The subtitle “A Novel of John LeCarre’s Circus” is not surprising because Harkaway is the son of the late John LeCarre. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that the author can resurrect the character of George Smiley so perfectly. It is 1963, the missing decade between “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” and “Tinker, Tailor …”. Smiley epitomizes watchfulness, the exercise of paranoia, and the awareness of constant danger. The plot is, of course, complex with a missing spy and action in London, Berlin and Vienna – very enjoyable.
Category: Book themes
A Brief History of Montmaray – Michelle Cooper
A fine example of historical fiction with an imaginative island of Montmaray in the Bay of Biscay, between France and Spain. The story is told by journal writing by 16-year-old (Princess) Sophie FitzOsborne in 1936. There is an eccentric and impoverished royal family clinging to relevance as Europe descends into chaos. Importantly, the story transitions from silly to serious, to become a heart-stopping tale of loyalty, love and loss. In short, this is a very entertaining book that gets better and better. Thanks Elliott, for this recommendation.
The Life Cycle Of The Common Octopus – Emma Knight
Pen(elope) and Alice are Canadian BFFs who attend university in Edinburgh, in part so Pen can learn about a mystery involving her father’s prior relationship(s) in Scotland. The story builds slowly but effectively with elements of female friendships, first feelings of love, and sacrifices of motherhood. And much withholding creates a compelling mystery. This is a very fine first novel that was Giller short-listed.
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt – Anonymous
My good friend Karen recommendd this book by stating “It has been a long time since I dreaded the approaching of the end of a book”, and I concur completely although the story will not be for everyone. The anonymous narrator, a writer and single mother, creates a fictitious character named Duchess Goldblatt to post on social media. Why create a fictional persona? Is it for personal privacy? Is it to construct an alternative reality, a social construct that is a better person, kinder and more compassionate? DG becomes a bright light in the darkness of social media. In contrast, the anonymous narrator is extremely introspective with intense relationships with her late father, son, a brother with mental illness, and yes, even Lyle Lovett. Highly recommended for a challenging read.
Book of Lives – A Memoir of Sorts – Margaret Atwood
Ms. Atwood is, of course, a Canadian literary treasure with books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her memoir is, predictably, fascinating with her droll sense of humour. First, there is her somewhat unconventional childhood with summers spent in remote northern bush country with her entomologist father and resourceful mother. Second, key moments in her life are linked to books, like writing the Handmaids Tale in 1980s Berlin. And finally, the important people in her life are acknowledged, especially Graeme Gibson. Overall, an insightful and often very funny memoir from an imaginative and thoughtful author. Highly recommended.
Unless – Carole Shields
Sometimes when the CPL hold system fails to provide a new book, it is a great pleasure to revisit a classic book from my personal library, like this great novel from 2002 by Ms. Shields, a Canadian literary icon. Full disclosure: this is a book about and for women. Reta is a 44-year-old married mother with three daughters, and a writer/translator. Her female relationships are complex. Notably, her 19-year-old daughter Norah is living on the street; her motivation of choose a path of self-abnegation is a mystery. And Reta’s interactions with her female fiends and colleagues are also complex with profound feelings of powerlessness. As always, Ms. Shields’ writing is exquisite; for example, the description of a library trip is sublime.
Black Cherokee – Antonio Michael Downing
This is a book about belonging, identity and race. It is also a tender coming-of-age story. Ophelia is a mixed-race Black-Cherokee child of uncertain parentage, raised in South Carolina by her indominable grandmother. Ophelia’s lack of belonging is evident in her community where whe is neither Black or Cherokee, in her school, and in a devastating exposure to church hypocrisy. A chance listen to this author at the October WordFest has resulted in a very worthwhile read.
Beaver Hills Forever – Conor Kerr
The author of Prairie Edge has now written a short Metis poetic novella. The are alternating poetic verses/pages of four Indigenous voices, two women (Baby Momma, Aunty Prof) and two men (Buddy, Fancy University Boy). A dominant theme is the constraints imposed on Metis people from institutional whiteness, class and even delusions of grandeur. The writing is funny and heartfelt, with an uncompromising focus.
Note from Amy: I read this too, and fell deeply in love with the complications of life, and the way that Conor Kerr wrote his short poetic prose
What We Can Know – Ian McEwan
This is one of McEwan’s best books, one that should be read slowly to savour his exceptional writing. In 2014, an acclaimed poet reads a new poem dedicated to his wife on her birthday, at a dinner party in England. But the poem is never published and so is lost. Over the next 100 years, the world undergoes a collapse of civilization with cataclysmic climate change exacerbated by nuclear wars. So in 2119, an academic in a Humanities Department discovers an astonishing clue in surviving archives. Thus a literary thriller about life and love provides profound insight into human nature.
What David Read 