Faulks is a wonderful writer (Birdsong, On Green Dolphin Street) and his latest book is a worthwhile addition. The premise is simple: a diverse group of people are selected to attend a London party, so the book details the back stories. What is fascinating is the diversity: a Polish footballer playing for a new London team; a pot-head son of someone who is receiving an OBE and who needs a crash course in contemporary literature; a greedy hedge-fund manager (so lots about shady banking), and the list goes on – there is a related story of a woman Underground driver, a literate lawyer, and importantly a radicalized British-Muslim young man so a home-grown terrorist attack is planned. There is a wonderful rant about the decline of teaching in schools and so much more. Such rich story-telling – highly recommended.
Category: Contemporary
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
This is a beautiful book. Elizabeth Strout writes like Elizabeth Hay, with great economy so there are no superfluous words. Part of Lucy Barton is about the relationship between a daughter and her mother; they reminisce during a 5-day hospital visit during an extended hospital stay for Lucy. But it is much more than that – about life under difficult circumstances and how that changes the meaning of love. This is a book that EVERYONE should read. Strout previously wrote the magnificent Olive Kitteridge.
I Take You by Eliza Kennedy
This is a fun and very contemporary book about love and (in)fidelity, and gender roles. The secret to enjoying this book is to read about Lily’s exploits with a complete lack of judgement.
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.
The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Sometimes a horror book can provide a cracking good story (think The Stand by Stephen King, but please no other King books). In this story, a malevolent ghost is out for revenge on the living. The main character who suffers this haunting is so remarkably unlikeable that it is interesting that we still hope for his survival in an epic battle between the living and the (un)dead ghost. Violent but still an enjoyable read, the old “and now for something entirely different”.
Salvage The Bones by Jesmyn Ward
The writing in this books reminds me of Toni Morrison, so high praise. There is a strong sense of impending doom for a Mississippi family (poverty, dog-fighting, teen-age pregnancy) while Katrina bores down on them. Excellent descriptive writing.
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.
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.
Powerful storytelling about guilt and, eventually, atonement. The back-story is the aftermath of an environmental disaster. Some First Nations mythology is an attractive feature of this fine novel.
What David Read 