Hi. We’ve made it to October. Wow it came quickly. I hope everyone will be enjoying the fall colors this month and some spooky books as well as the baseball playoffs. It’s usually a pretty month and things will start to cool off soon. I need to begin to rake leaves pronto.
I’ve been in a bit of a daze after September, which was an amazing month here — we went and stayed in the mountains twice and got another dog. It was clear and dry and my tennis groups played outside. Now we’re settling into a routine … and our new pup Willow is catching on, though she gets us up pretty early. We can’t sleep in on the weekends or read our books, unless at night.
In book news, the shortlists for the Giller Prize and the National Book Award will be announced this Tuesday, so we will see what those will be. I don’t have any spooky reads planned in advance this month, but usually I will pick up a Shirley Jackson novel around Halloween, which is good for the season along with carving a couple pumpkins. And now let’s check out what’s coming out in October.
I must say the Big Three are mostly on my mind this month: novels by Jonathan Franzen, Elizabeth Strout, and Amor Towles. There’s other things coming out too, like the last novel by spymaster John le Carre, and a thriller by the formidable duo of Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny, as well as The Apollo Murders by astronaut Chris Hadfield if you want to satisfy your inner space geek. But it’s still the Big Three that will occupy my horizon. Both Franzen’s and Towles’s novels are nearly 600 pages so it’s best to start early. I haven’t even put a dent in all the great novels that came out in September and now October is adding to that.
Surely, the critics seem to be loving Franzen’s new novel Crossroads (due out Oct. 5), which is the first in a trilogy, about a family (the Hildebrandts) from a small Illinois town outside Chicago during the shifting times and turmoil of America in the 1970s during the waning days of the Vietnam War. Each in the family seems to be going through a sea change: the father’s a minister, the oldest son’s at college, the sister, the younger brother, and the wife who had a psychotic breakdown 30 years earlier that she is just starting to come to terms with.
Uh-oh the Hildebrandts have a lot of complications to navigate. I’m game for it as it’s said to be among Franzen’s best. I enjoyed his last epic Purity but this one looks even better. He might be a prickly author personally, but I think his novels deliver.
Next up, Elizabeth Strout returns with Oh William! (due out Oct. 19), which is her third novel about writer Lucy Barton. This time it’s about the complex relationship she has with her first husband William before and after their divorce. I have read the first novel My Name Is Lucy Barton but then missed the second one Anything Is Possible. Still I am back for the third.
I figure you are either a big fan of Strout’s or you’re not. I’m a fan of her Olive novels and The Burgess Boys and a couple other ones too. She’s a master about writing about the human condition. And author Ann Patchett says Oh William! might be her best, but is it? We will have to investigate further. Thank goodness, Strout is back.
Then there’s Amor Towles’s new epic The Lincoln Highway (due out Oct. 5) about two brothers — one just out of prison — who hit the road in 1954 from Nebraska, in hopes to head to California to start their lives anew … but apparently they wind up taking a fateful journey to New York City instead. Uh oh I don’t know what happens, but I’m keen to find out. It’s said to be a “rollicking cross-country adventure.”
Towles is a good storyteller and I enjoyed his debut Rules of Civility though somehow I missed his second novel A Gentleman in Moscow (still have it to read), but I am back for his third. I actually met Towles in 2016 at the BookExpo event in Chicago. He was friendly and had a special Russian castle stamp he put with his signature when he signed my copy. I was beyond pleased and went on my way.
Meanwhile in new screen releases this month, there’s several movies to watch for. You might have heard the new James Bond film — No Time to Die — is finally releasing on Oct. 8, which will be Daniel Craig’s last film in the Bond franchise. I will bid him adieu as he’s done a good job in the role.
Then there’s also the big re-make of Dune, which will be in theaters and on HBO Max on Oct. 22. I think it might be my first movie to go see at a theater since like 2019. Timothee Chalamet plays the lead in a full star-studded cast and it looks good. I read Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel Dune long ago and what I really remember is the giant sandworms that scared me witless. I have not read the sequels Herbert wrote but perhaps I should. Granted sci-fi is not a big genre for me, but seeing Dune will be an exception.
