Stormy Weather Reading
November 8, 2024
Hello out there! Hope everyone is cozied up and braving the wet and wild weather of late. We talk a lot about summer and beach reading but there may be some truth to getting more pages flipped when the lamplight is on longer and the storms are keeping us cozily inside. I’m popping up here to share a few of the books on my radar lately. Amy Tyler of Red Fern Book Review podcast recorded a little chat we had about the choices – tune in over here to eavesdrop!
One of my favourite books of all time is Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. McCann threaded the lives of a seemingly unrelated characters into a stunning tapestry. Apeirogan, published in 2020 is another creatively presented novel by McCann, this time focused on two men who have each suffered the tragic loss of a child during war time. The catch, one man is Israeli while the other is Palestinian. Though they represent opposing sides, they come together in their shared grief to work on a path to peace. McCann’s writing was inspired by a true story and through the braiding of 1001 entries, some as simple as a photo or quote, others several pages, he captures the perspectives and suffering and desire for resolution. Apeirogon, incidentally, is an infinitely sided polygon that can be looked at in any number of ways. I’ve had this on my shelf since it first published in paperback and I’m feeling it’s even more timely now to delve into. I imagine this one will lead to great book club discussions.
The Trade Off by Samantha Greene Woodruff is a recent release in our favoured Historical Fiction category. 1920’s New York City and a focus on a young woman with a particular skill with numbers and patterns finding her way into Wall Street – I’m thoroughly intrigued! Something that’s a little different. Due to the times and the woman’s religious affiliation she needs the cover of her charming brother to be involved in the traditional men’s world of finance. Money, family, romance and the Stock Market Crash … lots to entertain in this story.
Alice McDermott is a multi award winning literary writer and this is her ninth novel. Published in the fall of 2023, Absolution has recently hit the shelves in paperback. Kristin Hannah’s The Women took us to the front lines in Vietnam in 1965. Absolution also looks to women’s roles in Vietnam in the early 60’s, before the feminist movement, but this time the focus is on two trailing spouses “doing good” to support their ambitious husbands within the local community in Saigon. Their complicated relationship and the consequences of their privilege and flaws are reflected upon some 60 years later by one of the women and the daughter of the other. Ann Patchett calls this novel “A Moral Masterpiece” Absolution might be another slightly uncomfortable read that prompts excellent discussion.
Niall Williams is another writer I’m counting as an all time favourite. His book This Is Happiness is on the keeper shelf right beside Colum McCann’s Let the Great World Spin. Is it coincidence that they are both Irish writers? Time of the Child returns the reader to the small Irish town of Faha where This Is Happiness held our attention in its pages. The cast of characters return to this seasonal stand-alone read but focus is on the local doctor and his unmarried daughter. Slightly distanced from the community due to their professional status, the walls come down when father and daughter discover an infant left on their doorstep and their lives are changed forever. A heartwarming tale that unfolds over the month of December as a community gathers to help one another in extraordinary ways. The writing by Williams will have you stopping to savour descriptions and word choices again and again. A lovely giftable book.
For the non-fiction readers, Roland Allen delivers a deep dive into the simple notebook but takes it to a whole other level as he discovers notebooks represent a vast history of ideas rather than mere stationery. In The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper, we learn the first notebooks were bound and used in Florence, Italy in the year 1300 as ledgers for shopkeepers. Cooks, kings, sailors, fishermen, musicians, engineers, politicians, adventurers, mathematicians and artists all adopted their own versions of notebooks that carry over into modern day. This study entertainingly tells the stories of famous notebook users like Leonardo daVinci, Newton, Henry James, Darwin, Agatha Christie and a number of modern authors too. Bruce Chatwin’s Moleskine gets a good look. The relatively new concept of Bullet Journaling in notebooks is also discussed. I keep “commonplace” notebooks – notes and quotes gathered from a variety of sources compiled in a “common place”, the prettier the cover the better. I also keep smaller notebooks for those ideas and thoughts and recommendations that vanish into thin air not long after their first appearance. Some people keep Notes in their phones (does that count I wonder?) A good, trivia packed read into creativity with a thorough and engaging researcher.
And finally, something a bit more whimsical perhaps. Big in Sweden was released this past July and was a widely recommended summer read. I think you’ll find the humour, travel, charm, and poignancy perfect for any time of year. We follow a tall, 35 year old American woman after she successfully submits an application to participate in a Swedish reality show in which Americans of Swedish descent participate in a variety of Survivor-esque endeavours to discover more about their cultural roots. In so doing, she learns a lot about what friendship and family mean to her and about her own place in the world. “A fish-out-of-water tale filled with warmth, optimism, and wit, Big in Sweden is at its heart a love story: love for family, friends, country, and–most importantly–oneself.” As an interesting aside, Meg Ryan narrates the audio book and has exuberantly sung the praises of the tale. Sally Franson herself competed in a similar show and was inspired by her experience to set her novel in the same world.
