Greetings. I hope you are enjoying your January. My book assistant at left is staying nice and warm; she particularly likes lying on the couch next to the portable heater, often stealing my seat to get closest to it. Meanwhile I was sad to hear that prize-winning poet Mary Oliver passed away last week. Her poems often featured nature and animals and I recall reading her 2013 collection called “Dog Songs” just last year, which made me happy she seemed a kindred dog person. I haven’t read many of Mary Oliver’s collections, but the couple I have read are quite beautiful. I’m sure she will be missed by many.
Also in the news was the Oscar nominations in which the Netflix movie “Roma” and the period-drama “The Favourite” led the pack with 10 award nominations each. I have not seen either so I need to remedy that — as well as see the movie “Green Book” and a few others before the Oscar broadcast on Feb. 24. Do you have a favorite nominee? I’m still thinking it through. For now I’ll leave you with reviews of a few books that I finished back in December. Yes, I’m playing catch-up….
Paris Echo by Sebastian Faulks (2018) 320 pages
Short Synopsis: The lives of two unlikely characters cross paths as they come to share a lodging in Paris. The chapters alternate in first person narration between: Hannah who is a 30-something American historian researching women’s lives under the Nazi Occupation in Paris (1940-44); and Tariq, a 19-year-old Moroccan boy, who comes to the city to find out where his deceased mother once lived. Both undergo self-discoveries as they navigate the streets of Paris and their lives there, searching for clues in the foreign City of Lights.
My Thoughts: I liked the premise of this novel, which I read in print as well as listened to as an audiobook, and how it meanders the streets of Paris and its history. As Hannah is delving into women’s histories from WWII, Tariq learns a bit working at a fast-food joint with fellow Muslims about France’s colonial war with Algeria. Both are undergoing personal changes too, Tariq is coming of age and fantasizing about a girl back home, while Hannah is visiting with a former professor, and still overcoming a past relationship that she had while she was in Paris a decade earlier as a student. Though dissimilar they become friends and Tariq helps Hannah with some translations of French recordings of women who experienced WWII.
The novel reads a bit like a love letter to Paris and that appealed to me— as well as its glimpse into the Occupation — since my husband and I visited the city last June touring World War II sights. (We ate lunch at the hotel that was the German headquarters in Paris and saw the bullet holes at the front entrance put there when the Free France forces stormed it in 1944.) Hannah’s research unearths recordings of a few different women’s voices who were informers, Resistance members, and those who were retaliated against after the war for their ties to German troops.
These parts to me were the most interesting in the novel. Other parts with Tariq and his adventures around the city didn’t work as well or were not as compelling to me. I pressed myself a bit to see the two characters’ self-discoveries to the end as the story sort of meanders and ebbs and flows. Still the setting and exploration of Paris seemed well worth the read. (This was my third Sebastian Faulks’ novel over the years after reading “Birdsong” from 1993 and “Charlotte Gray” from 1998, which are WWI and WWII tales respectively.)
Disclaimer: Thanks to Henry Holt Books for sending me a copy of this novel to review.
The White Darkness by David Grann (2018) 160 pages
Short Synopsis: This nonfiction story — first published in the New Yorker in Feb. 2018 then made into a book — captures the life of Henry Worsley who was a British special forces officer that so idolized 19th-century polar explorer Ernest Shackleton that he set off in 2008 to trek with two others the route across Antarctica that Shackleton failed to finish. Worsley succeeded that arduous journey, only to be drawn back in 2015, at age 55, to try a dangerous trek across Antarctica alone.
My Thoughts: Oh how I love reading about the polar explorers and their journeys. And for fans of such gigantic excursions, this slim but moving book is not to be missed. This story takes you through what Henry Worsley faced on his Antartica treks and what happened on both. I could imagine it — under Grann’s skillful words — the cold and the pull of the heavy sled behind him for hours and days on end, as well as being in the tent on the frozen landscape at night. The book includes many awesome photographs that draws you in further — to a place that is on average the coldest, driest, windiest continent on Earth — as well as the highest. It isn’t any wonder it’s nearly impossible to walk across.
