Fall Into These Recommendations (See What I Did There?)

The start of fall brings cooler breezes and early on-set darkness. I miss my summer nights already, but I have the following movies, books, and binge-worthy television to keep my spirits high.

Late Night

Probably the last date I went on with my husband was to see the movie Late Night starring Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson. It was released this past summer and is available for rent or on Amazon Prime. The movie was written by Kaling and is loosely based on her experience as a young television writer.

My spouse is a gem, as the film had the makings of being a total chick flick. But the wit and comical timing make it dude-worthy too. The film was smart and current with great main characters. I love Kaling from her hit shows: The Office and The Mindy Project. Plus Thompson is a diamond of a leading lady.

The movie centers around Thompson as late-night television host Katherine Newbury. Think of her character as a female David Letterman, who is also British. She is cranky, demanding, and slumping in the ratings. However, it is not until the network starts making noise about forced retirement that she begins to care about public opinion.

Enter Kaling’s character, Molly Patel, who gets hired to help bring the show back to its former glory and also fill a quota. Molly lands the job by winning an essay contest which leads to an interview which leads to working for the comedic legend. Her reception from the all-male writer’s room is not cozy. Yet, she works through the jaded mindsets.

Thompson is 60-years-old and fiercer than most twenty-something models, especially in this role. Kaling is an icon in her own right, and if you have not read her books: Why Not Me or Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, go do it! Now!

The film is a balance between comedy and drama. It highlights how life is messy and people are not always likable. I loved the flawed characters. I also liked the plot of a late-night icon battling her way back in the ratings and in life. John Lithgow, Reid Scott (from Veep), Hugh Dancy, and Amy Ryan (also from The Office) made for a great supporting cast.

It was fun to watch a movie with ambitious female leads. To my relief, there were no “prince charming saves the day” moments in this movie. Just plenty of laughs and smiles from both my husband and me.  

Outlander

My college roommate knows me so well and when she recommended Outlander, I jumped on the bandwagon. This show is sci-fi meets historical fiction. Still with me? It is like a romance novel on steroids with Revolutionary War history thrown in for good measure. 

The STARZ show is based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon. There are currently four seasons available to binge, but only the first two are on Netflix. I am half-way through season two and I am also listening to the story via audio-book.

The show’s premise involves Claire (played by actress Caitriona Balfe), a post-WWII nurse, who through some folklore magic goes back in time to live in a castle with a Scottish clan. I know it sounds hokey, but the story is great. Claire is married to a historian, but by time-traveling back 200 years, she is without a spouse. 

Things get more complicated when she meets her husband’s evil ancestor who is a higher-up for the British army. Escaping the redcoats and befriending clansmen Jamie (played by Sam Heughan) force Claire into an unpredictable life as a healer in the late 1700’s.

Warning: This show is Rated R or TVMA, or whatever the category is for a lot of nudity and brutal savagery. There are scenes that will make a person grimace and squirm. War times are tough which means torture, bloodshed, and criminal acts exist in the story-lines. 

At the core, Outlander is a bleeding heart romance. It is also an adventure, a glimpse at history, and really smart storytelling. It’s a definite guilty pleasure for me. 

Class Mom

I just finished listening to Class Mom by Laurie Gelman. It was excellent. A fun, quick read that spoke directly to my life. It had snarky sarcasm and fun characters. The audio-book was read by the author and I enjoyed it, but I might go old school to turn the pages of the paperback for the sequel: You’ve Been Volunteered.

This book resonated with me in the best way because it took punches at all of the things parents go through regarding class parties, carpooling, staying in shape, and meeting other “mom friends”. I nodded along through almost every chapter. Plus the Midwesterner in me loved that the novel took place around Kansas City.

The main character, Jen Dixon, is a good mom. But, she owns that she is not a super mom, which I adored. Through coercion, she becomes the class coordinator for her son’s kindergarten room and pokes fun at the role. Family dynamics, new friendships, and a few she said/he said mysteries keep the plot moving. School volunteers rejoice, and read this book for the laughs.

What are you getting into for fall? Let us know your favorite Netflix go-to’s or bookshelf reads!