Mount Hood

Most anticipated reads of 2024

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

If you’re a reader who’s looking for new books to add to an already-long reading list, here’s a few more to add that are being released throughout the year.

“Dungeons and Drama” by Kristy Boyce — Musical lover Riley has aspirations to become a director on Broadway, and Nathan is a nerdy employee at Riley’s dad’s game store. When Riley is grounded and has to work at her dad’s store, she doesn’t realize it meant joining Nathan’s D&D game… or flirting with him. Look for this new release on Jan. 9.

“The Color of a Lie” by Kim Johnson — In the 1950s, a Black family passes as white and moves to a “Whites Only” town. Caught between two worlds, teenager Calvin puts his family at risk as he uncovers the racist secrets of the suburbs. Look for this new release on June 11.

“These Deadly Prophecies” by Andrea Tang — Tabatha Zeng, a sorcerer’s apprentice, finds herself caught up in the sorcerer’s death — that he predicted. In order to prove her innocence, she must solve her boss’s murder. Look for this new release on Jan. 30.

“Tehrangeles” by Porochista Khakpour — The four daughters of wealthy reality-TV stars are on the verge of landing their own TV show — until they realize their deepest secrets are about to be revealed to the public before the cameras even roll. Look for this new release on June 11.

“Just Another Epic Love Poem” by Parisa Akhbari — Mitra’s two best friends are Bea and the journal they share, containing an epic, never-ending poem. Nothing is too messy or complicated for “The Book” — except for the fact that Mitra is hopelessly in love with Bea. Look for this new release on March 12.

“James” by Percival Everett — In an action packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” told from the perspective of Jim, Jim is hiding on Jackson Island while Huck Finn is faking his own death to escape his father. Look for this new release on March 19.

“Not in Love” by Ali Hazelwood — Rue has a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, and Eli and his business partners want to take over Kline — no questions asked. The one thing that is getting in Eli’s way is Rue — the woman he’s not supposed to want. Look for this new release on June 11.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Upcoming headliners

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

November 2023 is projected to be a busy month for media releases. Some great hits have already come out, including lots of anticipated movies like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” and novels such as the new Percy Jackson book, a Hunger Games addition and many celebrity memoirs topping the charts. The excitement is expected to last through the end of the year with new content lined up for avid readers and movie-enjoyers.
Author Rebecca Yarros came in hot in April 2023 with “Fourth Wing” — the first book in her series titled The Empyrean. “Fourth Wing” is projected on Goodreads with a 4.6 rating out of 5, prompting the release of her highly anticipated sequel, “Iron Flame,” which is expected to be released Nov. 7.     

With themes of fantasy and romance, protagonist Violet Sorrengail is thrown headfirst into a grueling test of wits and will in her second year at Basgiath War College — all while being pushed to betray her one true love. After “Iron Flame,” Yarros is expected to release three more books. “Iron Flame” is a must-read after “Fourth Wing’s” success.

Suzanne Collins’ newest novel, “Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” may have been released by now, but the movie directed by Francis Lawrence premieres Nov. 17. The movie is eyeing a $50 million box opening and may be one of the most anticipated films of the year. Taking place long before Katniss Everdeen’s iconic overture of the Hunger Games, the plot focuses on insidious president Coriolanus Snow, pre-presidency, and delves into the philosophical themes around control and chaos.

Christopher Paolini began his writing career with his publication of “Eragon” when he was 19, going on to resolve the Eragon series in 2011 — until now, with the expected release of his follow-up novel “Murtagh,” the name of a beloved character from the original tetralogy. 

While the plot itself is largely unknown, it has been said that “Murtagh” takes place a year after the last novel, “Inheritance,” left off and that the Dragon Rider has been exiled to unknown territory. Dragons appear to be a major hit with new novels this November.

The animated movie “Wish” premieres Nov. 22 in theaters — produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. With a 200 million dollar budget, “Wish” is expected to stun crowds with its worldbuilding and animation. 

After the protagonist Asha makes a wish on a star, she is forced into exile while trying to save the future of her beloved kingdom. Chances are, “Wish” will be a hit for kids, families and adults alike — utilizing that Disney charm to win over audiences. Secondly, it hosts the same teams that worked on “Frozen” and “Moana,” a sign of success for the film. “Wish” will be commemorating Disney’s 100th year of production as an animation studio, so expect a stellar show.

While not a movie nor a book, the drama series “All The Light We Cannot See,” arrives Nov. 2.  Modeled after the novel of the same name by author Anthony Doerr, the story revolves around a blind girl during Nazi reign who meets a young German soldier and tells a tale of resistance, hope and survival. The series has some big names, like Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie, and stars breakout actress Aria Mia Loberti. The show will have four episodes and is to be streamed on Netflix.

