Tomorrow my husband and I are headed off on a bike trip with a group around southern Arizona for a week. It’s our spring break, so to speak. Since there’s a few nights of camping involved along with the cycling, I’m not going to be bringing a computer or blogging during the trip. That will have to come after. It’ll be a break of sorts — to lap up the scenery, get fresh air, and renew ourselves. But before I go, I want to leave you with two quick takes on books I finished this past week.
First off, Ian McGuire’s new novel “The North Water” is a doozy of a page-turner. It’s about a 19th-century whaling ship that sets sail for the Arctic with a killer onboard. Needless to say, the story got its hooks into me early on and didn’t let go until the end. Not only is there a shipmate onboard secretly committing heinous crimes, but there’s also a plot by a few to purposely scuttle the ship to get the insurance money. The only crew member to figure out who’s behind both acts is an ex-army surgeon (Patrick Sumner) whose reputation has been ruined by past mistakes while serving overseas. Will he be able to shrug off his own demons and stop them in time? Or will they perish amid the arctic winter?
I thought the author did a wonderful job at capturing the 19th-century feel of the characters and the realities of the whaling trade, and the arctic landscape in a suspenseful way. But be forewarned: “The North Water” involves quite a lurid, gritty tale with considerable harsh language to boot. The whaling industry back then wasn’t exactly for the squeamish. While it might be too much for some, to me the book’s depictions seemed realistically evocative of the place and times.
I found “The North Water” to be an easy, quick read — well written — with plenty of intriguing imagery and action. While anyone who likes adventure kinds of tales might surely like it, the book would probably especially interest those who have liked books such as I have on the Whaleship Essex tragedy, and Franklin’s lost expedition, and other arctic and whaling tales. In that respect, it was a book with a subject matter right up my alley. (Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy to review via NetGalley.)
The second book I finished this week was an audiobook of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s nonfiction 2015 bestseller “Between the World and Me,” which takes the form of a letter written to the author’s son warning him of the dangers of being black in America today.
This book pretty much lit up the blogosphere when it came out last year, and I think it was JoAnn over at Lakeside Musing who said the audio was a must listen. So I got on a long list for it at the library. Then I listened to the book twice this week, which is indeed powerfully read by the author. You can tell Coates has written poetry as his book is quite lyrical sounding and like poetry in places. I loved the audio version for this reason — it’s a book that seems meant to be read aloud — only I missed being able to mark sentences that I particularly wanted to note — which I could’ve done easier if I had the book in print.
“Between the World and Me” is a strong cup of coffee — thought-provoking, frank, unflinching, and challenging in a good way. It boils over the American history, traditions, and laws that have plundered black lives and over police brutality cases and the culpability of the democracy that made the police what they are. At one point in the author’s discussion he says whites are just interested in personal exoneration, and he isn’t too hopeful for any change ahead for racial harmony in America.
His perspective and experiences are quite fascinating. I particularly felt his sections on Prince Jones, his Howard University schoolmate who was gunned down by a police officer, were some of the strongest of the book. His outrage and sorrow palpable. His talk of the Sept. 11 attacks were less agreeable to me. But all and all I found “Between the World and Me” powerful and illuminating. It made me want to read more of James Baldwin’s books, which apparently had inspired Coates’s book.
What about you — have you read “The North Water” or Ta-Nehisi Coates’s book and if so, what did you think?
I have not read either. But I have read a few by James Baldwin, another Black man who pulled no punches. I do want to read the Coates book though.
Have a great Spring Break. It sounds soul healing!
Thanks Judy. Yes. I’d like to read Jame Baldwin’s books.
The North Water sounds like something I will love – can’t wait to read it!
I’ve got Coates on my list, too, and will definitely read it sometime. At first, I felt like I wanted to wait a bit to let the hype die down, but it’s also the kind of book I’d like to take my time with, so I’ll wait until my library stack has dwindled.
Have fun on your trip!
Thanks Naomi. The North Water book flows quickly. Good strategy on the Coates book.
I’m so glad you were able to listen to Between the World and Me… definitely powerful stuff! My plan is to pick up a print copy soon for a reread. Unfortunately, I will miss our book club discussion later this month. Have a feeling it will be well-attended and lively.
Haven’t heard of The North Water, but it sounds very good. Enjoy your vacation!
Yeah JoAnn I can imagine the Coates book would make a lively book club discussion. Glad you told me about the audiobook! The author’s reading of it makes all the difference. Thanks
The North Water sounds so good. I’m glad it fulfilled your expectations. Between the World and Me sounds good too. I almost finished The Color of Water by James Baldwin as part of the required readings for an English Composition class I took in college.
Enjoy your vacation!
Was that Baldwin or James McBride? I think I recall that book: Color of Water. Thanks. Arizona should be nice!
I’ve already had Between the World on my list, and now I’ve added The North Water. (And by the way, I did finally read/listen to Sweetland, after reading your positive review of it. 🙂 As usual, you are one step ahead of me.) Have fun biking!
Thanks TJ. I hoped you liked Sweetland. Will visit your site once I get back. Cheers.
I haven’t read either book, but I think Between the World and Me sounds promising.
Enjoy your biking…I haven’t been to Arizona in a while, but have had some fun there, mostly in Sedona.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES , which are on a different blog now.
Okay thanks Laurel. We haven’t tried out Sedona but would like to. So far we are in Tucson, enjoying the sunshine 🙂 I must say I like the desert. Will visit your site when I can, thx for updates.
‘Between The World and Me’ has been in radar for a while. I hope I will get to it soon.
Please do post some pictures, and tell us everything about the trip, Susan. It sounds wonderful. 🙂
Will do Deepika. Thanks for your interest.
I biked in Arizona for spring break one year. We had quite the adventure! Snow, wind, and a long unplanned bus ride because we couldn’t get where we needed to go. But some really great scenery, too. Clearly, we should have taken a more southern route!
I read Between the World and Me in print and found it really powerful and helpful for what’s going on in the world.
Thanks Joy. Yeah Arizona is proving to be quite windy, but we are loving the scenery and the biking so far. Tomorrow we head to Bisbee very close to the border! So I guess the southern route is the way to go — as it’s still very cold in the mornings but warm in the afternoons. Glad I’m not alone on the Coates book.
Such awesome reviews! You have convinced me to add both of them to my TBR list.
Enjoy the spring break biking tour. I look forward to hearing all about it when you return.
Thanks Molly. So far so good on the biking tour. Will report more when I get back. Cheers.
The North Water sounds like an interesting read, but I do think the whaling would be too much for me!
I thought Between the World and Me was incredible and I did write all over my copy, even though that’s not something I usually do with books. I’d like to revisit it as an audiobook too though.
Hi Katie: Glad you had the same reaction on the Coates book. It had quite a few lines that I wanted to jot down too. The North Water book was most harsh in the crime that happens onboard — which was worst the whaling descriptions in this particular book. The bad guy is truly revolting.
Oh, The North Water sounds like a great read! I’m going to have to check it out now! I have Between the World and Me on my TBR list. Maybe I will check out the audiobook instead since you enjoyed it so much.
Thanks for sharing these books this week! and enjoy your Spring Break adventure!
Thanks Suzanne. I recommend the audiobook for the Coates book since he reads from it and does it very well. The North Water novel is short and flies by. I’m enjoying the spring break adventure! Will check back next week.
As you know from my January review, I thought Between the World and Me was the most thought provoking book I read last year. Fine reviews!
Enjoy your bike ride vacation!
Thanks Sarah. I thought Coates’s book was too. I’m having a great trip; should be home soon.
The North Waters sounds so good! I want to check it out now!
I hope you enjoy your trip and come back completely refreshed.
Thanks Michelle! Just got back from vaca and feeling good. Now I need to catch up with things, which is always the story!
I agree – the Prince Jones story was heartbreaking. I mean, if someone like him can be gunned down, then the whole police brutality situation seems pretty hopeless. His 9/11 comments made me uncomfortable, but at the same time, I could understand where he was coming from. I too want to read James Baldwin now. I feel behind the curve on reading books by black authors about the black experience in America.