Hi. Are you ready for fall? I’m still half in summer mode, but the colors seem to be changing up here. Our Italy trip is next week and we are getting excited and organized.
Meanwhile a few literary book awards are on the horizon. I sort of follow them for recommendations and to see what they consider the best of the year. Sometimes I agree with the choices and other times not so much. Note these upcoming announcement dates:
1) National Books Awards / Finalists on Oct. 3 / Winner on Nov. 15 / (My prediction: This Other Eden by Paul Harding)
2) Booker Prize / Short List on Sept. 21 / and Winner on Nov. 26 / (My prediction: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray)
3) Canada’s Giller Prize / Shortlist on Oct. 11 / Winner on Nov. 13 / (My prediction: Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton)
Recently the National Book Awards announced its longlist, which is below. So far, I have read two of the novels that I marked with asterisks. I wasn’t a big fan of Chain-Gang All-Stars (though I suspect it might win) and was just so-so about The End of Drum-Time, but I’m curious to read This Other Eden and perhaps Night Watch.
- Justin Torres, Blackouts
- LaToya Watkins, Holler, Child
- Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Chain-Gang All-Stars*
- Aaliyah Bilal, Temple Folk
- Eliot Duncan, Ponyboy
- Tania James, Loot
- Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch
- Mona Susan Power, A Council of Dolls
- Paul Harding, This Other Eden
- Hanna Pylväinen, The End of Drum-Time*
Have you read any of these and do have any predictions? And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of what I finished lately.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett / Harper / 320 pages / 2023
4 stars. This novel warmed to me in the second half; I especially became more invested near the end. The story has two alternating components: the present day where Lara, 57, lives with her husband Joe on a farm in Northern Michigan and her daughters Emily, Maisie, and Nell are home due to the Covid pandemic and available to pick cherries; and the past where a young Lara has an acting role in the play Our Town at the venue near Tom Lake where she forms friendships and becomes involved with the actor Peter Duke. It’s about Lara’s personal life that summer and her career stint as an actress and thereafter.
At the novel’s beginning, things to me felt quite sentimental and idyllic in setting and tone; and everyone in the family gets along wonderfully during Covid (no talk of deaths or the nation in free fall), and the cherries are ready for picking. Lara’s telling her daughters about this past time in her life, which they all are curious about since Peter Duke had become a big star. Early on, I guess I felt a bit ho-hum at times with the novel starting out. Then much later the story became more interesting to me — about the trajectory of Lara’s life … and what happened that fateful summer between a group of theater friends, among them Peter Duke and his tennis pro brother Sebastian, who keeps an eye on him. And why Lara decided later not to stick with acting and how she came to return to Northern Michigan to live after a stint of working in New York. The plot becomes more webbed so to speak. And I liked how the story felt very nostalgic about one’s past youth and the defining turns that mark one’s life … for which Lara was very grateful about — how it turned out. She made the right choices for her when it counted.
Patchett has various lines throughout Lara’s life that are quite poignant. And it seems a particularly personal story to Patchett (though I haven’t heard her interviewed for this). I’m guessing that she likes the play Our Town, which is pretty sentimental, and once maybe dabbled in acting or thought of it. She incorporates dogs, sewing, and even tennis (yay), not to mention plenty of farming and family. It’s quintessential Patchett — with things that are often favorites and what she does best. I liked this one better than her novel Dutch House, in which I never much liked the mothers in it.
As for Tom Lake, I listened to the audio version narrated by Meryl Streep, who gives a great performance. It was a bit interesting since the plot hinges a lot around acting … and here Meryl reads it and you wonder … how things were familiar or different to her. I’m guessing she had some head nods with the experience.
The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane / Farrar Straus / 352 pages / 2022
4.3+ stars. Whoa I don’t even know where I first heard about this novel, but I put it on my summer reading list back in early June and just spent the past two weeks with the audio version … while painting the back deck. Make no mistake: this is no flash-in-the pan, quick summer read, this is a slow-burn mystery, being historical and literary fiction down to its core. It’s slow and long but pretty amazing all the same. This author lifted me off the ground and put me in the Flinders Range amid a community of people in Southern Australia who are in crisis mode soon after it starts.