I came away being so impressed by what a person and explorer Worsley was. He seemed to emulate the very leadership and qualities of Shackleton that he so admired. A devoted family man and officer — Worsley was regarded so highly by all who knew him. If you don’t know from news reports about his life, I won’t tell you what happened. But it’s worth reading about his journeys in this small gem of a book. I won’t soon forget Henry Worsley and what he accomplished.
The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar (2014) 317 pages
Short Synopsis: Set in an unnamed U.S. northeastern university city, the story follows the friendship between two dissimilar women who meet when one of them as a psychologist takes on the case of the other who has tried to commit suicide. Maggie is the black psychologist married to an Indian man who takes on Lakshmi’s case. Lakshmi’s a young immigrant from India who’s in an arranged marriage to a man who doesn’t love her. Maggie and Lakshmi meet as doctor and patient but later become friends outside the office.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed the author’s 2017 novel “Everybody’s Son” so I thought I would try this 2014 novel of hers and it did not disappoint. Like that novel, this one explores themes of race, class, identity and isolation in an engaging domestic drama that in due time is hard to put down.
Sure both women have faults and secrets — Maggie is having an affair, which she can’t seem to break off, and Lakshmi is weak and lonely and won’t stand up to her abusive husband who was supposed to marry her sister — that might fray your nerves but you get too involved in their connected story to slowdown where this is going.
It’s no wonder Maggie and Lakshmi’s lives end up colliding in an explosive occurrence that unravels their friendship and has consequences that changes their lives in detrimental ways. Only years later something happens that leaves open the possibility of redemption and forgiveness.
Hmm, if you like domestic dramas, this one will take you for a ride. It’s sort of like the kind of novel that Celeste Ng writes if you like those. This is only my second Thrity Umrigar novel (she’s pretty prolific), but I plan to continue to read her in the future. She’s usually an engaging storyteller who often writes about the lives of women from India.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read any of these novels and if so, what did you think?
I’ll be honest, none of your January books have even been on my radar. I do love stories set in Paris though. I did a TTT about books set there and just finished The Age of Light which was set in pre-WWII Paris.
As for the Oscars, I always enjoy them, but need to get in a few more movies. I saw Green Book a couple days ago and loved it, but heard at work today that there is some controversy surrounding the move, so am going to look into what it’s all about.
Your book assistant is darling!
Hi Susie! I guess I read these books in Dec. but just posting about them now. Glad to hear you liked the movie Green Book. I would like to get to that one soon. I have heard a bit about the controversy too. I think the real people it’s based on aren’t too happy about this movie. Hmm. She is a pretty cute dog I must admit. Thanks for saying so.
I’ve only seen 2 of the nominated movies – BlackKklansman and A Star is Born. I liked both of them well enough but don’t think either is Oscar worthy.
I think I’d love The White Darkness too. I’ve loved every thing I’ve read by Umrigar.
Yeah Kathy: you might have been the one that got me onto the Umrigar books and I’ve liked both. A good recommendation! If you like polar explorer kinds of books, you’d definitely like The White Darkness. It’s short too but moving.
We started watching Roma tonight on Netflix streaming. Sometimes we break up a 2 hour movie into two nights and that is what we did. So far it is moving a bit slowly but I think I am going to like it. The Sebastian Faulks book looks good. I have yet to read Thirty Umrigar though I have at least a couple on my shelves. A friendly pet to your book assistant! Oh yes, and sad about Mary Oliver.
Thanks my book assistant will be happy to get the attention. She loves extra pats. Not sure if my hub will go for Roma so I might have to sneak watch it one day. He wasn’t too pleased that I had him watch the movie “Wildlife” last week – based on the Richard Ford book. Too chick flick? Or something. Enjoy your week.
I was also saddened to hear about the passing of Mary Oliver. I have read a few of her poems but I should read more.
