Well last week’s U.S. Inauguration went thankfully well with no disruptions, and the singers (Lady Gaga, J.Lo, and Garth Brooks) and the youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman were quite the talk. Gorman, the youngest Inaugural poet at age 22, seemed to belt it out of the park with the reading of her inspired poem “The Hill We Climb.” For those interested, Gorman’s first poetry collection comes out Sept. 21 and to find out more about her you can check out her fun interview with CNN here.
I’m still thinking about it, but I’m also gearing up for my flight Feb. 1 to California to go stay and help my folks. There’s quite a few restrictions now on international travel, but I’m willing to meet all the requirements as I see this as essential travel. I feel good that people on the flight will all have to show a recent negative CV test result in order to board. So there’s much to do to get ready. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with reviews of two books I finished lately.
At the Edge of the Haight by Katherine Seligman/Algonquin/304 pages /2021
Synopsis: Seligman’s debut novel follows the life of 20-year-old Maddy Donaldo who is homeless, living with her dog Root and a few others in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. One night after she unwittingly comes across a dying homeless boy amid the bushes and his attacker, her world is turned upside down. The police and the dead boy’s parents want to talk with her … and ultimately Maddy must decide about her life on the streets and whether to make a change or chance having a similar fate.
My Thoughts: This first-person narrated story mixes being a bit of a murder mystery with a sociological look into Maddy’s life among the homeless in San Francisco. Her close-knit group, which meanders from their make-shift camp at Golden Gate Park to the downtown streets and shelters, includes her dog Root, a pit bull mix, and her friends: Hope, Fleet, who has a pet rat named Tiny, and her boy interest Ash. Like the others, Maddy has had a tough childhood with mostly absent parents and has been at Golden Gate Park a couple years when her dog and her come upon the dying teenager and his attacker amid the bushes … and she goes running. Uh-oh.
There’s decent suspense about whether the creepy attacker will come after her, especially once she testifies at a preliminary hearing against him. A bit surprisingly, the dead boy’s parents who attend the hearing befriend Maddy — thinking perhaps she’s the last link to their homeless son even though Maddy did not know him. They want to help her, or get her to reunite with her family, though she doesn’t want their help and would rather spend time with Ash and the others. Still Maddy takes it upon herself to investigate their son’s time in the park and his death and in the process comes to do some soul-searching of her own. You will want to read till the end to see what happens.
I liked how the author blended the issues of homelessness into the story, so you become aware of them in the context. The story made apparent the backgrounds of the homeless such as Maddy; how their lives are often unpredictable and count on parks and shelters; and how they are often beaten up and harassed while on city streets by police and others. You also get a sense of the complexities of homelessness — how there are no easy fixes and how the homeless at times reject help or are unable to change. Maddy is a flawed protagonist who in that way is exasperating at times but also likably comes to try to find her way.
“At the Edge of the Haight” is not a perfect novel — it’s a bit simple in its telling and uneven — with tangents that pull from the main plot — and maybe too the dead boy’s parents seem to act to an extant a bit unlikely — but despite this I felt pretty immersed in Maddy’s story and felt the novel explored some thought-provoking and moving angles of being homeless on the streets. The author, a journalist, acknowledges in an end note the homeless people she met for the research of the book, which undoubtably lends to its authentic feel and immersive quality. It made Maddy’s story feel close-up and personal and I was rooting for her from the early pages on.
Thanks to the publisher Algonquin Books for providing me with a copy of this new novel (out Jan. 19) to review.
The Moth and the Mountain: A True Story of Love, War, and Everest
by Ed Caesar / Avid Reader / 288 pages / 2020
Synopsis: The true tale of one man’s attempt to be the first to climb Mount Everest in 1934.
My Thoughts: I hadn’t heard of the British mountaineer Morris Wilson before this book came out, but I love these kind of true adventure tales and this one was a whopper.
Wilson was one of those World War I veterans who fought bravely under dire circumstances during the war, eventually becoming injured by machine gun fire and sent home, forever changed by his service. He couldn’t adjust to post-war England so he traveled for several years, notably to New Zealand where he lived married for awhile and then returned home to England after shedding two wives. There he fell in love with a friend’s wife — Enid (his soul mate) — and took up a period of fasting to recuperate from an illness said to be both physical and mental.