That’s when six-year-old Australian boy, Denny Wallace, goes missing during a dust storm in 1883. He gets turned around and lost in the outback. His family is beset with worry and grief: Where is Denny?! He is the only boy in a large family, with Mary and Mathew as his parents and five sisters to boot, namely the young Cissy Wallace, who is probably my favorite character in the book. She’s quick fire and will say whatever’s on her mind, while riding into action.
Which is saying a lot because there’s a large cast from the community of Fairly who are featured in the novel, some of whom go out on search parties to find Denny. There’s newlyweds Minna Baumann and her husband Robert; and the Swedes Karl and Bess Rapp, itinerant artists; and Mathew’s Aboriginal hired hand, Billy Rough; and the hapless vicar Mr. Daniels, and the arrogant police Sergeant Foster, who wants to write a book; and a slew of others who escape me at the moment. The novel goes into their relations with one another, their back stories, and the search for Denny — who plays a part too, in trying to survive, but he takes off his hurtful boots, and leaves them behind, which can’t be good.
Amid the storyline is a bit of the undercurrents and clash between the settlers and Aboriginals, who are the best trackers and do much of the work. Fiona McFarlane is a terrific writer and a new author to me. I must go back and find her 2013 debut The Night Guest to read, which I’ve heard is very different from this one but also really good.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these and what did you think?
I’m glad that your trip is just around the corner. Have fun! 🙂 It’s good that both readings were super. I will be reading Tom Lake next month. I believe The Sun Walks Down was a nominee for the Walter Scott Prize this year or last (don’t quote me on that though).
Your dates for the awards/prizes were very helpful; I wrote down all of them, so thanks. About your predictions, National Book Award: either This Other Eden (it was nominated for other awards/prizes) besides the Booker, or Loot (a debut which I have on my list to read at the very end of this year). The Booker long list has proven so far eclectic and complex. My money is on three thus far to advance to the next round: The Bee Sting, Old God’s Time, and If I Survive You. Once I read This Other Eden I’ll be able to say if I bet on it too, but given the National Book Award nomination I wouldn’t be surprised if we have a twice-winner. I don’t follow the Giller but I did like Birnam Wood and I can see it winning awards; in fact I’m surprised that other prizes didn’t make a big deal of it.
Enjoy your vacation and bring us great pictures! 🙂
Thanks Carmen, your note is helpful about the possible awards winners. I rely on you often to tell me which are good because I’m too slow to get to all these books. And you’ve gotten to some big ones: notably The Bee Sting and Birnam Wood and If I Survive You. I hope to get to Birnam Wood by the end of the year. I read Old God’s Time. I don’t know why I picked This Other Eden but it seemed like people really liked it.
I’d slightly temper your expectations of Tom Lake. I gave it 4 stars, mostly for the end, but I was sort of bored at the beginning. It’s very nostalgic. Fiona McFarlane seems a major author. I’m curious to read her debut. Happy reading! chat later.
Oh, I went through the longlist of the Giller Prize and turns out I also read Study for Obedience, which was an odd ball. I have a feeling about This Other Eden as well. It may surprise us.
Yeah I think I have a copy of Study for Obedience but not sure if I’m looking forward to it. Might be too out there. I need to read This Other Eden sometime but not sure if it will win. I’m a bit nervous of Chain-Gang All Stars.
I read and enjoyed “Tom Lake” and “Birnam Wood.” I haven’t read any of the other books that you mention that are being considered for awards but some of them are on my “to-be-read” list.
Have a great trip. Say hello to Italy for me!
Thanks Dorothy. Bonjourno. I hope to read Birnam Wood before the end of the year! Quite a premise to it. Glad you liked it and Tom Lake. Have a great week.
Happy reading.
Italy?! That’s so wonderful that you have that trip to look forward to. Can’t wait to hear about it.
I usually haven’t read any books on the big book prize lists, but I love hearing about the long and short lists and who wins. I’ve been hearing good things about Tom Lake and I like Ann Patchett so it’s on my TBR list.
Thanks Helen. We are psyched up for our trip.
See what you think of Tom Lake. I still like her nonfiction books a bit better.
