tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55407421134107339832024-03-12T21:16:42.727-04:00Read Around the WorldSallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.comBlogger866125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-47332712669219101782021-12-20T12:06:00.003-05:002023-01-02T17:50:25.165-05:00Nathan Harris's The Sweetness of Water, An Astounding Debut
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">What a joy it
is when a reader discovers a book like this incredible debut novel from Nathan
Harris, a novel of such quiet beauty that the writing takes your breath away.
Even the book jacket, designed by Lucy Kim, entices. </span><img align="left" alt="The Sweetness of Water (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel" height="169" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="109" /><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">The
location, a farm in rural Georgia. The time, shortly after the Emancipation
Proclamation freed young Black men like brothers Prentiss and Landry from
enslavement, yet sent them forth with little but the clothes on their backs and
their wits.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">George and
Isabelle Walker, a long-married couple whose relationship Harris examines in
delicate, subtle detail, have lived on their land, handed down through
generations, planning for their son Caleb to relieve them of the burden as they
age. But George now knows that his son will not be returning from the
battlefield, and unable to yet share the horrific news with his wife, which
would make it real, has gone tramping in his woods without food or water, to
mourn in private. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">By the time
George’s path crosses with the brothers,’ we aren’t sure who needs whom more.
In an act of both kindness and necessity, George invites the freedmen home with
an offer of a barn to sleep in and paid work for as long as they need it, bringing
the wrath of the small, hidebound Georgia town of Old Ox down on his shoulders
and setting in motion a catastrophic chain of events.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">I stared and
stared at Nathan Harris’s author photo trying to discern, from his eyes, what life
experiences this young man had that afforded him the ability to delve into such
an abundance of relationship issues with such maturity and then transform them
on to the page. George and Isabelle, such disparate souls joined for life, share
a son Caleb, a mystery to each of them, so loved yet so misunderstood. And
Caleb, a diffident boy, a loner, with little enthusiasm for the land he will
inherit, has only one passion, a forbidden love for Arthur, an unworthy and unattainable
childhood friend.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Harris portrays
the unfathomable depths of grief nestled in the bones of Prentiss and Landry. Enslaved
since birth on a nearby farm, they watched as their mother was auctioned away
to the highest bidder. Prentiss witnessed Landry’s constant whippings and
beatings, probably brought about by his learning disabilities. The care and
tenderness that Prentiss takes with his brother is breathtaking in its
loveliness. The fact that they are now free to earn money to afford their move
north, a tenuous dream.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">If the movie
rights are ever sold, the role of Isabelle, the subversive strength behind all
the other characters, must be played by Frances McDormand. She represents the
epitome of hope in a world gone mad in the aftermath of a war that indelibly divided
neighbors and friends. This glorious novel made Obama’s top ten list this year,
not to mention kudos from the Booker Prize committee among others, and it will absolutely
be on mine. Race out to your library or bookstore now!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-54672396248349789242021-12-15T12:14:00.001-05:002021-12-15T12:14:23.712-05:00Notes from a Writer in a Funk
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I have a
confession to make. For a while now I have not wanted to write. In fact,
putting my thoughts out there about what I’ve been reading feels like a burden
so that, when I finish a review and hit “post,” I am overwhelmed with relief.
This is not good. And ironically 2021 has been a stellar year for gorgeous
fiction and some remarkable debuts, books that I fear I won’t do justice to. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Take for
instance the National Book Award winner “<b><i>Hell of a Book</i></b>” by Jason
Mott. How can a lowly blogger add to the glowing adjectives that follow when
the NBA stamp of approval is affixed to the cover of a book, except to tell you
that, while </span><img align="right" alt="Hell of a Book: A Novel" height="170" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">listening to this novel on my morning
walks, I often had to stop and sit, stomach clenched, as the inevitable horror
of another police shooting of an innocent Black man played out in my ear. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Mott’s cri de
Coeur is so original, laced with humor (if dark), magical realism (a boy who
appears and disappears as if he were wearing an invisibility cloak), a
lampooning of the publishing industry, and a loving thank you to Black parents
everywhere who expend an inordinate amount of energy trying to help their Black
children reach adulthood in America. Exquisite and devastating.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Another
phenomenal listen is Dr. Leana Wen’s compelling memoir and passionate plea for funding
of public health initiatives. Unless you are in the D.C. area or an ardent
listener of NPR you may not be familiar with Dr. Wen but she was our “go to”
voice of reason during the last eighteen months of Covid confusion and </span><img align="left" alt="Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health" height="170" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">misinformation. An emergency room physician,
professor, CNN commentator, Washington Post columnist, and former Baltimore
County health commissioner, Leana Wen has accomplished more in a couple of
decades than most do in a lifetime. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“<b><i>Lifelines</i></b>”
is the story of a Chinese immigrant raised on food stamps and public assistance,
who begged for money outside grocery stores to help her parents who were
already working two and three jobs to make ends meet. A Rhodes scholar who
entered college at thirteen, Dr. Wen has traveled the world specializing in
women’s health care and the opioid crisis, becoming one of the first physicians
to call out systemic racism as a public health crisis. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Dr. Wen’s story
and the telling of it is an eye-opening wake up call to all who still think
that the richest country in the world provides the best health care in the
world. What gets in the way? Politics. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Next up,
thanks to a recommendation from one of my most trusted reading friends, “<b><i>The
Sweetness of Water</i></b>,” a first novel from the incredible Nathan Harris.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-21850994890451588022021-11-06T18:02:00.000-04:002021-11-06T18:02:17.318-04:00Murder is the Lesser of the Evils in Penny's The Madness of Crowds
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I just love
Louise Penny. There it is. So, I cannot be objective about her fabulous books
in the Armand Gamache series even though I understand that some of her readers
found number seventeen, “<b><i>The Madness of Crowds</i></b>,” just too dark. Gamache’s
latest outing is set once again in the village of Three Pines, an idyllic spot where
my </span><img align="left" alt="A picture containing text
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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="111" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">college
roommate and I have decided we would love to retire to if the winters weren’t
quite so long. There is a pub and a bookstore. Does one need anything else?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Penny was in
Covid lockdown with her brother and theorizing about what the world would look
like after the virus begins to dissipate, when we can hug, kiss, and gather
again. For Armand and his wife, the librarian Reine-Marie, it was looking fabulous.
Both of their children, their spouses, and kids were back in town for the
holidays. In episode sixteen Armand and his long-estranged son Daniel found a path
back to each other while Armand’s daughter Annie, married to his second in
command Jean Guy Beauvoir, had given birth to a daughter whose Down syndrome
did little to tarnish their unmitigated joy.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When Armand
is asked to provide security for a lecture at the local university he wonders
why, he is after all the head of the homicide department for the Surete du
Quebec but decides it will be a quick in and out and won’t upset the family’s
holiday plans too much. Until, that is, he reads about the speaker, Dr. Abigail
Robinson, and the controversial plan she intends to present to the Canadian
government based upon her statistical analysis of the numbers of elderly deaths
put down to Covid. If you remember the Texas politician who proclaimed that older
folks should willingly die so that the economy would not have to be shut down,
then you know where Ms. Penny is going here. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dan-patrick-sacrifice-grandparents_n_5e796dd8c5b6f5b7c549df25"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dan-patrick-sacrifice-grandparents_n_5e796dd8c5b6f5b7c549df25</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Naturally,
the crowded hall is standing room only, pro and con verbally assaulting each
other, until the gunshots shatter the podium and Armand finds himself shielding
a woman whose beliefs are anathema to him. In the ensuing chaos the shooter
escapes and soon the full force of the Surete descends on Three Pines just as
the villagers are preparing to host a Sudanese refugee and potential Nobel
Peace Prize nominee, Haniya Daoud. And before the new year a second attempt at
murder in the idyllic village will succeed. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Louise Penny
loves the denizens of Three Pines, but she never portrays them as saints. She
knows their dark places and understands how close to the edge of good and evil
most human beings teeter. She has taken Jean Guy to the depths of drug and
alcohol use and brought him back to life with love. She has allowed Gamache’s
honor and bravery and goodness to be questioned and derided and brought him
back with love. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In this book
Penny almost overwhelms readers with the horrors of war, government sponsored torture,
eugenics, and the survival of the fittest. Through Jean Guy and Gamache she
lays bare the depths of paternal love and she wonders how much good a person
must do in their life to amend a past wrong. But most timely is her deep dive
into the issue of free speech and the potential censoring and censuring of
those who philosophies might be too repugnant to propagate. Though many of her
readers feel that this novel is too political I’ve always thought that Penny
steers remarkably clear of moral absolutes. She simply asks the questions. We
are the ones left to find the answers. </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-45249648118456993882021-10-28T12:20:00.002-04:002021-10-28T12:20:58.426-04:00Crossroads is a Career High for Jonathan Franzen
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The writer
Jonathan Franzen is one of the most controversial white male American authors
of the past twenty years. Accused of literary snobbery (the Oprah scandal), <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/22691692/jonathan-franzen-controversy-crossroads-oprah-franzenfreude"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.vox.com/culture/22691692/jonathan-franzen-controversy-crossroads-oprah-franzenfreude</span></a>
remarkably tone-deaf misogyny, and known as a difficult interview, nevertheless
Franzen continues to create amazing novels peopled with unforgettable
characters. His latest, the first in a trilogy thank goodness, is simply
wonderful.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“<b><i>Crossroads</i></b>”
is the name of the youth group at First Reformed church from which pastor Russ
Hildebrandt has been relieved of his duties. Ostensibly his sin is that </span><img align="right" alt="Crossroads: A Novel" height="170" hspace="12" 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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="113" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">he’s too “preachy,” alienating the
high school kids who prefer the younger, hipper assistant, Rick Ambrose. But,
in fact, we learn that Russ indiscreetly, in a moment of extreme oversharing, necessary
for Crossroads members, has confessed to an impressionable teenage girl, that
he no longer sexually desires his wife, Marion.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Marion is
proof positive that Franzen is working to dispel his sexist tendencies. She is such
a complex, fascinating work in progress. A victim of sexual abuse whose affair
with a married man and her subsequent breakdown at its demise landed her in an
institution, Marion is a woman who survived by recognizing what she needed to do
to live a simpler, safer life and went after it with intention. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In 1971 she
and Russ are living outside Chicago in the First Reformed community and raising
their four extremely different children, kids battered by the politics of the times,
the drawdown of the war in Vietnam, the proliferation of easy access to drugs,
the sexual revolution, and the subtle feeling that all is not right between their
parents. How these pressures affect each of the children, Clem, Becky, Perry,
and Judson, is at the crux of the story.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And then
there’s Russ, a mass of contradiction, a man torn between his passion for
social justice, his work with the Navajo nation is renowned, and his lust for
the natural urges of a middle-aged man enthralled with a newly widowed parish
member. His struggles to be a good person, to find solace in prayer to a god who
is not listening, to be a good father, come up short when weighed against his
vanity and childishness. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Franzen’s superpower
is the way he writes interiority. As each of his characters acts out in
shocking ways – though not terribly surprising to any reader raised in the
white bread ‘70’s suburbs – Franzen allows us deep into their thinking processes,
where each grapples with the hypocrisies inherent in the subconscious self, the
desire to be other than what appears on the surface. Motivations that might
seem inexplicable become clearer when seen in relation to past experiences of
cruelty, resentment, humiliation, or deprivation. Reading Franzen is like taking
a full semester course of study in Psychology 101.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The humor is
wry and biting, just the way I like it. The characters are infuriating and
embraceable, so absolutely human. Franzen has taken the myth of the ideal
American family and turned it on its head, and I can’t wait to see where he
takes them next.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-3279087586390475402021-10-18T16:46:00.002-04:002021-10-18T16:46:35.186-04:00Damnation Spring is a Brilliant Debut by Ash Davidson
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ash Davidson
says she spent ten years writing her very first novel “<b><i>Damnation</i></b> <b><i>Spring</i></b>.”
