Hi, I’m on the road presently so I’ll leave you with a few mini reviews with what I’ve completed recently. Though first I’d like to introduce my trusty book assistant and walking partner — for those who might not have seen a photo of her before — this is Stella at left. She’s our 3-year-old Yellow Lab, who likes to walk and do errands in the mornings, and nap in the afternoons. She’s a big swimmer and likes all things food related.
As for my recent read, I can’t say I really recall the real life assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet in October 1984, which is what British author Jonathan Lee’s novel “High Dive” is about. I was in college then and my head must have been in the sand. But at the time, a bomb exploded at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England, where Thatcher and others were staying for the Conservative Party conference. She and her husband narrowly escaped injury, but five people were killed and 31 others injured.
“High Dive” explores the lives of a few fictional characters working at the Grand Hotel and also gets into the head of the Irish Republican Army member who’s behind planting the bomb there. It’s an eerie waiting game as you know (from history) what’s going to happen at end of the book when the prime minister arrives. I became invested in the characters at the hotel, who unbeknownst to them may or may not get out in one piece. And while I found the characters fairly interesting, there’s some lag time about their daily lives that dragged for me in the middle, especially knowing this horrific thing was going to happen in the near future.
Despite that, there’s some good writing in the book and Jonathan Lee builds a mostly affecting story surrounding the bombing. I perhaps wanted to like “High Dive” a bit more than I did, but still it’s an interesting book of historical fiction and gave me insight into the situation between the IRA and British government back then.
In contrast, I listened to the audiobook of Maggie Shipstead’s 2014 novel “Astonish Me,” which is about a professional ballerina in New York who falls for a Russian star, helps him defect to the West, and eventually quits dance when she becomes pregnant. She tries to put that world behind her, marrying a childhood friend, and moving to California. But when her son ends up excelling at ballet many years later, she’s forced to face up to the secret and life she left behind long ago.
“Astonish Me” is a story I became quite invested in as it paints an intricate picture of the world of dancers and weaves a web of relationships, making for a bit of a page-turner. All of which I liked, but one relationship toward the end between the Russian star and the son’s former girlfriend seemed pretty weird or unlikely I thought. And at times the story among the characters bordered on melodrama. The big reveal at the end is a bummer the woman should never have done at the beginning (what was she thinking?). Still I did fall for much of the author’s storytelling and its dance setting. And I virtually had to rush to its conclusion like a flower needs the rain — so to speak.
Lastly this week, I finished the audiobook of Rufi Thorpe’s 2014 debut novel “The Girls From Corona del Mar.” With a title like that, I was drawn to it immediately because as a teenager I often joined my friends’ families who drove for summer day trips from the desert to the beach at Corona del Mar where we put on Coppertone and got burned by the sun. The funny thing is the novel is not a lot about Corona del Mar, which is in Orange County, California (in fact quite a bit of the story takes place in Europe). Instead it’s about two friends who grew up there but whose paths diverge after high school.
Mia, the narrator, the one they joke has a black heart, goes on — after having an abortion at 15 — to Yale and then Istanbul to write her dissertation on a Sumerian goddess; while her best friend Lorrie Ann, the good one accepted to UC Berkeley, gets pregnant just before graduating, has a shotgun wedding, and gives birth to a disabled child. Thereafter her life takes a downward turn. One succeeds for awhile, while the other falls. The psychological ebb and flow of their friendship over 20 years is pretty intoxicating stuff. They both go through a lot; some of it is brutal and some very sad. I’m still wondering about the ending: I guess it begs the question how well do we really know a person.
“The Girls of Corona del Mar” is an intense slim novel about friendship, family, and fate, which held me a bit more than the other two novels this week. Who knew?! I was surprised by its power and unflinching ways and had to look up the author Rufi Thorpe. Apparently she has a new novel out this month called “Dear Fang, With Love.” Judging from her debut, I’ll have to get a copy of it ASAP.
Coincidentally, the audiobooks of both “Astonish Me” and “The Girls of Corona del Mar” were expertly narrated by Rebecca Lowman, whose long list of audio titles is quite impressive. She must be one of the most sought-after readers there is. Kudos to Ms. Lowman for how well she goes about such layered stories and characters.
What about you have you read the novels: “High Dive,” “Astonish Me,” or “The Girls of Corona del Mar” and if so, what did you think?
Even though you thought High Dive was uneven I still would like to read it. The Iron Lady has a few scenes about those events.
Go for it Carmen. Despite some lag in the middle, High Dive is an interesting read and I learned a bit about the situation that I hadn’t known.
Hello to Stella!
Isn’t it funny how sometimes the plot of the novel turns out not to really be the thing? Instead it is the way the story is told or the characters. I guess that is the huge appeal to me when I start a new book. You never know!
