Hi. I hope everyone enjoyed the summer solstice yesterday, the longest day of the year. It stays light these days till past 10 at night here, which is really nice, and we often garden and do yard work till after 7. We need to hold onto summer as long as possible up north.
We received some much needed rain this week, which pleased all, including the farmers, and firefighters who are battling the wildfires in the north. We are down to 12 fires out of control and 73 active, with more thunderstorms on the way.
Also good news: my husband and I had a lovely meet-up with fellow blogger Lesley from the blog Coastal Horizons and her husband author Rod Scher on June 8 at the Hard Knox Brewery about twenty minutes from where we live. They were coming through on their RV trip to the Canadian Rockies and we were lucky to get together. We had a really fun visit talking about books, trips, and sights to see. And it was so cool to meet a fellow blogger whose blog I’ve followed for a long while. Lesley and Rod are great people and we hope to see them again. Follow their trip excursion on Insta at @lesscher. They got snowed on in Jasper!!
And now I’ll leave you with a few reviews of books I finished lately.
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak / Bloomsbury / 368 pages / 2021
A friend recommended this novel to me and I’m glad I picked it up. It has several moving parts and timelines but essentially is about Kostas (a Greek) and Defne (a Turk) who grow up on the island of Cyprus and fall for one another in secret as society and their parents wouldn’t allow it. Their banned romance reminded me a bit of Romeo and Juliet.
Then the civil war in 1974 tears them apart — Kostas going to England and Defne staying — while many lives on the island are lost. Years later Kostas is a botanist and Defne an archaeologist searching for bodies of the disappeared and they become reacquainted again.
Chapters alternate with their daughter Ada in 2010’s London who is having trouble in school and is trying to connect with her parents’ past and their Cypriot heritage. Other chapters are narrated creatively by a wise fig tree that witnesses much on Cyprus when they were young and is replanted in England by Kostas.
Wow there is much to this story, which introduced and educated me about the island of Cyprus and its conflict in an impactful way. This is my first time reading Turkish-British author Elif Shafak and I was impressed. There is much richness, poignancy, and an appreciation for the natural world and the island in her love story about two people from opposite sides and the civil war’s devastating effects. And I was surprised to like the fig tree’s chapters so much, but they are really well done. Apparently the novel was shortlisted for both the Costa Award and the Women’s Prize. I hope to read Elif Shafak again.
Maame by Jessica George / St. Martin’s / 320 pages / 2023
I listened to the audiobook read by Heather Agyepong, who does a good job as Maddie, the main protagonist of this coming-of-age tale. I was rooting for Maddie throughout this debut novel, who is a 25-year-old British-Ghanaian woman navigating young adulthood in London. She’s a caregiver for her father who has Parkinson’s disease and is working for a theatre company when we first meet her. Her brother doesn’t help much with her Dad and her mother is away mostly in Ghana, so she is left putting in the hours at work and then at home caring for him.
Later she decides it’s time to find a flat with roommates and go on some dates and find new work. She’s ready to live a little and spread her wings. But when family tragedy strikes and her dating life hits the rocks, Maddie is left reeling. Slowly she must find a way and regain her self and try anew while navigating her grief and loss.
I liked how Maddie straddles two cultures in this story and how it brings out her Ghanaian roots. She is pretty sheltered and quite naive at 25, though still ambitious to find the right work and friends. She admiringly battles subversive racism along the way, and searches Google for various answers to her questions about sex and dating and all sorts of things, which comes off pretty amusing most of the time. She has a good personality and is sympathetic in her loss and beliefs, though I found the story pretty 20-ish fare, first-time sex, roommate angst, boys, job direction, and all that. It’s a little bit YA-ish and I sort of drifted in and out of that. I found it a bit predictable and light and perhaps others enjoyed it a bit more than I did. Still it’s a debut with promise.
Road Ends by Mary Lawson / Dial Press / 352 pages / 2013
Whoa this family is one troubled mess. Each member is going through problems they struggle facing. Set in a cold northern Canadian town from 1966-1969, the daughter Megan has been raising her younger male siblings because her Mom is undergoing some mental instability and is incapable.
Her father — whose youth was marred by a violent father and the Vietnam War — is also neglectful of his young brood and spends his days working for the bank, while her older brother Tom can’t get over the loss of a friend. But when Megan decides to leave home for London at age 21 to pursue a life independent of them, things begin to unravel for the family and its very existence is tested like never before.
This story might have been too soppy or unbelievable in another author’s hands but Mary Lawson is always one that has just the right details of the isolated far North and sensibilities to make such a family dynamic all ring true. The chapters alternate between Megan, Tom, and their father Edward … who all go through some kind of reckoning over their past and dreams of the future, which are a bit sad but one you’ll want to see through in a page-turning flurry … to find out if the family holds together and if Megan returns home and Tom gets over his troubles. It’s a poignant story that resonants. I’ve read three of four of Mary Lawson’s novels and they never disappoint. Perhaps her novel A Town Called Solace remains a favorite.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these books or authors and what did you think?