The love and care she put into it shines on every page. This is one of the
finest books I have read this year and I am a bit surprised that it seems to be
</span><img align="left" alt="A picture containing text, sign
Description automatically generated" height="170" hspace="12" 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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">flying
under the radar. With so many authors addressing the climate change crises in
their fiction, creating not so distant calamitous worlds, (think big Pulitzer
Prize-winning names like Anthony Doerr’s “<b><i>Cloud Cuckoo Land</i></b>” and
Richard Powers’ bewildering “<b><i>Bewilderment</i></b>”), few have returned to
the roots of the problem or addressed the real and understandable schism that
our country finds itself in now between the believers and the deniers.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Informed by
her upbringing in Arcata, California, amid the redwood forests which fueled a
logging industry that fed, clothed, and housed generations of blue-collar
workers, Ms. Davidson breathes real life into the characters she creates and
the land they live and work on. She ably elucidates the deeply complicated
efforts of those futurists who, with the best of intentions, wish to save
people by destroying them.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Rich Gunderson
is a fourth-generation logger, skilled and sought after as a climber, a good
man, a wonderful husband and father to Colleen and their little boy Chubb. But
he has a blind side regarding his profession. He recognizes the fear in Colleen’s
eyes every morning when she hands him his lunch sack and sends him off. He’s seen
the wounds his co-workers have sustained. His own father died in the woods, and
he wants more for Chubb. He also wants to own the land he works rather than
enrich someone else. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Colleen’s
dreams are simpler. All she wants is a large brood of kids underfoot every day.
A born nurturer, Colleen has been plagued with miscarriages, has just buried
her still born daughter, and serves as a de-facto midwife in the isolated
mountains where it is difficult for women to get to a city doctor. She has born
witness to so much sorrow, so many babies deformed or slow to develop. The
native women say it’s just their lot in life. Until…</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Daniel is a
biologist, a brilliant student from the reviled Yurok tribe, once enchanted
with Colleen, he left town the second he could, earned his degree, and would
never have returned except that his mother is ill with cancer, and he’s been awarded
a grant to study the water in the clear mountain rivers that run through the
forests. Daniel remembers a time when the waters were pink and thick with
salmon during their seasonal spawning before the logging companies began spraying
defoliant to make way for trucking roads and access to the biggest trees.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The set up
for conflict may seem obvious but the nuanced portrayal of the many actors in
this tragedy is perfection. Each character has depth and substance even when behaving
abominably. Colleen’s brother-in-law, Eugene, who betrays Rich fueled by greed
and jealousy, and Lark, Rich’s seemingly down and out godfather, a widower who
scratches out a living in junk after having been injured by falling limbs, have
doppelgangers in every small town in America.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“<b><i>Damnation
Spring</i></b>” is a quintessential portrayal of white working-class angst, the
despair of native American tribes who daily lose their habitat to industry, and
the frustration of the educated class who may be good at pointing out problems
but lack the empathy to follow up with solutions. This wonderful read should be
on every book group’s radar this season!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-20873233071727608892021-10-13T16:01:00.000-04:002021-10-13T16:01:11.148-04:00Joy Begets Joy in Ross Gay's Book of Delights
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I have always
believed that joy begets joy. I have also been accused of seeing the world through
rose colored glasses. That’s fine by me. Now that I’ve read poet, professor,
and essayist Ross Gay’s “<b><i>The Book of Delights</i></b>,” I sense that I’m
in the presence of another soulmate. What a perfectly prescient choice for the
One </span><img align="right" alt="Text
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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="119" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Maryland,
One Book program and our local library’s video and discussion series. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Mr. Gay
exudes a pure joy and a benevolent spirit. To hear him recite his poetry or
read his essays is reminiscent of watching Amanda Gorman’s startlingly lovely
turn at President Biden’s inauguration. They share a physicality, their bodies sway,
and their visages express wonderment as they connect with their audiences.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I happened
upon this collection at a low time for me, in the beginning of the covid
lockdown, a full year and a half ago. Gay’s words lifted me up. I felt such a
kinship with his observations, particularly those that involved nature, growing
things, and food. When he speaks of entering a bakery in his hometown, Bayonne,
New Jersey, and being overwhelmed with delight at the yeasty smell of the
wares, I too, felt overwhelmed with emotion.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I would say
that there are no words but, of course, a poet finds those words. They can be
so simple but so evocative. My heart swelled when he wrote of holding very
still with a red flower in his outstretched hand until the nearby hummingbird
dove in and out sucking the nectar. And butterflies? Lightning bugs? Oh my! His
description of shepherding a fledgling tomato plant through a crowded airport,
garnering fans along the way, is hilarious and wondrous.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Algonquin
Press says that this book was written during a tumultuous time. You might think
it was covid but no, it was published in 2019. The tumult Ross Gay is feeling is
actually the fear, anxiety, and trepidation that weighs down Black men in
America. Gay was in Umbria attending a writing workshop when he arrived at the
idea of penning a short essay of gratitude for each day of his life over the
course of a year. What a brilliant way to fight despair.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">An
interviewer asked if he had always been this optimistic and he laughed
joyously. He spoke a universal truth. No, he never considered himself an
optimist at all. But he discovered that practicing delight generates more
delight. In the face of inexplicable sorrow and loss, the joy he found in the overlooked
beauty of each day boosted his endorphins. Reading this book will boost yours
too. I guarantee it.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-69994426675892624032021-09-29T14:42:00.000-04:002021-09-29T14:42:08.114-04:00Fanonne Jeffers' Love Songs - Best of 2021
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I’ve found my
number one book of the year! What a relief to realize that every fabulous
review of Honoree Fanonne Jeffers’ debut novel “<b><i>The Love Songs of W. E.</i></b>
<b><i>B. Du Bois</i></b>” was completely deserved. This glorious epic tale,
which weighs in at just under eight hundred pages, is one of those books you
dream about, one where you can sit for hours lost in another world, a world of
horror, heartbreak, loss, and injustice tempered with an abundance of love.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This
remarkable feat encompasses four centuries of history brought to fruition by </span><img align="left" alt="Map
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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="111" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ailey
Pearl Garfield, a Black doctoral student whose dissertation, based upon the
lives of her own ancestors, commences with Georgia’s native Creek people who
lived on the land long before the arrival of the white Europeans whose ships’
holds carried enslaved men, women, and children from Africa’s Gold Coast.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">How these
three cultures, the Native, African, and European mingled as they built an
agricultural behemoth, and produced, through intermarriage or more often rape, family
lines of every hue, is the story of America in its best and worst iteration.
Jeffers provides four pages of genealogy trees for readers to reference but you’ll
be so wrapped up in the story that I doubt you’ll even need them. Apt
quotations from the works of W. E. B. Du Bois preface each section of the novel
adding to the solemnity and depth of the historical picture that Jeffers paints.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ailey’s
relationship with her own family is complex. She and her two older sisters,
Lydia, and medical student Coco, share a devastating secret of abuse that each
keeps from the other and which affects each woman in vastly different ways. A
through line and salvation for Ailey is the deep abiding love she holds for her
uncle Root, a retired professor, whose home in the tiny town of Chicasetta,
Georgia, becomes Ailey’s respite from the pressures of being a strong, vocal
Black woman in a world before “me too” or Black Lives Matter.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">There’s a
strong feminist bent to this book as Jeffers celebrates the strength and smarts
of the women who have shepherded their families through the scourge of slavery,
the false sense of freedom before Jim Crow took over, and the way the movements
led by Dr. King and Malcolm X kept women in subservient roles that they resisted.