What have you found to read lately?
Summer ’24 and the Reading is Easy
July 2, 2024
. 
One summer long weekend behind us already! Hope you’ve been finding some reading delights. As is tradition, I’m here to share a few of my own summer recommendations. As is also tradition for a few years now, Amy of Redfern Book Review and I have cooked up a podcast version to listen to for full discussion of these books and some random meanderings. Come join us! You can tune in to anywhere you listen to podcasts or simply click here.
You Are Here by David Nicholls – The latest from the British writer best known for the novel and recently televised One Day. This focuses less on young love and more on the mature variety. The charming story follows two single middle-agers who through circumstances (and best intentions of friends) end up hiking through all manner of weather and emotional drama across Northern England. There is delightful and funny repartee and some pretty relatable predicaments. A blend of humour and poignancy along with some travel makes for an ideal summer escape.
Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes – Speaking of escape… and England … and humour. Check, check check! But quite different adventures. This one promises full on farcical fun. Set in the linked villages of Little Bottom, Middle Bottom, Great Bottom and Monkton Bottom for starters, a cast of Gucci-clad socialites gets wound up in all sorts of shenanigans. “Take a grand English country house, one (heartbroken) American divorcee, three rich wives, two tycoons, a pair of miniature sausage dogs and one (bereaved) butler; put them all into the blender and out comes the impossibly funny Wives Like Us, the new novel from the best-selling author of Bergdorf Blondes and Party Girls Die In Pearls, Plum Sykes.” Just add a beach if you wish and you’re set for an ideal summer read.
The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier – She’s back! Prolific historical fiction writer Tracy Chevalier has found a new milieu. Not Vermeer (Girl with a Pearl Earring) or textiles (A Single Thread, The Lady and the Unicorn) or fossils (Remarkable Creatures) or the underground railway (The Last Runaway) or … this time it’s Venice and specifically, Murano glassworks. The story follows a family of glassblowers from Renaissance times to present day, through rivalries and love stories and historical events that challenge the family and the women who work to keep their glass legacy alive. A writer with a talent for immersing her reader into exotic worlds of art and significant times in our history. Looking forward to the journey!
Sandwich by Catherine Newman – Catherine Newman cornered the market on honest new parenthood tales some years ago and has become a treasured voice we turn to for guaranteed hilarity and frank commentary along with a little heartbreak. She is a frequent essay writer, blogger (I find her contributing to Cup of Jo or on her own substack Crone Sandwich) and She recently wrote We All Want Impossible Things about the loss of a best friend which was an emotional rollercoaster (laughter! tears!) and a moving tribute to long term adult friendships and having to say an early good-bye. Sandwich is a novel that follows a mid-life menopausal mama through a week of the annual multi-generational family vacation on Cape Cod. And what a week it is. While working on hormonal anger management and empty-nest syndrome, she is also grappling with the reality of independent but aging parents. Her long-suffering husband and their marriage demand her attention too. Meanwhile, sandwiches need to be made! Humorous and poignant … sensing a theme yet?
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – Unlike the other books on this list, Anxious People is not a new release. It was published in 2021 after Fredrik Backman’s other hits, A Man Called Ove and Bear Town perhaps the most familiar. Backman has great range in topics and deftly handles all aspects of the emotional spectrum. I was prompted to head to the back list after viewing the most hilarious video of the author presenting his thoughts on “Creative Anxiety and Procrastination” (click link to view) to a group of writers gathered by Simon and Schuster. It is comic gold.
And all the motivation I needed to order up Anxious People – the story of a group of people randomly taken hostage at a real estate Open House. A couple of retirees who may have outgrown one another, an overworked executive, confused expectant parents, an emboldened 87 year old woman, a realtor and a mystery man each struggles with their own challenges and emotions. Together they try to find a way through this highly anxious experience. Apparently, a similar encounter of his own prompted Backman to pen this one.
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard – This squeaked onto the list at the end as it’s one I’d just recently read and enjoyed. Captivating and creative, kind of in a category of its own: a little time travel and fantasy with emotions tied to friendship and family and identity and big choices. This follows a young woman who lives in a community located in a central valley. A valley to the East and one to the West are populated by Life Past and Life Future and travel between is forbidden except in very special circumstances. Any movement is secret and tightly managed and monitored. When a visitor from a neighbouring valley is accidently noticed by our protagonist, she becomes part of an upper echelon and is swept up in a close friend’s family story. A debut Canadian author. Looking forward to what’s next already!