So cool that you got to meet-up with Lesley and her husband.
My reading has been going pretty well. I start my classic today, The Castle. I just finished Horse. The review posts tomorrow. I liked it, but didn’t love it. It was a good pick for book club though.
Yeah Ti, it was fun to meet Lesley & Rod as they were on the road.
I need to stop by your site soon to check out your reads. A part-time job has me on the run lately. Do I know the Castle? hmm. Hope all is well.
Glad to see a new one by Mary Lawson; I wasn’t aware of it yet. It’s been a while since I’ve read her, but both her “The Other Side of the Bridge” and “Crow Lake” are favorites of mine to this day.
Hi Sam, I agree, Mary Lawson is a treasure. The Other Side of the Bridge is the only one I haven’t read, so I need to get to it. This one Road Ends came out in 2013 and her newer one is a Town Called Solace from 2021. I think you will enjoy especially Solace. Cheers.
Hi Susan,
Glad you met up with Lesley and her husband and had a great time. The novel Maame touches on an important issue which involves family members not doing their fair share of the caregiving or not helping at all. It’s often left to one person to care for a sick parent in this case Maddie who is a lovely person but I probably won’t read Maame because it would bring up memories and make me angry.
I must try Mary Lawson though and thanks as always for your very fine reviews.
Hi Kathy, thanks it was my first time meeting up with a fellow blogger. And I hope you like Mary Lawson if you try her. I particularly would recommend her last one A Town Called Solace. She’s a gem of a writer.
You make a really good point about Maame and Maddie doing all the caregiving for a sick parent. It happens so often in real life and causes lasting consequences. I need to give the story more credit for that issue. Maddie finally gives her relatives a piece of her mind regarding it, which was well deserved. Thx for bringing it up. Have a great weekend.
It’s good that you met with Lesley and her husband. Elif Shafak won a Booker; I have that novel in my Kindle but God knows when/if I’ll get to it. Maame sounds YA. At least now you can say you read it; it’s been a buzzy one this year. Since your previous review post I have read a few books—Silver Nitrate (4.5*), A Line in the Sand (4*), Brooklyn (3.5*), and The Three of Us (4*). I’m amidst Victory City and Lone Women right now. Almost done with the latter. So far so good. Happy reading, Susan! 🙂
Wow Carmen, you are on a reading roll. Great to hear from you. I had to look up Silver Nitrate. Now I remember it’s the new one from Silvia Moreno Garcia. I will investigate further. I like her. And let me know if you like Lone Women – it’s on my summer list but I haven’t started it yet. I’m stuck in Chain Gang Allstars presently. Not sure about *summer reads* at the moment (if I like them?) but hopefully I will come upon a really good one eventually. Oh and did Elif Shafak win the Booker or was she shortlisted? Hmm. I think I’ll have to read that book. She has much to say about Turkey & human rights. Hmm. Enjoy your reading too!
Yes, you are right, Elif Shafak was shortlisted for the Booker. I also forgot to mention I read August Blue as well (3*). It reads easy but I didn’t find it as profound as other readers did. I’m liking Lone Women so far; it’s a soft 4* in my estimation. I may finish today or tomorrow at the latest. It’s weird but good weird, horror/fantasy because there’s a creature but there’s a sense to it. It’s not the type of reading you usually do but it’s different and I think you’ll like it. Try Yellowface soon; it reads fast.
Thanks Carmen, will do on Yellowface. Good info. I’m finding Chain Gang Allstars not really for me but I’m trying to make it through regardless. Keep up your reading.
I really enjoyed Maama and the tensions between the mother and daughter, Maddie figuring out who she is, etc. For me, it was the right book at the right time (perhaps because I was on a vacation with my mother?!)
When we were in Alaska last week, sunset was 11:30pm and sunrise was before 4am. I had never experienced anything like that, pretty amazing.
I forgot to mention how great it is that you and Lesly connected! Meeting fellow bloggers in person is so much fun.
Thanks Helen, yeah we had a really fun time with Lesley & her husband Rod. It’s fun to connect off blog, LoL.
Hi Helen, yeah the white nights of Alaska & other places are pretty amazing. You can go a lot later than you normally would, LoL. But you need heavy blinds when you want to sleep.
You make a good point about the novel Maame and the mother – daughter tensions in it. They seemed on pretty different pages. And Maame was left caring for her father. I’m glad they sort of reconnected though.
Getting some rain this afternoon, thank heavens. Getting warmer these days too. Have a good week.
Harvee @ https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/
Hi Harvee, that’s nice you’re getting rain there. We need it too. We might get a thunderstorm if we’re lucky. Have a great week.
The wildfires up in Canada have been so bad this year! I’m glad you got some rain. HOpe more comes your way. And the Mary Lawson book looks like a good one, though I still need to read A Town Called Solace. That one’s been on my TBR list forever.