Calling all horror fans: “Thanksgiving” releases Nov. 17, starring big names like Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae. Plymouth, Massachusetts, is plagued by an axe-wielding serial killer in this upcoming thriller directed by Eli Roth.

Carol Danvers returns to theaters Nov. 10 in “The Marvels,” where she and two others join forces under the alias — you guessed it — The Marvels. With entangled powers and a breaking universe’s fate on their backs, the three have to unite to achieve their goal. The action movie has a gross budget of $274.9 million and includes another performance from Brie Larson. 

Audience reviews have a mixed expectation for the movie: while it is far too early for a rotten tomatoes rating as the movie isn’t even out yet, “The Marvels” has the shortest runtime of any Marvel movie to date and Brie Larson has faced plenty of critique online for supposedly being “disillusioned” in her role as Captain Marvel. Disney+ may receive the film early in 2024, but that is only a projected guess; in the meantime, it can be found in theaters near you very soon. 



Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Review: “Birds of the Northwest”

Discover the joys of birdwatching with “Birds of the Northwest” 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Birdwatchers throughout the Pacific Northwest can rejoice: the visual identification guide “Birds of the Northwest” just made birdwatching so much easier. Award-winning photographer ⏤ and author of over 175 field guides and other literature ⏤ Stan Tekiela shows just how easy it can be to learn about native birds. Based on his best-selling bird field guides, this condensed copy manages to cover 130 species of birds found in Oregon, northern California, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

Readers can find key details about the birds and their behavior, such as which ones will eat from backyard feeders, how to tell the variation in a male and female bird and how to tell the difference between their counterparts. There is also an additional section on feeding birds, which are broken up into categories ⏤ Bluebirds, Chickadees & Nuthatches, Doves, Finches, Hummingbirds and Woodpeckers.

The guide is a very condensed pocket sized format, yet manages to go fairly in depth on the variation of identification marks for a bounty of birds. It has useful sections based on the main color of the feathers, going from mostly red, to yellow, green-blue, black and white, gray and fully black birds. Along the bottom of each page shows the average height of the birds in question and their silhouettes for quick comparison, and Tekiela gives brief descriptions of important characteristics for proper identification. 

He uses to-the-point phrases, like for the Pacific Stellar’s Jay, which is described as having blue streaks on its black head and a large crest. Normally, it’s around 11 inches tall and will eat from bird feeders. Learning to name and place birds is a timeless skill, and makes going outside that much more immersive. It takes patience and a handy guide, but in time, anyone can practice their birdwatching skills.  

Review: I would have to give this a 4.5/5 because the book is so handy and detailed, which makes it essential for beginner birdwatchers. Before buying this book, it was difficult to correctly identify each bird I saw since there were so many. After getting the guide, it’s become increasingly easier to find the right fowl. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Review: “The Best of Me”

David Sedaris’ newest novel ranked second on Amazon charts

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

There’s no doubt a seemingly endless amount of new media is constantly being released; it can be hard to sift through all the latest content to find something meaningful. Plenty of worthwhile messages can be found in David Sedaris’ latest nonfiction book, “The Best of Me,” which gives the reader a peek into the years of Sedaris’ life and career, and his sense of humor.

These collections of stories and essays are arranged as selected by the author and cover various complex situations — the realities of wild family dynamics, encounters while traveling, losing a parent and his sister and how to heal from further hurt and loss. He utilizes his vivid, confessional style of writing to immerse the reader into these experiences, handling hard situations with a sense of humor and compassion. Within the first few chapters, Sedaris at one point quips, “If you read an essay in the Esquire and don’t like it, there could be something wrong with the essay. If it’s in The New Yorker, on the other hand, and you don’t like it, there’s something wrong with you.” 

Through the humor and hearty topics displayed in “The Best of Me,” and countless other popular works, like “Calypso” and “When You Are Engulfed In Flames,” Sedaris constantly displays his unique voice on topics that a lot of readers can relate to. 

Originally published on Sept. 29, the hardcover has been available on Amazon since Nov. 3, and ranked number two on Amazon Charts for “The Top 20 Most Sold & Most Read of the Week” the week of Nov. 8. 

The price of the book ranges from $16 to $26 on Amazon depending on the version bought. Other price points and ways to find his book are available on his website. To keep up with Sedaris and his latest adventures, visit his official site at davidsedarisbooks.com for more information. 

Overall Rating: 8/10, it made me laugh and cry at the same time. I would totally recommend the book to anyone who enjoys hearty, make-your-eyes-tear-up nonfiction and quick-witted, dark humor.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu