothers’ whole story. With a last name like Wright — no relation unfortunately — I need to get to the bottom of these flyers at Kitty Hawk once and for all.
I’m also looking at Kate Atkinson’s novel “A God in Ruins,” which is the follow-up companion to her bestselling 2013 novel “Life After Life.” Granted, I’m one of the few who didn’t read “Life After Life” yet, but I think her second one might perhaps interest me more. In the first one, I wasn’t totally sold on reading about Ursula’s continual lives and bleak deaths as a storyline but reading about how her brother Teddy comes to grips with his post-War life and with a modern world and family — does capture my imagination a bit. So I’ve put my name on a list for it at the library. I’m #50 out of 45 copies! How about you, are you into this?
In movies out this month, I can’t say I’m a big fan of fantasy-action blockbusters. So I will have to bypass “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Mad Max: Fury Road” (sorry action fans), though I have watched the old Mad Max films with Mel Gibson on TV. Those contain some classic moments. If an old Mad Max is on when I’m flicking around stations, I’ll always stop and watch Mel battle the motorcycle gangs. Don’t you?
And usually I like Cameron Crowe’s films — such as “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous” — but the trailer for his upcoming movie “Aloha” didn’t capture my interest too much (despite Bradley Cooper being in it), sigh. So I’ll go with the period drama “Far From the Madding Crowd” this month as my movie pick; it’s adapted from the 1874 Thomas Hardy novel and is a story about a headstrong woman who attracts three very different suitors. Nothing wrong with that! Her name is Bathsheba Everdene, which as a name for this role seems almost too good to be true, LOL. As for a sleeper gem this month, I’ll pick the Blythe Danner movie “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” which looks a bit fun as a movie about a widow and former songstress who gets a new lease on life.
Lastly for albums out this month, I’m curious about the Mumford & Sons third studio album coming out called “Wilder Mind.” Though I’m not too keen on the British band’s harder rock songs, I do like their more folksy slower stuff. I’m also interested to listen to “Loyalty” the new album from The Weather Station, which is the name Canadian songwriter Tamara Lindeman sings under. She is a singer-songwriter who plays some beautiful songs and folk music. Check out her tunes if you get a chance.
That’s it for now. In books this week, I reviewed Mary Morony’s moving debut novel “Apron Strings,” a story about growing up in a dysfunctional family in the South in the late 1950s. For more on it, see the review below.
How about you — which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?
Well, *I* am looking forward to seeing the new Avengers movie anyway, because *I* like action movies. 😉 However, as a library assistant, I like that you support libraries, so I guess we still can remain friends. 🙂
Oh I’m glad Bryan, ha! I hope you enjoy Avengers. My favorite part is: Thor. Enough said.
I picked up a copy of an ARC of the new Kate Atkinson book. I haven’t read the first book either, so I’m not sure if I’m going to read it or pass it on.
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Oh that’s lucky Deb. Apparently you dont need to necessarily read the first one to read this second one. I’m wondering if it will be better than the first. Hmm.
I have been pondering A God in Ruins, but what held me back, so far, is that I was really bored with Life After Life…the constant circling back and forth was just annoying…LOL
But if it takes a different direction, I may have to add it.
Apron Strings has now piqued my curiosity, so I’m off to check it out.
And I love indie bookstores, but we are pretty much without them here…although I may have to do an online search…who knows?
Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Ha Laurel: I had to laugh that you were bored by Atkinson’s Life After Life. Funny. Too many lives maybe, or deaths. I haven’t read it. But I enjoyed some of her Brodie detective novels that she used to write. Now those were pretty good. If you win the lotto, you can always open an indie bookstore in your neck of the woods. You’d have a monopoly there. 🙂
I also adore the older Mumford and Sons… I am hoping that this new release is not as much of a change as some of the hype indicates.
I totally missed Independent Bookstore Day this year 🙁 … although I am trying not to bring in too many new books since my recent purge of over 18 bags of books to the local library.
Wow 18 bags of books to the library. That’s good Molly. I wish I could purge like that. So far, I have one box of books that I’m taking to a book sale this month. Many of them were duplicates in my shelves yikes! I hear ya on Mumford & Sons. I hope the new release is good.
My town no longer has a full service bookstore, Indy or no. We do have a rather junky used book shop and I do find treasures there every once in a while but not always. I did buy a few books at the bookstore in Bellingham, WA a few weeks ago and was impressed by their service. Sigh. I miss having a bookstore nearby.
My Sunday Salon
Yeah I think I’ve been to that bookstore in Bellingham — that is a good one! I sympathize with those whose indie bookstores are too far away. ugh, that’s tough.
I also love independant bookstores – love the name of yours. You should do a feature soon showing us indoor pictures. I have a few up of local bookstores but have to finish putting them up. Something about the bookstore…hope they never go away completely. What a shame that would be.
Right now I’m reading My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop. It’s authors talking about, in essays, something about a favorite bookstore. Interesting so far, I just started it.
If you ever read Pat Conroy’s My Writing Life, he devotes a lot of the book to a bookstore, his experiences with the bookseller, it’s very intriguing.
Looks like you picked up some good books too =)
Very cool Erin. You gave me some ideas. Man I need to get Pat Conroy’s Writing Life book. Thanks for reminding me about this one, & for stopping by!
I missed Independent Bookstore Day, but maybe I can make up for it next Sunday for Mother’s Day! Looking forward to seeing Far From the Madding Crowd. It didn’t open here last weekend, but will come to our local arts cinema before too long. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to read the book beforehand.
Yeah JoAnn, I ‘d like to read the Thomas Hardy book too. I don’t know too much about that one. But not sure if I will see the film first or read the book.
Far From the Madding Crowd looks good. I love visiting my local independent book store..I get lost in there!
Getting Lost in the book store is the right way to put it! I know what you mean. I just fear when I take too much home.
I LOVE discovering new independent bookstores! I have a rule that I try to never leave one without buying at least one book to support their business. Usually the problem is keeping myself from buying too many.
When I buy books, I always buy them at our local indie. I had hoped to make it there Saturday but wasn’t able to. I really want to read The Wright Brothers.