Let us know what makes its way into your book bag. Happy reading!
Three for Three
February 14, 2024
A little over a month in to 2024 and I can report that I’m three for three in the keeper-reads department. All of these were excellent! Each quite different from the other but still a love story of some sort. Heartbreak and optimism and stories well told. So … just popping in to share in the event your book club or just little-old-you is seeking something new.
This is Happiness by Niall Williams – Set in a tiny fictional Irish town, as electricity is arriving on the scene for the very first time. A lovely introduction to a small cast of memorable and delightful characters as they discover and grow through explorations of old and new loves. Irish storytelling, deep sigh, at its best. You will be stopped in your tracks by the most evocative descriptions – we all know most of the same words but some writers can just weave them into a masterpiece. Enjoy!
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey – This looks like a lite beachy read but brace yourself, there is more to it. You will definitely laugh as there is a self deprecating charm around the main character, giving you Anne Shirley vibes as she finds herself getting into “scrapes” but rather than a red haired freckle faced teen, we’re dealing with an auburn-haired forty-something recently widowed mother as she decides whether she’s prepared for a new love in her life. Your giggles will be matched with heartfelt tears and back again. The author’s bio gives you a hint at the authenticity of this writing – she, herself, is a young widow and mother, and while this is not her own story (being a novel) you will appreciate how she captures rollercoasting emotions deftly.
The Postcard by Anne Berest – This novel has been a longstanding bestseller in its native France and only recently arrived in North America, to the same warm reception. Another workout for your heart as this one follows along while a family seeks the origin of a postcard which mysteriously names their relatives who were all lost to prison camps in the Holocaust. Creatively shared, we learn the history of the family and what brought them to Paris and how War and the Holocaust have woven themselves into the tapestry of generations.
Happy reading!
An Autumn Edit
October 6, 2023
Autumnal greetings! It’s a big book season and there are soooo many new titles to consider. I narrowed down a lengthy list to the following six for a podcast chat with Amy Mair, host of Red Fern Book Review. If you’re familiar with our past posts and discussions, you’ll know the drill. If not, read here and hear there! Tune in to our conversation at redfernbookreview.com
The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
Previous novels by Jean Kwok include Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation. Each of these, along with this new novel, feature elements of the immigrant experience and are written with remarkable emotional depth. I guarantee you will remember scenes from her books for years to come. In a good way! The Leftover Woman, releasing on October 10, 2023, is a family drama featuring two mothers of an adopted daughter. The birth mother was forced to surrender her child due to China’s One Child policy while the adoptive mother has raised the child in her extraordinarily privileged New York City environment. When the birth mother bravely makes her way from China with little to no means of support, leaving a controlling husband behind, she is on a collision course with the adoptive mother who is enmired within crises of her own. Words like “atmospheric” and “profound” and “suspenseful” describe the mystery that unfolds. Jean Kwok moved to Brooklyn, NY as a young immigrant herself and went on to study at Harvard and Columbia universities.
The Class – Memoir of a Place, a Time and Us by Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden is a name familiar to most Canadians; he is in the history books both for his Stanley Cup successes in goal for the Montreal Canadiens and for his time in politics as an MP and Cabinet Minister. He has also written hockey history books: The Game, Home Game and four others. As a young student, he joined a cohort of 35 in a “Selected Class” who remained very closely together throughout their studies. It was the post-war era and a time considered to be of “boundless possibilities” There was little contact among the students following graduation and Dryden takes us along as he connects with his former classmates and discovers what those possibilities turned into. A great glimpse into a period of history and a reflection on the different opportunities and choices made by the individuals in the group. I’m really looking forward to this one.
T’is the season for a new novel from Terry Fallis! The Best Laid Plans launched his writing career and we’re all grateful he’s continued with a variety of warm and humorous tales. This particular story may have a bit more pathos within but I’m certain the funny bits will still be there too. It is the tale of a fellow, recently widowed, who has lost his emotional footing. He has a supportive gang of fellow ball hockey teammates and a loving son but it’s a bit of “gumption”, mystery, and serendipity in Paris that brings him back. “…sometimes, making a change in your life can save your life.”
So here we have a debut novel … but not a debut writer. Amy Chua is author of the wildly successful, iconic even, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother which dominated headlines for months in 2011. But today we’re talking about her new novel which is gaining traction for its merit as an historical thriller. The scene is set at a spooky landmark setting (Berkeley’s Claremont Hotel) when a homicide detective is perchance on the scene while a Presidential Candidate is murdered upstairs on hotel premises. As our officer digs into this crime and the political enemies around the deceased, he discovers there is a history of unfortunate events at the hotel, with ties to a privileged local family. From the publisher: “Chua’s page-turning debut brings to life a historical era rife with turbulent social forces and groundbreaking forensic advances, when race and class defined the very essence of power, sex, and justice, and introduces a fascinating character in Detective Sullivan, a mixed race former Army officer who is still reckoning with his own history.”
