Hi all. Sorry I’ve been AWOL from the blog for a while. I didn’t mean to take this much time away, but my husband and I got sick after our bike trip in Italy with our first bout of Covid ever. It’s mostly done now.
And luckily it didn’t hit till after the trip, which was great! We cycled with our family group (18 in all) all over Puglia, Italy, and had so much fun. Of course we started first with a tour in Rome, where this photo was shot and we biked part of the Appian Way, pictured below. All in all, it was quite a bucket list experience.
We’ve been back a week now — resting up. I can’t believe it’s already the middle of October. I didn’t get to read much while there because we were on the go everyday. So I’m way behind with books I planned. Though I finished a novel and review for PW and can move on from that, yay.
And now I’ve been looking at what’s releasing in October and have come up with a few picks below. Nothing too surprising just a few from big-name authors that I probably shouldn’t miss … though maybe I should be looking for some Halloween reading too for around this time.
First up, is the new short-story collection from Jhumpa Lahiri called Roman Stories (out Oct. 10). What perfect timing, right? Nine stories all set in Italy. Over the years, I have read and loved three of Lahiri’s books, namely: Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake, and Unaccustomed Earth. Though I have not read her newer books about learning and writing in Italian and her essays about translation. But if she likes Italian and being in Italy then I’m all for it.
Lahiri is a daughter of Bengali immigrants who grew up in Rhode Island and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her story collection Interpreter of Maladies.
I’m also curious about Alice McDermott’s new novel Absolution (due out Oct. 31) about two American wives who try to help their ambitious husbands “do good” for the people of Vietnam in 1963 Saigon. Sixty years later one of the women’s daughters contacts the other woman about their time there, and they look back at that pivotal period and their lives on the periphery.
I have not read McDermott in many years, but her novel Charming Billy won the National Book Award in 1998. I recall that some of her novels contain themes from her Catholic upbringing. She teaches at John Hopkins University and lives outside D.C.
Then there’s Jesmyn Ward’s latest novel Let Us Descend (out Oct. 24), which I hear is a rather bleak slavery story. Do I really want to read this now — when the news has been so awful these days? It’s about an enslaved girl’s journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and a punishing Louisiana sugar plantation.
Then again it is from the award-winning writer Jesmyn Ward … who fills Annis’s journey with spirits and memories of her African grandmother. It might be that the writing in it is worth the price of admission, but go into at your own risk.
As for what to watch this month, I’m curious if anyone’s tried out the new eight-episode series Lessons in Chemistry (on AppleTV+, Oct. 13) based on the 2022 novel by Bonne Garmus. I liked the book quite a bit, which is about the quirky Elizabeth Zott who wants to be a scientist in the 1950s but winds up instead on a TV cooking show in the early 1960s.
Actress Brie Larson takes on the roll of Zott and I hear it’s getting some tepid reviews. Some are saying its exploration of female empowerment falls a bit short, though I think we need to see it for ourselves. Larson was excellent as Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle movie, so we need to see if she can deliver as the anti-social Zott.
There’s also Season 2 coming of Bosch: Legacy with 10 new episodes starting Oct 20. I repeat there’s more Harry Bosch! It’s coming on Freevee, which I think means Prime. And this time someone’s kidnapped Bosch’s daughter Maddie, who’s become a rookie cop, and it sends Bosch into crazy mode.
The good news is most of the old characters are back including Mimi Rogers as “Money” Chandler and Bosch’s old partner Jerry played by Jaime Hector. But I don’t see Amy Aquino as Lt. Grace Billets, ugh, and sadly actor Lance Reddick who played the L.A. mayor died in March. Still it should be an intense season of action with Bosch on the rampage to get Maddie back.
But of course the biggest screen release this month is Martin Scorsese’s movie Killers of the Flower Moon (due out Oct. 20) based on the 2017 book by David Grann that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro among others. It’s about a murder case of Native Americans in 1920s Oklahoma that sparked an FBI investigation by J. Edgar Hoover.
If you plan to see it, you need to get comfortable as the movie chimes in at 3 hours and 26 minutes long. But I’m geared up for it. I meant to read the book, which I still might do, though I have other books in the soup mix right now. Still it’s from Scorsese so I’m debating whether to see it at the theater or at home streaming. The Oppenheimer movie was long, but this one is even longer! Still it looks to be an Oscar winner.
