It’s that time of the month again, and October is one of my very favorite months because that’s when leaves begin to change and the air gets crisp. I can almost smell autumn.
1. Boston Book Festival – This is the festival’s 3rd year, and last year was a lot of fun. I got to see Dennis Lehane and Tom Perrotta speak about adaptations of their novels, and I picked up quite a few new books. There are tons of fun events for kids and adults, including the Writer Idol panel where anyone can get up and read what they’ve written before being judged by an expert panel. I think I’m most looking forward to the “Far Out Fiction” panel that includes Karen Russell and Gregory Maguire. October 15.
2. “In Time” – I had a hard time picking which movies I’m most excited about for the month of October. There’s a lot of great stuff coming out, like George Clooney‘s newest directorial effort “The Ides of March,” but, for some reason, I’m in a more fun mood lately. Andrew Niccol‘s sci-fi tale about a futuristic society that uses time as currency, where the poor die young and the rich can live forever. It stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, and though it could end up being a mighty mess, I haven’t seen a good sci-fi since 2009’s “District 9.” October 28.
3. “The Marriage Plot” – I struggled to decide if I should put this one on the list. I read Jeffrey Eugenides‘ first novel “Middlesex” a long time ago, and I’m not even sure I understood it all. I do remember that I loved it even at a young age, so I’m going to give his newest the benefit of the doubt. The reason I have qualms about it is that it’s about three college-aged friends in the early ’80s, and any novel that deals with the angst of our time doesn’t really resonate with me as I often find the authors just stand on a soapbox and whine. Hopefully that won’t be the case with this one. October 11.
4. “Collected Stories” – My conquering of the Boston theater scene continues with the New Repertory Theatre‘s show of Donald Margulies‘ “Collected Stories.” It’s his first play that I’ve seen, and I’m headed over to Watertown’s Arsenal Center for the Arts. I don’t see a lot of plays because they rarely hold my attention long enough. However, I decided that I can’t just go around thinking musicals are the only good theater. October 9-30.
5. “Like Crazy” – Drake Doremus‘ Sundance winner was an easy pick for this list. I’ve loved the last two Sundance winners — “Precious” and “Winter’s Bone” — and “Like Crazy” got rave reviews from practically everyone who saw it at the festival. Starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones, it’s a tale for our times about separated lovers and how they try to keep it together long-distance. I’ve been waiting for a good love story all year, since the closest I’ve come has been Cary Fukunaga‘s “Jane Eyre.” October 28.
6. “American Horror Story” – Fall television is winding down with most of the premieres already happening. FX has decided to roll out its new star for fall in the first week of October to build a bigger audience. It’s supposed to be a horror-thriller starring Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott, and it’s about a family with issues that movies into a scary house with even more issues. I’m intrigued mostly because of Britton, and because there’s nothing like it on television. I’m wary though because of Ryan Murphy‘s involvement, and most of his television shows start out strong and then devolve into an oozy, sick pile that you can’t extricate yourself from (I’m looking at you, “Glee“). Honestly, I have no faith in his storytelling capabilities, but FX is at least a stronger television network than FOX. October 5.
7. Civil Wars concert – I don’t often go to concerts unless it’s a band that I love, so I was super psyched to hear that the “Civil Wars” were coming to the Berklee Performance Center for a special show. They are one of my favorite bands right now because their first bluegrass/country album was so fantastic. Check out the video for their biggest song “Poison and Wine” below. October 28.
cinnajoon 