Tell Me Everything is vintage, quintessential Elizabeth Strout, notable for the fact that it unites three of her best beloved characters - Olive KitteTell Me Everything is vintage, quintessential Elizabeth Strout, notable for the fact that it unites three of her best beloved characters - Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton, and Bob Burgess. In some ways, the book sounds really action-packed and plot heavy - there is a murder, a suicide, a death, a surprise wedding, and a near affair - but it really isn't. Saying it's a book where two older women are introduced and frequently get together to share stories and where two friends meet regularly to walk and talk is also true and arguably more accurate. For this is actually a quiet book where plot is almost beside the point. Rather, it is the background against which the characters learn more about themselves and each other, while also realising that people, themselves included, are fairly unknowable. There is a strong focus on the purpose of stories and of life itself, an emphasis on being human and the ties, especially love in all its forms, which bind us to each other. One of the highlights for me was seeing Bob Burgess go out of his way to help another character, someone he could have treated solely as a client, and witnessing the huge positive impact his actions had. As always, Strout treats her characters gently, with real tenderness and compassion. Readers who love her previous books won't be disappointed; those who aren't fans won't be converted. While this could be read as a standalone, my personal opinion is that Strout newbies would miss a lot by starting here. With that caveat, this is a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a quiet, character driven novel that's warm and undeniably human.
Many thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for this eArc. Tell Me Everything releases this week in the US and next week in the UK....more
What a delight to return to Dalton, to catch up with old friends (Bev, Trudy, Greg, Rose, Nate, and others), and to meet new ones like Vera and AnnettWhat a delight to return to Dalton, to catch up with old friends (Bev, Trudy, Greg, Rose, Nate, and others), and to meet new ones like Vera and Annette. Where the Forest Meets the River picks up nearly five years after The Road to Dalton ended and the reverberations from Bridget Theroux's suicide are still being felt. Her mother, Annette, remains mired in grief and has succumbed to the lures of alcohol and online shopping. Sophie is now a vibrant and lively child who is beginning to ask questions about the death of her mother, questions her father struggles to answer. Greg, home from college for the summer, has to decide how much to share with his parents about who he is and what he wants from his life. These are just some of the plot strands that make up this beautiful novel. But plot doesn't drive this novel. What really matters are the characters and the community. Bowring excels at bringing to life a cast of characters so vividly that I felt they were people I knew in real life, and making her reader care deeply about each and every one of them and the struggles, both large and small, they face. Her writing is beautiful without being flowery and really captures so much of what it is to be human. It's a relatively quiet book, quieter and overall less heavy than its predecessor. With time, the pain of Bridget's death has lessened, and by the novel's end most characters seemed to be in a better space than they were at the beginning. However, Bowring did leave a couple of storylines on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving me wondering if there will be another book in the series. I very much hope so. Regardless, Dalton and its inhabitants will always have a place in my heart. If you love quiet, beautifully written novels that centre character and community I think it's a book you'll love too. Just be sure to read The Road to Dalton first. It's not essential, but why deny yourself the pleasure.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @europaeditions for my eArc. Where the Forest Meets the River releases on 3 September. ...more
The Fertile Earth grabbed my attention from the get-go with an opening scene featuring an eleven year old boy witnessing the killing of the local zam The Fertile Earth grabbed my attention from the get-go with an opening scene featuring an eleven year old boy witnessing the killing of the local zamindar's (feudal landlord's) family by a group of armed guerillas. The book then goes back 15 years and builds back up to this shocking incident. It's an excellent work of historical fiction exploring post-partition India in the period 1955-1970. Social divisions based on caste and wealth are key themes, as is the rise of the Marxist Naxalite movement. It's also an ill-fated love story between Vijaya, niece of the zamindar, and Krishna, son of a servant. The story has depth and breadth and includes many interwoven strands, including an inciting incident, an ill-considered childish caper to capture a tiger that has devastating and life-long impacts. Many different facets of the human experience - friendship, sisterhood, grief, regret, shame, sacrifice, anger, ambition, and more - are incorporated in strong, satisfying storytelling .The writing is lush, full of beautiful, vivid detailed descriptions that made for a very immersive reading experience. The countryside, the people, and the social environment all came to life, for better and for worse. For this is not always an easy or pleasant book to read due to many cruelties, everything from a mother constantly favouring one daughter while denigrating the other to a child being almost whipped to death, However, I'm not one to shy away from difficult reading material, particularly when it is representative of real-life events or conditions. This book was well worth my time and effort.