It was while recuperating in 1932 that Wilson read about the failed attempts on Everest and decided to climb it alone. His plan was to fly a small airplane to Tibet, crash-land it on the upper slopes of Everest and walk to the summit. It was a crazy idea … especially since he was not a climber and at the time he did not yet know how to fly. Yet by April 1933 he was off in a small Gypsy Moth airplane setting his sights on Everest. His journey would be full of twists and surprises and he eventually would have to leave his plane and trek on foot (in a costume so as not to get caught) with three Sherpas from India to Everest in Tibet. His attempts on the mountain would be epic, though the first time he didn’t even know to use ice crampons for the climb.
Author Ed Caesar brings the tale and the era of Morris Wilson vividly to life despite there not being much earlier information about Wilson to go on. Some of the book recounts Caesar’s fruitless efforts to find relatives and primary sources about Wilson, which took years. But what he eventually is able to piece together through Wilson’s letters (many to his love Enid), diary entries, and the historical context is an engaging look at this man who was quite a vivacious character, lost in some ways, and very determined by his Everest obsession.
Wilson reminds me a bit of the British sailor Donald Crowhurst, who in attempting to sail alone around the world in 1968, didn’t have the skill or the experience but wanted the notoriety of the adventure and was determined to undertake the dangerous journey regardless of the warning signs. Caesar’s book points to Wilson’s trauma during WWI and how he felt the need to redeem his life and make sense of it. Whatever the case, he was quite a brave (albeit misguided) adventurer with his daring flight to India and his long trek and attempts on Everest during the early climbing era of 1934. It’s an amazing and hard to fathom true story as told in the book.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these — or what do you think about them? And what are you reading?
I have not read either of these but both certainly sound interesting and worthwhile, particularly the one featuring the homeless. Homelessness is such a persistent problem in this country and doesn’t perhaps get the attention it deserves and needs. I had not heard of Morris Wilson either but he sounds quite the character.
I just finished Jack which I enjoyed but did have some problems with. Review coming soon. Now I’m reading The Boy in the Fieldand finding it quite engaging.
Hi Dorothy, I look forward to your reviews of those. Yeah Seligman’s novel handles the issue of homelessness in a perceptive and sensitive way, which I haven’t seen much of in other stories. Hmm. And Morris Wilson was quite the character indeed! Enjoy your week.
I was wondering if I wanted to read At the Edge of the Haight. Now I do!
Best wishes for safe travel in February. I hope your parents are doing well.
We got rain!! So great for our desiccated area. I think that made me even happier than the successful Inauguration. That poet and her poem was the highlight for me.
Ha. Hi Judy. Yeah rain makes all the difference!! I saw on Twitter that parts of Malibu even saw snow, wow! It sure needs the rain there. How great – I hope it keeps going. The Haight novel seems a quick read and I had to pick it up since it was set in California by a Calif. author. As for Gorman, she really shone at the Inauguration. I hope you have a great week!
The Inauguration went so well. Amanda Gorman and the performers were wonderful. I haven’t read the books you’ve mentioned but I am curious. Safe travels next month.
Thanks Diane, yeah the Inauguration was a delight to watch! That Gorman has a good future ahead of her. I think you’d like these books. Have a great week of reading!
If mountain climbing/survival stories are your thing, you might like the documentary I watched this past week: Meru. I found it really interesting.
Glad to hear you’re coming out to see your folks.
Hey Helen, thanks for letting me know about Meru – I hadn’t heard of it but now I’m keen on seeing it. I’ll check it out this week. It’ll be good to see my folks! Enjoy your week.
I’ve preordered a copy of Amanda Gorman’s collection of poetry and can’t wait to read it. I’ve watched her on several interviews and am so impressed with her poise and grace. What a bright, articulate, confident young woman. She’s an inspiration to all of us!
At the Edge of the Haight sounds like a tough read. It might be one to discuss in a book group, but I’m not chomping at the bit to read it, at this point.
My husband might be interested in The Moth and the Mountain, especially if Wilson reminds you of Donald Crowhurt. Rod has annotated a couple of nautical books (and is in the early stages of working on one writing another) and this is the sort of thing he likes to read. Thanks for the rec.
I’m glad you’re going to head back to California and wish you a safe and productive visit with your folks. I’ll bet they’ll be happy to see you!!
