Hi. We had our first snow this past Friday. Usually we get snow around Halloween time, so it wasn’t that surprising, but it feels like there’s no turning back now for colder weather, argh. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween tonight. Boo. Then we’re onto November. Whoa. We’re near the end of the year. Hard to believe. I know many like to participate in “Nonfiction November” and I plan to finish a few nonfiction too, but I don’t think I’ll read exclusively nonfiction as I have too many piles of other stuff lying around. Still Nonfiction November is a fun event, and I like hearing about what everyone is reading or has liked. I haven’t read much nonfiction this year, but there’s some really good books out there to explore. Now let’s look at what’s new and releasing this coming month.
Speaking of nonfiction, it’s cool to see Ann Patchett has a new book of essays called These Precious Days due out Nov. 23. Truth be told, I’ve always liked her nonfiction a bit better than her novels, which I know might not be a popular view, but it’s true for me as she’s written some really great nonfiction.
Perhaps my favorite is her last essay collection from 2013 called This Is a Story of a Happy Marriage, which is excellent, see my review here. Her new book of essays These Precious Days reflects on friendships, knitting, writing, and all sorts of things. So what are we waiting for?
The rest below are novels, so sorry nonfiction. I’ll likely check out Jung Yun’s new book O Beautiful due out Nov. 9. Her debut novel Shelter gained considerable attention when it came out in 2016, and I liked it fairly well, though I recall it being unsettling and unhappy.
Her new novel apparently is about a former model who turns to freelance journalism and lands an assignment to write an article about a town’s oil boom in North Dakota, near where she grew up. But when she returns she’s dismayed to find out how much it’s all changed from the boom and newcomers, which she grapples with, along with the past with her parents. It sounds like another unhappy story, right? But quite a few have given it high marks on Goodreads, so I think I’ll check it out, especially because I liked her debut.
The next two novels are pandemic stories, which are starting to trickle in, right? The first is Burntcoat (due out Nov. 2) by British author Sarah Hall about a reclusive sculptor Edith, 59, who retreats to living in an industrial studio known as Burntcoat with her boyfriend whom she doesn’t know well. It has a shifting timeline and tells of her past … along with this “novavirus” that’s worse than Covid-19, and it sounds like things get tough.
Then there’s Gary Shteyngart’s new novel Our Country Friends (due out Nov. 2) about a Russian American couple who invites a group of eight friends to ride out the lockdown with them at their Hudson Valley compound, which consists of five bungalows and a main house, in March 2020. Apparently a lot of changes take place over six months time there with new friendships and old betrayals. Not sure I could ride out a lockdown at such a place … but who knew at the beginning how long it would last. What do you say — are you ready for pandemic novels or not just yet?
As for what’s to watch in November: of course as mentioned in an earlier post there’s the movie Passing, due out Nov. 10 on Netflix. It’s based on the 1929 novel by Nella Larsen, which I reviewed last week. We currently don’t get Netflix so we might opt to see it at the theater. Hmm.
There’s also another Princess Diana movie. I kid you not. I thought I’d seen them all, but now Kristen Stewart is playing Diana in the movie Spencer (due out Nov. 5), which has received fairly good reviews about what happens in December 1991, when Diana finally decides enough is enough. I’m not sure Kristen Stewart really looks like the former Princess of Wales, but it seems quite a few actresses over the years have taken on the preeminent role, including newcomer Emma Corrin in The Crown. And look to Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki to play Princess Diana in the final two seasons of The Crown with Season 5 not due out till November 2022. Gulp, quite a wait.
There’s also some music / concert events to watch. First, Adele will be doing a two-hour One Night Special on CBS on Nov. 14, which will showcase the songs off her new album 30 due out Nov. 19. So check it out. Remember when she sang “Hello, it’s Me” live?
Then director Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary called The Beatles: Get Back will air on Disney+ starting Nov. 25, which apparently features much unseen footage of the band from early 1969 for the film Let It Be. As I watched the trailer, it seemed a bit unreal and sad to see these icons so full of life, friendship, and working together on such great music … only to have them split up in 1970, and to have two no longer with us. But still the documentary looks quite incredible and hard to turn away from.
Also this month, two singers are starring as the lead roles in movies. First, Lady Gaga will be in Ridley Scott’s latest movie House of Gucci due out Nov. 26. Gaga will play Patrizia Reggiani who married into the Gucci fashion family in 1972 then a decade later things started to go sideways, sort of speak. I won’t give away what happens (from real life), but the movie has quite a cast: with Adam Driver, Al Pacino, and Jeremy Irons among others.
Apparently filmmakers started working on the script for the movie in 2006, based on a 2001 book, but then the cast and directors kept changing over the years, and it wasn’t made until now. That’s a long time in the hopper! The film was shot all over Italy in early 2021, so the cinematography should be delightful. Enjoy.
Also Alana Haim (of the band Haim) is starring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s new movie Licorice Pizza (due out in a limited release on Nov. 26) opposite Cooper Hoffman (Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son) in his debut. It looks to be a coming-of-age comedy/drama about growing up and navigating first love in the San Fernando Valley in 1973.