(Bonus) Crossings: How Road Ecology is shaping the future of our planet by Ben Goldfarb
I’ve posted before about the publishing phenomenon of synchronistic releases – two (or more) books on the same topic published very near to one another in the calendar. This latest example is focused on the topic of Road Ecology. A topic which may seem dry to some of you but fascinating when you delve a little way in. There are 40 million miles of roadways on our planet, reflecting growth and prosperity of communities. And yet, these paved ways have an enormous impact on our planet’s surface, waterways, plants, and the wildlife with whom we share it. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Tunnels of Love in Australia which allow animals to pass under the roads? Or the overpasses in the Rockies providing the same service? These explorations of an important global topic will appeal to the non-fiction readers among us but will also intrigue anyone wishing to understand more about Earth’s well-being and how we can become more mindful of development’s effect. Both of these books are rating extremely generously among reviewers.
Talking at Night by Claire Daverley
And now for romance. A debut UK author receiving great acclaim, Claire Daverley’s writing has been described as evocative of Sally Rooney’s. High praise for Sally fans. I’ve just begun the story and have to say there is a quiet tender tone to the writing that easily draws the reader in and creates space to absorb and appreciate the dialogue and characters as they reveal their stories. Will and Rosie are utter opposites in the high school pecking order and yet establish an unexpectedly deep interest and bond with one another. Tragic circumstances prevent them from being together and, as the decades pass, they come close to reuniting, again and again. However, missed opportunities abound. It’s an emotional see-saw, poignant and hopeful. “It’s the story of the many loves we have in a lifetime.” and “It’s about the people we meet who change us irrevocably and who we always carry with us.”
As always, dig in and let us know what you enjoy most. Happy reading!
Summer Reading (Nostalgia version) ’23 – part two
October 6, 2023
This long-awaited post is now named Summer Nostalgia rather than Summer Reading as our weather hints (pretty strongly) that the warm season has officially drifted off now. These choices seem to fit the mood, nevertheless. Hopefully you can enjoy with a dose of fresh sea air.
An Autumn Edit is hot on the heels of this post (feast or famine my loyal followers!) so prepare to be overwhelmed with cozy season choices.
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
Newly in paperback, this seems like a quintessential summer mood read. Or … a cozy up in front of the fire read, while reflecting on summers past. It’s a bit heftier than most but the beautifully written pages will take you off to Coastal Maine to explore themes of friendship and legacy and love and literature. A 79 year old renowned writer of children’s books, Agnes Lee, is suffering from writer’s block at the same time that she is attempting to plan her estate by preserving a land holding at Fellowship Point where she’s spent most of the summers of her life. Her dear friend, and Fellowship Point neighbour, Polly, needs to approve of the plans but is under the influence of her adult children who have less sentimental ideas. Conflict arises between the old friends and their privileged summer community. If that wasn’t enough, Agnes has been convinced to write her memoir and the ghosts and secrets that emerge complicate matters further. This is an epic multi-generational trip with the layered stories unfolding in a majestic landscape. Extremely well-reviewed as Alice Elliott Dark is a widely respected and talented writer.
Beyond That the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash
While one family must heart-wrenchingly part ways with their 11 year old daughter in order to protect her from the German bombings on London, another family welcomes her a world away, to Boston. Young Bea will forever be influenced by her time with the Gregory family and their sons with whom she bonded over her years spent savouring idyllic summer retreats and the easy American lifestyle they enjoy. Bea returns to London and her family but carries her time with the Gregory’s deep within. “As we follow Bea over time, navigating between her two worlds, Beyond That, the Sea emerges as a beautifully written, absorbing novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love.”
Here’s another story where the location is a a character unto itself. Set on a small isolated island off the rugged Newfoundland coast in the 1990s, a young boy is mourning the loss of his fisherman father. Another tragedy, this time the disappearance of a teen girl, also preoccupies his thoughts as he and his friends become insistent seekers of the truth behind the mystery. The fierce weather and landscape along with the characters seeking to make their way in a changing culture amid the failing fishing industry all play key roles in the unfolding of the tale. “Part coming-of-age story, part literary mystery, and part suspense thriller, Closer by Sea is a page-turning, poignant, and powerful novel about family, friendship, and community set at a pivotal time in modern Newfoundland history. It is an homage to a people and a place, and above all it captures that delicate and tender moment when the wonder of childhood innocence gives way to the harsh awakening of adult experience.”