The theme of colorism is also front and center as Ailey’s family is a mashup of
its forbears, deep midnight black, chocolate, and white enough to pass.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But I think
it’s the love of the land, the way Jeffers creates a sense of the earth as a
place of blessing and peace, that most moved me. Though so many Black Americans
moved north during the great migration seeking opportunity, the pull of the
south represents a direct connection to the first peoples. Perhaps this is why
Jeffers refers to herself during interviews as Afro-Indigenous. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This National
Book Award nominee is truly a masterwork that’s difficult to adequately
describe. You simply must just dive in and savor the language, the story, and
the history of our nation in all its shame and glory.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-32848411615117359272021-09-21T17:18:00.000-04:002021-09-21T17:18:30.659-04:00Missing in Action but Lost in Books
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I’ve had a
nagging feeling that it’s been too long since I opined on the books that I’m
reading but the truth is that I don’t thrive when I feel pressed to write. I’m
much more enthusiastic and joyful about reviewing when I’ve finished something
that wows me. There are currently six overdue novels sitting directly to my
right and I so want to get into them but hey, Library Journal sent me two
challenges with short deadlines and then the fabulous Library of Congress Book
Festival began, virtual for the second year in a row – damn Covid – and it’s going
on for an entire week. So many interviews, so little time.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Imagine the
pressure of coming up with two hundred words that could remotely capture the
essence of the first novel in fifty years from Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in
Literature, Wole Soyinka. “<b><i>Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth</i></b>”
will be released next week and it’s anything but a happy read. That was
followed by a strange yet delightful debut novel from a Mombasan author named
Khadija Abdalla Bajaber. I have finished “<b><i>The House of Rust</i></b>” but
have yet to put pen to paper, mainly because I was finally able to pick up
Honoree Fannon Jeffers’ “<b><i>The Love Songs of W. E. B. DuBois” </i></b>and I
can’t bear to put it aside. More on this next week.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I’ve said
before and I’ll repeat it again. Zoom may be less than ideal for some forms of
communication but for author interviews it is fantastic! If you have a decent
sized monitor, you might get the impression that the author you’re listening to
is looking right into your eyes. It’s marvelous if disconcerting. And, as often
as I’ve praised the Washington Post’s Ron Charles, (he and I have a mind meld when
it comes to literature) I must offer kudos once again. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Sunday, I
listened to an hour-long conversation he had with the glorious Yaa Gyasi, (“<b><i>Homegoing</i></b>”
and “<b><i>Transcendent Kingdom</i></b>”) and I felt as if I was in the room
where it was happening. They laughed and talked like old friends and because
they were so comfortable with each other the insights they shared were deeper
and more personal than you might expect.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Today Ron was
live with Kristen Hannah “<b><i>The Four Winds</i></b>,” and Maggie Shipstead
whose “<b><i>Great Circle</i></b>” was just announced for the Booker Prize
shortlist. They spoke to the theme of this year’s National Book Festival, Open
a Book, Open the World. Yesterday it was the lovely, unassuming Booker and
Nobel winner, Kazuo Ishiguro speaking with former Post Book World editor Marie
Arana. Their conversation ran the gamut from sharing their immigrant roots, to
music, to the purpose of literature, and then to the purpose of life and the
big question, why do we care! “<b><i>Klara and the Sun</i></b>” was deftly alluded
to but there were no spoilers.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">All of these
and so many more interviews are archived here: <a href="https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Do join the
conversation!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-80550850281609814572021-08-25T18:02:00.001-04:002021-08-25T18:02:44.467-04:00Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Kazuo
Ishiguro. Where does one begin? How do we evaluate a novel like “<b><i>Klara
and</i></b> <b><i>the Sun</i></b>,” or any of his other most widely read novels,
except for “<i>The Buried</i> <i>Giant</i>” which had me at my wit’s end?
People have described Ishiguro’s latest work as unbearable and unsettling, and
it is both. It can be read on so many</span><img align="left" alt="Klara and the Sun: A novel" height="170" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAYABgAAD/2wBDAAoHBwkHBgoJCAkLCwoMDxkQDw4ODx4WFxIZJCAmJSMgIyIoLTkwKCo2KyIjMkQyNjs9QEBAJjBGS0U+Sjk/QD3/2wBDAQsLCw8NDx0QEB09KSMpPT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT09PT3/wAARCACqAG8DASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtRAAAgEDAwIEAwUFBAQAAAF9AQIDAAQRBRIhMUEGE1FhByJxFDKBkaEII0KxwRVS0fAkM2JyggkKFhcYGRolJicoKSo0NTY3ODk6Q0RFRkdISUpTVFVWV1hZWmNkZWZnaGlqc3R1dnd4eXqDhIWGh4iJipKTlJWWl5iZmqKjpKWmp6ipqrKztLW2t7i5usLDxMXGx8jJytLT1NXW19jZ2uHi4+Tl5ufo6erx8vP09fb3+Pn6/8QAHwEAAwEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtREAAgECBAQDBAcFBAQAAQJ3AAECAxEEBSExBhJBUQdhcRMiMoEIFEKRobHBCSMzUvAVYnLRChYkNOEl8RcYGRomJygpKjU2Nzg5OkNERUZHSElKU1RVVldYWVpjZGVmZ2hpanN0dXZ3eHl6goOEhYaHiImKkpOUlZaXmJmaoqOkpaanqKmqsrO0tba3uLm6wsPExcbHyMnK0tPU1dbX2Nna4uPk5ebn6Onq8vP09fb3+Pn6/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDKoooryz9JCiipFMXG4OeOcevtTBsjoqVmg42o/XnJ7UA25HKybvrQLm8iKipUMO1fMVycckHrRmDcPlfb9fb/ABoDm8iKipGaHB2K+e2T/n3pcwHHyyD1oDm8iKipD5Pl8B/M9e3vUdA07hRRRSAKZPMLeB5WUsqDJA60+oruJp7SWJCoZxj5ulNbkzclF8u49HLsVCkAY+bsfpTYJhOrsFZQrlDn1FMtoZLZyisptsZVSTuQ9wPUU2GKeBGUeUd8pctk8An0x1p2RnGc9LrvclknSF4lcnMrbVPbPvSyy+VJGmxmMhIABHYZqG5tnuUmG4KxAERBPBHOT+NLc2zXXkCTbtUkyAE9xjihJaClOp73Ku1iaCZLiFJY/uMMjPFJBMtxEJI87ckYPUEUxY5vsawkoXHylhxlf8cUkEDQTzlSPJlIYAkkhuh/OiyKUp3jp6ksjiKNpGztUZOKQzA23noC67N4A6kUSIzsg42A5bnB9sVDDbyQ2ckAKEZbyueinsaElYcpS5rLb9SRLlJo4pIgWSQ4z/dPvSfaQZJ0EbnyMbyPcZ4Hek+zbbsTo20NzKnZj6j3pEiniuLqVDH++KlMk/LgY5p2RnzVdL/1oTo6yIrowZWGQR3paitoFtrZIUJIQYye9S1LN43subcKKKKQwqu1xMJli8hd7KzL8/GB6/WrFRGItdpNuG1EKbSOTnH+FNWIqKWnKxDclbuOBlVd0ZfcW6e1MW8LW9xMIx+4ZlAB+9j3p7W++8S4O0hEKbSM5yc5pi2hFvcxbh+/ZiCB93NVoZP213bz/LT8SSCYzDOE27Qcq2cE9jST3IgkSPC7pAdpc4BI7Z9aWGFotoygQLghV+8fU0TwmZCh2GNlIZXGefUUtLlv2nJ5g0rLcQxbR+8BJJP3SKDK4imcRqzRsQq7vvYprWxH2cxyfNACoL8hgRg5/KnGFvIdA43uSSxHFGgl7R3v/Wn+Y2O6EyRPEuQzFXDHBQjsR61PUJtl+1i4UlWxhwOj+hPvU1Dt0Lp89vf3CiiipLCiiigAooooGFNcsEJQbm7AmnVcstIvtSt5prGAzrCQHVSNwz6DvQROcYRvJ2Rns0qv8qDb69xSbpxj5V79PpxU0iSQHE0MkTDqHQj+dNVlb7pBp3BK+qYoJKgng9xRRRSKCiiigAooooAKKKKAA8An0pA2RkBiPUCpbeUQXMUxjSURsG8t/ut7Gu2t/iFpuwLPpskJx0QKwpnLia9anb2dPm+Zwe9R1OPrWhouvXGhXjT2bI4cbZIm6MP6Gu4Xxj4ZuB++KJ6iS3/wFWbT/hGdbkaO0hsLplG5lWMAgetI86rmT5HGvQdv68ihZ/EDSr0CPU4TbE9WdQ6fn1Fad54c0bVbfJtIkEgyk0A2n2Ix1p58MaGCD/ZVsR6beKvJJEgWJCqqo2hVGAB2ApOSW54tSrTUlLC80fmeba94UvNCBmUm6s/+eqjlP94f1rDDBhkEGvageCMcHqDWNdeENEvJTK9n5bnr5TFQfwFM9PDZ1yx5a6v5o8vor0eXwNoYhlZYp9yoSP3p64rzZCWQE9aD18JjaeKv7O+ncdRRRQdYUUUUDLFhHazX0Ud/M8FqT88iDJFdjBYeB4l3faoZT6yTN/KuGrotA0XQbyz+0arqQSTJzBvCbf6mmebmEPd53OSXaJ0S3vgu2A2HTuPRMn+VT23ijw8bhLewYeZIQoEFuf1wOlZynwPp3K+RKR3IaQ1KnjnRYD5Wl2M8rdNsEAXNI8SVBzXuwnL10R08qttbH3sdjVLb1Hf0p2l3lzqFu0tzYSWJz8iSMCzD1IHSrpTapdtqgD7zcfrWFSlzu5wJuneL3EThQD1xzTqxtQ8V6PpwKtdiaUfwQfOc/XpWBc/EaXOLTTUC9jLJk/kK2SsbUsDia2sYaeen5nbS8W8//XNv5V4rF/qxXWP8QtReN0NlaAMpUkFu9cqq7VA9KZ72VYOrhuf2qtewtFFFB7AUUUUCCkKqeSBn1paKBk1jLDa3kctxbLdQp96EnAauqTx9bWke3TtEjhx/tBf5CuPooOWvhKWIleor/NnQ3XjvWbgkRNDbg/3EyfzNYt1fXl8267u55j6O5x+XSoKKCqWFo0vgikIFCjCjApaKKDoCiiigQUUUUDCiiigAAyazobl5p7m1+0lZxKRGSB8qjGcevWtIcc1ROnF47hWcb5JPNjdRgxt/kVcWupzYhVG48nmXQOAuScdz1qpBdl9QeFipjZN8OPY4Of51NsuDamNpEM5XHmBeD749ajmtC5tmhKRvA2c4+8MYI/GkrdR1HNpOK2HXBMW64lnMdvGnzKuMk0lkLhrYvdMQ8nzKv/PMdh9aLq2a5mhYuvlRncYyPvN2z9KliEokkeaRWDY2qowFH/16LqwuWXtG9bf1r/kVrSWWXSPNeVjKVY78DjBOP5U6WaSKG1jVgZZyF3t24yTiiO0miha3SZPIOcEr84B6j0qWa3WZYwCUaJg0bDnBFO6uJRqcllukR3EzWZhfeXieQRMG6gnoR+NWelQyQNPJG05UrG28IvQt2J+lTVL2NYKSk306BRRRQaBUEs0i39vCu3ZIrMSevFT1XlikfUbeVVBjjVgxz6+1NGdVySXL3Qkt0wvGtYzGkgQOhk6SH0FF7cyWsEUihdzSLGwboM/4UXcJuRJFJAksZH7ticFG/wA81HeWs01jbwriV43RnLHGQvX86pW0MJuqlO3yJLu6aGS2WFo282QRtnnHvTp53ivbaJQuybdkkcjAzUd5bGSS2aCFB5codjwOPSn3EUkl9ayooMcO7cSeeRikrDk6t5eq+7qLJcH7WLWEAvt3uzdEHb6mpE83zGSRAVABV17+xHY1E0Lx35uoQGDoEkQnHToRRBFIt3PM+Qj4CJuzj1PtmlpYuLnza33+Vgs55Lg3G/aBFKY12jrjuaQXEo06S4YJ5iKzADpxn/CkijntJp/LiWWOZzIp34Kn0NOkgcaa9umGkaMrnOASf/103a5MXPk1vdJ/8AZb3ryS28bqp8+LzAyfw+x/OpPOaS6kgiwPKUGRjzgnoAPpUNrayWrRNGi4aNY50B7gcMKlWFoLyaaNd6Tgb1zggjjI/Ch2Jpuryrm76+lv8x0M5eeWCQASxgNkdGU96mqCKBvtUtzJgM4CKo/hUf1qepZ0U+Zr3u7+4KKKKRYdqYZNvVW/AU+g8gjJH0pg79BnnAfwv+VBlx/A/PtQYyRzLJ+dHltgDzX4oI94DLhsbH9zigSg5O18D2pCpTJVpT7CmqHZiA0q8dSBijQTlJMf5w4+R8H2pPOHHyPz7dKXyzz+9f8AOlCY/jbHpmjQfvieaMgbH56HFPoooLV+oUUUUgCiiigAooooAKKKKBhRRRQIKKKKACiiigAooooA/9k=" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="111" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> levels, interpreted as a book about
faith, about loneliness, memory, love, sacrifice, or even as an examination of
the power of technology along with a fear or distrust of the same. In other
words, perfect book discussion material.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In a not-too-distant
future, in an unnamed city, an artificial friend, I dare not call her a robot,
sits in a store front window waiting to be purchased as a companion for an
unknown child. As she bides her time, Klara acutely observes her surroundings, often
making logical deductions that are beyond the ken of her cohort. Klara is
special, and because she is the narrator, we are privy to her innermost
thoughts. Ishiguro has created an artificial being more human than any of the
other characters we will meet, and it is this fact that renders his novel so
