The last book I wrote about on here was "Yes, Daddy," by Jonathan Parks-Ramage, which still earns my vote as Worst Book Of The Year. Since my David works from home, I don't have as much time to write, meaning I cannot write the kind of in-depth book reviews I have, in the past.
So, what I have to decided to try out--and we will have to see how it goes, is examining what I have read since "Yes, Daddy"--a lot, actually, since my numbered list is already in the sixties, and the year is not quite halfway done. So I will post the book, and say a bit about each.
Here goes--
"The Paris Wife," by Paula McLain--There was a time, years back, when it seems I saw everyone on the subway--women, especially--reading this. It was high time I got to it, and while it was a satisfying experience, I have to be honest, the road was rocky. It took me some time to get into the author's rhythm of language, to figure out if she was on her own, or trying to duplicate Hemingway, whom, I must confess I despise, as a writer! Eventually I caught on, and her evocation of the glam life in Paris of this period, the characters--like Gertrude and Alice--encountered were fascinating and detailed. Rewarding? Yes, but be prepared, the reader has to get a bit into the book, before fully appreciating it.
"Light Perpetual," by Francis Spufford--I absolutely loved his previous novel, "Golden Hill," so when my book supplier, Miriam, told me this was coming out, I was ready and waiting. I was also delightfully surprised; second novels often experience Sophomore Slump, but this one did not. While some compared it to Kate Atkinson's "Life After Life," and I could see that, I found myself recalling more David Mitchell's "Utopia Avenue." Actually, if Spufford's name had not been on the jacket, I might have assumed Mitchell wrote it. The premise made me apprehensive--in 1944 London, a group of children standing by a Woolworth's store that gets bombed, are transported into other time periods, and their experiences are recounted. Now, before stopping here, let me say the mystical is not emphasized; character and narration take precedence here, and Spufford delivers a beautifully cohesive and meaningful read; one of the best I have had recently! Could it be a contender? We shall see, at year's end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Antiquities," by Cynthia Ozick--The trouble with Cynthia Ozick is that, because of her last name, I confuse her with Joyce Carol Oates, whose work I admire, but, let's face it, darlings, the woman has never met a word she didn't like, or never used. Ozick is sparse and structural, and this works to her advantage here, in what otherwise could have been a 500-700 page epic novel. Yet, despite its scope, "Antiquities" manages to cover the memoir of Lloyd Wilkinson Petrie, a remaining trustee of the now shut down Temple Academy For Boys. Having a famous archaeologist cousin, a Jewish friend name Ben-Zion Elefantin, gives a chance for the novel to shed light on issues like anti-Semitism, and homosexuality. There is almost a tender, poetic texture to Ozick's prose, which makes even the heavier parts less heavy going. Some might call this a novella; she simply calls it "A Story." Whatever, I recommend it to all, and, yes, this could be another contender!
"Of Women And Salt," by Gabriela Garcia--A novel panoramic in scope, rather than length, detailing an addict Jeanette, and her mother, Carmen, both Cuban immigrants, and a depiction of 19th Century Cuba, when cigar factories ruled, as did the patriarchy, and how the movement of immigration and detention camps evolved, and continue today. Sad, insightful, but with Jeanette and Carmon as strong female characters, it makes a convincing plea for immigration status, and is well worth reading.
"Milk, Blood, Heat," by Dantiel W. Moniz--I confess, I am not big on short story collections--never have been-but when one comes along that blows me away, I let folks know. And this is one. It may even be a contender. But be prepared; the material is dark and disturbing; the title story shocked me as no other has since the first time I read Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," back in high school. Every story in here will haunt the reader in some way. While I highly recommend it, be advised it is not for the faint of heart, or one who is not in a good place, emotionally.
"City Of Gates," by Rebecca Sacks--A debut novel that I hesitated on, due to its subject. Not another novel about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict! But Sacks covers both sides with unflinching objectivity, never breathing a hint of whom she may or not advocate. The reader inhabits each character's views and actions, both tragic and horrible, and the full impact of warring factions is brought home. I found this a compelling read, one I heard little about, but, as one who enjoys reading novels about other cultures, found this a welcome surprise. I would keep an eye on Rebecca Sacks, from now on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"When The Stars Go Dark," by Paula McLain--Back we are, with Paula, again. Having some ambivalence about "The Paris Wife," I wondered, could she really handle the suspense genre? Well, hons, I have to tell you, it surpasses her previous work, and I hope she writes more, along these lines. Her heroine, Anna Hart, a one-time detective, returns to her home town of Mendocino, CA to investigate the mysteries of two missing girls--Cameron Curtis, in the present, and Jenny Ford, a girl who went missing while Hart was growing up there, having known the family. She also gets into the real life case of Polly Klaas, a California girl, abducted and murdered, back in 1993, and whose killer aided in the search party. Creepy, but laced with an authenticity the book might not otherwise have had. The killer stumped me, though it made sense, when revealed, and some readers found the revelation too easy. Not me. I could not stop reading this book, until I reached the end. When I did, I wanted more. I hope McLain gives it. The procedural and poetic aspects make for an entertaining blend. This may not be THE Summer read, but I insist it is ONE of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's start with this--FORGET IT! If this turns out to be a contender or even a Most Notable book, I will rip up the paper, like Patti as Mama Rose, at the conclusion of Act One of "GYPSY," when she sings "Everything's Coming Up Roses," which I will do, too. The funny thing is, I cannot recall what compelled me to read this. I thought it was a 'Times' review, but after finishing this tome, I read Dwight Garner's review, and one thing he said was that it was "long and draggy," which it is. When a reader has to keep looking at the page number, to determine how much farther to go, there is trouble. This should have been written as two novels. It goes back in time, and between characters, a slacker from Jersey, named Tiller, who lives in a town called Dunbar, which, as a raised Jerseyan, I wondered if it stood in for Dunellen, a real nowhere place. In between recounting his titular year with Pong, a middle-aged business man, Tiller gets mixed up with a woman, Vera, and her son Victor, Jr., from a previous marriage. Are you with me, so far? Vera betrayed her father's business dealings, to the point where she and her son had to go into the Witness Protection Program, and I guess Tiller, as well. Not to mention Victor, Jr, becoming a cooking prodigy, Pong turning out to be impersonating some one else, a la "Persona," and all in 477 pages, which seems twice that. Rae Lee is obviously trying to become the new Murakami, but doesn't stand a chance, because he is starting on the level of that author's worst, rather than best. I have heard praise for Rae Lee's novel, "Native Speaker," and while it could be wonderful, after this, I cannot bring myself to read it. Skip this one, darlings, at all cost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, that is what I have been reading, recently, girls! I promise the next post will not be as long; I will try! Hope this helps, and Happy Reading everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May all your reading experiences be enjoyable! So many books, so little time!
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