As for TV series, the third season of Succession will begin on HBO Oct. 17, about the infighting within the Roy family — media moguls who seem to be all about money and greed in NYC after their father decides to leave the company. We watched a few episodes at the beginning and the acting is good though the plot made me a bit ill as they fought over power and wealth. Actress Sarah Snook as the daughter is one tough cookie, so perhaps we’ll return to it?
There’s also the eight-episode Hulu drama series Dopesick starting Oct. 13 that’s based on the 2018 nonfiction book by Beth Macy about the opioid epidemic. The series stars Michael Keaton as a Virginia doctor who starts prescribing a new drug called OxyContin to his patients, and also features scenes of Oxy’s creators and Big Pharma in Manhattan, with Peter Sarsgaard and Rosario Dawson co-starring. I don’t get Hulu, but it seems like a compelling topic for a series.
What also looks quite excellent is the movie Passing due out Oct. 27 based on the classic 1929 novella by Nella Larsen that follows the reunion of two mixed-raced women, once childhood friends, who meet up again and whose bond becomes tested after a stunning revelation. Ruth Negga, who was awesome in the 2016 film Loving, stars as well as Tessa Thompson.
Apparently it was a standout film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and looks like it might get some Oscar nominations down the line. Passing will be released on Netflix on Nov. 10, so we’ll likely have to sign up for that again, if we don’t see it in the theaters. Has anyone even been to a theater yet?
Lastly in music this month, there’s new albums by Coldplay, Brandi Carlile, My Morning Jacket, and Lana Del Rey among others. I’ll pick Brandi’s new album In These Silent Days (due out Oct. 1) for my choice this month, though Lana’s Blue Banisters (releasing Oct. 22) also sounds good. Brandi Carlile also wrote a memoir Broken Horses that came out this past April, which I’d still like to get to. Her song The Joke is still a favorite of mine.
That’s all for now. What about you — which new releases are you most looking forward to this month?
I love those fall pics (no leaf changing here but, it’s about to start as it is 40 at night.) All you top 3 are my top 3 as well. I finished Oh, William! this week (review soon) and gave it a 4.5/5. I LOVED the story (which could be read as a standalone) and I loved Lucy but. William was so self-absorbed. Once again Strout makes us care about her people and their issues.
Have a great week/month.
Thanks Diane, that’s great to know Oh William! is excellent. Great feedback on it. I will look for your upcoming review. Strout continues to amaze. And I’m looking forward to this one. Enjoy your fall days.
Oh my goodness the color of those trees is just gorgeous! I’m excited about October because I always enjoy spooky reads and just nicer weather. I’m looking forward to No Time to Die but given that we haven’t stepped into a movie theater since the pandemic began, I guess our wait will be longer. Wishing you a great month!
Thanks Iliana, yeah it’s safe to say we’ll probably wait for the Bond movie to see on TV for whenever it begins to stream. Do you get fall colors where you are? These colors on the trees amazed me here but now most of the leaves are past their prime already. It’s fun to find a good spooky read this time of year. Enjoy!
No fall foliage here yet; those leaves in your end of the woods look amazing. I requested an ARC of Towles’ novel and was declined. 🙁 I haven’t read anything by him yet but I figured if he wrote it it’s bound to be a hit (sales-wise). Oh William was also on my radar, but I have my plate full with the novels I want to read until the end of the year. Another by Alice Hoffman is coming this month as well; she is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
I streamed all episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers (3*). I also saw Little Fires Everywhere, which was outstanding (4.5*). I finished reading Bewilderment (4*). It is very good but on the sad/dystopian side. It is a love letter from a father to his son, to science, to the careful nurturing and appreciation of nature, and to possible life in the universe in whatever shape or form it may exist.