I haven’t read many on the lists either. Have a great week.
Hi Susan, Hope you have a great time in Italy. The Sun Walks Down sounds interesting. It’s a mystery which I always enjoy and I love the outback setting. It’s a hard life to live on the prairie and the outback and I enjoy reading about how people managed.
Embarrassed to say that I looked at the longest for the Natiinal Book Award and I don’t recognize any of these books or many of the authors. I have to make it a point to learn more about the new authors coming down the pike.
Yeah Kathy: I haven’t even heard of some of the books on the longlist. Where do they come from? I guess I’m just curious about the books picked but don’t really feel a need to read all or many of them. Just ones that appeal to me.
You’d probably like a The Sun Walks Down. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it’s written. 19th-century Australia too! good stuff.
Hope all is well there. Happy fall.
I hope you have so much fun on your trip to Italy! I’ve always wanted to go to Florence and Verona myself. Maybe someday. 😀
Hi Lark: I hope you get there sometime. Yeah Florence blew us away several years ago, loved it. This time we’ll be along the southeastern coast and will see the Adriatic Sea. Let you know. Have a great week.
Definitely ready for fall–summer got a slow start in CO this year, but August was hot and more than made it for a wet, cool June.
After reading the National Book Awards long list, I promptly put The Other Eden and Night Watch on my TBR list for this fall. Both are very appealing with strong premises.
Good review of Tom Lake–I am eagerly awaiting my turn at the audio from my library, but it will be awhile.
Enjoy your trip to Italy! I am planning our next trip there, hopefully for April of 2024. The last time we went was last week of Sept/first week of Oct in 2015, and the weather was perfect with only one day of rain (in Rome) during the entire 14 days. I’ll be looking for a travelogue from you when you get back!
Thanks Jane. We’re excited about the trip. I’ll update when we get back. Glad to hear you’ll be going there next year — so much to see! We’ll be mostly south along the coast near Bari. Last time we visited Tuscany in 2016. Gorgeous.
I agree with you those picks for the TBR. I’m totally in the dark on who will win the National Book Award. But people are liking This Other Eden. fingers crossed.
Happy fall & reading in CO. It’s cooled off here considerably. & even feels chilly. Cheers.
I hope your trip to Italy is fabulous.
I bought Tom Lake based on all the reviews. I rarely buy a book in hardback but I was in Palm Springs checking out a new bookstore and so i did.
My reading numbers are very low but I give up. I am enjoying what I pick up and with all the health distractions, it’s amazing I can read anything.
Looking forward to all the great pics you’ll take on your trip!
Hi Ti, so glad you’re back. I’ll stop by your site soon to see what’s up but I hope your health is Okay. Don’t worry about your reading numbers. Just focus on recovery.
I hope to get some good pics on the trip. (I even updated my iPhone for hopefully better pics.) See what you think of Tom Lake. I thought the beginning was a bit slow but then towards the end it became more interesting.
I’ll be curious to hear what’s the bookstore in Palm Springs? hmm. I often fly into P.S. when I visit my parents … so I’ll have to stop there sometime. Have a great week.
Oh my gosh, Italy! Have a wonderful time–of course, you will, it’s Italy.
I’m listening to Tom Lake as well and marveling at Streep. How can one person do so much with their voice?
Fall is definitely here in Seattle. The heat comes on every morning. I don’t mind, but the grey skies after so much sunshine is confusing.
Hi Catherine, great to hear from you. Yeah Italy is Italy, woohoo! Psyched up.
I agree Meryl’s performance reading Tom Lake is worth the price of admission. Very good and interesting to boot. I liked the ending when the history of Lara’s life all comes together. Enjoy.
The fall is here too. Temps have dropped quite a bit after a pretty parched summer. What’s Seattle without clouds? Lol. Enjoy your fall reading.
ps. Love to hear you all chatting books on Sarah’s podcast. Keep it up!
All those awards! I rarely pay any attention to them, and when I choose a book just because it’s on the list, it often disappoints. I prefer to look at reviews. I see your point about “Tom Lake” though I think in the end I liked it better than you did. I see that you commented on my review of it a couple of weeks ago.