I listened to this on audio. The narration by Sneha Mathan was excellent. I found her voice really pleasant to listen to, and she did a great job differentiating the voices of the characters. Hearing the story read by a narrator of Indian heritage added to the immersive experience and gave me confidence that the Telegu words were pronounced correctly. The inclusion of Indian music at the start of each new section was a small but appreciated extra, one which further enhanced the audio production.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @bolindaaudio for my ALC. This audiobook releases 9/5. ...more
An absolutely stunning cover for an absolutely stunning book by Elif Shafak. This novel follows three seemingly disparate characters. Arthur is born iAn absolutely stunning cover for an absolutely stunning book by Elif Shafak. This novel follows three seemingly disparate characters. Arthur is born into poverty on the banks of the River Thames in 1840. He has a phenomenal memory, becomes fascinated by an Abyssinian tablet he sees at the British Museum, and goes on to become a self-taught scholar, travelling to Constantinople in search of the tablet's missing fragment. In Turkey in 2014, Narin, a young Yazidi girl, and her grandmother are making a risky pilgrimage along the River Tigris so she can be baptised in a sacred Iraqi temple. And in 2018 Zaleekha, a newly separated hydrologist, is living in a houseboat on the Thames but contemplating suicide. Shafak seamlessly links their stories via a single drop of water, Assyrian poetry, and sometimes a little bit more. There's lots of factual information in here - water, Assyrian history, the genocide of the Yazidi, cultutral approporation and colonsiation in the context of museums, loss of homelands to development, human trafficking of live organ donors - which may turn off some readers but for me it enhanced the story rather than taking me out of it.This book was clearly impeccably and deeply researched but never felt info-dumpy. I love it when a book leaves me with lots to think about, and this book delivered in spades while never letting the issues take priority over the story. Characters and settings were all richly realised and while I had a soft spot for Arthur and his very Dickensian start to life I never felt regret when shifting to another character and timeline; rather it was a welcome reacquainting with old friends. There was plenty going on plotwise, and in some hands it could have felt too much, but Shafak balanced it all beautifully, deftly weaving all the different strands together. As in her previous novel The Island of Missing Trees Shafak draws strong links between humans and the natural world, and highlights the idea of nature remembering the human past, although here with the drop of water it felt a little more real than it did for me with the fig tree. She also demonstrates how we humans are connected to each other and the commonalities we share. A beautifully written novel, replete with many rich layers; one I loved and can wholeheartedly recommend. Many thanks to @Netgalley and the publishers @penguinukbooks for my eArc. There are Rivers in the Sky will be released on 8 August. ...more
Let the Games Begin is the perfect book to read in between watching the Olympic Games. It's set during the 2024 Olympic Games (held in Athens in the bLet the Games Begin is the perfect book to read in between watching the Olympic Games. It's set during the 2024 Olympic Games (held in Athens in the book). Zeke is currently the fastest man in the world and Great Britain's gold medal hope in the 100 metres. Olivia is organised, smart, and ambitious. She is at the Olympics on an internership, part of her long-term plan to land the career job of her dreams. Their first meeting doesn't bode well; neither is looking where they are going, they walk into each other, and Olivia's green smoothie ends up all over the front of her expensive new suit. However, on subsequent meetings, there is plenty of flirting and banter; their attraction is undeniable. I like my romances to have a bit of substance, and this delivers. Zeke suffers from panic attacks, is still grieving the death of his father more than 10 years earlier and is bothered by the fact that they way he is living doesn't really match up to his father's dreams and ideals. Olivia, meanwhile, has to deal with a career setback, classism, racism and misogyny and perceptions of her as a Black woman. She also questions how much of her ambition is innate and how much a desire to achieve her parents' unfulfilled dreams. There was a great supporting cast of characters - loved Zeke's large and boisterous family - and some good diversity representation. Both Zeke and Olivia's families migrated from Zimbabwe, and there is a minor lesbian storyline. And, of course, there are fun peeks into the life of a star athlete and life in the Olympic Village. I've no idea how accuarate this portrayal is and don't really care. This was a fun, breezy, closed door romance populated with likeable characters and just enough substance to keep me content. The ending satisfied in several ways, particularly both Olivia and Zeke working out how to be truer to themselves. The short chapters, told from alternating POVs, made it a quick read and mean it will be easy to pick up and put down as your Olympic viewing dictates.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and @penguinukbooks for my eArc ....more