Excellent report Carmen! Thanks. I’m glad to hear Bewilderment is very good. I have a copy. We also finished Nine Perfect Strangers and it was all right, weird fun. We havent watched Little Fires Everywhere yet so I will see if I can get it past the hub. I did finish the book a couple years ago. So have you started the Kearsley novel? Or will you start the Hoffman one first? So much to read right now. I’m just finishing an audio of We Run the Tides (from spring) …. and we watched Season 1 of Widow … a Kate Beckinsale / Africa thing on Prime. Happy October to you!
I started Kearsley’s novel and put aside for Bewilderment, which I found out yesterday has been shortlisted for the Booker. Next is Matrix by Lauren Groff, longlisted to the National Book Award for Fiction. I want to spend this month reading short novels; Infinite Country and The Last Watchman of Old Cairo will likely follow. I’ll retake Kearsley’s novel in November.
Sounds like a good plan Carmen. I’m surprised a bit by how many long novels are coming out these days. Many chunkster reads. I too want to read the Matrix. Enjoy your month.
Oh my, you have some heavy reading coming your way! I am mostly going to read mysteries in October for the RIP Challenge, but I do have a couple historical fiction in the mix as well.
Hi Helen, your plan for RIP sounds good. I’m not sure these are too heavy but two of them are many pages. Still I could throw a lighter thriller into the mix. I’m curious a bit for the Hillary / Louise Penny book … and a couple others. Have a great October!
I’m looking forward to the new Amor Towles too. The fall new-book list is amazing this year. I will be reading a lot.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae. Yeah I’m swimming in titles & piles this fall. You’ll likely get to the Towles book before I do — as I still seem to be in September books — give us a report if you do. Happy reading & October.
We don’t get fall color here, so I love seeing the color of others.
I’m also eagerly looking forward to reading Lincoln Highway and Oh William and now you have me contemplating the new Jonathan Franzen book. I’m reading the new Ruth Ozeki book after hearing her speak on Monday, and it’s just my sort of read. It’s a story about everything and nothing. At least so far.
I have Cloud Cuckoo Land here as well…this fall seems to have been an exceptionally promising reading season.
I agree Deb, a lot of big authors all have books this fall, making it a wild reading season. I looked at the Ozeki book and wasn’t sure what to think — but I’m glad you’re reading it so I will check your review after. I liked Ozeki’s first novel but not sure of this new one. hmm.
Our peak fall colors here seem to have come & gone quickly. Glad I got those photos when I did. Now a lot have fallen. Happy reading & October to you.
Quite the golden glow! It’s Spring here so everything is turning green 🙂
It looks like you have October well sorted, I’m declaring it my catch up month.
Wishing you a great reading week
Thanks Shelleyrae. It must be pretty there with the green of spring. I fear we are headed into the jaws of winter soon, ha. Enjoy your catchup.
I hope to read the Lincoln Highway as I so loved his first book. Hope you like it.
Thanks Harvee for stopping by. It’s great to chat again. Let’s cross our fingers for the Lincoln Highway. I hope it’s good. Enjoy.
I’m looking forward to the Big Three you mention and to the remake of “Dune.” I read all of the Dune books up until the time of Herbert’s death. For a while, I was obsessed with them and I actually rather enjoyed the 1984 version of the epic, though I was definitely in the minority there. I hope to see it in the theater as well. The home screen just seems too small for it.
Hi Dorothy, I didn’t realize you were a Dune buff. Excellent. I agree that it would be better to see on the big screen, so I will broach the subject of going with my husband. Perhaps our first time back in the theater. I don’t think I saw the 1984 version … but one of my brothers is a Dune buff as well…. so he is excited about the new movie and reread the book again! Have fun.
The trees don’t change much where I live in Florida and I miss the fall colors.
I’ve been waiting for Oh William to come out.
I hop you have a great week!
Thanks Vicki, yeah the change of seasons are pretty abrupt here. You get paradise there in Florida just about every month. I’m hoping Oh William is good too. Enjoy!