Ha. It could be a hoot. We’ll see. Bradley Cooper and Sean Penn also have parts. Likely if you’re a Valley girl, it’s a must see, and if you’re not, then it’ll probably be fun anyways. Lady Bird might have been the last coming-of-age California movie I saw, but this new one has much about young love during that lovely decade of the 1970s.
Lastly in music for the month, there’s new albums by Adele, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Aimee Mann, Sting, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss among others. I’m sure Adele’s will be the biggest release by far, but I’m quite a big fan too of Nathaniel Rateliff and Aimee Mann so I’ll check out their new music as well.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are you looking forward to? And what are your reading plans for the month? Happy November!
House of Gucci might be going on my watch list–that is quite the cast!
The new Ann Patchett is going on my list for sure. I love both her fiction and non-fiction–such a way with words and very insightful.
I’m a committed Crown fan, but not sure I need to see another Diana in Spencer.
Hi Jane: I agree not sure I need to see Spencer but we are big Crown fans too. The Pachett book looks good! I hope House of Gucci will be too. Have a great November!
I love Patchett period and have read all she has written. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage was excellent. I look forward to this essay collection as well. I also have Burntcoat and O Beautiful. My October featured a lot of NF so I won’t be reading strictly NF in November. I do have Red Roulette in progress right now with in NF but I’m not loving it.
Have a good November.
Hi Diane, I’ll stop by your site to see what Red Roulette is about. Not sure I know that one. As usual I think our reading will dovetail with some of these titles. I always like getting your take on them. Happy November to you!
I’ve loved everything Ann Patchett has written, fiction and nonfiction, but I think This is the Story of a Happy Marriage may be my favorite. I can remember walking on the beach with tears streaming down my face as I listened! (I got some concerned looks that morning!) Pretty sure I’m on top of the library hold list for These Precious Days, so maybe I’ll squeeze it in for the end of Nonfiction November.
Shelter was a favorite several years ago, so I really want to read O Beautiful… probably early next year.
I’m looking forward to watching Passing and House of Gucci looks good, too.
We used to have some pretty snowy Halloweens back in central NY. Seems so strange here… we were finally able to turn off the air and open the windows a couple of days ago. We’re actually going to get below 70 overnight tonight…heavenly!
Hi JoAnn: nice that it’s finally cooled off a bit there. We still have a few days in the upper 50s this week so things should melt off.
I’m glad The Story of a Happy Marriage is a favorite of yours too (same here). So I have big hopes for this new collection. Same as Oh Beautiful. Much to see & watch this month. Enjoy! I look forward to seeing what you are reading for Nonfiction this month …
I’m looking forward to the releases of Passing, House of Gucci, and The Beatles documentary. There’s so much to watch from now on. 😮 Reading-wise, I’ll be busy this November with back releases. Good luck with your reading! 🙂
Hi Carmen, great to hear from you. I was just on the site when your comment came through. Good omen. Yeah there’s a lot to read & watch. Who knows how much I’ll really get through this month as we’ll be traveling about 10 days around Thanksgiving, but we’ll see. Have a great month! Report back once you’ve read or watched stuff. Always like your thoughts.
ps. I just watched an episode of Sweetbitter which is a cute first episode. She seems more clean cut than the novel (she’s rough & foul-mouthed in that) but still the series might be a bit fun. Thx for telling me.
November is shaping up as a great reading and listening month with a lot of books coming out from authors I love and a very promising musical landscape as well. And, of course, it is the month that contains Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Happy November!
Thanks Dorothy. Yes books & movies look good this month. And we are traveling to the U.S. for Thanksgiving to visit family so that should be extra special. Hope you have a great month too!
The House of Gucci cast is on fire. Might have to watch that one.
I am a bit unsettled these days. My son, last Friday, hit a deer in Kansas at 69 mph and you know he just got his car back and we have yet to get a dime reimbursed. It may well be totaled. Waiting for the insurance assessment but there are no Allstate agents in St. John, Kansas. I’ve got that on my mind and the difficulty of finding a flight for my daughter to come home on. Flights are being cancelled left and right and her local airport is just not good for flying out of.
I am still reading Dune and need to finish it this week. It’s good but bogging me down a little.
Hi Ti, wow Dune takes a long while to get thru that book! I didn’t realize you were reading it. And sorry to hear about your son’s accident with the deer. Ugh that can be dangerous. Glad to know he’s all right and hope things can be sorted out. Will your daughter be home for Thanksgiving & Christmas? We have to get flights so far in advance up here … it’s crazy. Good luck with it. Happy reading this month.
We had a very quiet Halloween, but actually had our first trick or treaters in 40 years so that was fun.
Passing is certainly making the blog rounds and it sounds really good.
Have a great week!
Thanks Helen, that’s great you had trick-or-treaters … wow you must live a ways out to get none … We only had 2 the whole night … which was a bummer! Too much candy left over now, ugh.
Yeah Passing is a very short read but it hits its mark. Happy November to you!
Eek! Snow already? I guess it’s that time, though, right? I remember that we got our first snowfall in early October one year. I’m so glad we don’t have to deal with that anymore, although it sure is pretty.
I’m already enjoying a couple of nonfiction reads for Nonfiction November and don’t mind spending the entire month reading from my selections. I don’t read much nonfiction any other time during the year, so this gives me a gentle nudge to focus on those books that have been on my shelves for far too long. I’m super excited about Ann Patchett’s new book, but probably won’t get it until after the holidays (just in case someone decides to give it to me for my birthday or Christmas…).
I’m not sure if I’ll watch Spencer, but I can’t wait to see the next season of The Crown. Once it’s finished for good, I’d love to go back and binge watch the entire program. Peter Jackson did such a fabulous job on the Lord of the Rings series that I can only imagine how great his documentary on the Beatles will be. The House of Gucci sounds like it has possibilities, especially with that cast!
We’re on a short (3-day) rv trip to get some winter stuff done to it before we put it in storage for the winter. Always kind of sad to know that we won’t be traveling until at least February or March. Ah, well. More time to read, I suppose. And get back to regular exercising!!
Have a good week, Susan.
Hey thanks Lesley. Sorry to hear you have to put the RV to bed. Ugh the season is over. We’ll actually be flying to Calif. for Thanksgiving this year, which is rare for us but time to see family.
Yeah the Patchett book and the Beatles special should be good. Much to do this month with the trip coming up. Not sure how much nonfiction I’ll get to but I have lots in my stacks. Good luck on yours. Happy November!
I enjoy the Diana movies that have come out so far. I am also curious about Passing.
I’ve been participating in a Nonfiction Reading Challenge all year, so I probably won’t focus on November nonfiction.
Enjoy your books and your viewing!
Thanks Laurel, Yeah it seems you’ve read quite a bit of nonfiction this year. Way to go! There’s always another Diana movie, right? But The Crown still seems to reign supreme. Let us know if you see Passing as I don’t have Netflix. Enjoy your November!
This fall, there are really so many great authors with new books. I’m already a few books behind — the new Amor Towles has been on my kindle for weeks. Not to mention the weekly new episode of the Great British Baking Show!
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae: I’m curious what you’ll think of the new Towles novel. I’ll likely check out your review (once you get to it) before getting to the book myself. It sounds like quite a road trip, right??
I’m really curious about that new Ann Patchett essay collection, and I’ll be watching for your thoughts on it. I haven’t read anything from her for a while now.
That Beatles special sounds really great. I don’t understand why the movie Let It Be is so hard to find…at least last time I looked. No one ever seems to run it or offer it for sale. I’ve just picked up separate biographies on John Lennon and Paul McCartney along with Mark Lewisohn’s “Tune In,” a look at the whole band. They still fascinate me to the point that I listen to their music several times a week.
Yeah Sam: I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Let It Be movie. I’ve seen clips of the Beatles singing from the rooftop but not the whole movie. I think this Peter Jackson doc will be huge. Sounds like he’s put a lot of work into it. But we don’t get Disney+ so I will have to find out another way to eventually see it. Hmm. Or get else Disney+ for a month.
The Ann Patchett book should be good! Happy November to you.
Snow! And I’ll probably be in shorts for most of November!
I agree with you about Ann Patchett: I like her nonfiction better than her fiction. In general, that’s how I usually feel about an author who writes both. I tend to like the author’s nonfiction over fiction.
I’m not ready to read stories about the pandemic. I am finding that I’m having trouble reading anything serious. I had to put down Invisible Child yesterday. The bleakness of the story was getting to me.
Hi Deb, Yeah I can see where with the pandemic it is still so present to want to read novels about. It’s just with us all the time. Hmm. Bleak.
I most often like fiction better than nonfiction, but with Patchett’s books it’s the opposite for me. Interesting to hear you like them better too.
The weather is just starting to dip here. But a few 50 degrees left. Lucky you still get to wear shorts! Have a great week.
How is it that we are in November right? Our temperatures definitely got cooler but we rarely get snow. I’ve had some hits and misses with Ann Patchett but I don’t think I’ve ever read any of her nonfiction. I’m curious now. I won’t be reading exclusively nonfiction either but I’m excited to get a bit more nonfiction reading in this year. I’ve only read a one nonfiction this year so far! Hope you have a great time with all of your reads!
Hi Iliana thanks. Yeah I haven’t read much nonfiction this year either. Too busy with fiction I guess. But you should try Patchett’s nonfiction – I think it’s better. The days are flying by … Hope you have a great fall. Enjoy.
Waow, snow ! It only starting freezing here yesterday 🙂 Thanks for mentioning Jung Yun, I’m into Korean literature these days so I’m interested ! I have the novel by Nella Larsen on my shelves, I will eventually get to read it… Enjoy the snow 🙂
Hey Iza, it seems the snow was short-lived. It stayed around only for a few days and then melted away. So now we have no snow on the ground. It’s been mild and not sure yet when our next snow will be.
It seems Jung Yun’s books can be a bit grim … about fitting in … and the underside of America. So unfortunately they don’t take place in Korea, though she’s Korean-American. Not sure what you’ll think. Enjoy your week.