I Will Crash was a total winner for me. Rosa has been estranged from her brother for six years when he unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep. She moreI Will Crash was a total winner for me. Rosa has been estranged from her brother for six years when he unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep. She more or less shuts the door in his face. Six weeks later, her father calls to say that her brother has died in a car accident. The novel follows Rosa for the next five days as she deals with her mixed feelings about his death, the memories of her brother but also of her parents and a childhood friend which keep flooding back, and her questioning of whether or not her memories are true and her feelings valid, especially once she discovers another side of her brother. I really enjoyed the themes that this novel explored, particularly trauma, toxic masculinity, dysfunctional families, gaslighting, and the reliability of memory. The short time frame works well since it focuses attention on the immediate aftermath of her brother's death when Rosa's emotions would have been at their strongest. But where this book really shone for me was its unique and experimental format, which in many places veers much closer to poetry than prose. It's fragmentary in nature with a fair amount of repetition, which convincingly depicts the tumult and whirling of Rosa's thoughts and emotions. It moves between the present and the past as Rosa remembers pivotal events that continue to impact her. The text is laid out in varying ways, with italics, capitals, and bolding all used to draw the reader's attention.The unique and experimental format means the reader needs to pay care and attention, but this is not a difficult book to read or understand. Rather, it is one where the format is integral to the storytelling, effectively conveying Rosa's thoughts and feelings and immersing the reader in the present day impact of her past trauma. It's a book that made me think and feel - If the parents had paid more attention, not minimised Rosa's complaints and taken action, could they have spared her from trauma and might brother and sister have reconciled? How much of the brother Rosa knew was in the man his girlfriend loved? Could I have messed up and minimised, missed, or ignored things the way Rosa's parents did?
Many thanks to @netgalley and @faberbooks for providing me with the eArc. ...more
Pride and Perjury was a fun and charming read; twelve short stories set in the world crested by Jane Austen. Nine were connected to Pride and PrejudicPride and Perjury was a fun and charming read; twelve short stories set in the world crested by Jane Austen. Nine were connected to Pride and Prejudice; the other three to Emma. I loved that the language stayed true to the original and that many stories either retold original plot points from the perspective other characters or imaginatively fleshed out events that mostly happened off page. Others involved fun twists like bringing together characters from different books. The opening story was told from the perspective of Mrs Hill, the Bennett's housekeeper. It touched on all the main events from Pride and Prejudice, gave the servants' perspective on the Bennetts, and included details of the servants' love lives. The one between Mrs Hill and Mr Spencer, the new butler, and reminded me of Downton Abbey's romance between Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes. Mr Spencer's droll perceptive comments helped make this story one of my favourites. I also enjoyed McVeigh's take on how the events at Brighton might have played out, as well as the diary she created for Caroline Bingley, where she outlined her failed attempt to snare Mr Darcy. Occasionally, characters' actions and behaviours didn't align with how I perceived them based on Austen's writing. This isn't to say that these stories were bad, just that they didn't suit my preference, which is to hew close to the original. Overall, though, this book was a delightful dip into Austen's world, one that scratched my Austen itch without my needing to commit to a reread.
