media update: September

Asterisks denote something I particularly enjoyed or found especially worthy of my time; double asterisks are reserved for the creme de la creme.  As always, your mileage may vary. 

 

FICTION

1. Road Out of Winter* by Alison Stine: When spring doesn't return for the second year in a row, a young pot farmer named Wylodine hits the road in hopes of finding her mother in California, but she runs into trouble along the way.  Engrossing.

2. The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan:  Cassidy only comes in second in a televised singing competition, but she still catches the eye of a manager who recruits her for an all-female pop group, Gloss.  Gloss becomes huge, but fame comes with a dark price. 

3. Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden: Virgil Wounded Horse serves as an enforcer on a reservation, taking care of issues that the government or tribal council won't deal with. Things become personal when his nephew overdoses on heroin, and Virgil is determined to find out who's responsible for bringing it to the reservation.

2020 total so far: 34


NONFICTION

1. In the Shadow of the Valley by Bobi Conn:  A memoir about growing up poor and abused in Appalachia, and how the author (mostly) overcame her beginnings even though she never forgot them.

2. Stray* by Stephanie Danler:  After selling her first novel (Sweetbitter), the author wanted to celebrate, but after her alcoholic mother's debilitating brain aneurysm, she found herself struggling to understand her miserable relationship with her parents.  A heavy read, but excellent. 

2020 total so far: 13

MANGA/GRAPHIC NOVELS 

1. Not Your Idol vol. 2 by Aoi Makino

2. Solutions and Other Problems* by Allie Brosh

2020 total so far: 18 volumes of manga and 10 graphic novels

MOVIES

1. The King of Staten Island*:  Scott (Pete Davidson) has been adrift since the death of his father, enjoying a slacker lifestyle.  But when his mother starts dating a new guy, Scott is forced to start growing up.  Like all Judd Apatow movies, it should have been at least 20 minutes shorter, but it's enjoyable.

2. I'm Thinking of Ending Things*:  Lucy (Jessie Buckley) is on a road trip to meet her boyfriend Jake's (Jesse Plemons) parents for the first time, but during the drive she keeps thinking the title phrase, and things don't improve much when they reach their destination.  I read the book several years ago and absolutely loved it, but I was pretty sure it would be damn near impossible to adapt to film.  Somehow, Charlie Kaufman managed. 

3. Spies in Disguise:  Super spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) is accused of a crime he didn't commit, and he enlists the help of a tech nerd (Tom Holland), who turns Lance into a pigeon.  A very cute animated movie that I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

4. You Should Have Left:  Theo (Kevin Bacon) and his family move into a rental home that has some very unusual properties.  Sort of a cross between House of Leaves and Silent Hill, though not as good or as scary as either one of those.  Good performances, though, especially from the child actress who plays the daughter.

5. Enola Holmes:  When her mother disappears, Enola Holmes is determined to find her...with or without the help of her famous brothers Sherlock and Mycroft.  Fun, and Millie Bobby Brown is charming as Enola.

2020 total so far: 59