I just started The Past by Tessa Hadley, not expecting much because it is one of those grown children of a family get together for a last holiday at the family home before they have to sell it plots. But the pages are flying by, the writing is sparkling, and I already care about the characters after about 60 pages.
I did not know, somehow, that Astonish Me was about ballet, one of the shattered dreams of my childhood, so now I must read it.
Yeah Judy, some books throw you for a loop in a good way! I look forward to hearing more about The Past. I think Maggie Shipstead must have been intrigued by the world of ballet when she came up with Astonish Me. See what you think!
Your dog is adorable! I haven’t read any of those books but the girls from Corona Del Mar is going onto my TBR list for sure. (I didn’t know there was an attempted assassination of Margaret Thatcher either.)
Hi Rachel, Glad I’m not the only one to not recall about the Thatcher attempt. Definitely check out The Girls from Corona del Mar. Holy smokes it packs a punch.
High Dive sounds good…and Astonish Me, maybe. I’m not that into ballet, but maybe the relationship part would keep me going.
Thanks for sharing…and I love your Yellow Lab! Stella is a great name.
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Thanks Laurel. Yeah Stella is a good girl. You might like Astonish Me and The Girls of Corona del Mar … a web of relationships swirl around in both.
I had The Girls From Corona del Mar on my wish list before it was even released, but still haven’t read it. Rebecca Lowman is fast becoming a favorite narrator, so it’s on my audio list now. Thanks for the recommendation.
Yeah JoAnn check it out. Let me know what you think. It’s more powerful than I knew what I was getting into!
These books all look interesting.
Fictional accounts surrounding real life events like High Dive can tell us a lot about the times they take place in. I also find that Sometimes knowing what will happen in a book helps one concentrate on the characters as opposed to the plot.
Good points Brian. I think the novel High Dive opened my eyes quite a bit to the times & history I don’t know a lot about. & it is a bit a character study too.
High Dive sounds pretty interesting! I’ll keep an eye out for it. Hope you enjoy your travels!
Thanks Rachel. Check it out if you see it.
I just finished Rufi Thorpe’s new novel, Dear Fang, With Love, and adored it. It really made me want to go back and read Carona del Mar, so you’re giving me an extra push!
Oh wow. Great to know Shannon. I’m quite impressed by Rufi Thorpe and I’m sure Dear Fang must be good too. Her book Corona del Mar sort of blew me out of the water as I went in not knowing much about it. You should check it out! I’ll go get Dear Fang. Hope to meet you at BEA. I think you’re going.
For some reason I’m hesitant to pick up novels about ballet dancers. I never like the atmosphere of blood sweat and tears, competitiveness, and eating disorders. Is this book like that, or is it different?
The Girls of Corona del Mar sounds great! Adding it to the list…
Yeah Naomi — you better stay clear of Astonish Me then. The Girls of Corona might be the ticket instead.
I’ve had Astonish Me on my list for awhile. I look forward to reading it. And Ive never heard of the Corona Del Mar book. Adding it to the never ending pile.
Thanks for the great reviews! I always enjoy your posts.:)
Thanks Darlene, that’s very kind of you. Hope you like Astonish Me. How have you been?
Ohh so sweet! Hello Stella ;-))) You are lucky to have such a gorgeous book assistant ; -) I adore Labradors
I haven’t read any of those books but the High Dive sounds interesting. Thank you for sharing ; -)
Thanks R.T. She’s quite a handy book assistant. 🙂 The novel High Dive opened my eyes to the times of the IRA.
Thanks for reviewing on the go! Stella is adorable. That’s the name of my last dog. I’m always on the lookout for good audio books for the car so thanks for the recommendation of that reader. My 15-year-old niece is really into ballet. Would Astonish Me be too much for her?
Hi Sarah, I can’t believe you had a Stella too! I don’t think Astonish Me would be too much for a 15 year old though I wonder a bit if it would interest her? hmm. It’s sort of an adult story set around nostalgia for once was their dance lives. Towards the end the Boy, her son, is a teen who gets involved with ballet, though it’s not really a teen story about dance. It’s mainly about who was this kids’ father. which perhaps may or may not be of interest to a teen reader.
These all sound great! Of course, I am leaning towards Astonish Me given its setting, although I have never danced in my life so go figure.
If it makes you feel any better, I have no recollection of the assassination attempt either. The ignorance of kids is sometimes a good thing.
Thanks Michelle. It does make me feel better that someone else doesn’t recall the assassination attempt. Reagan’s yes, Thatcher’s, no. And yeah you might like Astonish Me since your daughter is into dance. It does unfold a bit intriguingly.