Many thanks to @netgalley, the author and publisher for my eARC....more
The Pelican Tide follows Josie, a chef who lives in Grand Isle, Louisiana. She's separated from her husband Brian, largely as a result of his gamblingThe Pelican Tide follows Josie, a chef who lives in Grand Isle, Louisiana. She's separated from her husband Brian, largely as a result of his gambling addiction, and the two share custody of their teenage daughter and younger son. Josie has a complicated relationship with her deceased mother, her father, and her brother, who co-own the family restaurant that she runs. What makes this novel stand out from others in the women's fiction genre, a categorization I have very mixed feelings about, is the background against which these personal dramas play out - the 2010 environmental disaster that was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and a hurricane which hit the area a few months later. The author was able to show the many varied impacts of the catastrophe through the Babineaux family. Brian worked on the rig, although he wasn't on it at the time of the explosion, something his family wasn't certain of . We see their fear for his safety, then their more generalised worry for the safety of friends and colleagues, then his grief at the loss of some friends and the life- altering injuries suffered by others. There's the economic impacts as workers are laid off, beaches are closed and tourists stay away, and local businesses lose much of their income, not to mention the almost inevitable friction between locals and government agencies and officials. And of course, there's the environmental impact, which was a strong thread in this story through daughter Minnow, a budding orthnitholigust and environmentalist, and Gumbo, the restaurant's semi-tame Pelican mascot. Another strong thread relates to Josie's attempt to keep the restaurant afloat by entering a BBQ sauce competition. This not only made me hungry but showed her family and wider community coming together in a really heart-warming way. A solidly told story of a woman coming to terms with her past, working through complictaed family dynamics, and forging a new path forward, but one which is elevated by its environmental storyline and themes.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC. The Pelican Tide releases today. ...more
Conversations with Birds was an enjoyable listen for me, one which ties in nicely with birding, my other main interest besides reading. After moving fConversations with Birds was an enjoyable listen for me, one which ties in nicely with birding, my other main interest besides reading. After moving from India to the US, the author increasingly felt alienated from the natural world and memories of her family. A chance encounter with a group of birders helped her find her way back. I enjoyed her many accounts of birding trips and other encounters with nature, especially when her two young daughters were involved. In our increasingly troubled world, nature walks, especially when birds feature, are a real balm for my soul. When I can't get out myself, soothing books like this make a great substitute. The author really captured the magic moment of finally spotting a bird you've been searching for, the special pleasure of watching a bird watching you and feeling a deep emotional connection, and the joy of simply watching a bird going about its regular life. I especially enjoyed her reflections on birding, particularly her wish that more birders would eskew ticks and lists, in favour of more direct conservation work to ensure that suitable habitat continues to exist to support the feathered creatures they purportedly love. Some good food for thought....more
Return to Blood is a fantastic sequel to Michael Bennett's adult fiction debut, Better than Blood. That was fabulous, but I think this sequel may be eReturn to Blood is a fantastic sequel to Michael Bennett's adult fiction debut, Better than Blood. That was fabulous, but I think this sequel may be even better. It's five years after the events covered in Better than Blood. Hana Westerman has resigned from the police and is living a quiet live in her small coastal hometown. Or she was until her daughter accidentally discovers some bones buried in the sand dunes, the same dunes the body of another young woman, a girl who had attended the same school as Hana, twenty years earlier. Hana may no longer be a member of the police but she can't stop herself from investigating unofficially.
The plot in this book is decidedly less high octane compared to its predecessor, which leaves the author space to focus a little more on Hana as a person. We see her relationship with her father Eru and her concerns about his possible dementia and her relationship with a cousin Eyes, who believes Hana thinks she is better than those who never left Tata Bay and whose son, Hana discovers, has fallen in with a dangerous crowd. We see Hana as a mother to Addision, as a friend and ex-colleague, and also witness her interactions with ex-husband Jaye and his wife, whose marriage is under threat due in part to Hana. I loved the balance between plot - and make no mistake, this is a cracking crime novel - and character, but it may not be to the taste of those who loved Bennett's former book for its fast paced high stakes plot.
The other aspect of this book that I really loved was the way it was steeped in the Māori world. Plenty of te reo is incorporated, with translations helpfully provided for those not familiar with the language, readers see the important role Eru plays in the community, a kaumātua providing advice , guidance and practical help, particularly to young people. The novel also incorporates Māori mythology, tradition, and worldview, with dreams and premonitions being significant to at least two of the characters.
The ending came with a twist, which I partially foresaw.That reveal felt a little rushed - my main criticism of this book, and really it's a minor quibble. The ending \hinted at a possible return to the police for Hana... and presumably more books in the series, something which would make this reader very happy. Thanks to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the eARC. Return to Blood is out in New Zealand now and releases in the US on 21 March. ...more
The Only Black Girl in the Room follows the professional and personal life of Genevieve Francis, a 25 year old Black reporter. After a promising startThe Only Black Girl in the Room follows the professional and personal life of Genevieve Francis, a 25 year old Black reporter. After a promising start her career seems to have stalled and she spends most of her working day copy editing and sensitivity reading the work of her white colleagues. A last minute opportunity to cover the gala of a prominent CEO seems like a great opportunity. Except that CEO just happens to be her ex whose proposal she rejected four years earlier.