The Last Life Boat by Hazel Gaynor
If you have read The Lost Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry, this would be a good follow up or vice versa. A story of the children of WWII who were sent off for safer shores and yet, encountered tragedy and challenges despite best efforts to provide security. After their ship is torpedoed, a young teacher is alone with a group of frightened and desperate evacuee children adrift at sea, fighting for their survival. On shore, a desperate mother will do her best to aid in the rescue. The women’s lives will be forever intertwined. Also a bit reminiscent of Beyond That the Sea listed above, but a quite different take. Choose one or immerse yourself in the genre with all of them! Hazel Gaynor is renowned for her skill in bringing historical events and characters vibrantly to life with memorable and entertaining stories.
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
More historical fiction, this time focused on The Red Cross and its “Donut Dollies” – the women charged with driving the Clubmobile military vehicles along the front lines in Europe during World War II. The special sisterhood of friendships forged, along with heroic endeavours, and the highs and lows of love are shared with beautiful writing by Luis Alberto Urrea who was inspired by his own Mother’s stories of her experiences as a wartime volunteer.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The author of Deacon King Kong once again immerses his reader in a vivid neighbourhood community. The mostly Jewish immigrants and African Americans resident of Chicken Hill are enmeshed in a web of secrets, long held, behind the discovery of a skeleton during an excavation by developers. “As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.”
It’s Summer Reading ’23
May 26, 2023
(Art by: Peder Severin Krøyer, Roses, 1893, Skagens Museum, Skagen, Denmark)
The days are getting longer and so, too, are the lists of enticing books to enjoy on our travels or in our gardens. It’s a season that celebrates reading! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share a few of the titles that are catching my eye and to join Amy Mair at Red Fern Book Review for our annual Summer Reads chat. Tune in to the Red Fern Book Review podcast episode here to listen to our conversation around the top six summer choices listed below. Looking forward to your thoughts too. Let us know what you’re choosing to read from this list, and beyond!
I love when a book is an escape to another place, particularly when it is described authentically. Shelley Read takes us to Colorado ranch country in Go As A River and as a fifth generation Coloradan, captivates us with beautifully vivid descriptions of scenery she knows and loves. This novel, inspired by real events, follows the story of Victoria Nash, a young woman forging ahead to survive with incredible courage when tragedy strikes and she loses her home and all she’s known. It’s a tale of love and friendship and personal growth. (Comparisons have been made to the character Kya in Where the Crawdads Sing – high praise!) And here’s an example of the “stop for a moment and savour” writing: “The landscapes of our youth create us, and we carry them within us, storied by all they gave and stole, in who we become.” It’s ready to read next on my bedside table and I can’t wait!
For the cozy mystery lovers among us, this one is a fun mashup of a lively round of the board game Clue and The Great British Bake Off. How’s that for great summer entertainment?! A widely followed baking competition is being filmed at an impressive estate in Rhode Island when things go off the rails with some sly shenanigans and then an actual murder. Certainly more serious than a soggy bottom! The cast of entertainingly eccentric characters are all suspect and the hostess herself may not be all she seems. Its publisher describes The Golden Spoon as “a brilliant puzzle filled with shocking twists and turns that will keep you reading late into the night …” On your marks, get set, read!
I am so eager to delve into these pages. Literary escapes can take place within the walls of a museum too, and in this case, not just any old museum, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, aka “The Met”. Patrick Bringley, an accomplished writer at The New Yorker, seeks distraction and comfort during a difficult time in his life by finding work at the Museum as a Guard. He stayed in the role for ten years and was able to observe, as an insider, all the behind the scenes workings of the museum. He also gained privileged insight into the art and installations and became part of a special community of Museum staff members. And now, he’s sharing his story and his observations with us. This will be worth the price of admission!
In all its international iterations, this cover wins the prettiest category. Very summery too. India Knight has long been a popular newspaper Lifestyle columnist in the UK and has written earlier novels that might be categorized as “Domestic Fiction” – good natured and downright funny portrayals of women seeking balance in motherhood and life in general. This newest novel is a bit of a departure but I’m sure will be as engaging. Inspired by the 1945 classic “The Pursuit of Love” by Nancy Mitford, the tale of an upper class English family and specifically one daughter’s desperate focus and obsession on finding big love, is brought into the modern age with all the cell phones, Instagram and trips on the Eurostar to be authentic. India Knight’s version is described as “a razor sharp, gloriously funny re-telling” of Mitford’s original story. There are Great Gatsby-esque vibes in the tale and I’m sure this clever new story will delight. Book Clubs could tackle the two novels, The Pursuit of Love and Darling, and compare. Or, look for the recent mini-series of The Pursuit of Love starring Lily James on Prime Video; period costumes and soundtrack to complement your reading.