Your photos are gorgeous! I miss fall in Central NY, but got a taste of color before we left. As for October reading, my Big Three coincide with yours… but I doubt I will get to all of them. I’m at the top of the library list for Franzen so will likely start there. I’ve also added An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed for my October RIP read. I loved her first book. Happy fall!
Hey thanks JoAnn. Yeah the fall colors went quickly this year … they already seem past their prime or falling now. It’s good you got on the wait list early for the Franzen novel. I have not read Helene Tursten yet so I will look for her Elderly Lady books … thanks for the tip. I will have to stop by your site to see if you’re back in Florida now … it must be good to be home, right? Enjoy.
I didn’t know they made a movie of Passing. I love that book! So many good things to look forward to. Have a great week! 🙂
Hey Lark thanks. Yeah I was surprised to see the Passing movie coming out too. I should read the novella first before seeing it. I’m glad you liked it. I will put it on my list pronto. Happy reading to you.
I’ve heard so much about Passing but never read it yet. I’m very intrigued by its supposedly crazy ending so I will be sure to pick it up. My husband is a huge fan of the Dune book and he has been excitedly waiting for this movie. I haven’t really seen him this excited about anything so I need to watch it too. Maybe some day I’ll make the time to read this chunkster of a book. Looks like October is promising to have so much to look forward to, both in books and the screen.
Hi Athira, yes I agree many good things are coming out this month. I’ll be curious to hear what you & your husband think of the new Dune movie; you two seem fans of sci-fi things. I’ll try to talk my husband into seeing it at the theater.
I’m hoping too to read the book Passing before seeing the movie. I hear it’s a pretty short book so that helps. My brother is a big Dune buff too and he can’t wait for the new movie. So we will see. Enjoy!
I had JUST talked myself into spending $18.59 on the Franzen preorder when I saw your post saying there’s also a new Elizabeth Strout coming out. Dangit! Well, I don’t think I’ve read the other two Lucy’s yet, even though I love Strout, so I guess that one can wait. The Amor book sounds good EXCEPT for the fact I couldn’t get into Rules of Civility so I don’t want to fork over a chunk of money because of that. I’d better try it out from the library some fine day. So for now, only Franzen will be coming to my mailbox.
I plan to watch Dune even though I could NOT get into the book, only because I just happen to have HBO Max and I REALLY appreciate the streaming services releasing movies that way on the same day they release to theaters so if I want them to keep doing that I had better watch them. Plus I love Zendaya and I think she’s in it, right?
I haven’t watched Succession yet, but I want to. Dopesick sounds good too!!!! Dangit…too many things to read and watch and not enough time in the day. Why do we have to work and sleep???
I think I have a Brandi Carlisle song on my If I’m Ever In A Coma playlist. Let me see. Oh! The Joke! How funny. LOVE that song but didn’t know the name of it or artist. I don’t really pay attention to that as I’m tossing songs onto my playlist. And speaking of Spotify, is there a way to sort and/or search your playlist? I had to scroll through to find her. Update: Ohhhh! Yes I can!!! I can sort via Artist AND I can search the playlist. This changes EVERYTHING!
Anyway, great post, thanks much, have a great week!
Hey Jinjer — great to get your note. Made me laugh. I’m glad you were able to sort your Spotify. Thank goodness there’s a way to sort by Artist etc.
It’s good you splurged on Franzen as I think the new book might live up to expectations or at least I’m hoping it does. Right now I’m just on the library wait lists for all three of these books — I’m cheap, right?? But I got two novels last month (for my bday) that I still need to get to. The piles are growing!
Much to watch this month. I dont know much about Zendaya but she’s in Dune. And apparently Timothee Chalamet seems everywhere. Happy October to you!
How fun to have a new puppy, and such a lovely name! It’s like a new baby, though, isn’t it? Such an encroachment on one’s reading patterns…
I hope Amor Towle’s Lincoln Highway is even half as good as The Gentleman in Moscow, and I have Oh, William! on hold at the library. Are your library holds as long as ours?!