Thanks Lark, I hope these thunderstorms can squelch some of the fires. And I think you’ll like A Town Called Solace. That’s a good one! Might be her best too.
Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.
So great that you got a chance to meet up with Lesley and Rod! I’ve met several bloggers over the years and have always been surprised by how easy the conversation is… but we’ve all been talking together for years, right?
I haven’t read any of the books you mention, but I have come to love Mary Lawson’s work. A Town Called Solace is my favorite, too, and Road Ends is waiting on my kindle. Hope I get to it this year!
Beautiful photo… these long days are the best!
Thanks JoAnn. Yay to the long days of summer. Yeah it was so easy to talk with Lesley & Rod. We picked up like we knew each other — and I guess we have been talking online for quite a while. It was a thrill that they came past this area on their trip. Her blog is always enjoyable.
And I found A Town Called Solace a more enjoyable story than Road Ends but still it’s worth checking out. Now I have one Lawson novel to read: The Other Side of the Bridge. I hear it’s good, of course. She needs to write faster now, lol.
I hope all is well & fun at your Conn. place. Enjoy.
I remember reading Crow Lake by Mary Lawson twenty years ago. The family in that book, as I remember, was a bit of a mess, too.
The Island of Missing Trees and Maame are both books I’ve got my eye on, so I thank you for sharing your thoughts about these.
Lucky you in getting to spend time with Les and her husband. I’ve known Les for so many years, yet I’ve never gotten a chance to meet her in person.
Hi Deb, yes it was great meeting Les and Rod. I think she is the first other blogger I’ve met that I follow. They were easy to talk to and good fun. I hope to see them again though they live far from here. It was exciting to meet up.
It seems Mary Lawson writes mostly domestic family tales and usually from the children’s prospective and having to raise themselves, or get over something major. Crow Lake felt grim to me, but I think you’d like A Town Called Solace which I liked better. Hope you have a great week. And I’ll cross my fingers the heat wave there in Texas — passes soon.
Elif Shafek has written several wonderful books; I think I have read them all. She has a wonderful gift of storytelling and her ver interesting multi-ethnic experiences (plus probably research and a lot of talent) allow her to create fascinating fiction.
Meeting another blogger is great.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae. I agree Shafak is quite a storyteller. How she was able to weave this one and keep it all intact with the various parts and interesting was pretty amazing. I think I might read her novel 10 Minutes 38 seconds in this Strange World sometime. The novel above was my first of hers.
And meeting Lesley was a lot of fun. She has a great blog too. Cheers!
I’m glad you had a fun visit with your friends! I miss my bookish friends from graduate school. I’m also glad you liked the Elif Shafak book because I want to read that one.
Hi AJ, yeah it was a fun visit with a fellow blogger which I had never had before. And I need to investigate Elif Shafak’s backlist sometime. Her storytelling could open up eastern worlds to me I think. Happy reading. Enjoy your weekend.
Hope you will get more rain and get the last wildfires under control! Here in the UK we should also get some much needed rain after an unusually hot and dry June. Sounds great to meet up with a fellow blogger. I always wonder how accurate impression you actually get of other bloggers by following them? Perhaps they turn out completely different than you imagined? Ah, I need to get to Elif Shafak, think I will start with 10 minutes, 38 seconds…. Not convinced about Maame.
Hi Stargazer. LoL I felt a bit old for the Maame novel but liked how she’s caught a bit between two cultures. I also want to check out Shafak’s 10 mins, 38 secs.
I am a big introvert so worry over meeting others but Lesley, the blogger of Coastal Horizons, couldn’t have been friendlier and so it was easy talking with her. And she seemed the same person from her blog. So I guess if a blog reflects the true you then you know it’s a good one eh?
I’m sorry about all the wildfires up your way.
Sounds like you had a lovely solstice. What a wonderful experience to meet people you follow on line in real life! So exciting.
It really stays light up your way during the summer! It’s pretty black dark here by 9:30 PM.
The Island of Missing Trees sounds really good. I’ll have to add that to my list. I hope you keep enjoying the summer and that the fires stay away.
Hey Heather. Great to hear from you! I hope you are getting some hikes in. I will have to check your site as it seemed like you were going to be moving soon.
Luckily we’re in the south of Alberta and all the fires are in the north. It’s terrible though. But the smoke has been alleviated by a southern wind.
I hope you are well. Happy reading.
I am so glad the rain has helped some with the fires. May more rain come your way to offer more aid! How neat that you got to meet Lesley and Rod! What fun!
I recently read a short story by Elif Shafak, my first of anything by the author, and based on your thoughts about The Island of Missing Trees, I will be picking that one up to read too. Mary Lawson’s book sounds good too.
I hope you have a wonderful summer, Susan!
Thanks Wendy. We might get a thunderstorm today, yay! It was super fun seeing Lesley & Rod come through here. And Elif Shafak is a new author to me — but now I need to be alerted to whatever she puts out next.
Hope all is well with you in California. Happy July 4th!