Full disclosure: this is a hopelessly sentimental book – blame my age and the obvious reality that I love books. Carl is a 72-year-old German bookseller who delivers books to special customers in the evening. A chance encounter with 9-year-old Schascha changes his life. All is not sweetness and light – the novel contains considerable darkness. But at its core, this is a story about friendships forged through books.
Category: Location / Setting
Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade – Janet Skeslien Charles
Anne Morgan, the daughter of the financier J.P. Morgan, established the American Committee for Devastated France (Le Comite americain pour les regions devastees, or CARDs). In January 1918, Jessie Carson leaves her NYPL librarian post to travel to Blerencourt in Northern France to establish children’s libraries, sometimes using bookmobiles from converted ambulances. Her efforts are complicated by ongoing and brutal WWI actions requiring temporary resettlement in France. Ms. Carson’s notable achievements are researched in 1987 by Wendy Peterson also working at the NYPL. This story is a tribute to human resilience.
Ladder Of Years – Anne Tyler
A re-read of a book purchased in 1996! Delia is a 40-year-old married mother of three with a nondescript existence. At a beach vacation, she makes an unplanned and spontaneous decision to leave her family, to just walk away: not so much to leave someone or something but to start over. Her new existence is minimalist; she stares at dust motes in silence in her boarding house room (page 140). This is a compelling relationship story, both old and new: “they spoke without letting their eyes meet, like people in a play, whose words are meant for an audience”. Tyler’s insights into domestic intimacy are profound, unsettling at times, and often miraculous.
James – Percival Everett
In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck helps Jim escape slavery. Everett’s book provides Jim’s story, and there is much to admire in his writing. First, it is an adventure story of survival. Second, there is some dark humor as Jim utilizes a “correct incorrect grammar” when speaking as a slave, And third, the brutal context of pre-Civil War slavery is shown graphically with ugly cruelty directed to “black property”. What compels people to behave inhumanely?
The Mighty Red – Louise Erdrich
My first book in 2025 is … great! The setting is the Red River Valley in North Dakota, with ordinary people coping as best they can with the impending financial collapse of 2008-09. There is a premature wedding, and an embezzlement with a masquerading bank robber. The people are flawed and decent, lonely and hopeful. There are also dark secrets in the aftermath of a tragic accident. And finally, there is a brilliant understanding of human relationships with the environment. Ms. Erdrich’s writing reminds me of Lionel Shriver, high praise indeed.
The Circle – Katherena Vermette
This compelling story is a worthy companion to The Break and The Strangers, to complete a trilogy of unforgettable Metis voices. The central event is the release of Phoenix from prison after 6 years confinement for a vicious assault. The implications are profound; stories and memories are revealed from different perspectives so the exquisite writing creates a type of restorative justice circle where both the victimized and accused confront how their lives have been changed. This is masterful writing with an ending that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
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.
Death At The Sign Of The Rook – Kate Atkinson
Ms. Atkinson has written a delightful book about Jackson Brodie, her fifth story about the now ex-detective. All the mystery tropes are present: stolen paintings; a murder mystery play at a decrepit estate in a snow storm; and not surprisingly, murders ensue! The writing displays the author’s signature wit: “neither of them could open their mouths without a cliche falling out (p. 14). This is a clever and completely enjoyable read.
The Hunter – Tana French
This brilliant sequel to The Searcher has retired Chicago policeman Cal Hooper trying to live quietly and unobtrusively in a small village in the west of Ireland. The insularity of the village is portrayed perfectly, with suspicion of newcomers. The psychology of the village includes greed when a scam opportunity is introduced, and there is a revenge motive. Although this is a murder mystery, only one death occurs after reading 60% of the book! Ms. French is a sublime writer of crime fiction, and the ending of this book is particularly well-crafted.
What David Read 