Nancy Horan will be a familiar name to those who’ve read her groundbreaking fictionalized memoir, “Loving Frank” based on the life of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. We’ve missed her but she’s returning on June 6th with a dive into the times of President Lincoln. Story lines featuring intense personal struggles are narrated by Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, their Portuguese immigrant “house girl”, and a Minister and barber to Lincoln with personal involvement in the Underground Railroad. These voices enable us to sympathize with the challenges of the changing times and complicated race relations through the Civil War and up to 1908’s Springfield Race Riot. I am certain this will have been a deeply researched novel that will allow us to experience a fascinating look into a dramatic period in American history and give us a perspective on some of the news headlines of today as well. A good historical dive with this one that may end up inspiring more reading about the era.
Mark your calendars so you don’t forget this one; it’s due for release on August 1st, 2023 in Canada. Better yet, pre-order a copy! It’s an epic tale based on an actual historical figure that’s been mythologized through anime and a documentary but whose story has never been told in the form of a novel before. Great time travel and culture crossing with an extraordinary character.
“Set in late 16th-century Africa, India, Portugal, and Japan, The African Samurai is a powerful historical novel based on the true story of Yasuke, Japan’s first foreign-born samurai and the only samurai of African descent—for readers of Esi Edugyan and Lawrence Hill.”
The boy begins life in a small African village but is taken and sold into slavery. Over time he becomes a skilled soldier who is later promoted to the role of personal protector to an Italian Priest and Missionary bound for Japan. When in Japan, he is caught up in a riot amid the Japanese civil war and ends up being “gifted” to the Warlord Nobunaga. The two men forge a bond and the young soldier and protector from Africa is controversially honoured by Nobunaga with the Samurai title and Japanese name, Yasuke. The fact that this enthralling tale actually took place will make this novel all the more entertaining to read. Author Craig Shreve is a likeable Canadian writer who is personally committed to researching and honouring Yasuke’s story in his novel. Really looking forward to this one!
Do hope you find something that interests you here and that you tune into Red Fern Book Review to hear more about these choices. I will be offering a few more titles to explore this Summer in a second instalment of Summer Reading ’23. Stay tuned!
An Autumn Collection of New Books and a Red Fern Book Review Tie-In
October 21, 2022
When I last posted, I was remarking just how many great books were being released this Fall and shared a “shortlist” of nine well-known writers launching new works. Amy Mair of Red Fern Book Review podcast and I met recently to discuss another list of books showing up on the book shop shelves this season. Among the five books we discuss on air, you’ll find character-forward novels, a literary psychological mystery, and an intriguing non-fiction work too. Be sure to tune in for our fun rambling chat about the books described below and a few other related (or unrelated) recommendations and topics.
Carter Bays was a writer on the very entertaining and popular show, “How I Met Your Mother”. His first novel, The Mutual Friend, sports an equally contemporary, youthful, and wide ranging cast of characters, all digitally connected through their devices. The story focuses on a 28 year old woman who is navigating the challenges of moving forward in her life while under the distracting influence of “screen time” – a modern and very real scenario. While she works as a nanny, dreaming of writing her MCAT and going to medical school, she is caught up in the chaos between life through her phone and her real live life. Described as “a comedy of manners in an era of buzzing gadgets” and “a modern epic brimming with charm”, this promises to be a thought provoking story as well. Reviews indicate it’s a refreshing exploration of new territory but one should be prepared to commit to keeping the many intertwined characters straight and to sticking with a longer read. Fine by me if we can just put down our phones and carve out the time for a great story!
.
Mike Gayle is a prolific and popular writer based in the UK. I’ve long been meaning to read his work and I’m so pleased this most recent novel is available for us to enjoy here in Canada. While the title may evoke the melancholy tones of a Beatles song (Eleanor Rigby) this story brings the humour while also acknowledging difficult times. Reminiscent of “A Man Called Ove”, the main character, Hubert, is eighty-four years old, and settled into his reclusive ways after a lifetime of hurt and struggle as a Jamaican “Windrush” immigrant, raising a family in a bi-racial marriage in an often unwelcoming environment. On their weekly calls, Hubert convinces his daughter who is living abroad in Australia, that he is thriving and busily engaged in a social and happy life. He makes up wonderfully fun stories to keep her entertained and worry-free. However, when his daughter plans a visit to see him, Hubert realizes he’s going to be caught out unless he quickly creates the life he has fibbed about. Let the games begin! Looking forward to this one.