Ha Bellezza, we have long library wait holds here too. But somehow they seem to go pretty quickly and you get to keep books for 21 days when you get them which is good. Though I’m still behind from books from prior months.
And you’re right our new pup requires a lot of time so I’m still trying to find time for reading between her and the chores. Her energy is boundless.
Thanks for stopping by here. I hope to visit your site too. Enjoy the week.
Huh, I thought you were joking, when mentioning Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny in the same sentence. But after having googled it, I can see you are right. I am quite intrigued by that combination! The Towles’ novel is on my radar as well – I adored A Gentleman in Moscow! Also, the Chris Hadfield book could tempt me.
Yeah Stargazer … it’s true Hillary & Louise have a thriller coming out this month. I’m game for it if I can get a copy from the library. The Hadfield murder mystery interests me too. A lot of good novels this fall! I’m swimming in piles. Have a great week.
Great photos. We don’t see a whole lot of that happening in the Houston area. I do have several Ornamental Pear trees in my yard that turn a bright reddish-orange before all the leaves drop at the same time within a week. It’s pretty but doesn’t last long.
I can vouch for the Strout book. I like all of the Lucy books, but the new one may be my favorite. Lucy is very much Lucy in this one, and we get some interesting backstory in a good bit of detail. I have been seeing The Lincoln Highway mentioned all over the place lately; it is going to be very popular with book-bloggers, looks like.
Hi Sam, thanks for the report on the Strout novel. It sounds like you’ve already finished and liked it. Yea Lucy! Book 1 with Lucy is a bit of a quiet novel with her visiting her mother in the hospital … and this one will be about her relationship with her ex. I should go back for book 2. Which one is your favorite of the 3?
The fall colors here have gone quickly this year … just a few days at the peak and then they died off and started falling. But luckily I got the pictures before!
Happy reading to you in October.
What gorgeous fall pictures! Wow! We don’t have that many pretty spring colors yet, still a lot of rain and wind. But the ocean says that summer is near!
October started in a blur for me as well. The last week or so was hectic and I know I haven’t done my regular posts or anything. Was busy with the new blog site! Now I need to get my ass into gear and get my reading for October sorted out. I like to do the spooky reads, but haven’t even started.
Yea for a new Amor Towles! Will keep an eye out for it.
Hope you are doing well!
Lots of Love,
Elza Reads
Hey thanks Mareli, doing Okay here. The fall colors went quickly, now many leaves are falling. Luckily I got the tree picture in time. I didn’t realize you get a lot of rain in SA. Must be good for the earth?
Glad to hear you have a new blog site. Will check it out. You sound busy. My reading is slow at the moment. Hope you have a great week.
The Towles book is high on my list of books to get to soon.
I think we may head to the theater this weekend to see the Bond movie.
Fall weather. We’ve had some rain and thunder. The pup did not care for it and had to be sedated with CBD drops that my son sent for her. She is older now and one drop, which took an hour to kick in, did the trick.
I finished My Heart is a Chainsaw and my review posts Friday. It was very strange.
I also finished Piranesi. Loved. Not normally my kind of book but it was really good. Have to write that review up for next week. About to read The Guide by Heller but it’s not getting good reviews.
Hi Ti, good to know about the books you’ve read. I might need to check out Piranesi — as many along with you seemed to have love it. I’m a bit on the fence about The Guide but perhaps I will get to it. I’m surprised to hear you actually got rain (!) but feel bad for Otter Pup about the thunder. If you get to the Bond movie this wknd, let us know. I’ll be curious if it’s crowded. Hmm.
Your reading is on a roll. 🙂 Enjoy your week.
Awesome fall photos! I ordered the Hillary Clinton/Louise Penny book, and now I must check out the Jonathan Franzen. It’s been a while since I read his books.
Enjoy your days and weeks…October is blissful, isn’t it?
Hi Laurel, Yes October is so far very blissful! Beautiful skies here and we’ve had some warm temps. I’ll be curious to hear how you like the Clinton/Penny book and Franzen’s too! Much to read this fall. Enjoy! And thanks for stopping by.
Elizabeth Strout and Amor Towles are on my to-read list, I hope you’ll enjoy their novels. October is a beautiful month so far in France, the sun is shining as I’m typing and the temperatures are mild during the day 🙂
Hi Iza, glad you are back. It seems you were off your blog for awhile. We too are having a very pretty October — glad you are there as well. Strout & Towles are a good combo. I haven’t gotten to them yet, but they are on the list! Enjoy your sunshine.
Excellent post with so much great info. First off, I’m jazzed to hear there is a movie version of Passing. I loved that book when I read it last year and I’m reading about the Harlem Renaissance right now, so perfect timing.
I still have yet to read Gentleman from Moscow but Lincoln Highway is most definitely on my list to read and soon.
The new Franzen series sounds excellent.
I’m a bit skeptical of the Louise Penny/Hilary Clinton collaboration. Sounds gimmicky to me. I’m not saying Clinton might not be an excellent writer and storyteller, but I have to wonder if she could make it into the publishing world anonymously.
Hi Jane, great to hear from you. Yes I’m really enjoying the Nella Larsen book now too. It seems a classic gem. I’ll stop by soon to see what you’re reading about the Harlem Renaissance. And I guess I’m curious in the payback Clinton will deliver in her novel’s character & story with the events of 2016. Hmm. I’m sure she’ll get some digs in. Enjoy your reading.
Well, I’m behind in my blog-hopping once again! We’ve been traveling for the past 2 1/2 weeks and are heading home tomorrow. We had a gorgeous trip down the coast to Santa Rosa, but the rain has returned to the Oregon coast, so we’re ready to get back. We had saw some nice fall colors, especially along the Klamath River a couple of days ago, but not quite as brilliant as those photos of yours! Stunning! We’ve been listening to baseball on the “radio” (actually, an app on my phone since we can’t get any TV channels in the RV at our campsites), which has been fun, especially since we’re rooting for the Dodgers. Old-school radio broadcasts make the games even more exciting!
I’ve not read Franzen (actually gave up on one of his early books), but this new one sounds intriguing. I may wait until the second book is published, so I don’t forget too much about the first. Definitely sounds like one I’d like to listen to, since it’s so LONG!
I’m waiting for the right time (coming into the holiday season is not that time!) to read Amor Towles new release, but I can’t decide if I want to read it or listen to it. Maybe both?? How wonderful that you met Towles. I’d probably get tongue-tied and stammer and gush on and on about how much I love his novels. You are in for such a treat when you get around to reading A Gentleman in Moscow. I’ve read it twice and it’s on my lifetime list of favorites. Speaking of which, I just finished a remarkable “literary thriller” that may be my favorite read of 2021. It’s my most recent blog post, if you’re interested. How’s that for a teaser? 😉
Nope, we aren’t big moviegoers, opting to watch in the comfort of our home. Lots of good shows and movies coming out and I’m excited about Season Two of Baptiste which is on PBS. The first episode airs tonight, so we’ll probably watch it when we get home tomorrow.
I’ve got Brandi Carlile’s book in my audiobook queue and will give it a listen later in the year. She has such a great voice and I need to get her new album. I listened to Adele’s new release today on Spotify and she is also a favorite.
Hope you’re staying warm and having a good week/month. Take care!
Hey Lesley, thanks for all your good info! I hope you post photos of your latest travels and the fall colors near the Klamath River. It seems beautiful. Wow that’s gorgeous country. Our colors are now gone & the leaves mostly all down. Just a brown look now. Brandi Carlile will be on Saturday Night Live next week which will be awesome. She is an excellent singer, so look forward to her new music.
I’ll get the Hannah Tinti novel you read from the Library. So glad you told us about that one! Sounds good. So much to read right now. Have a great week.