painful to read.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Josie has had
her eye on Klara for a long time. No other AF will do. Josie suffers from a
mysterious illness that keeps her mother constantly on guard. The mother
worries that Klara will not be up to the special care that Josie needs but she
needn’t concern herself. Klara is programmed to do what ever is in her power to
protect her charge. As a solar powered “device” she is keenly aware of her
relationship with the Sun, capitalized because in Ishiguro’s imagining the Sun
seems to be a symbol for God or at least a higher power, one that can, perhaps,
be bargained with.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Ishiguro is a
master at depicting the foibles of human nature and the complicated
relationship we humans have with each other and with ourselves. Josie, for
instance, like a typical teenage girl can run hot and cold. Loving and generous
one moment, dismissive and disdainful the next. We learn through her friendship
with her neighbor Rick that there is a hierarchy at work that pits family
against family, not unlike what we see today, in which children who are “lifted”
(think, cognitively enhanced) have an advantage in terms of college and careers.
Families who choose not to lift their children for ethical or monetary reasons
find themselves sidelined. And children, Klara notes, can be very fickle.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I found
myself dreading the ending of this novel. After all, what do we do with items
that have outlived their usefulness? But then I realized that an AF’s “slow
fade” is no different from what we humans face. In fact, what can be more human
than understanding that, when we are born, we are limited to a finite amount of
time. And if we are very fortunate, we will make memories over our years that
will sustain us in our own slow fade.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-37688578423132811692021-08-18T17:06:00.004-04:002021-08-18T17:06:59.991-04:00Should We Stay or Should We Go-Lionel Shriver's Mighty Question
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Have you ever
tried to fill in the blanks on a living will? Have you ever talked with family
or partner about how you envision your so-called golden years? Have you ever
admitted that you hope that you’ll die in your sleep? We should all be so
lucky! But if you’ve lived even a little bit then you know what a fool’s game
it is to try to outsmart the future. The best laid plans…etc.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Wonderful,
controversial, massively talented writer Lionel Shriver has skewered the health
care system (“<i>So Much for That</i>), the economic crises (“<i>The Mandibles</i>),
</span><img align="right" alt="Diagram
Description automatically generated with medium confidence" height="206" hspace="12" 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" v:shapes="aod-asin-image-id" width="139" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">and
the crazed Peloton generation (“<i>The Motion of the Body Through Space</i>”),
in novels just made for book discussion groups. Now she’s cast her jaundiced
eye on the indignities of the aging process in “<b><i>Should We</i></b> <b><i>Stay
or Should We Go</i></b>.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We first meet
Kay and Cyril shortly after they’ve returned from her father’s funeral. It
seems that the old man has held the family hostage to his years long battle
with Alzheimer’s to the detriment of their own lives and it was with a sense of
relief that they put him in the ground. They open a chilled bottle and begin a
serious discussion about the long, horrific process of aging, the cost to the
National Healthcare System (we are in London), and the suffering of caregivers.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">That’s when
Cyril proposes his bright idea, a suicide pact. Not until they’re eighty, mind
you, a long, long ways away. Still, as a physician Cyril prefers to obtain the
necessary drugs sooner rather than later while Kay wonders how they will
account for the fourteen-month gap in their ages. Will he go at eighty and she
wait around, or will he cheat her out of her extra year and four months by
expecting her to go along with him? They decide that the fairer thing is to
wait until her eightieth.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The years go by,
and we are treated to the inner workings of a very happy marriage. They spar
over politics, career choices, the ups and downs of their three kids’ lives,
and sensibly, since they’re leaving, they refinance their home in a bid to
travel a bit and enjoy life before Covid locks them down. Suddenly, by page
seventy, their final week is looming.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And this is
where Shriver throws you for a completely unexpected loop. Remember the Choose
Your Own Adventure series? I’m not even sure I should say any more. Shriver
paints various futures for Kay and Cyril that are contradictory, hilarious,
revolting, terrifying, but sadly, all possible. Lionel Shriver has written one
of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read this year. The trouble, or
perhaps the gift, is that my friends and I are barreling toward eighty
ourselves and there’s nowhere to go but forward!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-83373690424873193582021-08-09T16:27:00.001-04:002021-08-09T16:27:49.090-04:00Not Flying Yet? Visit Italy with Camilla Trinchieri
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Readers who
know me well will understand the siren song of a novel that’s dubbed “A Tuscan
Mystery, Book 1.” I salivate as if a steaming bowl of ribollita had been set
before me accompanied by the house red and a warm loaf of crusty bread. Camilla
Trinchieri <a href="https://www.camillatrinchieri.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.camillatrinchieri.com/</span></a>
serves up Tuscan recipes galore along with the dead bodies in this first book
in her new series.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b><i>Murder in Chianti</i></b>” has
everything you want in good mystery, a vibrant sense of place, a couple of
sympathetic carabinieri open to the help of a retired American police detective,
a victim everyone loved to hate, and a plethora of red herrings. (I didn’t
guess who the culprit was until he confessed!) Set in Gravigna, a fictional </span><img align="left" alt="Murder in Chianti (A Tuscan Mystery Book 1)" height="218" hspace="12" 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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="145" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">village in the wine-soaked region of
Chianti, not too far south of Firenze, the people are just what you’ve
experienced if you’ve ever stayed in an Italian village, open, friendly, and
accepting of the American newcomer Nico Doyle who buried his wife Rita in the
family plot and stayed on to feel closer to her.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">He keeps his
police creds quiet, helps in the family’s restaurant, and renovates a cottage
that overlooks a vineyard where his landlord Aldo harvests and bottles cases of
wine and olive oil. This idyll is shattered early one morning when a single
gunshot interrupts his musings over coffee on his patio. Following the frantic yips
of an animal, thinking someone got a head start on the boar hunting season,
Nico discovers a bloody dog and a body that looks just as horrific as anything
he’d seen back in his homicide days in the states.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Salvatore
Perillo, the local chief of police, has done his homework and is familiar with
Nico’s NYPD background. Only having ever faced one murder in his long career in
Gravigna, Perillo can use all the help he can get but must woo Nico with plenty
of whiskey, wine, and food to get him on board with the investigation. Once a
cop, always a cop, and soon Nico is in the thick of it along with Perillo’s new
young computer guru and second in command, Daniele.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">These three
break the mold of so many novels by actually working well together and with the
public. There’s no tasering of suspects, no guns drawn, no illegal pressure on
witnesses, just good, smart policing that earns them the respect of the villagers
and of us, the readers. Spending time with them is a pleasure and Trinchieri
creates many delightful secondary characters as well. The whole book just feels
so real and authentic. If you’ve loved Donna Leon’s Venetian series, then you
must give this a look.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine how happy I was to learn that Trinchieri’s
second in the series will be out in a few days. “<b><i>The Bitter Taste of
Murder</i></b>” is the name. Watch for it!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-68250440504736601202021-07-31T16:03:00.004-04:002021-07-31T16:03:59.801-04:00Shipstead's Great Circle Takes Readers on a Wondrous Flight
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In December
1914, the <i>Josephina Eterna</i>, a ship carrying five hundred and
twenty-three passengers and a secret cargo in the hold, burned in the north
Atlantic. The captain, Addison Graves, committed an unpardonable sin. He
escaped the inevitable fiery death, leaping to a lifeboat with a swaddled
infant under each arm. His newborn twins, Marian and Jamie, survived, and a
wondrous novel was born.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When asked
last night by a friend what “<b><i>Great Circle</i></b>” was about I was
momentarily stumped. This remarkable novel spans over a hundred years. It explores
the history of women in aviation, revealing how they were exploited for </span><img align="left" alt="Map
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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="111" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">their
“manly” desires, their wanderlust, their willingness to push boundaries. It
touches on Roosevelt’s WPA and the wartime options for conscientious objectors.