Another author with past success, Matthew Quick will be familiar to readers of Silver Linings Playbook; those of us who saw the movie may be more familiar with its stars, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. While Quick poignantly dealt with family, friendship and mental illness struggles in Silver Linings, he takes us into the realm of grief and a broken community in We Are the Light. The story that “reminds us that life is full of guardian angels” is epistolary, told in letters to a former Jungian Analyst and features the special relationship between widower Lucas and a grief-stricken eighteen year old, named Eli as they bond together to heal their community and themselves. Hope and Empathy are the two words that appear most often in reviews and while grief may seem a difficult topic for some readers, the message is uplifting and heartwarming. One reviewer wrote that reading Quick’s books was like going to your favourite restaurant, you always know it’s going to be good!
There are loads of readers who crave a good mystery out there. I may be a bit of a wimp when it comes to the thriller genre but I, too, do enjoy a good twisty whodunnit; this compelling mystery is waiting on my bedside table for me now. I was hooked as soon as I saw the Boston Public Library was the setting for the intrigue but the story and its author’s background further convinced me to get aboard the bandwagon. First, picture a table of strangers in the Reading Room, near where a crime occurs, being held by Security as the investigation gets under way. During the long wait, they begin to befriend one another and personal stories are shared. One of them, however, will prove to be the culprit. Described as a psychological mystery within a mystery, The Woman In the Library is a “literary thrill and page turner”. Author Sulari Gentill first studied Astrophysics and then went on to become a corporate lawyer. She started writing historical crime novels in her free time and her intelligent approach to the stories garnered her several awards. She is now a productive full time writer, living on a farm in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia.
This newest book by Susan Cain is on its way to launching an entire movement just like her Quiet book did. In 2012, the world became fascinated by her revelations about introversion and its impact on individuals, workplaces, and families. Her TED talk on the topic became one of the most popular ever produced. Now Susan is using research, storytelling, and memoir to explore the concept of Bittersweet and its impact on creativity, compassion and connection. She considers this state of mind “a superpower” – that there is a hidden power generated in sad songs and rainy days. Beyond the book itself, there is an online quiz, a Ted Talk and a Spotify playlist to help immerse us in the concept of Bittersweet. I, for one, am very curious to know more and really look forward to reading this.
If you do wish to hear more about these book choices along with several other recommendations and to listen to a bit more back story and general bookish chat, tune in to Red Fern Book Review’s, Season 2 episode # 4 here.
Happy Reading! And Listening!
Big Names – New Releases
September 5, 2022
Summer is winding down and I hope everyone has been enjoying a good read or two. Or twelve for the lucky ones! Many of us were struggling with getting in the page turns so twelve might be a stretch … too many distractions. I have to say when I forced myself to turn off, tune out, and sit with a book, there were great reads to be had this summer. And, if finding a book that “speaks to you” was the challenge, you no longer have that excuse. I think this Fall may have more intriguing releases than any other I recall. Get a load of this list – strictly confined to new releases by tried and true writers. If you’re not familiar with the earlier book, you get two to consider. I imagine most of you have read the old and might be keen to try the new. I know what the good writers were doing those last two weird Covid summers … writing!
Release dates range from recent to November – pre-order those ones so you get a surprise in the mail!
Summer Reads 2022
June 17, 2022
Amy Mair of Red Fern Books Podcast and I recently sat down (in person this time) for our second annual Summer Reads tie-in. Read the highlights below and then listen to more in our conversation over here.
If Amy managed to execute some editing wizardry, you will miss out on an epic coughing fit as this guest-of-the-week almost combusted. Mic-off is a safer bet for (hack, hack) this gal. Otherwise, we had a really fun chat!
These six books are chosen with an eye to variety across eras and themes. My hope is that we’ll all get a fresh glimpse into new worlds through these pages and be inspired and entertained along the way. Now just add some sunny weather, a cool drink, and uninterrupted time to read!
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
By the time this blogpost/podcast hits the airwaves I have no doubt you’ll be very familiar with this choice. Lessons in Chemistry has spent all of its young life on the bestseller and recommended lists, far and wide, unanimously celebrated. Bonnie Garmus is a debut author (at 65 years old) whose story was picked up for publication in 35 countries – impressive! If you liked Eleanor and Bernadette of Eleanor Oliphant or Where’d You Go Bernadette? you’ll most certainly enjoy Elizabeth Zott of Lessons in Chemistry. Despite her quirky outspokenness and her identity as an advanced scientific researcher, Elizabeth becomes a reluctant TV cooking show personality of the early 1960s. You’ll delight in plenty of chuckles but there’s surprising poignancy and social commentary and personal growth in the story as well. Elizabeth has a charming supporting cast of characters including a very special dog. This is a great summer read – any time of the year!
