August is coming to a close and the kids are heading back to school. Warmer weather is likely to linger a bit longer, but it still feels as if Summer is ending. Of course, books, movies, and games are enjoyable no matter what time of year it is, so here’s another round-up of Staff Picks!

Steel Magnolias

Aside from listening to her music, what better way could there be to remember the late Dolly Parton than watching one of her best film performances? This tale of 6 female friends who support each other through all of life’s ups and downs is an endearingly relatable, gently funny blast of nostalgic Southern Americana with a cast to die for; in addition to Parton the film stars Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Daryl Hannah. That the plot is also certain to trigger some cathartic tears only makes it an even stronger choice. – Sean Farrell

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

Echoing Kara’s recommendation from back in July, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I loved series starter The Tainted Cup and this follow-up only improves on it. Lead characters Ana and Din remain as idiosyncratically charming as ever and the conspiracy-laden mystery they are tasked with solving is superb. Bennett continues to display a knack for evocative world building that makes the series’ fantasy realm feel real and easily understandable, but it’s his way with realizing interesting people that makes these books a real treat. I couldn’t help but immediately dive into the recently released third book, which Kara discusses below! – SF

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

The third installment of the Ana and Din Mysteries. This time the detective and her assistant are in the middle of a Romeo and Juliet-esque family feud, when the daughter of one prominent family is murdered, seemingly by the son of the other prominent family. While the crime may appear cut and dry, as usual, nothing is as it seems in this twisty fantasy / thriller / science fiction whodunit. The longer this murder remains unsolved, the more each family member is in danger, and everyone is hiding secrets that could bring everything—including the house—crashing down.  This can be read as a standalone or experienced as part of the series. – Kara Buono

Hokum

As August draws to a close Spooky Season officially begins, and this recent horror movie from writer / director Damian McCarthy (Oddity, Caveat) makes for a great way to kick things off. Starring Adam Scott as an author who travels to a remote Irish inn to spread his parents’ ashes, this eerie and engaging chiller is a top-notch example of a classic haunted house story, with several genuinely tense moments, a suitably creepy hotel, and an engaging mystery at its core. A perfect watch for a quiet, late-Summer evening. – SF

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

With the film adaptation releasing this October, now is a perfect time to dive into Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel Kraus’ Whalefall. Ostensibly about a man getting accidentally swallowed by a massive sperm whale while trying to locate his estranged father’s remains on the seafloor, there’s more to this than the well-researched peril. Using its harrowing scenario to examine the sometimes-fraught relationships between parents and children and the ways that both can feel like disappointments to each other, this ultimately becomes a moving tale that should have readers reaching for the Kleenex while they race through the pages. – SF

Cleaning Up the Puzzle Gallery

With the new wave of organizing games, many tend to be carbon copies of each other. However, this game takes the joy of organizing and mixes it with jigsaw puzzles! After an earthquake hits the puzzle gallery, the pieces are all mixed up and as the janitor it’s your job to put everything back in order. Unlock magical abilities along the way and put together jigsaw puzzles of famous works of art in this cozy organizing sim. – KB

Fackham Hall

Shows like Downton Abbey are ripe for parodying as this British comedy from last Summer so ably proves. Largely aping the upstairs / downstairs plotting of that venerable hit series—though with a bit of mystery tossed in—the story follows a puckish young man who gets hired on at the titular manor where he finds himself falling for one of the resident daughters, who is unfortunately expected to be married to another. What follows is fairly predictable and a few of the jokes are a bit too silly, but most of the gags land, the cast is game, and the crew nail the feel of the material they’re spoofing, making for a surprisingly entertaining spot of fun. – SF

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