Sometimes a new book by a favourite author can only be described as an exquisite pleasure. Ms. Strout’s novel returns to the town of Crosby Maine with a beloved cast of characters: the iconic Olive Kitteridge, lawyer Bob Burgess, and the author Lucy Barton. This is a story of empathy and pathos; the intimacy of shared stories and experiences; the importance of being seen so one’s life is not unrecorded; the paralysis of grief; the relationship between friendship and love; loneliness, sadness and beauty; and finally the significance of the very human desire to leave a mark on the world.
Category: Book themes
The Eye In The Door – Pat Barker
It is 1918, and the vengeful English public seeks scapegoats; pacifists and homosexuals are targeted for persecution and prosecution. The brutality of trench warfare leads to war neurosis (PTSD). The book title refers to being watched. The social stigma directed to “conchies” (conscientious objectors) is profound. This brilliant antiwar book is a worthy companion to Regeneration.
The Trials Of Koli – M.R. Carey
Book Two of the Ramparts Trilogy continues Koli’s search for a lost London. The journey is perilous with toxic nature (choker seeds) and conflicts with other humans. An underlying theme is the relationship with surviving tech, as human nature to want/need dominance and power is a real factor. This is a very imaginative dystopian saga filled with uncertainty and peril.
The Little Village Of Book Lovers – Nina George
Full disclosure: this is an unequivocally sentimental book about love, the love of books and love between people. The context: a little town in the south of France in the 1960s. There are two themes. First, the orphan Marie-Jeanne and her foster-father Francis (a bric-a-brac dealer) start a mobile library; chapter 10 has the provocative title “Books are not for cowards”. Thus literary choices become the basis for self-awareness and friendships. But second, Marie-Jeanne can “see” the marks Love has left on the village people. Can she facilitate the union of soulmates? This is an elegantly crafted examination of the elusive nature of love, and is completely charming.
What I Know About You – Eric Chacour
This remarkable first novel is a Giller finalist. The story starts in Cairo in the 1960s, and eventually includes a Montreal sojourn. Plot details are unnecessary. Suffice it to say this is a love story when a chance encounter leads to obsession. The writing is beautiful; a simple action like the lighting of a cigarette becomes poetic, or when describing Cairo’s heady olfactory aura creates a visceral sensation. This is a must-read book, in my opinion.
The Book Of Koli – M.R. Carey
Carey wrote the magnificent The Girl With All The Gifts. This book is the first in a Rampart Trilogy, describing a dystopian future set several centuries after an apocalyptic disaster. A post-apocalyptic fantasy world is described vividly; much was lost including “old tech”. What will happen if Koli accidentally discovers a music/entertainment device? This is an epic fable, not to be missed. Thanks Amy, for this recommendation (via Chris!)
Wandering Stars – Tommy Orange
This is a brilliant follow-up to Orange’s There There with some of the same characters. The first part of the book is historical, the legacies of the Sand Creek massacre of 1864 and the Carlisle Industrial School for Indians. Misguided attempts at assimilation by governments and adoptions are devoted to the eradication of Native history, culture and identity. The next section of the book entitled Aftermath is even better, detailing the brutal reality of contemporary life in Oakland for two grandmothers and their three grandsons. When is life more than surviving?
This book is both shattering and wondrous – highly recommended.
The Husbands – Holly Gramazio
Lauren returns to her London flat to discover her husband Michael but … she is not married! When Michael enters the attic, a different “husband” emerges. Amazingly, her attic is capable of creating an infinite supply of husbands so Lauren recycles them, looking for an ideal (or acceptable) married relationship. This is an original and totally entertaining book.
Julia – Sandra Newman
In Orwell’s classic novel 1984, the protagonist Winston Smith has a brief relationship with Julia Worthing and then betrays her. Ms. Newman now provides an imaginative insight into Julia’s story. The iconic dystopia of Oceania is revealed but with twists, a unique female perspective that is both haunting and provocative.
What David Read 