Lastly in new music this month, I’ll pick singer songwriter Ilsey’s debut album From the Valley (out Oct. 10). She has a very cool sound and grew up near Laurel Canyon, where all the great tunes were once played. Check out the video of her song No California here.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are looking forward to this month? Any spooky reads for Halloween?
Yay for the Italy trip! Too bad about COVID afterwards. 🙁 We got it last year after a trip my mom made and it was a mess.
I read Wellness while you were away; it has its moments but overall I failed to be impressed (3*). This is my fourth three stars reading in a row so I’m starting to get frustrated. I pre-ordered Jesmyn Ward’s latest and then canceled, and now I’m unsure whether I want to fit it in my calendar. I’ll be watching Lessons in Chemistry, though I don’t know when. I saw the trailer and liked the preview. So far Brie Larson has been hit or miss with me. Did you know she is a singer? She got a record deal before becoming an actress. I’m interested in Killers of the Flower Moon, but I don’t know if I’ll watch it; I have a spotty record in the last few years regarding those overly long films that have come out, and there are plenty in that category already!!!
Hey Carmen, great to hear from you. Covid is a mess but luckily it’s about over, damn thing but the trip was good. Interesting to hear, Wellness was just a 3*. Uh-oh. If he didn’t write so long, perhaps I’d get to his books, ha. Maybe his first one at least. I know it’s a bummer when you have a string of 3* books. ugh.
I didn’t realize that about Brie Larson — a singer? She’s everywhere — now on the Nissan commercials too. But I think we’ll see Lessons in Chemistry though we just started Season 3 of the Morning Show. It’s sort of a mess but at least there’s a big cast. Hope all is well with you. I dont like ultra long films either but for Flower Moon, we’ll likely do it. Hmm. My reading went off the rails recently. I need to get back. Cheers.
I am wary of Lessons in Chemistry since I enjoyed the book, but I may give it a try.
Killers of the Flower Moon was excellent and I hope they’ve done a good job with the movie. At 3+ hours I may wait for it to hit streaming.
I hope you are feeling better after your Covid bout. My reading has taken a major dive since I’ve started this new job. I am hoping that November is better.
Thanks Helen, the covid bout was a pain. But the trip was good & time to move on. I can relate about the reading dive. Mine has gone off the rails. But there’s always November. I hope your new job is going well. I’ll stop by to see what’s up. Cheers.
What an absolutely amazing trip that must have been. I had a good friend who took every other month for a year doing bicycle trips around different regions of Ireland who still considers that the most memorable thing he did in his whole life. The beauty is just stunning in those photos.
I find myself feeling the same way about the new Jesmyn Ward novel. I had it on hold for a while and then canceled the hold because I’m just not ready for another slavery book right now. I think I’ve had my fill for a while, thank you, guys.
Happy to hear that covid has not been too much of a challenge for you…good timing on that one.
Thanks for the heads up on the new Bosch series coming next week. That’s the first I’ve heard the news and it gives me something to look forward to. I’ve got high hopes for the Killers of the Flower Moon movie…hoping they did it right. All the trailers I’ve seen lead me to believe that they did.
Hi Sam, yeah I was really surprised to hear about the new Bosch season too since I hadn’t heard anything about it before. But yay.
I still look at the Rome & Italy photos and I am amazed. I especially like the old ruins. It’s easy to visualize what it must have been like thousands of years ago with brutes running around. The ancient aqueduct and the Appian Way are wonderful. And we stayed near Ostia Antiqua which was a naval port area for the ancient Romans, very cool ruins there. So much to see, I’ll be thinking about it for a long while. Cheers.
I hadn’t heard about the new season of “Bosch” so something to look forward to there. And “Lessons in Chemistry” as well.
I have enjoyed Jesmyn Ward’s books, but, no, I don’t think I could take her new one right now. Maybe later… And I had not heard about McDermott’s new book – something else to look forward to.
Welcome home from what must have been a truly awesome (in the REAL meaning of the word) experience. I’m sorry you had to get sick so soon after but it’s good you are feeling better. Stay well!
Thanks Dorothy. So many good things to reflect on about places on our trip. It was pretty bucket list stuff. The ancient ruins are always my favorite.
I was surprised too to hear about new Bosch. That’s been under wraps. And the McDermott novel looks especially good. I think I will wait on Ward’s book too. Too much darkness right now. Enjoy your week.
Hi Susan, Glad to hear that you had a great time in Italy and I am sorry about the covid but very glad to hear that you and your husband are getting better.
Killers of the Flower Moon is definitely a book I want to read. I want to see the movie too but the book is a must. It’s important to know history because we learn from it about the injustices and how we must work to make sure it never happens again.
