I want to wish everyone a very enjoyable Labor Day weekend and happy barbecuing. I feel a bit weepy though that summer is ending soon. Ugh, it’s already getting cold here in the mornings. But September is my favorite time of year because, for one thing, it’s my birthday month, and for another, it’s always so gorgeous wherever you are. It’s also one of the biggest months of the year for new releases in books, movies, and music. So I’ve been wading through all the titles and artists, and we have plenty to discuss.
First off, there’s a few big-name authors with books out this month, namely Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, and of course Jonathan Franzen. I admit I haven’t read Franzen’s two other pillars of Lit, which he’s known for, namely “The Corrections” (2001), and “Freedom” (2010), but I have read his tome of essays called “How to Be Alone” (2002). Now his new novel “Purity” is out and I’m wondering if I should experience it. The critics really like it, but what do you say? Is it accessible, and is it good?
Meanwhile there’s a few other authors I’ve liked in the past who have new books out, specifically Ron Rash with “Above the Waterfall,” William Boyd with “Sweet Caress,” and Stephen P. Kiernan with “The Hummingbird.” You might recall Kiernan’s debut novel “The Curiosity” from 2013 about a man frozen in ice for a century who’s brought back to life. I enjoyed it, so I’d like to see where Kiernan goes with “The Hummingbird,” which apparently is about a hospice nurse who tries to help her husband overcome the demons he suffers from his deployments in Iraq. Count me in.
Meanwhile we haven’t even talked about sequels yet and two popular authors have novels out this month that complete their series. First, Italian author Elena Ferrante has Book Four out of her Neapolitan Novels called “The Story of the Lost Child.” It’s the final volume in her series about two lifelong friends, Elena and Lila. I haven’t read any of them yet, but I’ve heard really good things about them so far, so I plan to check them out in the future.
The other big sequel coming this month is Jojo Moyes’s follow-up to her 2012 hit novel “Me Before You,” which paired Louisa Clark with Will Traynor, a quadriplegic from an accident. Many of Moyes’s fans seem ecstatic that the author is returning with a sequel called “After You,” but others think without Will Traynor why return with another. I admit to liking Will’s character the best in the first book and wonder if a sequel was necessary. What do you think?
I’ve also got my eyes on reading Hester Young’s debut novel “The Gates of Evangeline” which has been called a Southern Gothic mystery and is about a journalist who gets involved in a missing child case from long ago. It’s quite popular now and I look to snatch up a copy.
Another highly praised debut novel is Bill Clegg’s “Did You Ever Have a Family,” which, according to Amazon, is “a story about a circle of people who find solace in the least likely of places as they cope with a horrific tragedy.” Judging from all the positive comments about Clegg’s book, I need to obtain a copy pronto and devour it soon.
Lastly in books out this month, I’d probably be remiss not to mention Chrissie Hynde’s memoir “Reckless: My Life as a Pretender,” which I’m sure will be quite a colorful account of her years as a seminal rock star. I was a big fan of her early music with The Pretenders so I need to check out her raw tell-all story as soon as I can.
For movies this month, there’s a couple of comedies that look halfway decent: “The Intern” with Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNiro, and “A Walk in the Woods” with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Though I’m not sure the movie of “A Walk in the Woods” will come close to Bill Bryson’s 1998 classic of it. The movie seems like a different version of it, a bit weaker, with older characters. I’m worried it will miss the mark by a large margin.
Meanwhile a couple of true-story dramas look very enticing. First Tobey Maguire plays U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer in the story about his match-up with Russian Boris Spassky in “Pawn Sacrifice.” And then there’s “Black Mass,” with Johnny Depp starring as notorious crime boss Whitey Bulger and Benedict Cumberbatch as his brother Bill. It looks pretty creepy, but I know I’ll likely have to see it.
But if it’s action-adventure you want, “Everest” will likely be your pick. It’s another movie based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster in which a number of climbers were caught in a blizzard near the top of the mountain. If you recall Jon Krakauer’s book “Into Thin Air,” then you know what I’m talking about — chaos on the mountain in terrible conditions that turns into a nightmare. You remember it now. This movie has Jake Gyllenhaal as mountain guide leader Scott Fischer and stars a number of other well-known actors. I plan to weather the storm and see it.
Lastly for September, there’s new albums out by veteran artists Keith Richards, Don Henley, Duran Duran, Shawn Colvin, and Jewel among others. But I got to go with Glen Hansard’s new one “Didn’t He Ramble” and Patty Griffin’s “Servant of Love” as my picks for this month.
Check them out if you get a chance.
How about you — which books, movies, or albums out this month are you most looking forward to?
I so wish that I had time to read all these interesting looking books and watch these films.
I have been meaning to read Jonathan Franzen for a while. I will probably begin with his earlier books however.
I have the Salman Rushdie book at home and hope to begin it soon.
Hi Brian, I look forward to hear what you think of Rushdie’s latest. I hope to topple Franzen too sometime.
Purity, The Story of the Lost Child, and After You are my “big three” this month, but I doubt I’ll get to all of them in September. So many books…
Thanks JoAnn. I know what you mean. Purity looks like a bit of a chunkster at 576 pages. That will likely take me awhile. You’re my source on the Ferrante books, which I need to get into.
I find September a bit hot here in the Midwest, but I do LOVE October 🙂
Yeah October is a nice month too. But sometime we get snow near Halloween. Enjoy your fall, Molly.
Franzen is coming to Houston in a couple of weeks, so I threw my name in the pot at the library for his latest. Hope it comes out in time to read it before I go to the reading.
Here’s my Sunday Salon!
I hope you get the book in time Deb. That would be great to hear Franzen speak about his book etc. He seems a bit of an odd bird but I’m curious to read his latest.
He was just interviewed on Fresh Air (NPR) and was refreshingly normal — I’m sure you can find the interview online.
Thanks Ann, I will look for the interview on NPR.
I need to read a Jonathan Franzen book. I haven’t read anything by him. It is time. My sisters and I were just talking about Everest, the movie, so I now want to go see it.
Have a good week.
http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2015/09/sunday-monday-salon-september-6th.html
Thanks Anne. I probably will see Everest too. And I should read Franzen. We can compare notes …
Wow! That’s a lot of releases! September is a good month. 🙂
Yep. September is always quite good. Thanks for stopping by Rachel
I really want to read After You and Did You Ever Have a Family.
Thanks Kathy. Yeah I’m hoping both are good.
I am definitely curious about Purity…but also a little wary. I loved The Corrections, but Freedom, not so much.
As much as I enjoyed Me Before You, I am also not so sure about the sequel. But I’ll probably end up reading it.
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
Yeah Laurel : Purity intimidates me a bit, so I’m a bit wary too. Who knows if I will get to After You, but likely sometime. If you get to it first, I’ll check out your lowdown on it. LOL.
I don’t have strong feelings about After You as a sequel. I’m just willing to read anything Moyes writes! 🙂
I agree Katie. Moyes is tough to beat. I like her novels. Thanks for stopping by.
I couldn’t have loved Did You Ever Have a Family even more — it’s wonderful. There’s a lot to look forward to this fall. Happy birthday!
Thanks Ann for the Birthday wish. And I definitely plan to read the Clegg book from your recommendation.
So many good books are coming out! I’m definitely reading Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood’s books. I hope I can squeeze in a couple more.
Yes. I’m thinking the Atwood book will be good but there’s a lot to check out right now!