You Had Me at Pet-Nat – A Natural Wine-soaked Memoir by Rachel Signer
I’m sure you may wonder at times how I narrow down my book choices, especially when the selection may be a little bit off the radar as this one appears to be. In this case, it was simple, I encountered the paragraph below and was had. I don’t think I can really improve upon it so I’m sharing!
“It was Rachel Signer’s dream to be that girl: the one smoking hand-rolled cigarettes out the windows of her 19th-century Parisian studio apartment, wearing second-hand Isabel Marant jeans and sipping a glass of Beaujolais redolent of crushed roses with a touch of horse mane. Instead she was an under-appreciated freelance journalist and waitress in New York City, frustrated at always being broke and completely miserable in love. When she tastes her first pétillant-naturel (pét-nat for short), a type of natural wine made with no additives or chemicals, it sets her on a journey of self-discovery, both deeply personal and professional, that leads her to Paris, Italy, Spain, Georgia, and finally deep into the wilds of South Australia and which forces her, in the face of her “Wildman,” to ask herself the hard question: can she really handle the unconventional life she claims she wants?” (Hachette) Cheers!
Letters To a Stranger: Essays to the Ones Who Haunt Us by Colleen Kinder
If you’re a regular reader of Bedside Table Books, you’ll know that I’ve been singing the praises of essay collections as a way to re-boot one’s reading or to embrace variety. I recently stumbled upon two terrific pieces of writing, independent of one another, and discovered that by chance they were both selections in this Letters to a Stranger collection. I knew instantly that the connecting themes of brief encounters/missed connections/moments of shared humanity would be perfect for deep Summer sighing and if these two examples were any indication, the reading would all be excellent. 65 great writers have shared their experiences with strangers – you’ll encounter names like Maggie Shipstead, Lauren Groff, Pico Iyer … Can’t wait to savour this collection!
We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama
Another debut receiving a lot of positive attention, We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies is a multi-generational saga which begins in Chinese occupied Tibet of the late 1950s and follows a family’s refugee experience through to modern-day Toronto. Family connections impacted by displacement, threatened cultural identity, and the haunting of harsh experiences are the basis of this compelling story. While author Tsering Yangzom Lama was born and raised in Nepal, she has strong ties to Vancouver and a BA in Creative Writing & International Relations from UBC. She followed that up with an MFA (Columbia) These descriptives taken from a wide array of blurbs are pretty convincing that this is some very fine writing: “achingly beautiful” “symphonic” “transcendent” “a marvel” and “magnificently textured”. Wow. I’m really looking forward to this one.
Carolina Built: A Novel by Kianna Alexander
There is a particular delight in the discovery of a story that has been hiding away in the archives just waiting to be celebrated. Thanks to Kianna Alexander’s writerly curiosity, we are now able to enjoy a story inspired by one remarkable Josephine N. Leary. Leary was a freed black woman, born into slavery on a Southern Plantation in the 1800s. As a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, she overcame an incredible number of challenges but used her savvy financial management and investment skills to build an impressive real estate empire. A feat at anytime but particularly in the early 1900s. Kianna Alexander researched deeply into her fellow North Carolina native’s story and the result is this exciting new novel, based on Leary’s life.
I really don’t need to say much more than “Geraldine Brooks” to flag this one. Brooks has several hugely successful and popular reads under her belt and each one is a unique and fascinating tale based on extraordinary research. Think: Year of Wonders (worth re-visiting with present day pandemic context), Caleb’s Crossing, March, and People of the Book among others. Horse, released June 14th, 2022, grows out of more impeccable research, and links three stories through different eras all tied to the famous race horse “Lexington”. “A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history.” (Goodreads) As she has in previous novels, the author has provided a fascinating Afterword. Don’t skip those pages!
Palate Cleansers
June 10, 2022
So I heard a phrase the other day and it gave me pause. “Palate cleanser” but used with regard to reading. As in a palate cleanser between books. A way to refresh your reading mind. While in the world of fine dining this may manifest as a cool and citrusy taste distraction between heavier courses, in the book world, perhaps it is something more light and less demanding of one’s brain. Or simply a diversion from a particular course.
I read a few books (all good) back to back that each just happened to feature a quirky but charming older gentleman. It was time for something entirely different so I broke the chain with something lighter and featuring a quite different cast of characters, themes and mood. I’ve chatted with a few of you seeking respite from World War II themes, thriller mania, and celebrity memoirs. For others, those may be the “sorbet”! Have you fallen into a pattern? Do you find yourself reaching for a common theme? Maybe it’s time to cleanse and challenge yourself with something new!
A book that really stood on its own as almost uncategorizable and was hugely enjoyable for me was Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. It was also one of my 2020 Holiday Book recommendations. Great palate cleanser potential! Any other highly palatable palate cleansers you’ve found?
