Booking some offbeat summer movies

To say that this past week of summer has been rather overheated in more ways than one is quite the understatement there. Let’s just say any relief from the daily heat is more than welcome.

A good place to cool off is at the movies and if you want to do some page turning along with your popcorn munching, here are three adaptations coming to a theater near you:

The Life of Chuck: Based upon a Stephen King novella from his 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the entire story is based around Chuck(Tom Huddleston), whose seemingly ordinary existence has more meaning than anyone realized. It’s a tale told in reverse order and I can’t describe it more than that in order to not get into spoilers.

No, I haven’t seen the film but did read the novella(which is separately published as well) and it’s not the usual King fate in the best sense of the term. Also, director Mike Flanagan did a great job in adapting Doctor Sleep(The Shining sequel) a couple of years ago, pulling off the major magic trick of staying true to the book as well as the movie legacy wrapped all around that project.

The Life of Chuck is currently in theaters and if you can catch a screening, you may be pleasantly surprised which is a feeling hard to come by these days:

Don’t Let’s Go to The Dogs Tonight:  For something a bit more dramatic, this adaptation of Alexandra Fuller’s memoir from 2001 is set in Rhodesia(now known as Zimbabwe) in the aftermath of the infamous bush war during the 1980s.

Embers Davidtz not only stars as Nicola, Alexandra’s troubled mother struggling to keep the family farm intact, she’s also the director and one of the executive producers as well. Clearly, this is a project that she’s artistically passionate about and given our current state of global affairs, might be something to talk about indeed this July:

The Roses: This is more than just an adaptation of the  1981 dark comedy novel by Warren Adler; it’s also a remake of the first cinematic version of this book that famously featured Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito(outside of their Romancing the Stone movies)back in 1989.

Here, we have Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch as the title couple, ready to get divorced after many years of marriage but not prepared to surrender their mutual house to one or the other during the fractious proceedings.

This is a very high bar to meet as the original movie was one hell of a ride there, with critical and audience acclaim alike. Not to mention this is a late August release to boot but perhaps it can be a jumpstart to the fall film season instead of a late summer leftover, we shall see:

Of course, the biggest adaptation most people will see this summer is the new take on Superman from director James  Gunn and that’s fine by me. 

I hope to see it myself as this movie radiates positive entertainment energy from the cast to the visuals and the inclusion of several unsung comic book characters in DC Comics adaptation lore(I’m a cat person but Krypto is adorable!).

Yes, The Fantastic Four movie looks awesome as well but I think more folks will be drawn to Superman for emotional reasons. It has been said that this movie draws on the Silver Age of comics, which were rather upbeat in tone and we could all certainly use a little of that right now.

Granted, being blindly optimistic about the future isn’t the best course going forward yet total nihilism helps no one here. Superman is one of those iconic fictional figures in our collective history that can help rally our spirits and showcasing him at his best,as the refugee from a destroyed civilization who wants only to use his unique gifts to protect the people of his adopted homeworld,is definitely the true and just way to do so.

Let’s all have a good summer of reading and watching wonderful movies together with hope for better days ahead this fall:

More summer adventures with Aardvark books!

Yes, I know that I need to slow down my book buying yet when it comes to Aardvark , my resistance has been futile to say the least!

It doesn’t help that one of their main selections this month is The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, a fantasy writer that I’m constantly hearing great things about.

Set in a world where the female Pope is attempting to make peace with a former ally by recruiting Alex, a daring thief with a possible regal connection, to lead a chosen group of warriors in search of a mystical crown.

This band of unusual allies includes a Viking werewolf, a cranky necromancer and an eternal knight among others who don’t get along too well to begin with but adding Alex to the mix is certainly not an improvement in the social skills department. The fighting and slaying brutal foes section, however, they’ve got covered!

This novel(first in a new series) has been called a “gothic Suicide Squad “ and hopefully, it’s more of the James Gunn version, which is the absolute best:

Another main selection happened to be a signed copy of Tarah DeWitt’s Left of Forever and while she is a new to me author, a signed edition is a nice bonus indeed.

The plot is centered around Ellis and Wren, childhood sweethearts who got divorced five years ago. They have managed to maintain a cordial relationship for the sake of their son Sam, who is now entering college, and even agree to travel together to help him move in to his new school.

On the way back to their mutual home town, however, sparks begin to fly and Wren wonders if they can truly get back together. Ellis seems willing but there’s a long journey ahead for both of them to reach that point and it’s not on any map.

I do like a second chance romance, especially with more mature characters, and the fact that I am rereading Jane Austen’s Persuasion at the moment was definitely a factor here. 