Another interesting looking group of books.
I have only read articles about Arctic and Antarctic exploration. I seems a fascinating subject. Thus, The White Darkness looks very good.
My book assistant also steals my seat.
Hi Brian: you have a dog as well? You’ll have to put a picture on your blog. They seem to love to steal sits. I think you would like The White Darkness book. There’s something alluring about hearing about Antarctica!
Stella is her comfy usual self. She is sooo cute! She seems quieter than Sadie. Is that always the case? The White Darkness is the one I would choose to read from your lot. Just recently an explorer completed a trek across Antartica. I have been meaning to watch Green Book for two weeks now, maybe this weekend. Now everyone will want to watch it at the same time. 😮 You know I saw Roma. Don’t expect fireworks. Wildlife was a critics darling. I thought it was disappointing. Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal can do soooo much better. It was expected to sneak up its way to the Oscars, but that wasn’t the case at all. So many mediocre movies with a bunch of nominations…What a mess!
Hi Carmen: astute observations. Stella is indeed quieter or more calm than Sadie, her younger half sister. She’s also one year older. And yes the explorer who just crossed Antartica solo in December was Colin O’Brady. I must read more about him and his trek. He was the first to successfully do it solo and unsupported. Can’t imagine. I will be curious about his tale. As for the Oscars, they appear to be all over the place. From your reviews: I’m not sure I can get too excited about either Roma or The Favourite. Hmm. Where does that leave me?
I know what you mean about the Oscars race. If it’s of any consolation, other reviewers have raved about The Favorite. It wasn’t my cup of tea but it has its moments. It’s good, though not great, in my opinion. I left the theater hall feeling meh towards it. Another Yargos Lanthimos production from last year or the one prior was The Killing of the Sacred Deer, starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman. There was no ambivalence about it: I felt repulsed, but it was a movie meant to stir a stronger response.
Yeah I passed on Sacred Deer and I think I will wait for The Favourite till it’s on TV rental. I guess I still hope to see Green Book and maybe Bohemian Rhapsody and Beale Street. We’ll see if I get to the theater or wait.
You’ve got me adding to my wish list again! David Grann’s new book sounds exciting and its length is an added bonus. I read Birdsong back in the 90s and was in the minority for not loving it… haven’t read anything by Faulks since, though I have been tempted. The Story Hour was a favorite a few years ago! My copy of The Space Between is on my shelf here and I plan to read it this winter. Eventually I’d like to read Umrigar’s entire backlist.
We were just talking about watching Roma on Netflix this morning. Hopefully within the next few days…
Hi JoAnn: Yes, you will like the David Grann book! It’s excellent. If you didn’t like Birdsong, then I would likely forgo Faulks’s latest book. The storytelling is a bit similar. But I’m glad you like Umrigar. She can really weave a tale of dissimilar characters! I must read more of her backlist as well.
Polar exploration. Have you read The Terror by Dan Simmons? Scary but so chilling of a read that I had to read it in spurts. Plus, it made me so cold. It’s based on true events with other elements thrown in.
Your pup is so cute. My pup steals my seat every time I get up but as soon as I come back she gives it back to me.
Hi Ti: what is it about dogs stealing seats? Mine does it all the time to get to the heater. So I guess I can’t blame her. You have a cute pup too. I have not read The Terror but if you think it’s chilling than it really must be scary! It’s a big book I think I’ve seen, but I’m sure it reads quickly. It sounds cold too. I will put it on my long TBR list. I recall you liking it a lot.
The White Darkness sounds good – and I hadn’t heard of it before!
There’s a 14 year old at my kids’ school who is planning a trip to the Antarctic with her father to ski to the south pole. I think if it were my child who wanted to go, I’d give them all the scary books about polar exploration I could find!
Oh my, he’s skiing to the South Pole with his kid? Are they in the news? That sounds a bit crazy. Still I think you would like reading The White Darkness — that puts it in perspective.