It examines sexual attractions in all their iterations without judgment or
shame, and it even manages to send up the film industry, social media, and the
hypocrisy of cancel culture.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I could
outline the intricate plot for you but why would I do that and ruin the delight
that awaits you as that plot unfolds. Surely, even if you don’t share my life-long
fascination with flight, it would be hard to resist a big, fat, six-hundred-page
novel that ferries readers from Auckland, New Zealand, in a great circle around
the world to Antarctica, in the cockpit with Marian Graves, one of the
fiercest, most independent women you’ll meet in fiction this year. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Art, the
making of it and the appreciation of it, is another major theme and Maggie Shipstead’s
style of writing exudes this artistic bent. She paints pictures with her words,
whether she’s writing of the twins’ childhood in Montana, of Marian’s flights into
the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness, or Jamie’s stint on the battlefields of Attu
in the Aleutian Islands.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Interestingly,
it’s the past that comes most alive in this story. My only complaint about this
novel is its chapters that deal with current times and the making of the film
about aviatrix Marian Graves based upon a fictional, romanticized version of
her life. The jaded actress Hadley Baxter who landed the role of Marian is such
an unformed and, in my opinion, uninteresting character that her chapters seem
to fall flat. I couldn’t wait to leave Hollywood and return to the ‘40’s with
Marian, Jamie, their lovers and friends.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Nevertheless,
Shipstead’s glorious, descriptive language saves the day and is likely what
makes her such a sought after travel journalist – take a look at some of her
essays - <a href="https://www.maggieshipstead.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.maggieshipstead.com/</span></a>
, and her stints at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Stegner fellowship at
Stanford must have all led her to this third novel after “<b><i>Seating
Arrangements</i></b>,” and “<b><i>Astonish Me</i></b>,” and the recent honor
from the Booker prize committee. I must brag and tell you that I had already
added “<b><i>Great Circle</i></b>” to this year's top ten list before it was nominated
for the Booker long list.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-61936905762980153402021-07-13T13:28:00.001-04:002021-07-13T13:28:16.480-04:00Love is All Around TJ Klune's House in the Cerulean Sea
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The cover art
was the initial reason I added TJ Klune’s book “<b><i>The House in the</i></b> <b><i>Cerulean
Sea</i></b>” to my endless “to read” list. Then a person dear to me mentioned</span><img align="left" alt="Text
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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="94" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">
that he had read this novel and it brought him to tears. I am sorry it took me
so long to get to it because, oh my, I too welled up at the predictable but
delightful ending. And who doesn’t fall in love with an author who uses the
word cerulean?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Our hero,
Linus Baker, is particularly good at his soul deadening job as a caseworker
with the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (think J. K. Rowling) He lives
in a future that lacks color, all beige and brown and gray. His office is a
cubicle denizen’s nightmare, a warehouse of people mesmerized by their computer
screens, not allowed by their superiors to interact with each other, to have
personal items on their desks, or to speak without being spoken to. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Imagine Linus’
fear when he is called, without explanation, to the ominous fifth floor Office
of Extreme Upper Management where, rather than being fired, he is assigned to
spend a month investigating an orphanage where the children are so magical that
they are deemed a menace to society. Because Linus has proved himself to be a bland,
strictly by the book caseworker, the powers-that-be have no worries that Linus
will quickly recommend the closure of Marsyas and the suspension of the
manager, Arthur Parnassus.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Packing up
his cat Calliope and his lone suitcase, boarding the train with trepidation, Linus
leaves his dreary existence behind. His life will never be the same. Marveling
at the smell of the sea, the colors of the flowers, the warmth of the sun,
something inside Linus unfurls. His soul ignites. He is unabashed when greeted
by Ms. Chapelwhite, the sprite who is the caretaker of the island, and nonplussed
when accosted by the first of the six remarkable children he’ll be evaluating,
a feisty little bearded girl named Talia who just happens to be a gnome. There’s
also Lucy, short for Lucifer, and Sal, a little boy who’s been so abused that
he turns himself into a cowering puppy when spoken to harshly. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Here you must
suspend disbelief and go with Klune’s marvelous imagination and quirky sense of
humor. Fantasy has never been my bailiwick, but this novel won my heart. As
Linus gets caught up in the children’s daily routines, comes to recognize Arthur’s
love for his charges and skills as their teacher, and overcomes his own innate trepidation
of anything new, he too loses his heart. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">This David
and Goliath story will have you laughing out loud, then dabbing at your eyes
with a tissue, as you cheer for this bizarre band of misfits as they learn to
navigate the shoals of societal disapprobation, facing the fear and rage that
their existence elicits in the townspeople, a theme so apropos for our current
times. And you’ll feel joy as you witness the burgeoning relationship between
Linus and Arthur, hoping beyond hope that they choose to follow their bliss. A
wonderful, uplifting read for those suffering from pandemic emergence syndrome
and the rest of you as well!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-59413736963501322492021-06-30T12:43:00.000-04:002021-06-30T12:43:36.832-04:00Clint Smith on How the Word is Passed
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">A few weeks ago,
my friend Don and I tuned in to a Terri Gross interview with “<i>Atlantic</i>”
writer and poet Clint Smith. <a href="https://wbur.fm/3x8DGZu"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://wbur.fm/3x8DGZu</span></a>
I thought we were somehow listening to Don’s grandson; their voices share a deep
quality of calm and kindness. I immediately placed a library hold on Smith’s
new book “<b><i>How the Word</i></b> <b><i>is Passed</i></b>.” The subtitle of
this fascinating character study/guided tour/memoir is “A Reckoning with the
History of Slavery Across America.” Though the subject </span><img align="left" alt="How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America" height="169" hspace="12" 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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="109" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">matter
is deeply disturbing and already known to many of us, there is still an element
of surprise for every reader, no matter your knowledge of our country’s darkest
history.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Smith was
raised in New Orleans and begins his study of the overt and sometimes more
covert markers of slavery at the plantations not that far from his home. He
arranges for guided tours, comparing the ways in which operators of these
places address or fail to address the lives of the enslaved families who were
held in them. He takes a particular interest in the questions that are posed
from other tourists, questions that might indicate a complete lack of
understanding of what they are seeing. These are the folks he approaches after
the tours are finished hoping for an interview. When they comply, they are
eye-opening!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">One of the
most horrific locations that offers tours, and a grotesque gift shop, is Angola
prison. Thanks to Jesmyn West’s exquisite novel, “<i>Sing, Unburied</i>, <i>Sing</i>,”
I was aware that Angola began as a plantation where prisoners were leased to
the state and worked to death. Even in the 1800’s the editor of the New Orleans
“<i>Daily</i> <i>Picayune</i>” wrote that a death sentence would be more humane.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Smith goes to
Galveston Island to hear about the first Juneteenth celebration and heads to
New York City where a walking tour on slavery and the underground railroad
makes clear that the north was no innocent bystander in the slave trade. In
fact, enslaved people cleared the way for Broadway to be built and constructed
the wall that Wall Street was named for. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">No book about
slavery would be complete without a trip to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s
Virginia plantation where he lived with his enslaved mistress Sally Hemmings
and their children. Smith spoke at length with the directors of programming at
Monticello about the drastic changes they have made to the tours of Monticello
in light of the Pulitzer Prize-winning work of Annette Gordon-Reed, “<i>The
Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family</i>.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Clint Smith
has deeply researched and annotated this book and yet it is wonderfully
personal, not at all academic. He bookends his travels with conversations with
his grandparents, recognizing that the best primary sources were living right
next door. “My grandfather’s grandfather was enslaved.” He repeats this mantra
almost as if he disbelieves it. But while pushing his eighty-nine-year-old grandad’s
wheelchair through the African American Museum of History and Culture they come
upon Emmett Till’s casket. His grandfather reminded Smith that Till was killed only
a few miles away from where he and Smith’s grandmother lived.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">There is a
proverb attributed to Africa, perhaps Ghana, that says “When an old person
dies, a library burns down.” There are various iterations, but the idea is clear,
and Clint Smith got it. Historically accurate yet rich with personal anecdotes,
“<b><i>How the Word is Passed</i></b>” should be required reading for our members
of congress as they contemplate the calls for reparations for slavery. Smith
offers us both truth and reconciliation. A wonderful read.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-69790373735719568632021-06-23T11:02:00.003-04:002021-06-23T11:02:41.094-04:00The Beauty of Your Face is Truly Beautiful
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Sahar
Mustafah’s debut novel is a stunning achievement. “<b><i>The Beauty of Your
Face</i></b>” was called one of the most anticipated novels of 2020 but it
never really seemed to gain traction and I had to wait forever to get it from
the library. It is advertised as a book about a school shooting, a subject that
might turn many </span><img align="right" alt="The Beauty of Your Face" height="170" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="111" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">readers away in these increasingly
violent times, but please be assured that the shooting is a minor piece in this
beautiful exploration of Islam, the culture and the religion.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The action
does begin on a normal school day at the Nurrideen School for Girls where Afaf
Rahman, the principal fields phone calls from the moment she hits her office
door. Not that she minds. It took years for the local Islamic community to raise
the funds for this progressive high school and the sounds of her girls
laughing, chatting, learning, is the sound of music to Afaf. Still, she takes a
moment to slip away to a small closet where she keeps her prayer rug when it’s
time for a respite. Lost in thought, on her knees, facing Mecca, she wonders
why she hears fireworks, then the screams, and finally the realization dawns.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Mustafah
leaves us there, hanging in fear, and goes on to pen a family story, Ataf’s reminiscences
of her secular childhood here in Chicago, the family’s flight from persecution
in Palestine, her father’s difficulty acquiring steady work, and her mother’s
utter hatred of all things American. When Afaf’s older sister Nada, her mother’s
favorite, disappears, weeks, then months pass with no news and Afaf’s mother
slowly loses her mind while her father seeks solace in the comfort of religion.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">To keep us on
the hook, Mustafah returns to the present day and the school in brief chapters
where we try to relate this calm, level-headed principal, confronting and even
questioning the shooter, with the depressed, rebellious young Afaf who barely
survived her own school years as her family fell apart and she understood that
she could never fill the hole in mama’s heart left by Nada’s disappearance. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I don’t know
that I have ever read a novel that so perfectly describes the lure of a religious
sect as this one does. The comfort and solidarity offered by the mosque saves
Afaf’s life, drawing her closer to her father while further eroding the gulf
between her and her mother. When Afaf and her husband decide to make the Hajj,
the ultimate pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia that all Muslims are called to complete
during their lifetimes, Mustafah explains the logistics and the importance so
clearly that I truly had an ah ha moment. </span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This lovely novel,
overflowing with joy, love, and forgiveness, would lend itself to fabulous book
discussions. Check it out! <a href="https://www.saharmustafah.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.saharmustafah.com/</span></a></span>Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-5102056661359654102021-06-14T17:30:00.003-04:002021-06-14T17:30:46.873-04:00What Comes After, the Answer to my Plea
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The search
for an uplifting, beautiful read has finally come to an end thanks to librarian
and book reviewer Gloria Drake who recommended an incredible debut novel by
Joanne Tompkins called “<b><i>What Comes After</i></b>.” This book was exactly
what I was looking for, especially after wallowing in Russell Banks’ harrowing
novel of a self-absorbed documentary film maker who, in a bid to unburden
himself of all his sins at the end of his life, turns the camera on himself. If
you ever wondered if you could support MAID, medical aid in dying, <a href="https://www.compassionandchoices.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.compassionandchoices.org/</span></a>
his book, “<b><i>Foregone</i></b>,” would convince you.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Joanne
Tompkins has created characters so real, so nuanced, and so complicated </span><img align="left" alt="What Comes After: A Novel" height="170" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">by the slings and arrows of living
that they burrow into your heart and remain long after you’ve sighed over the
final page. The catalyst for the story is a murder but the heart of the book is
family, those we are born into and those we build for ourselves when our blood
relatives may be physically or emotionally unavailable. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Tompkins is
such a wise writer. Perhaps her intuitive take on human nature comes from her
first career as a judicial officer and mediator for the courts. Her tender
treatment of Evangeline, a feral, conniving, hard-shelled teenager, abandoned
by her mother, living in a ratty trailer in the woods outside of a coastal
Washington town, can only be informed by those she interacted with in the
courts on any given day. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Not long
after Isaac’s son Daniel, a senior in high school, star athlete, destined for
greatness, disappears, and is later found brutally murdered, Isaac walks his
property searching for Daniel’s dog Rufus and discovers Evangeline, dirty,
cold, starving, a stray in need of a home. He takes her in for the night, not even
realizing how badly he needs to fill the hole in his big old drafty home and
his empty heart, but also not comprehending just how calculating Evangeline has
been or that she may have a clue to Daniel’s death, and oh yes, that she is
pregnant.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Isaac is a
Quaker, as are many in the community, but his faith has failed him even as it
has ingrained his psyche. He has perfected the ability to hide behind silence,
a trait his wife faulted him with as she walked out the door years ago. As he
and Evangeline dance around each other, each bound up in his carapace, readers
get a primer on Quaker practice and theology as well as insight into the debilitating,
maybe even insurmountable effects of years of loneliness and distrust.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">And then there
is the forgiveness we are all called to bestow. Living next door to Isaac and
Evangeline is Lorrie whose losses mirror Isaac’s own. She too is mourning the death
of a son, Jonah, once Daniel’s constant sidekick, then his murderer. Evangeline,
yearning for a mother figure, opens to Lorrie’s kindness but Isaac’s anger is
excruciating to witness when he even thinks of Lorrie and Evangline together.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Can these
people, so beaten down by the act of surviving, ever find the grace to accept a
future that may look quite different from what they expected yet may be filled
with surprising rewards? We hope with ever fiber of our being that they will. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-25631166543123280002021-05-20T16:28:00.001-04:002021-05-20T16:28:33.401-04:00Help! I'm in Need of my Next Great Read
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I was
planning on putting out an APB begging readers for a novel recommendation,
something I can sink my teeth into after a couple of disappointments. But not a
moment too soon, I found an advanced copy of Russell Banks’ “<b><i>Foregone</i></b>”
on my kindle, fired it up a couple of hours ago, and did not want to break for
lunch. I told my sister only a few weeks ago that, though I love Banks and have
reviewed several of his novels for Library Journal, this latest book didn’t
sound like it would be up my alley. I think I was wrong. Will let you know how
I progress.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Meanwhile, I
was SO sure I would love Lisa Scottoline’s break out historical fiction
attempt, a three-person love affair during the rise of Mussolini’s Fascist
government in Rome in the late 1930’s, but “<b><i>Eternal</i></b>” did not live
up to the hype. Sandro, </span><img align="left" alt="Eternal" height="145" hspace="12" 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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="96" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Marco, and Elizabetta, the young
people who had been friends since they could walk, were not fully fleshed out
characters and their conversations were stilted to the point of caricature.
These faults in the writing made it difficult for me to become invested in
their plight. Other readers have raved, however.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I have been spoiled by the phenomenal
writing and depth of “<b><i>Un Village Francais</i></b>,” (Frederic Krevine) a
seven-season film on Amazon prime that has had Don and I mesmerized for weeks.
Covering the same period, 1937 – 1945, in France, this outstanding series
addresses the extremely complicated workings of a small village just north of
the demarcation line between Vichy France and the occupied north, as Germans,
collaborators, communists, and resisters all vie for control. We were a bit
depressed when the series ended as we had come to care for each of the
characters with all their strengths and weaknesses.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Andrea Lee’s “<b><i>Red
Island House</i></b>” is another recently read novel that left me deeply dissatisfied
even though, upon reflection, it might lend itself to a great discussion. The
story of a magnificent home built by Senna, an Italian businessman whose source
of income is rarely alluded to, on a glorious, spare piece of </span><img align="right" alt="Red Island House: A Novel" height="145" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6" width="96" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">beachfront land in Madagascar, is
laden with magical realism tropes. He and his young wife, African American college
professor Shay, seem to morph into different personalities when they inhabit
the house and local black magic potions are used and then cast aside, never to
appear again, whetting our appetite for an updated version of “<i>House of the
Spirits</i>”, then letting us down with just another bad marriage gone sour
story.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Lee does
write beautifully, painting a vivid picture of Madagascar, an island that readers
may not be too familiar with. She also does a great job of pointing out the
class distinctions that are particularly difficult for Shay to navigate as a
Black woman overseeing her Black employees. Added to the difficulty is Senna’s
insistence that they hire a disreputable, rather sinister property manager who
spends their money profligately and who deeply resents Shay. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">What have you
been reading? Any fabulous books you’d like to share with me. I would love to
hear from you. I still have plenty of titles to tell you about, gleaned from
all the Zoom conferences I’ve been participating in lately. So many publishers,
so many titles, but ferreting out the gems? Ah, that’s another matter!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-90491380261440073072021-05-10T12:58:00.002-04:002021-05-10T12:58:36.511-04:00Doerr and Franzen Coming to a Library or Bookstore Near you this Fall
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Library
Journal’s fiction editor Barbara Hoffert landed two outstanding interviews last
week for the virtual Day of Dialog. Lovers of exquisite fiction and big, fat family
sagas, have only to wait until fall for two marvelous sounding novels.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Anthony Doerr
stole my heart with “<i>All the Light We Cannot See</i>.” Many of us </span><img align="left" alt="Calendar
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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">wondered
how he could possibly match that Pulitzer Prize-winning debut. According to Barbara,
whose instincts I trust completely having worked with her for fifteen or twenty
years, “<b><i>Cloud Cuckoo Land</i></b>” is “the joyous book we need right now.”
And how can you not adore an author who dedicates his work to “the librarians,
then, now, and in the years to come.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">From the siege
of Constantinople in 1453 to present day Idaho and to a futuristic utopia,
Doerr creates a tapestry of interlocking stories, a book within a book, that
speaks to the connections between all living things. He told Barbara that he
addresses such disparate themes as climate change, science, longing, and
mortality with humor and joy, all told through the eyes of children facing complicated,
difficult journeys.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Jonathan
Franzen surprised me when he admitted to Barbara that he had told his publisher
he only had one book left in him. Fortunately, that “one book” will be a
trilogy, “<b><i>A Key to All Mythologies</i></b>,” which will span the ‘70’s,
the mid ‘90’s, and</span><img align="right" alt="A picture containing text, person
Description automatically generated" height="170" hspace="12" 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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="113" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">
current times. In October, the first volume, “<b><i>Crossroads</i></b>,” will hit
bookstores and libraries and it sounds fabulous!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I am a sucker
for tales of ministers struggling with their faith and apparently Russ
Hildebrandt, who Franzen calls “a mass of insecurities,” will be the heart and
soul of this novel. A man doomed to play second fiddle as the associate pastor
of a mid-Western parish, locked into a troubled marriage, and father to three
children he no longer understands. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We all
remember the seventies differently. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll is the
moniker I recall. But Franzen says that he wanted to investigate the small-town
private struggles that were always happening under the surface of the lurid
headlines, what was going on at kitchen tables all over the country. With the
Vietnam war winding down, Watergate, the Black Power movement, and the sexual
revolution in its heyday, Russ and his wife will be tested by their young adult
children in very differing ways. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But don’t
think of “<i>The Corrections</i>” when you meet the Hildebrandts. Franzen says
he has changed a lot from the man who wrote that classic of familial dysfunction.
He seems to have eschewed an agenda for straight up storytelling and admits
that he loved each of the characters he’s introducing us to and tries to treat
them all equally. That’s a good thing since he plans to spend five decades with
them and I’ve no doubt I will be along for the full ride.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-15206835790426735552021-05-08T16:18:00.001-04:002021-05-08T16:18:37.129-04:00Library Journal's Virtual Day of Dialog - A Resounding Success
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Library
Journal’s annual Day of Dialog is always a feast for the senses for librarians
and book lovers everywhere. This is the second year that it has been presented
in a virtual format and I’m shocked to admit this but, except for the joy of
visiting New York and Chicago with my traveling buddy Maryellen Woodside, I love
seeing my favorite authors on Zoom. It feels as if they are right there in the
room with you instead of just a speck on a stage a football field’s length
away.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Readers
beware! There is a treasure trove of exciting new fiction heading your way in
the fall, from debut novels to works from authors you already know and love. Here
is just a small sample from the morning’s first panel on literary fiction.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Amor Towles,
who wrote one of my favorite novels of all time, “<i>A Gentleman in</i> <i>Moscow</i>,”
is back with “<b><i>The Lincon Highway</i></b>.” Where “Gentleman…” explored a </span><img align="left" alt="Text, whiteboard
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" 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life in a very closed space, Towles says that his new book does the opposite,
following eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson, recently released from a Kansas work
farm for wayward boys, and two of his cronies, as they embark on a ten-day odyssey
from the Midwest to New York City. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Do you
remember “<i>The Reader</i>” from German author Bernhard Schlink? It was the
subject of every book discussion group in the country and was developed into a
feature film. After many years Schlink returns with “<b><i>Olga</i></b>,” an
orphan in turn-of-the-century Prussia. Though raised by a down at heel
grandmother, Olga aspires to more, falling in love with a young man from another
class, working to become a teacher, yet doomed by the mores of the time to live
vicariously through her lover’s global adventures. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Florida
writer Lauren Groff, master of the short story, and National Book Award </span><img align="left" alt="Text
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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">nominee
for her brilliant examination of marriage in “<i>Fates and Furies</i>,” has
taken a turn toward the historical with “<b><i>Matrix</i></b>,” the story of a
young woman expelled from the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine because she’s too “rough.”
But the seventeen-year-old Marie de France, now in England serving as the
matron of a Benedictine Abbey, channels all her thwarted desires into a zealous
relationship with her sisters and her God.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Author
Margaret Verble make me think I might even be interested in the deep, dark history
of Nashville after describing her new novel with one of the best titles of the
day. “<b><i>When Two Feathers</i></b> <b><i>Fell from the Sky</i></b>” introduces
Two Feathers, a Cherokee native horse woman who is sent from Oklahoma to work
at the Glendale Park Zoo in Nashville where she is part of a dare-devil act,
diving on her horse into a pool of water. It’s 1926 and prejudices run high
between the townspeople and the zoo workers. How Two Feathers navigates this
world will be revealing.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“<i>Say You’re
One of Them</i>” was a well-reviewed short story collection from Nigerian </span><img align="right" alt="A picture containing text
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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="112" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">writer
Uwem Akpan and his debut novel sounds like a winner for any book nerd. “<b><i>New
York, My Village</i></b>” is apparently a snarky send-up of the publishing
industry that, who knows, may reflect Mr. Akpan’s own interactions with that
lofty world. If that’s the case, it seems he has overcome the hurdles because
this is billed as a brilliant, comedic satire about a Nigerian editor putting
together a collection of short stories about the Biafran War while dealing with
the smug, self-absorbed, cluelessness of the New Yorkers with whom he’s working.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">In my next
post I will treat you to the gist of two inciteful interviews conducted by fiction
editor at Library Journal, Barbara Hoffert, with the joyful writer Anthony
Doerr and the bad boy trying to redeem himself, Jonathan Franzen. </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-20733957814926735302021-04-22T13:02:00.002-04:002021-04-22T13:02:36.768-04:00Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Taylor Branch, in his formidable three volume biography
of Martin Luther King, Jr., poses a question that another Pulitzer Prize
winner, Isabel Wilkerson, (<b><i>The Warmth of Other Suns</i></b>), asks her
readers to ponder in her wonderful, accessible new book “<b><i>Caste, the
Origins of our Discontents</i></b>.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“If people were given the choice between democracy or
whiteness, how many would choose whiteness?”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><img align="left" height="168" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="106" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Let
that sit with you for a while. You might be shocked at your own answer. And
that’s what I most appreciated about Wilkerson’s new book. She forces the
reader into the shoes, no, the hearts and souls of the perceived lower castes, comparing
the systems that created the Dalits, the so-called untouchables in India, the
non-Aryan (Jewish) citizens in Nazi Germany and throughout Europe, and the African
Americans brought to the United States in chains. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Did you know that the infamous Nuremburg Laws instituted by
Hitler (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Laws"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Laws</span></a>)
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Germany in 1935 as a means to
separate the races, were modeled on or influenced by the Jim Crow laws already
in use here in “the world’s greatest democracy?”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I worried, when I started reading this book for the Diane
Rehm book club on public radio, that it would be too academic. I should have
known better from the experience of reading her first book. Wilkerson is, first
and foremost, a journalist, not an historian, and this is all to the good as
Dwight Garner, the New York Time book reviewer who was on Diane’s panel opined.
Because she interweaves her own experiences into the story it is that much more
shocking and personal.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The ugly truth, as stated by Harvard Law Professor
Kenneth Mack, is that for societies to function it seems that someone must be
on the bottom of the economic and political hierarchy. The original sin of
slavery was embedded in our capitalistic creed so that, even when it was outlawed,
the damage was done. Sure, with education and good luck, many African Americans
rise to prominence and stature in the United States but when they are driving
their cars or walking their dogs in their own neighborhoods, they are still
perceived by those in authority as lower caste. Witness Henry Louis Gates and
his arrest for trying to enter his own home.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Harvard scholar Suraj Yengde added his own spin on the
caste system when he spoke of Brahmin Indians he knows who, relocating to
America, are shocked to discover that they are, simply because of the caste of
their skin, demoted from their esteemed level in India, to the bottom rung here
in the states. Then he calls out their hypocrisy.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I cannot recommend this book enough for its clear,
concise, sometimes graphic, and disturbing picture of the horrors of the various
caste systems in use around the world and the devastating psychological,
physical, and economic effects they have. This would make a superb high school textbook
for students whose lack of imagination, experience, and knowledge keep them
ignorant of their own histories. And for your next book discussion? Reserve
more than an hour. You will need it.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-55768441372129584492021-04-12T12:16:00.000-04:002021-04-12T12:16:26.746-04:00Fredrik Bachman's Anxious People
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately I find that I often feel slightly out of touch with my
fellow man. What do you do with a book that opens with the author stating, “This
story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.”? I felt slapped in
the face and had an immediate and visceral reaction that pre-disposed me to
dislike the novel called “<b><i>Anxious People</i></b>.” My parents would have
punished us kids for even thinking about calling <img align="left" alt="A picture containing text, sign
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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="129" />someone else an idiot. The bottom line
though is that I genuinely enjoyed this novel even as it broke my heart. Why? Because
it is overwhelmingly full of human beings, not so much anxious, as fearful of
what life has in store, fearful of failing, fearful of loneliness, fearful of
abandonment. In other words, a book for our times.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Touted as a comedic tour de force, there is little that I
found funny in this novel. Poignant? Yes. Ironic? Sometimes. The premise is
that a desperate robber with a toy gun tries to hold up a bank employee at a
cashless facility. As the teller threatens to call the police, our thief, in a
panic, runs through a back door, up a set of stairs, and walks right into a
real estate open house in a small condominium complex. Before a word is
uttered, assumptions are made, and our hapless robber suddenly has a hostage
situation on his hands. The hours drag by, journalists, TV vans, cops, and
onlookers gawk at the building as the folks inside settle in for an awkward
meet and greet. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A retired couple who fill their days flipping properties and
making money rather than do the hard work of communicating, a young couple
expecting their first child and terrified that they won’t be good parents, and
elderly woman waiting for her husband to park the car, an aloof banker, this
disparate group spar, practice avoidance, and slowly open up over the course of
an afternoon while Jim and Jack, a dysfunctional father/son duo of local police
officers waiting for the big guns from Stockholm to arrive, decide to take
matters into their own hands and learn wonderful new things about each other.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author Fredrik Bachman makes no secret of his own high
anxieties. A friend and I saw him present at a panel discussion in New York
City and it felt painful to watch. For this reason, I am going to go out on a
limb here and say that perhaps the gentleman doth protest too much. He may say
he thinks they are idiots, but he loves his characters, each and every one. By
the end of the novel, readers will love them too, for their insecurities, their
frailties, their lack of self-awareness, but their willingness to face their
demons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our discussion group last night was plagued by Zoom problems
but in-between the annoyances we agreed on a few things. If you have never read
Bachman before you may be put off by his choppy writing style and penchant for
interspersing his own opinions into the tale. One member of our group made the
spot-on recommendation that “<b><i>Anxious People</i></b>” would be better
served if presented as a play. We all agreed though that the joy of this book
is that, though written in Sweden about Swedes, the struggles of the
characters, dealing with grief and possible self-harm, have universal reach,
and we loved the way Bachman forced us repeatedly to face our own biases and
assumptions. </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-48335081898586026642021-04-10T16:35:00.001-04:002021-04-10T16:35:04.593-04:00Spring Book and Author Festival
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">This past week
Penguin/Random House, Library Journal, and School Library Journal hosted a fabulous
day of book chats and panel discussions featuring hot titles coming out for
avid readers this spring. I could sign up for as many or as few hour-long
sessions as I liked. I did not want to be too greedy with the virtual LJ Day of
Dialog looming in May.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The morning
session “Illuminating Book Club Picks”, two memoirs and two novels based on
memoir, led to a timely investigation of the fine line between fiction and
truth and why certain authors choose one mode over the other in which to
interrogate their pasts. Moderator Migdalia Jimenez from the Chicago Public
Library pointed out the themes that each book shared that would force book
groups to look deeper than the average reader might. Among these are:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Point of View –
multiple characters who have very differing perspectives and make alternate
choices in their lives that others may not approve of or understand.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Coping with Grief
– illuminating the myriad responses people have to grief and recognizing the
validity of each person’s individual reaction.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Trauma and Loss
– investigates how people’s lives are changed by historical events, WW II,
9/11, Brexit, etc.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Childhood
Connections – the best and the worst parenting and how we cope, growing up in
multi-generational homes, sibling rivalry, and mother/daughter conflict.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">These four
diverse authors shared their stories with us and each sounds unforgettable.
