Well it’s the last month of the year and I don’t think I’m going to meet my goal of the amount of books I wanted to finish in 2013. But heck, I read some interesting ones and a lot of authors I hadn’t read before. Some were veteran authors and others debut novelists. Sometimes I guess it’s quality over quantity in book reading, you can’t get too down about it. But I will set new reading goals for next year and keep my sights high, challenging myself to do more. That’s the good thing about a new year!
Meanwhile in December releases there’s not a lot new coming out in literary fiction (see list at right). For possible reads, I’ll pick Jim Harrison’s collection “Brown Dog,” which features six of his novellas written over the years that include the character Brown Dog, a down-on-his-luck Michigan Indian. I’ve always liked Harrison’s writings, especially his collection “Legends of the Fall,” which you might remember from the 1994 movie with Brad Pitt.
For fun, you might also like Nick Hornby’s nonfictional book “Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books.” Hornby’s a humorous author with great wit and insight so I think this one will be quite wonderful. It’s based on his “Stuff I’ve Been Reading” columns that he wrote for the literary magazine The Believer. I’ve not read his columns before but I really got a kick out of his novel “High Fidelity” along with the movie of it that followed. He discusses all sort of things about reading in “Ten Years in the Tub” so it might be a fun gift for book worms.
For movies, December is usually the best month of the year, yay! And this one looks like it won’t disappoint with various films for everyone (see list at left). I know my brother is counting the minutes till “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” comes out. I hope to see a lot this month, too. I still haven’t seen the harsh but incredible “12 Years a Slave” from last month, which Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post picks as the No. 1 film of 2013. Check out her “Best Movies of 2013” list, which is rather interesting. (I’ll write my own list later.)
Meanwhile I’m looking forward this month to “American Hustle,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “August: Osage County” and maybe “Lone Survivor” if I can handle a scary war film. But the film I’m most interested to see — being a fan of folk music — is the Coen brothers’ film “Inside Llewyn Davis” about a singer in Greenwich Village in 1961. I got to see this (!) even though it looks a bit dark and quirky, like most of the Coen brothers’ movies.
Lastly, in albums for December there aren’t many new ones coming out (see list at bottom right). We should all just be listening to our favorite Christmas albums right about now. For Christmas-y stuff, I still like the 2003 soundtrack to the movie “Love Actually” and Chris Isaak’s “Christmas” album from 2004; I also like Sarah McLachlan’s album “Wintersong” from 2006. It’s excellent. I play these three CDs into the ground every year at this time. Do you have a Christmas album that you like best?
And what movie or book releases are you most looking forward to this month?
Enjoy your eggnog and happy holidays! — from The Cue Card
Myself, I’m really looking forward to Wolf of Wall Street. Ever since I saw the first trailer, I’ve been anxiously awaiting it. Can’t wait…much longer.
Yeah I think I’d like to see it too. DiCaprio should be good. Based on a true story hmm. Thanks Bryan
It’s a great year when we can look back at memorable books and movies.
I’m also looking forward to August: Osage County, and have been since I saw previews and read an article about it.
Enjoy the rest of the year! Here’s MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES
Yeah Osage County should be interesting, big cast too! Enjoy your holidays Laurel; I’ll be stopping by
I didn’t know about the Hornby book. I think I would like it. Also we love the Coen Brothers movies, so Inside Llewyn Davis is a must-see.
Thanks for the wrap-up.
Yeah Barbara I plan to check these out too! Thanks for stopping by. I still like “Fargo” as my favorite Coen Brothers’ film. Just a classic
I love Hornby’s bookish essays, and haven’t read that one yet – have to look for it!
Thanks Carrie. Yeah I think Hornby book would be a fun read. cheers
Love the Coen brothers!
Yea!!!
I love the Nick Hornby essays in The Believer. They will make you remember books you have read, remind you of others you meant to read, tell you something about ones you will probably never read and always make you laugh out loud.
Another book I recently read and found very discuss-able, but don’t know anyone else who read it is Schroder. Read it by any chance?
Finally, have you seen the movie Philomena? Judi Dench!
Thanks Molly, good tips. Yes I plan to see Philomena as well. I should have mentioned it. The trailer looks good, Judi Dench is always great! I have not read Schroder but I did hear about it; I should put it on my TBR list. I will check it out, as well as the Hornby essays.
I definitely have August: Osage County on my “must watch” list, and after seeing a preview of American Hustle, that’s another one.
I enjoyed eggnog today, while watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix…finished the 13 episode Season 1.
Here’s MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES
Yes those sound like good movies. I havent seen Orange is the New Black yet — I’ll have to check it out. Thanks Laurel.