Tyler’s 20th novel is, once again, about a Baltimore family, 3 generations. The writing is elegant, with a subtle reveal of strong emotions: love but also bewilderment and surprising strengths in surprising situations. Characters that we initially dismiss as shallow turn out to be stronger than we expected or suspected. Tyler continues to be a literary treasure.
Category: Female author
Lila by Marilynne Robinson
This wonderful book is the third in the Gilead trilogy, and is the best, in my opinion. There is almost no sense of place; most of the book takes place in Lila’s mind. The dominant emotion for Lila to learn is trust because she must always fight an impulse to flee what is a good outcome for her. Magnificent story telling.
The Green Road by Ann Enright
A splendid story set in the west of Ireland, about a family: wife/mother and four siblings. In the first part of the book, we meet the individual family members but the best part is in the latter half when the entire somewhat dysfunctional family is together. Complex relationships are described wonderfully.
A Year Of Marvellous Ways by Sarah Winman
This is a delightful and somewhat magical book, set in 1947 in Cornwall, England. The writing is beautiful, just wonderful story telling. Winman previously wrote the delightful When God Was A Rabbit which is brilliant.
(Amy’s note: When God was a Rabbit has one of the funniest descriptions of a Christmas pageant that I’ve ever read)
A Beauty by Connie Gault
Exquisite writing about small-town and rural Saskatchewan in 1932 (dirty thirties and depression) and 1960. At the heart of the story is Elena, an enigmatic and mysterious woman. Much is left unsaid in this moving and poignant story.
And The Birds Rained Down by Jocelyn Saucier
A beautiful and moving story about ageing on your own terms. The novel is set in Northern Ontario where 3 elderly men can hide in the remoteness. But two women join the hideaway and life for all changes. The ending is wistful and transcendent. This was the second funner-up in Canada Reads 2015 (with Martha Wainwright as the proponent), a very well-deserved recognition of exceptional writing.
Department of Speculation by Jenny Offil
A short novel about life and love, introspective stream-of-consciousness rambling by a female character known only as The Wife. Wonderful musings about the all-consuming demands of parenthood and then a troubled marriage. In short, excellent writing.
Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood
This book is subtitled “wicked tales” and these 9 stories absolutely are wickedly entertaining. The first three stories are particularly good as they are linked by common characters. An attractive feature of this collection is that Atwood writes about mature older characters.
A God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson
This story is told in tantalizing pieces/sequences, alternating between 1925 to 2012. The slow reveal of details is exquisite. The central character, Teddy, is complex, both a WWII hero and yet somewhat cowardly in other aspects of his life. His relationship with his daughter Viola is particularly fascinating; she resents his reasonableness. And there is a big surprise at the end but in retrospect, this should have not been surprising because this novel is a companion to Atkinson’s superb last book, Life After Life.
What David Read 