This sounds like the setup for a romcom and this novel does have a significant romance storyline. However, at its core it’s a workplace story, documenting the racial prejudice and discrimination, along with a side of sexism, which Gen faces daily in her incredibly toxic workplace. At times some of the treatment from her boss and her colleagues made my jaw drop and it felt a little too on the nose. I’m guessing there were two main reasons for this. One, some workplaces really are that bad; some people that blatant. Certainly I’m aware of several real life instances mirroring the sexism that she experienced. I imagine for readers who live Gen’s experience, this will be a delightfully cathartic read. Two, some readers, particularly white readers, by virtue of their privilege, will still be unaware of the extent and variety of workplace (and other) discrimination, and the author really wanted to make sure they couldn’t miss the truth of what was happening.
This was an engaging, entertaining read that went down easily. It’s contemporary rather than literary. As a reader it was impossible not to root for Gen and her obvious abilities, to rage at her mistreatment and cheer her triumphs. The romantic storyline was well paced, their “re”connection and Jude’s remorse felt genuine - despite his missteps, and I respected Gen for insisting that they take things slowly.
This promising debut releases on 7 May, perfect for summer read. Thanks to @netgalley and @alcovepress for the eARC....more
Women and Children First is set in a small down-on-it’s-luck coastal Massachusetts town. The inciting event is the death of Lucy, a teenage girl, at aWomen and Children First is set in a small down-on-it’s-luck coastal Massachusetts town. The inciting event is the death of Lucy, a teenage girl, at a house party in somewhat mysterious circumstances. But this isn’t a mystery, a plot heavy story, or even a psychological drama. Rather it is fairly quiet and definitely literary, a series of ten interlinked stories, each focussing on a different woman or girl with some connection to Lucy - her mother, her teacher, her best friend, a classmate, a summer work colleague. They are arranged chronologically giving the book narrative momentum, although some events are revisited from a different perspective which is always insightful. Through them we build up a picture of this town, particularly the factors influencing the lives of the women and girls who live there. We learn about complicated mother-daughter relationships, and instances of grooming and sexual abuse. We witness the use and misuse of social media, and see the impact of class and wealth. We see the toll addiction and grief can take. The death of Lucy impacts all ten women but isn’t necessarily the main event affecting them.
The writing was beautiful. Grabowski really captured the fears and vulnerabilities of her characters, even when they were projecting an image of strength. Her depiction of small town dynamics was also pitch perfect. The storytelling was assured. Ensemble novels can be tricky to pull off but this book never felt disjointed, and the whole was definitely more than the sum of its parts.
This was a really solid debut, one I’d recommend to fans of literary fiction....more
Oh, how I loved this book. It emotionally gutted me - but in the best possible way. It follows two Scottish teenagers, Banjo and Finlay. Both have be Oh, how I loved this book. It emotionally gutted me - but in the best possible way. It follows two Scottish teenagers, Banjo and Finlay. Both have been in the care system. Banjo is in his last year of school and just arrived at a new family placement. Finlay has aged out of the system and is starting a nursing course at university. As the novel progresses we see that both young men have present day struggles to overcome - Finlay with self-worth, Banjo with violence. We slowly learn more about their respective pasts, how they came to be in the system, how they had once been close and how that relationship imploded.
Both Banjo and Finlay are beautifully drawn, characters who I know will stay with me for a long, long time. My heart hurt when I learned what they’d each endured and as I saw them struggle to overcome their present day issues. Conversely it soared and sang as they made concrete steps to overcome some of their demons, as they realised they had people in their lives who would love and support them, and, most importantly, as they started to trust these people and themselves. The ending was just beautiful.
One of their things that really struck me about this novel was its take on the foster system. It’s focus was not so much on criticising the system (although it did make pertinent points about the problems with teens aging out at 18 and having to navigate life with little to no support) nor in highlighting abusive caregivers. Rather it’s on the fact that the system is needed in the first place, the losses that the boys suffered (the details are not unduly dwelt on), and the fact that no system would be able to fully heal those losses. I know there are abusive carers but it was refreshing to see the carers in the group home and Banjo’s new family be kind and supportive, handling some challenging situations as well as I think was possible.
This was a gorgeously written coming of age story, a tender exploration of male friendship, which also focuses on mental health, sexual identity, class, masculinity, community, love and forgiveness. A stunning debut and most definitely an author to keep an eye on.