Have a great trip to Italy!
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae. We are excited about Italy. & are leaving soon.
You probably did like Tom Lake more than I did and for whatever reason the story didn’t stay with me that long.
I enjoy looking at the award nominees & winners … though it doesn’t guarantee I’ll like the books. Still I’m curious by what they pick. Enjoy the weekend.
Thanks for the Tom Lake review. I just put the audiobook on hold at the library.
I drove out to the country yesterday for a visit with family and saw just an hint of fall color on the hillsides here in Missouri.
The Italy trip sounds exciting!
Thanks Joy. It’s nice to see the fall colors. We are little ahead here in the north. Must be pretty in Missouri.
See what you think of Tom Lake. The audio version is a good performance by Meryl Streep.
I’ll post after Italy about the trip. Very excited to go.
Enjoy your weekend & good luck with your writing.
I bet you are so excited about your Italy trip – is your eReader filled with lots of great reads? 🙂
I love to see long/short lists for book prizes but unfortunately I haven’t not read any of the ones you listed.
And, yes, so ready for fall but unfortunately still unseasonably warm here in Texas.
Hi Iliana — I have a lot books on the e-reader for the plane! Good grief I don’t know what I will get to, but there’s several Arcs I have to read.
I love seeing the prize lists too but I rarely have read them. Still I like getting a couple that seem appealing.
I hope it cools down in Texas. I once lived & went to university in San Antone in the mid-1980s — but now I think it’d be way too hot for me. Enjoy your reading.
Susan, you always open my eyes to books I haven’t heard about—thank you. I’ve now requested two books—The Bee Sting and The Sun Walks Down—at the library.
I also appreciate your thoughts about Tom Lake. Yes, you can’t help wondering how Meryl’s experiences mesh with those of the characters in Tom Lake. I hope to start that one today.
The children’s librarian at my local library kept staring at me when I stopped by to pick up my library holds yesterday. Finally she told me, “You are radiant!” Italy. Hope you also pick up some of that lovely Italian glow during your trip.
Thanks Deb. Glad to hear you are glowing after the trip! I hope to get some of that too. It’ll be nice if it’s still warm there … as things here are getting cool.
See what you think of Tom Lake. I thought it started a bit slow but later became more interesting. I need to investigate The Bee Sting as well. I don’t know too much about it yet but it’s up for an award. It looks a bit long.
Get some rest from jet lag. & Welcome home to Tex.
It’s probably a good thing we’re on Vancouver Island or I’d be grumbling about the change of seasons and not wanting summer to end. However, once we started our road trip, I was happy to see hints of fall. We’ve left Victoria and are now near Sidney where the trees are showing more reds & oranges.
I was in Tanner’s bookstore (in Sidney) yesterday and wanted to buy a book or two, but wasn’t sure what to get. Shocking, I know! I thought about getting The Sun Walks Down based on your review on Goodreads, but decided to stick to paperbacks. I wound up with Maggie O’Farrell’s I Am I Am I Am, and Greenwood by Michael Christie (which I know nothing about but a woman was telling her friend that it’s a great novel, so I decided to be spontaneous and buy it). I also got We Spread by Iain Reid when I was at Munro’s in Victoria. But back to The Sun Walks Down. It sounds like something my mom would enjoy, so I may get a copy to give to her this Christmas. Great review, Susan! Have a wonderful trip!
Thanks Lesley. I think Sun Walks Down is maybe for people who like historical fiction and slow burn reads and tales from Australia’s pioneer days. I hope your Mom might like it. And I have always meant to read the novel Greenwood. I have a copy that sits on my shelf. I need to get to it! It is nice you are visiting these book shops. Books are expensive in Canada, right?
I hope you have fun on your travels on Van Island … it’s pretty to see the fall colors. It might get nippy in October. Enjoy your books.
Enjoy your time in Italy! Fall is here and I am still not sure I believe it. The Sun Walks Down sounds really good. I am glad you enjoyed it. I hope you have a great week!
Thanks LF. The trip is coming just at the right time. We have waited patiently and now it’s getting cool out. So we will head out. Chat when I get back. Happy fall to you.