Keep</span><img align="left" alt="The Ugly Cry: A Memoir" height="218" hspace="12" 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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="144" /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> your eyes peeled for Danielle Henderson’s
“<b><i>The Ugly Cry, A Memoir</i></b>,” a reckoning with her fractured family using
humor and grace. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Michelle Zauner
also chose the memoir format for her new book “<b><i>Crying in H Mart,” </i></b>about
re-discovering her Korean identity and her relationship with her mom as she
helps her face a cancer diagnosis. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Vietnamese
American debut author Eric Nguyen chose fiction, and a glorious title, “<b><i>Things
We Lost to the Water</i></b>,” to examine the lives of two immigrant boys and
their homeless, jobless mother as they </span><img align="left" alt="Things We Lost to the Water: A novel" height="190" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_7" width="132" /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">relocate and try to forge a life in New
Orleans, always waiting for their father to join them in their strange new
world. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, “<b><i>Rainbow</i></b> <b><i>Milk</i></b>”
by a British debut novelist, Paul Mendez, tells the story of nineteen-year-old
Jesse, a gay, Black man raised in a Jehovah Witnesses household trying to come
to terms with his sexuality, the color of his skin, and the lack of means to
support himself in a country that will always see him as different. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The afternoon
session was all about the so-called “Big Summer Reads,” all novels and all sounding
fascinating. I’ll tell you all about them tomorrow and follow that up with a
blow by blow of our neighborhood book discussion on “<b><i>Anxious People</i></b>”
by Fredrik Bachman.</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-6649747506305063422021-03-22T18:31:00.001-04:002021-03-22T18:31:42.507-04:00Viola Ardone's The Children's Train
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Raising a
child to a reasonably sane, functional adulthood has got to be the most
difficult job in the world! The longer I live, the more I witness the
disparities in prosperity that affect young families and their ability to feed,
clothe, and educate their offspring, the more I have concluded that it is a remarkable
leap of faith to procreate. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">These
thoughts were brought home to me this past weekend while I was reading </span><img align="left" height="218" hspace="12" src="data:image/png;base64,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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="144" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b><i>The Children’s Train</i></b>,” by Viola
Ardone, a fictional take on an historical event that happened in Italy at the
end of World War II. In southern Italy, Naples in particular, poverty and
hunger are rampant. Amerigo and his friends steal food from the street vendors and
scrounge for rags to sell. School is a distant dream. But members of the
Communist party, in a bid for solidarity, have partnered with families in the
more prosperous north, to temporarily take in the kids of Napoli, feed them
back to health, send them to school, and treat them as if they were their own
children.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Our narrator,
Amerigo Speranza, is wise beyond his seven years. Unlike his friends, he doesn’t
fall for the gossip that says the children are being sent to Russia to work. He
just wants to be warm and maybe have a new pair of shoes and since his Mamma
Antonietta is always complaining about having him underfoot in their two-room
apartment, he embraces the train trip to Bologna and the new life that waits
for him there. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Children are
so smart, so intuitive. If they had only been told the truth from the
beginning, that they would eventually be returning to their homes, that their
parents sent them away for their health and well-being, that they were loved,
there might have been less chance that they would not want to return. Looking
at the world through Amerigo’s eyes we understand that he’s never felt cared
for, that he has no idea who his father is, that his mother is likely depressed
and barely functional after the death of her first born.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amerigo is ripe for the big, warm open house and
arms of his benefactor, Derna, and her extended family, which includes Rivo and
Luzio, two boys his own age. Their dad, Alcide, is the first male role model
Amerigo has ever had, a man who encourages Amerigo in his love of music. The
more he thrives, the more the world opens to him, full of possibilities, and
the shabby apartment and the mother he is a bit ashamed of seem extremely far
away.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Though Amerigo
is a funny smart aleck whom one easily comes to love, this novel has a
melancholy tone that is difficult to shake off. The language is simplistic, no
flowery, languorous sentences from Ardone or her translator. What’s most
interesting about it is the way the fallout from this social experiment
impacted the various children as they grew up, the ones who returned and the
ones who did not. I’ve tried to find some evidence of studies that may have
been done by psychologists because I believe they would be fascinating but so
far, no luck. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">A famous
poster from the Vietnam era tells us that “War is not healthy for children and
other living things.” This book lends itself to a radical discussion of
displacement during wartime and the trauma that parents suffer when faced with
the ultimate sacrifice, to give up their children so that they might live. </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-54491547898199461302021-03-10T16:29:00.001-05:002021-03-10T16:29:22.825-05:00Cherie Jones' How the One-Armed sister Sweeps Her House
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Cherie Jones!
<a href="https://cheriesueannjonesblog.wordpress.com/about/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://cheriesueannjonesblog.wordpress.com/about/</span></a>
Another debut novelist who knocks it out of the park on the first swing! “<b><i>How
the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House</i></b>” is simply dazzling, perhaps a
strange term to describe a book about the long arc of domestic violence as it
passes down through three </span><img align="left" height="218" hspace="12" 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" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="141" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">generations. After Lala’s mom died,
her grandmother Wilma grudgingly took her in but watched her like a hawk. All
that scrutiny could not save Stella, who preferred to be called Lala, from pregnancy
though, so she packs her bags and moves down the road to Adan’s one-room shack
on Barbados’s Baxter’s Beach.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Lala had been
a girl with dreams. She set up her hair braiding booth smack dab on the sand in
front of the gorgeous high-rise, gated condominiums where wealthy Europeans
relaxed for months at a time. She had a way with the women. Her sunny
disposition and magic hands earned her a decent amount of money. She was saving
to get away. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">What drew her
to Adan? Maybe the fact that he had ambitions too? But Adan didn’t work for the
money he flaunted when he was flush. He had learned how to break and enter from
his stepfather when he was only ten. In fact, he was robbing a home the night Lala
went into labor. In pain and frightened she ran down the street to the first
mansion with lights on and leaned on the bell. Lala heard the gunshot, then the
scream, and somehow intuited that her life was about to drastically change. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Jones, a
victim of abuse herself, must have found it deeply cathartic to write certain
scenes. They are terrifying in their reality. Both Wilma and Stella exhibit
that wariness and obsequiousness that plagues a woman who is physically or
emotionally beaten down. Always trying to gauge the mood of the man, what might
set him off, is exhausting. When the blow comes, no matter how many times it
has been landed before, it is always a shock.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Every
character in this amazing book has a deeply disturbing backstory. Jones is
generous in sharing these with us, never making a judgment or an excuse. There
are Peter and Mira, the victims of Adan’s latest B & E, and there’s Adan’s
best friend and Stella’s first lover, Tone, damaged by a childhood trauma yet
still able to love. Jones is psychologically astute when writing about the
stages of grief and when interrogating the deadly resentments fomented by
racial and class divisions on an island that appears from the outside to be
Paradise.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Beautiful
cover. Gorgeous writing. 2021 is shaping up to be stellar year for literature!</span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540742113410733983.post-38860980355612937002021-03-01T12:18:00.002-05:002021-03-01T12:18:33.812-05:00Take a Romp with Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">If I never
get to live my dream of retiring to Louise Penny’s Three Pines on the outskirts
of Montreal, my second choice is now Richard Osman’s Coopers Chase in the
British countryside where I hope the members of “<b><i>The Thursday Murder Club</i></b>”
will find my skills as a reference librarian suitable for entrée. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Joyce is
keeping a diary, so it is through her voice that we are first introduced to
Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim, the remaining members of the murder club. Since
Penny, a former DCI who absconded with files of unsolved crimes upon her </span><img align="left" height="218" hspace="12" 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v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="144" /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">retirement, had a stroke and moved to
the nursing home, the club has been circumspectly seeking a fourth member. As a
former nurse, Joyce seems a perfect fit. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Joyce has a
wry sense of humor, is not the least bit sentimental, and had me frequently laughing
out loud, but forget the reviews that call this murder mystery hilarious. Osman
has imbued his debut novel with deep psychological insight into the nature of
aging with dignity, living with grief, and coping with loneliness.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Tony Curran
had left the life of a drug dealer far behind, going straight as a contractor
for the smarmy Ian Ventham, fast-talking, loose with the truth developer of
Coopers Chace. Ventham has an unpopular expansion in mind, one that would mean
the destruction of the ancient Catholic cemetery on the property, where many of
the Chace’s seniors walk for exercise and contemplation. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">But all those
new units mean job security for Curran so why are Ian and Tony having such a
heated altercation in the Coopers Chase parking lot for all the community to
witness? And what to think when Curran turns up in a pool of his own blood on
his luxurious kitchen floor? The Thursday Murder Club is chomping at the bit to
get involved. They begin by enticing Donna, an officer recently relocated from
London and bored out of her mind, to a meet and greet heavy on desserts and
wine. Soon she introduces her DCI, Chris Hudson, to the group and they’re off
and running.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Osman
sprinkles his story with enough red herrings to keep clever readers on their
toes throughout, but it’s his take on human nature that I loved most about this
book. Life is so precarious. One bad choice made early on can ruin a life
forever. How does one outrun his past? Is there more than one acceptable way to
make amends for a youthful mistake? I found this to be a wise, wonderful discourse
on human frailty wrapped in a complex murder plot that stymied me until the
very end. </span></p>
Sallybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909664471267312249noreply@blogger.com0