This story does seem to have a little Austen energy to it(although way spicer from what I’ve been told) particularly when it comes to reaching emotional high points in nature, something that many an Austen couple has had experience with:

For more romantic reading vibes, my last pick was For Her Consideration by Amy Spaulding, set in Los Angeles, where Nina Rice is pursuing her dream of being a screenwriter.

Her day job is at a talent agency where she meets Ari Fox, an up and coming actress who has no qualms about being in control of her own career, a confidence that others fear yet Nina admires in more ways than one.

Seeing that Ari is being more than politely interested in her, Nina decides to take a few chances of her own, personally as well as professionally. Will falling in love with Ari be the ultimate chance at happiness for both paths or must she choose only one?

I’ve never been to any part of California but do love a good Hollywood themed story. From what I have heard about this charming novel, it gives L.A. a sweet small town feeling that I think we could all use right now, given the current circumstances. Plus, romance is always in style no matter where you go:

This summer is certainly challenging,, with news changing rapidly by the minute as it seems. Yet, I do want to keep a good thought or two out therr(not easy to be sure) because complete despair is what certain people want from all of us and I flatly refuse to give them the slightest hint of victory.

Times like this do make you appreciate those moments of joy when you can get them; this past weekend, I attended a local Pride event and it was great fun, even in the rain. Just being with my family members, sharing a serving of freshly made French fries while sitting in a nearby park as the festival was still gleefully going on, was a memory to cherish.

I may feel a little guilty about indulging in Aardvark but exploring new bookish horizons is part and parcel of being a reader and as long as it suits my budget, I will continue. Not to mention that spreading the good word about offbeat books is very enjoyable.

Speaking of enjoyment, it was wonderful watching the Tony Awards a couple of weeks ago, even if Death Becomes Her didn’t win as many categories as I was hoping it would (DBH did get Best Costume Design, not too shabby!). 

Taking what chances you get to have some fun is important to keeping your spirits up as we go on, so read that new book, taste that fancy chocolate and sing along with that new song rocking your world. Just turn a few pages in tune with the beat as you do so:

 

My (indoor) Beach Read Book Haul!

I know that the term “beach read” has its positive and negative meanings but in this case, my definition of this well worn phrase simply refers to relaxing books during the heat of summer.

Speaking of heat, it was a thrill to discover that Book of the Month Club chose S.A. Cosby’s latest thriller King of Ashes as a main selection for June! Having skipped May, this was a great surprise for my summer reading pile.

We are introduced to Roman, the eldest son who goes home to his family upon learning that his father was in a serious car accident that landed him in a coma. Once there, he quickly discovers that this wasn’t an accident, due to his younger brother Dante owing a huge debt to some local bad guys.

As it turns out, money isn’t enough to keep his family out of trouble so Roman decides to offer his talents at making financial fortunes for others to the underworld figures after Dante. 

Motivated by not only protecting his brother but his sister Neveah(who is looking into another family mystery)as well , Roman is a lot tough than his new clients realize and that’s to their disadvantage, not his!

I throughly enjoyed Cosby’s Razorblade Tears and have no doubt that this novel will be an awesome page turning ride to take. His last book, All the Sinners Bleed, is being made into a movie as we speak and surely someone will turn this one into the epic cinematic drama that it deserves to be:

Fortunately, I was able to pair KOA with the follow-up to A Fate Inked in Blood, Danielle L. Jensen’s A Curse Carved in Bone.

Reluctant shield maiden Freya must deal with not only the betrayal by Bjorn(the son of the ambitious king she was forced to marry) but the prophecy that shoves her towards a blood soaked destiny.

Forming an unlikely alliance in order to find the seer who marked her for divine power, Freya is determined to make her own path yet knows that brutal measures may have to be taken. Plus, her heart still yearns for Bjorn but should she love or trust him at all?

This is the second  half of a duology so while I am glad to get the full action packed story , I hope this isn’t the last we see of Freya. Jensen knows how to pump up the volume on the romance as well as the adventure elements of her work , making her leading lady a warrior queen worth watching out for:

After those books arrived (along with an Ali Hazelwood that I haven’t gotten to yet), I struck gold at the library by finding a book that I have been wanting to read for some time now.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson follows two young women in the 1950s , starting with Ruby, who has her heart set on becoming a doctor. Upon being kicked out of her mother’s house, she stays with her Aunt Marie while pursuing an opportunity to get a college scholarship.