If you want a novel that’ll make you feel deeply while also leaving you with plenty to think about - How can we improve the foster system so it better meets the needs of children and young people who have no choice but to rely on it? How can we help young men deal with emotional pain so they don’t damage themselves or others? - be sure to pick up Glasgow Boys when it releases on 2 May. Many thanks to @NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this eArc. ...more
The Still Point is set in the ballet world and follows three young women and their mothers when the predictable world of their ballet studio is thrownThe Still Point is set in the ballet world and follows three young women and their mothers when the predictable world of their ballet studio is thrown into disarray by the arrival of a new ballet teacher, one who will direct the annual performance of The Nutcracker, is offering one lucky student a scholarship to a prestigious ballet academy in Paris, and has a small film crew documenting the process . This story follows the competition between the mothers and their daughters as they vie for the scholarship, as well as a myriad of personal dramas including grief, a fading marriage, an unplanned pregnancy, financial woes, social media bullying, changing goals, ambition, jealousy, friendship dramas and so much more. I thought the characterisation was well done. The characters felt real and (mostly) relatable. I’ve certainly known them or people like them. The actions of a couple of characters initially struck me as a little over-the-top but I soon recalled similar real life incidents and realised that they weren’t so far fetched after all. The author’s knowledge of the ballet world shone through, as did her love for it. Although it is a love free from rose-tinted glasses. She’s clearly aware of issues and possible downsides and has included many as plot points in this novel. The overall atmosphere of the ballet studio was well-captured; teens spending a lot of time together and being friends with each other juxtaposed with the reality that they are also rivals and competitors for starring roles and scholarships. Ditto the parents who have seen each other’s children grow up and want to see them do well and succeed - but not at the expense of their own child. The storytelling was strong and engaging, with the multiple points of view contributing to a broader and richer picture than just one or two would have provided. I appreciated the ending. It wasn’t a fairytale type ending but it did have most characters on a realistic and positive path. An enjoyable, entertaining read you can sink into....more
Village Weavers was another of my most anticipated 2024 releases and I’m delighted to say that once again my expectations have been met. Village WeaveVillage Weavers was another of my most anticipated 2024 releases and I’m delighted to say that once again my expectations have been met. Village Weavers is the story of Gertie and Sisi, who as young girls in the 1940s form a close friendship at school, even though neither of their families support or encourage the bond. But one day tragedy strikes and a major secret is revealed, after which years pass before they have any contact again. Attempts at reconnecting and reconciling do not go smoothly, until Gertie is terminally ill when they finally talk and listen to the other, reaching a more accurate understanding of what happened all those years ago.
This is historical fiction, set initially in Haiti but also in France, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Sisi and Gertie’s story is always at the forefront but historical events, especially those relating to the Duvalier years, are seamlessly folded in, albeit not in any great detail, and have some impact on the lives of both women. I always enjoy learning some new-to-me history through fiction and this book is no exception. The setting in both time and place, vividly came to life. The recurring mention of birds and the use of some bird motifs brought a smile to my face; the descriptions of food made me hungry. The differences between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the tensions between the two peoples and the connections between this and colorism is well portrayed and captured my attention. The writing, often lush and lyrical, impressed and the inclusion of patois added to my sense of immersion.
The structure of the novel serves the story well. After following the friendship of both girls until they lost contact we first follow Sisi through to adulthood, before switching to Gertie’s perspective. I like this method of storytelling. It had me connecting with Sisi and believing her interpretation of events, which made hearing Gertie’s side of things more impactful than if the author had constantly cycled from one viewpoint to the other. The structure reflected the way the two misunderstood each other.
This novel explores a variety of different themes including class, patriarchy, colourism, friendship, family, sexuality, national identity, and political power and its abuse. I enjoyed teasing out how each impacted Sisi and Gertie’s lives and their relationship. Overall the theme that left the biggest impact was that of female strength and empowerment. This is a novel dominated by female characters. Sisi grew up in an entirely female household (older sister, mother and grandmother), one full of love, where women ran their own business and despite the obstacles ensured they all had what they needed. In Gertie’s family it was the sisters who were the dominant force, even if not always a force for good. At different times Gertie and especially Sisi demonstrate strength and make difficult decisions. By the novel’s end, when they manage to bring their mothers together one final time, it is clear their two daughters, Emma and Ella, are also strong females.
Many thanks to @this_is_edelweiss and @tin_house for the DRC. Village Weavers is on sale from 2 April. ...more
54 Miles was my most anticipated 2024 release and I was giddy with excitement when I was lucky enough to get an eARC. Thanks @this_is_edelweiss. I me 54 Miles was my most anticipated 2024 release and I was giddy with excitement when I was lucky enough to get an eARC. Thanks @this_is_edelweiss. I meant to wait until closer to its July 23 release to read it, but I just couldn’t wait. Thankfully it more than lived up to my expectations. It is my first five star read of the year.
The story follows four main characters - Luther Hayes, his sister Thelma, her husband George Simon, and their son Adam. If you’ve read The Last Thing You Surrender you’ll recognise them. If you haven’t you should. It’s excellent. And while 54 Miles can be read as a stand-alone I think you’ll get more from it if you’ve read the the earlier book. That novel was set against the backdrop of World War II; this one jumps forward twenty years and closely revolves around the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery in March 1965. It opens with Bloody Sunday when marchers were viciously attacked by police on Edmund Pettus Bridge. The author brilliantly captured their apprehension and fear before setting out and then the chaos and sheer terror, their struggle for survival, once the police attack commenced. The political aspects of this novel - the friction between different factions in the broad civil rights movement, the antipathy towards Martin Luther King Junior, the growing resistance among some marchers to the strategy of non-violence, the resentment at those who arrived at the march’s end seemingly for the glory - were deftly handled. As a reader, and a non-American one at that, I had all the information I needed without feeling buried under a large info dump. I was totally immersed in the story. Not only did I feel the marcher’s fears but also their exhaustion, blisters, hunger and coldness, then their elation at the concert marking the march’s end.
The more personal storylines of this novel are also really well done. It is a rich and multilayered story, one with depth and breadth. Luther is still grappling with the trauma of seeing his parent’s lynched when he was a child. Thelma has her own reasons for hating the south and struggles when circumstances force her to return there . As a child Adam disliked the way his parents’ interracial relationships drew attention. As this story progresses he learns more about his family history, information he struggles to process and handle. Throw in disagreements about how to respond to and participate in the civil rights movement, an unwelcome reminder of the past, dementia, and some racist relations and you’ve got a really rich and meaty plot, one filled with plenty of conflict at a variety of levels. Yet it never feels overly heavy, burdensome or convoluted. Leonard Pitts Jr weaves all the strands and layers together seamlessly, effortlessly and effectively blends his fiction with historical fact, and moves the plot along at a pace that feels just right while allowing his characters time and space to experience growth and development.
54 Miles is a compelling story told well, and the topics it explores, such as Black rights generally and voting rights in particular not to mention police brutality, are unfortunately both timely and relevant. It’s a work of historical fiction but its themes resonate today. I hope it gets the wide readership it deserves. Personally I’m looking forward to being able to discuss it with other readers - particularly the ending, which I’m expecting to be divisive (and I love it for that.)...more
Mockingbird Summer is a coming of age story following 13 year old Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran during the eventful summer of 1964. Corky is becoming more Mockingbird Summer is a coming of age story following 13 year old Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran during the eventful summer of 1964. Corky is becoming more observant of the way the world works and questioning of its many injustices. Life in her small town of High Cotton, Texas becomes more interesting and challenging to her as issues of race, gender and class come to the fore. Her family’s new housekeeper brings her daughter, 16 year old America, to work one day. Corky becomes enamoured with America, and America’s speed and skills with a ball see her recruited to Corky’s church softball team. This creates a lot of tension since America is Black and comes from the wrong sides of the tracks literally and figuratively. Meanwhile Corky’s mother wants a part time job but her father objects fearing people would see it as a sign his business was failing, there’s a sit-in at the soda fountain of his pharmacy, Corky’s brother Mack is home from the college for the summer and his liberal views are juxtaposed against the town’s more conservative values, and there are signs of an effort to revive the KKK in town.
This was an easy to read story with many parallels to To Kill a Mockingbird, which was published just a few years before this story is set. At the behest of the librarian Corky borrows it early in the novel and the book is a recurring motif throughout. TKAM is set during the 1930s and it is clear that not much has changed in the South in the interim. Corky is a charming character, curious and well-meaning but rather naive. The summer of the novel really opens her mind and heart, influencing her life’s path. That the book also features a kind, influential and progressive librarian, plus a memorable dog full of personality are additional pluses.
Overall I enjoyed Mockingbird Summer and its exploration of race, civil rights, gender and class. It was a story that went down easy and would be a good pick for readers seeking a gentle approach to issues like racial discrimination. However, I was left wanting a little more. It made heavy use of foreshadowing and the recurring references to To Kill a Mockingbird meant the climax seemed a little underwhelming. Tensions simmered but didn’t boil over as violently as I feared - which isn’t to downplay the way America’s family and Mack were impacted.
I would have loved to hear more directly from America, to get her perspective on the events she was unwittingly inciting, the racism of the time, and to see Corky through her eyes. Her words and actions indicated an awareness and insightfulness that Corky, being white, had not needed to develop. A more direct juxtaposition of their thoughts and experiences could have given this story an additional layer of depth....more
When the Jessamine Grows is a work of historical fiction which follows Joetta McBride, wife of a small North Carolina farmer, through the years of th When the Jessamine Grows is a work of historical fiction which follows Joetta McBride, wife of a small North Carolina farmer, through the years of the Civil War and beyond. When the book opens she lives with her husband Ennis, 2 sons, and her father-in-law. Once war breaks out her son Henry sneaks away to sign up, despite being too young. When he does not return home Joetta prompts Ennis to go in search of Henry and he ends up signing up as well since it was the best way seek information. This leaves her to manage the farm as best she can, and keep the rest of the family together. This would be difficult enough but Joetta and her husband are not convinced by the soundness of the Confederate cause. They own no slaves, are not convinced by other white supremist arguments and see no reason to risk their lives or livelihoods. However, they do not support the Unionists either. Rather Joetta tries to maintain a strict neutrality which puts her offside with her neighbours and most of the wider community who strongly support the Confederate cause. It was this aspect of the novel which made it stand out for me. Joetta was not just a woman dealing with the standard hardships of war at the time. She was a woman determined to stay true to her own convictions and values, in what she believed to be just and fair, despite opposition from her sons and father-in-law as well as the wider community. In the face of threats and intimidation, and with the need to protect her family, she had to work out if and how she could bend while still staying true to herself . She was often left questioning if the cost of following her conscience was worth it, but was unable to act otherwise. Joetta was just the sort of female protagonist that I enjoy reading about - strong, not without flaws, but easy to empathise with. The writing was solid with the sense of time and place well-depicted. The minor characters, while necessarily painted with broad strokes, also felt wholly realistic. Donna Everhart fans will love this as will anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It publishes on 23 January. Many thanks to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC. All opinions are of course my own. ...more
Amor Actually is a deliciously spicy anthology of interconnected holiday romances, which gives more than a passing nod to the movie Love, Actually - jAmor Actually is a deliciously spicy anthology of interconnected holiday romances, which gives more than a passing nod to the movie Love, Actually - just without the problematic bits. The stories focus on La Nochebuena, predominantly feature Latinx characters, and there is a whole heap of diversity sexuality wise, but also some age diversity as well. It’s a really sex positive collection and includes stories featuring sex toys, porn stars, polyamory and threesomes. I loved the way consent was centred in these stories. The majority are open-door, often explicitly so - definitely not one to listen to when little ears are around. But if you want diversity and spiciness in your holiday romance reading, and favour feel-good rather than sappy, this is the collection for you. Its New York City setting it earned bonus points from me.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and @dreamscape_media for my ALC. Amor Actually is available now and will be perfect to listen to as you complete your holiday preparations. Just remember your earbuds! ...more
No One Prayed Over Their Graves is is one of the more challenging books I’ve read recently. It opens in December 1907 with close friends Hanna and ZakNo One Prayed Over Their Graves is is one of the more challenging books I’ve read recently. It opens in December 1907 with close friends Hanna and Zakariya returning home to their village near Aleppo after a night away, only to discover there has been a massive flood. Virtually everyone they know is dead; everything is destroyed. It then goes on to tell the story of their lives, particularly Hanna’s, against the backdrop of Syrian history. The long lasting effects of the flooding on both men was obvious. It’s a long novel with a large cast of characters, many interwoven and multi-layered storylines, a variety of forms and styles, and a non-linear chronology. Like I said, challenging. But also rewarding. The writing was lovely in places, full of sensual detail, and the storytelling rich. I loved learning more about Syrian history, beyond the recent Bashar al-Assad years. One thing that really struck me was the vibrant, cosmopolitan nature of Aleppo in the early twentieth century. I also appreciated the focus on a close male friendship, and an inter-faith one at that. I feel female friendships are more commonly explored, at least in the books I typically read. One of the novel’s key themes is the importance of freedom and of living life on your own terms, something I can get behind. The story had more than its fair share of darkness and tragedy, yet somehow managed to end on an optimistic note. This sprawling and sometimes dense novel challenged me. It won’t be for every reader but I’m glad I persevered.
Many thanks to @NetGalley and @recordedbooks for the audio arc. ...more
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