Thanks Lesley, it should be a great visit/stay with my folks in Redlands. I’ve been quite worried about them so I’m eager to go.
I was also very impressed by Amanda Gorman – and I’m curious about her poetry collection coming out. I think she is inspiring. Glad you think so too!
Rod might like the crazy tale about Morris Wilson … it’s about as crazy as the Donald Crowhurst tale. Wilson seemed to be affected by WWI … and he also was quite the character.
As for the Haight novel — luckily it’s doesn’t get terribly dark or sad. It would likely make a good book club choice — being issue-oriented. But I wouldn’t pick it solely for the murder mystery aspect — as it’s more of a mix kind of story — almost like a coming of age tale – with a homeless experience. Hmm. Enjoy your reading this week! Hope all is well in Oregon.
I just heard about At the Edge of Haight. I think I want to give that one a go. Maybe this spring. I haven’t heard of the Everest one. Looks intriguing too. I’ll have to add it to my list.
Glad you are able to visit your parents! I hope your travels are safe and so are your parents.
Thanks Heather, I’m looking forward to the trip. The Haight novel seemed a quick read to me but it has stayed with me a bit … The Everest book was good too. Hope you like the Haight one. I plan to stop by your site soon. Have a great week.
Amanda Gordon. What a powerful poem she wrote and how appropriate it was for that day.
So you are coming to California soon. Very good. I hope you have no issues with all the prep work involved and that you can spend some quality time here with your folks. DO be very careful. I know you will be but I feel the need to stress it because so many have it now.
Tomorrow, we are actually expecting snow at our elevation which doesn’t happen too often. It’s going to be pretty wild if it happens. Luckily, I’ve no place to go. The pup won’t be happy about missing a walk but she would freeze if I tried to take her out in temps below 40.
I am about to start my youth group meeting. Shhhh, but I started The Wife Upstairs and I am already nearly done with it. It’s so so good. I just want to skip the meeting and go right back to the book.
Ha Ti — that book you’re reading must be good! I look forward to hearing about it. You must tell us if you get snow there! I heard parts of Malibu had some snow the other day. Hmm how unusual. I’m just glad SoCal is getting rain for once. There’s talk of more travel restrictions – so now I’m worrying about my flight and we will see if I can go at the last minute. Not sure what will happen.
I agree Amanda Gorman’s poem really was a bright spot at the Inauguration. I’m sure we’ll hear more from her this year. take care & enjoy your week!
I’m with you on At the Edge of the Haight. I enjoyed the book despite its flaws and rather uneven telling. For me it skewed a little YA, but I did like the exploration of homelessness a lot.
Hey Susie, thanks for your input. Yeah I agree with you … and I’m glad I read it …. as homelessness has become so major in cities along the West Coast … I feel it should be addressed in various ways. The portrait of it in the book was handled pretty sensitively etc. Have a great week.
The Moth and the Mountain sounds like a fascinating read. What a life. I bet the author of that book enjoyed researching that fellow’s life.
I’m still feeling the afterglow of the inauguration.
I wish you success in your upcoming trip to the US. Just because the leader has retreated doesn’t mean the crazies have all gone away…I still see T flags flying in my town, and it’s sad to see people still refusing to wear masks. I wait eagerly for my turn in line for the vaccine. Hopefully by the end of summer….
Hi Deb, you’re like a fish out of water where you live with all those T flags and no-maskers, Ugh. It must be hard to take. Not sure I could do it. Now we have Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio …. good grief scraping the bottom of the barrel. But I think the Inauguration honeymoon can last awhile longer!
You’d like The Moth & the Mountain book — it’s a quick read and quite fascinating. I kept wondering if this man – who it’s about – was delusional or what? He seemed determined beyond anything. And he got far despite everything. Have a great week.
I added both to my TBR. The first because it’s a thriller with homeless people that seems well documented and that theme interests me, the second because… it’s adventure ! And history. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hey Iza, great to hear from you. These were halfway decent reads. The first one is not exactly a fast-paced thriller but a bit more of a look at a homeless girl’s coming of age & a slight mystery too. But I was curious to find out what happens at the end. The 2nd book was very interesting so I was glad to read that one. Hope your week is going well. Stay safe.