However, an unexpected romance with Shimmy, the son of her aunt’s landlord puts a few obstacles in that career path  for Ruby with society‘s bigoted views on interracial relationships for one. An unplanned pregnancy is another that leads to some terrible times for her.

Our other heroine is Eleanor, already enrolled at Howard University and studying to be an archivist at the school’s library. When she falls in love with William , a handsome medical student, her future feels bright indeed.

His family has other ideas about who William should be with, especially since the difference in social class and race between Eleanor and William is strongly noticeable. Nevertheless, she is determined to make her life with him but at what emotional cost?

This novel was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, which put it on my radar but the solid word of mouth praise this book has received from readers is what makes me want to dive into this swirl of storytelling voices that creates an impression of what the world is like for women of color in America both then and now:

I was really in the mood for historical fiction that day because the next book that caught my eye on the library shelf was Diva by Daisy Goodwin, a look at the love life of famed singer Maria Callas.

She was at the height of her career when introduced to millionaire Aristotle Onassis, finding a kinship with him due to their mutual background of childhood struggles.

Their romance lasted several years only to be eclipsed by Aristotle leaving her for Jacqueline Kennedy, no stranger to tragic moments herself. The affect that this betrayal had on Maria was a harsh blow even for someone whose fame came from songs of sorrow and despair.

I don’t know much about Callas beyond the basics but Goodwin has a knack for showing the inner emotional workings of her characters, both truly fictional and based on historical figures as well. This certainly could be a great introduction to Callas’ legacy; we shall see:

This isn’t the only summer reading on my plate as another book box is on the way(yes, I ordered from Aardvark again, despite wanting to take a book break! I am weak on this front for sure) and my SciFi Summer readathon is off to a good start(should’ve read Nnedi Okorafor much sooner, her writing is so damn good!).

I’m also making good time with my current library read (The Sentence by Louise Erdrich) but trying not to rush through it just to start one of my newer library loan(is  it just me or has anyone else done this?).

Also needing some relief from the ever increasing awful news headlines out there yet staying informed enough to keep an eye out on the state of things. *sigh* I long for the day when such hideous behavior isn’t a daily event but hopefully that day will come sooner than expected.

In the meantime, I will do my best to maintain my spirits and share some good word about great books for others to enjoy. Summer entertainment is meant to give us all a mental vacation and whether it’s the big screen or the small, drama is definitely more bearable when it’s in fictional form:

Using my PBS Passport to book a Jane Austen trip this Autumn in August!

One of my regular features here on this blog is Autumn in August , where I highlight movies and shows that give you that September feeling during the end of summer.

For this year’s event, I am combining my recent summer subscription to PBS Passport  with the upcoming 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth this December.

To start, I am doing a rewatch of Death Comes to Pemberley , the 2013 miniseries adaptation of P. D. James’ mystery novel that has Darcy(Matthew Rhys) investigating a murder allegedly committed by his most unwelcome former friend and in-law Wickham(Matthew Goode).

With Elizabeth (Anna Maxwell Martin) on hand to offer some unofficial assistance, this mystery reveals more than meets the eye to say the least. The cast is great, the story is engaging and yes, Lady Catherine does make an appearance!:

After that, the rest of the month will be a rewatch of Season One of Sanditon.

The 2019 series, based upon an unfinished novel by Austen(who was working on up to the time of her passing), was originally a one and done endeavor but the popularity of a certain Netflix series gave it two more seasons, which I throughly enjoyed.

However, I am just covering S1 due to time limits and being inspired by the good folk at the podcast Reclaiming Jane, who are beginning their new season with a look at adaptations and starting off with this very show!

For those unfamiliar with this story, Sanditon is set at a seaside town hoping to become a destination spot for travelers with two of  their new visitors being the naive Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) and reluctant heiress Georgiana Lambe(Crystal Clarke).

Granted, a seaside location does have a summer vibe to it but trust and believe, there is plenty of drama, romance and scandal to make those autumn leaves shiver right off the trees rather early:

I might also do a reread of the source material (yes, I actually have an adaptation of the Sanditon series written by novelist Kate Riordan on hand)for a little compare and contrast, we shall see.

In the meanwhile, I am happy to have Masterpiece Theater readily available, due to signing up with my local PBS station-yes, I’m one of  those “viewers like you”that get a thanks during every show!

 Especially with public television being under threat these days, it feels like the right thing to do as a thank you to PBS for bringing us such great shows and solid educational programming all year along.

 Masterpiece productions have been a wonderful way to share a love of classic and modern literature with a wider audience that should be respected as well as celebrated for many years to come. Hopefully, this will not be the last summer to hear that familiar theme music announcing another great show: