Entertainment

What We’re...

...Reading

House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias (August 6)

Set in Puerto Rico, House of Bone and Rain feels at times like a darker, more grown-up Stand by Me. It follows a group of five young men on a journey of revenge after one of their mothers is killed. But the juxtaposition of the gritty setting with Iglesias’ ethereal storytelling and heavy doses of magical realism elevate this story to something truly special and unique. He creates relatable characters that we both root for and worry for as we experience their plotting and planning.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult (August 20)

This feels different from any other Jodi Picoult book I have ever read. While it still centers on the experiences of strong female characters, the intertwined narratives of two writers living 400 years apart is a truly inventive storytelling technique that effortlessly transports the reader through time and space. In By Any Other Name, Picoult takes on the age-old academic question of the true authorship of Shakespeare’s masterpieces in a new and surprisingly satisfying way.

...Listening To

143, Katy Perry (September 20)

The album everyone is going to be talking about this fall is Katy Perry’s 143. The single Woman’s World is almost sure to be a rallying cry during this election cycle now that there is a female candidate in the race. The song layers female empowerment lyrics over what feels like a retro ‘80s beat to create an earworm so catchy, you’ll be hearing it everywhere soon. The rest of the album is sure to provide more of the same.

Postcards from Texas, Miranda Lambert (September 13)

Girl power seems to be a theme this season as country singer Miranda Lambert is set to release her 10th studio album, Postcards from Texas. The single Wranglers begins with the lyric, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” and that refrain seems to underscore Lambert’s whole album. The released Dammit Randy and Alimony also center on failed relationships and women who have been betrayed and let down by men. Fans of Lambert’s twangy guitar and vocals are sure to find plenty to love.

...Watching

Matlock, CBS (September 1)

While no one will ever be able to replace the greatness that was Andy Griffith, the CBS revival of this classic crime drama looks too good to pass up. Kathy Bates (Misery) is taking on the role of the defense attorney who is pulled out of retirement for another round of justice. The show promises to be just as full of twists and turns as the original, which ran from 19861995. Everything old is new again.

Lady in the Lake, Apple TV+ (July 19)

Set in Baltimore in 1966, Lady in the Lake follows the stories of two women living very different lives when a little girl goes missing in the city. Based on the novel by Laura Lippman, this miniseries highlights the systematic inequalities that characterized the time period, examining issues of both race and womanhood. While this one has been out for a couple of months, it definitely should not be missed.

By Vanessa Hutchison

Fall 2024 | Today's Transitions