McClain is an excellent writer (The Paris Wife) and Circling The Sun is also a very good book – a fictionalized account of Beryl Markham’s life in Kenya in the 1920-30s. Beryl interacts with the characters from Out Of Africa – Karen Blixen, Denys Finch-Hatton, etc. The book is unabashedly romantic in the treatment of complicated human relationships and the mystery of Africa.
Author: AJ
About Grace by Anthony Doerr
David has dreams that are premonitions of disasters, but the timing of the upcoming disaster is mysterious. He has a dream that his newborn daughter will drown in his arms during a flood, so he flees and the rest of his life is a train wreck. Very fine writing, especially contrasting life in the Caribbean and in Alaska. The view of the physical world (snow, insects, clouds, etc) is exceptional.
His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay
This is a fabulous book, a quiet story told with perfect prose. An example: “Jim overheard and thought that he respected him enough to believe he meant what he said, and if he meant what he said, then how could he respect him?”. An insightful examination of relationships between: husband and wife, children and parents, best friends and siblings. Summers at an Ontario Lake alternate with the frenzy of NY; at its heart: this story is about the consequences of secrets and shame.
Martin John by Anakana Schofield
This book was on the Giller short list. Martin John is a sexual predator, with actions ranging from touching himself in public to inappropriate touching of others. What is fascinating is that the voice of this book describes the circular thoughts in his head with clear evidence of mental illness. And there is his Mam, frustrated by MJ’s pattern of offending and re-offending – how far can a mother’s love stretch. This is an excellent and provocative book.
Amy notes: As seen Vancouver Writers Festival 2015
The Night Stages by Jane Urquhart
Urquhart writes exquisite books: The Underpainter, The Stone Carvers, A Map of Glass, etc. This great new book is mainly set in the SW of Ireland (County Kerry) in the 1940-50s. The characters are vivid: two Irish brothers, an Englishwoman who eventually moves to Ireland, and a Canadian mural painter. A beautiful part of the book describes a prolonged fog delay in Gander Airport which allows detailed contemplation of a mural. There is much discussion about art and love, and even a bike race in the beauty of Ireland. This is one of my best reads of 2015.
Undermajordomo Minor – Patrick de Witt
This is a delightful book with intrigue, passionate love and loss, and some very dark places. In other words, it is a fable! Lucy Minor is a great character with vivid flaws like lying. This is a worthy book to follow the amazing success of The Sisters Brothers.
I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
A compelling love story about twins, of volatile first-love and betrayal, of parental love, all within a context of art.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20820994-i-ll-give-you-the-sun
God Help The Child by Toni Morrison
The premise of this book, that childhood experiences shape adult relationships (think of attachment disorder), is hardly novel but a master writer like Morrison can still create a compelling story. There is a passage about 2/3 of the way through this book about playing a trumpet in the rain that is transcendent.
Monocerus by Suzette Mayr
From the list of “12 under-rated Canadian novels”, this is a gritty novel about the aftermath of the death by suicide of a gay teenaged high school student, as revealed by multiple points of view. Mayr is a Calgary writer and this book is excellent albeit heart wrenching.
What David Read 