Hi Kathy, thanks. yeah the Covid is just a mess. Our first time! But it’s been about 10 days. And thinking it’s gone.
I agree about reading the book of Killers of the Flower Moon. I’m not sure how it got past me since 2017. It looks like an interesting read. And the movie should be terrific — I’m hoping. Visually it looks pretty stunning. And a lot of past injustice to right there. Have a great week.
I wonder how many people come back from vacation with covid. I did so last summer. I know you and I aren’t the only ones. I think I still lead a very sheltered life when not traveling so I find lots of new germs to infect me when I’m really out and about! Good to hear that you are getting over it.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae. Yeah I think traveling is like the No. 1 way people get covid. I had not had it in 3 plus years until going on the trip. But we had a group of 18 people that came from all over, so I guess the risk was high. I was still very surprised to get it. It feels like a cold now 10 days later. But it’s mostly gone. I hope we get some immunity from it at least. Have a great week.
I am glad you had a good trip to Italy! Sorry to hear you caught Covid, though. I have also been recovering from a cold, which may have been Covid. I didn’t test positive, but I attended an event, where almost everyone got it (super spreader event…), so who knows. Despite my good intentions, I never managed to read Lessons in Chemistry. Ideally, I want to read it, before watching the adaptation.
Hi Stargazer. thanks Italy was pretty nice. & Yeah the covid can be like a cold … I had one day of fever then it became like cold symptoms. I hope you dont have it. It seems a bit everywhere — especially when traveling. I recall Lessons in Chemistry being a pretty entertaining audiobook … so see what you think. It’s not great but at least mildly a good listen. Enjoy your week & feel better.
Sounds like an amazing trip, but I’m sorry to hear you got Covid! At least it didn’t impact your travels. Did other members of your family get it, too?
Roman Stories and Absolution are the two October releases I’m most excited about, but not sure when I’ll get to them. This is the time of year my reading tends to slow down as life speeds up.
Killers of the Flower Moon was an eye-opening read, but I remember that the audio helped pull me through. Not sure whether we’ll see the film or not…
Hi JoAnn: I think about 2 others in addition to us got sick out of like 18. I’m still a bit confused why or how others didn’t get it? Perhaps we were like the only two who had never had it. Hmm. But I’m glad others avoided it. Weird how covid works.
I agree with you about the two October novels. Those both look good. I’m trying to restart my reading as it recently took a deep plunge off the rails. I need to revive it. I hope you can keep yours going. Enjoy your week.
We have missed you, Susan! I knew you were biking around Puglia, but I didn’t realize you had come home with Covid. Eek. I know three people who have been traveling lately and all three got Covid on the way home. I’m just waiting for my turn with this nasty dance partner. I’m sure I will eventually get it.
Roman Stories is timely for you—and me. Sadly, I missed hearing Jhumpa Lahiri speak last night in Houston about Roman Stories as we were just flying home from a weekend in Chicago. I should be getting a copy of the book in the mail this week, I think.
Hi Deb, I hope you never get covid – perhaps you are immune. We had a good run without it for years — but finally got it. Luckily our trip wasn’t really affected and turned out great. It’s quite a scourge though. It sort of became a bad cold afterwards.
I hope you get your copy of Roman Stories, I’m on the wait list at the library. Too bad you missed Lahiri … Her book should be a good read.
I guess I was a bit surprised how hot & dry Puglia was when we were there. We didn’t need any of the rain gear for sure. Cheers.
Jet lag and COVID at the same time is a real double whammy. I’m glad that you’re feeling better.
My book club read Killers of the Flower Moon. We wished that there was more from the perspective of the Osage people. I heard an interview that suggested that the movie addressed that criticism, so I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’ll probably wait for it to show up on DVD or streaming so that we can pause it for breaks.
Hi Joy, yeah jet lag and covid are no fun. Luckily after almost two weeks I feel back to my normal self. I’ll eventually get the new vaccine once it becomes available here. I’m not sure if there will be a charge like you encountered.
Glad to hear your thoughts on Killers of the Flower Moon. I hope the movie does address that criticism. It would be good to break up the movie into 2 nights so we might watch it on streaming as well. Have a great week.
I am sorry you’ve been sick with COVID, Susan. It seems like everyone I know who has flown anywhere in the last several years seems to contract COVID. The latest being two of my aunts and uncles who are still recovering after a trip to Seattle. That and funerals or memorial services. It makes me a little nervous about going to Utah next month for my father-in-law’s celebration of life service.
I am so glad you had a nice trip! I would love to visit Italy someday.
My husband and I are almost done with season 1 of Bosch: Legacy and are looking forward to the second season.
I hope you have a great week, Susan.
Thanks LF: I agree Covid is really re-surging now among people who are traveling, ugh. It’s not fun. Luckily we finished the trip before it set in. Still I have no interest in traveling again anytime soon. But your trip should be a short ways and I’m hoping with no problems.
Bosch Legacy 2 might be just the thing for late fall, LoL. It looks pretty action packed. Glad you’re enjoying it. take care. & Happy October.
I’m so sorry you got Covid…but so glad it didn’t happen until after your trip to Italy! Your trip sounds amazing. Traveling always gives you the best memories. HOpe you’re feeling better.
Thanks Lark. All is well now. About 2 weeks after our trip. The trip indeed was memorable and I learned about new places in Italy we hadn’t been before. I’ll likely post more photos next time. Cheers!
Welcome home! I’m so sorry to hear that you guys got Covid. Thankfully, after you got back home, but still! I was sure we’d get it on our trip, but we lucked out. I’m sure traveling in our RV helps, but we did go to a lot of restaurants and stores (unmasked)… We’ve never had it and I feel like our luck may eventually run out. I hope you don’t have any linger problems.
I can’t believe we’re in the second half of October. Every time we go on these RV trips, we come back and I feel like time should have stood still while we were away. It’s going to be the holiday season before we know it. Eeek!
I didn’t read much while we were gone, either. Didn’t listen to a single audiobook the entire time, and only finished one book and started another. Too much time spent having fun. 🙂
I haven’t read anything by Alice McDermott, but Absolution sounds interesting.
I’m ready to watch Lessons in Chemistry, but I doubt my husband has any interest, so I’ll watch on my own. I’m more eager to see the second season of Bosch: Legacy. I didn’t love the first season as much as the original series, but I love the cast and hope this second season is better. Glad to see Jerry is back, but too bad the Lt. Billets isn’t. We’ll watch Killers of the Flower Moon at home, and I’m hoping we can just watch half one night and the other half later. 3.5 hours is TOO long! I’m also excited about All the Light We Cannot See, which I think comes out in early December. I’ll probably watch the final season of The Crown, as well. And the second season of Anika should be out by now. I’ve lost track. Oh, and Unforgotten! Should be a nice winter for viewing all of these shows. 🙂
I would love to see more photos of your trip. Perhaps a photo essay post? 🙂 How many miles a day did you ride? Were there a lot of hills? I can’t remember if you mentioned if you were using ebikes. That sure seems that way to go these days.
Take good care! I’m already missing Canada. 🙁
Thanks Lesley for your note! Luckily you don’t go on airplanes much so it’s good you haven’t gotten Covid eek. We thought we were immune, grrr. I want to say our bike mileage was anywhere from 35 to 55 miles per day. And they had us go over a hill/mountain range tree times so there were some uphills. My husband & I used regular road bikes all week except the last afternoon when I tried out the ebike and it was like a major difference! Oh my. It’s pretty easy. I was very pleased to complete the bike routes for the week since I’m due to have knee surgery soon. We had biked quite a bit during the summer so that helped.
I should post more Italy photos! You are better at making photo gallery collages.
Thx for telling me about the movie for All the Light We Cannot See. I think I’d forgotten. I still recall the blind girl from the book and some scenes at the end. I hope it will be good. Glad you are back home & hope you are enjoying the Cove. I need to jumpstart my reading too. We’ll see. Enjoy your homecoming.
Sounds like great rides. Doable, but long! Bummer about you needing to have knee surgery, though. These bodies weren’t meant to last forever, were they? With all the cycling you do, your recovery should be pretty good, though. Strong quad muscles are important.
Give your hubby our best. Maybe we can meet up in Canada again next year!
Thanks Lesley. Yeah I wish you two lived closer, ha. Sometimes I drive by the Hard Knox Brewery and think of our brew meetup. Hopefully you’ll come back to Waterton or the Banff/Louise area again. See us & more critters too.
I am worried about the knee surgery … but I’ll post something about it before it comes at the end of Nov. Ugh. I’m hoping it goes smoothly. Darn. chat soon. Cheers.
Sounds like a wonderful way to experience Italy! I want to visit at some point. I read a few of those Bosche novels years ago. I wonder how the TV series measures up.