Hi. It’s been a busy month so I’ve been a bit scarce on the blogosphere, but I hope to catch up soon and stop by your sites. Recently I was at the beach in Southern California, visiting my relatives and it was wonderful. I hadn’t been there in August in many years and it felt great — the ocean was refreshing and the company was fun. While there, I made headway reading Donna Tartt’s lengthy novel “The Goldfinch,” which was good stuff for the beach — an all encompassing story that I’m still working my way through. Meanwhile tomorrow I’ll be heading to Toronto for the annual Canadian senior tennis nationals, where I’ll play singles and doubles. I’ll give it a shot, who knows what’ll happen. All I know is that it will be very humid and hot there and I’ll try not to melt like an ice cream cone.
In book news, first off, I want to pay my respects to American author Toni Morrison, who passed away recently. Such a major figure in the literary world. I recall reading four of her novels long ago — each of those was from her early days — from 1970’s “Bluest Eye” to 1987’s “Beloved.” I need to revisit her canon of works and read ones that so far I haven’t. My favorite of hers has been “Beloved,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988 and promptly tore my heart out. Perhaps if I read her works anew, another of her books will become my favorite. Which one is yours?
Also in book news, I noticed that former President Obama put out his 2019 summer reading list. Did you see it? It definitely makes one miss a president who values reading and particularly fiction reading too. I was stoked to see his picks — several of which I’ve read. I was pleased in particular that he picked works by Toni Morrison, Colson Whitehead, and Tea Obreht. I just finished Whitehead’s latest novel and I’m reading Tea’s … so we are on the same wavelength. I can just see Mr. Obama traveling around to far-flung places reading these books, but is he an e-reader or an old-school print reader? Maybe a combo? Whichever it is, I hope he continues with his seasonal picks because they’re interesting to see. And now, I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of what I finished lately.
I feel like Colson Whitehead’s novel “The Nickel Boys” has to be one of the most important novels of the year. Not only because of the subject matter — about the lives of boys at a hellish reform school that operated in Jim Crow-era Florida in real life for over a century — but also because of the strength of Colson’s narrative and the details of his storytelling make it transportive. It’s not an easy story to stomach but one necessary to know about in the U.S.
Elwood, the story’s black protagonist, is an A-student and has dreams of college but winds up unjustly at the terrible Nickel Academy, where he suffers at various turns along with the other boys, and his friend Turner, who’s the opposite of the idealistic Elwood. You root for Elwood, who’s inspired by MLK Jr. and the Civil Rights movement, to make it through, find an escape, or overturn the system, but you have to wait till the very end to find out what happens to him and Turner. Meanwhile chapters of the school’s impact on the boys in later adulthood are mixed in with chapters of their student lives there.
It’s quite a chilling tale, and one that has a strong ending. There’s a bit of a late twist in the novel that explains some of the structure before. I listened to “The Nickel Boys” as a audiobook read by JD Jackson, who narrates it superbly and makes it come alive, though at times I wish I had the print version so I could mark some of Colson Whitehead’s strong passages. Surely he has made me a fan with his evocative storytelling, so I need to go back and read more of his works, especially “The Underground Railroad,” which I started at one time but then postponed. Was it too grim for me initially? I will have to go back for it.
Next up, I read Blake Crouch’s sci-fi thriller “Recursion” that deals with time, identity, and memory in a kind of mind-bendy way. It’s story about a NYC cop (Barry) who’s investigating people who are suffering from “false memory syndrome” and are being driven mad by lives they haven’t lived — and a neuroscientist named Helena who’s given an unlimited budget to build a contraption that allows people — such as her mother with Alzheimer’s — to relive their memories. But when her research is taken over, things take an apocalyptic turn.
I’m in the camp that really liked the first half of this book of the two protagonists’ lives — Helena on an abandoned oil rig trying to build her memory invention, and Barry in NY, investigating cases and living through the loss of his daughter. I found the science, the story is based on, quite fascinating stuff, but as it went on towards the late stages of the book it got pretty crazy … with characters living multiple timelines over and over again … to try stop things from happening in the present. Eventually it sort of did me in and I stopped caring as much about Helena and Barry as I had in the beginning. I had been into their family stories, their bond, and the mystery behind the memories but then the wheels spun on steroids and got the better of me. I’m in the minority though as so many loved this one and its suspenseful pace all the way through.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read either of these, and if so, what did you think?
You’ve made The Nickel Boys sound amazing. I finished an audio book yesterday and think I’ll start this one today.
Hi Kathy, I’ll be curious to hear what you think of it. For me, it gathered steam as it went along — especially at the end.
I had seen Obama’s book recommendations, like his past picks, they always seem so thoughtful. They are such a good source.
The Nickel Boys sounds very good. I think that I find it disturbing. I think that sometimes we should read disturbing fiction and non fiction. It is unfortunately a reflection of the real world.
I agree Brian: Obama’s picks are a good source and I like to see what he says about them. As for the Nickel Boys it is disturbing to learn about — the school that operated like that. It gives me the shakes.
I’m waiting to read Nickel Boys until September when the author will visit Houston and I’ll hear him speak. Your review makes me want to go ahead and read it now.
Yes, it’s such a happy/sad feeling to see recommendations from our former president, that happy reminder that he is still out in the world, doing good work, that sadness that comes from contrasting the past with the present.
Hi Deb, I agree what you’re saying about our past & present president. It’s like night & day – no comparison. As for the Nickel Boys, it’s great that you are hearing Colson Whitehead speak. If you read it before he comes, it’ll be even better when he comes.
I am picturing you melting like and ice cream cone-:)
Oh man, so many great books have come out this year and I am struggling to keep up. I finally read Trust Exercise, loved it while you had reservations. I will post my review today.
Nickel Boys is on my list and your review reminded me that there was a similar character in The Warmth of Other Sons which I read two years ago: https://keepthewisdom.blogspot.com/search?q=the+warmth+of+other+suns
You also made me curious about Recursion.
I’m glad you liked Trust Exercise; the author was likely a bit beyond me what she was up to, & the relationships in the book a bit harsh but she’s a good writer for sure. The Nickel Boys story is grim but well done too. I’d like to read The Warmth of Other Suns. It probably would blow my mind.
I’m definitely planning or reading or listening to the Nickel Boys (I’ll have to be in good place when I start).
Yeah Diane, it is not the happiest of stories but it does seem worth knowing and it’s well done. I’ll be interested to hear what you think.
The Nickel Boys will be up soon for me… purchased a copy at an indie bookstore when we were in CT a few weeks ago. The Goldfinch is *still* on my kindle… it’s been there literally for years now. Must find some time to read it! I recently finished The Leavers by Lisa Ko… timely and though-provoking.
I haven’t been around much this summer as we are in the process of moving. Our NY home sold quickly, now we are trying to figure out what we really need to bring to FL. Good luck at nationals!
Hi JoAnn: I always wanted to read The Leavers so I’ll look for your review. I didn’t realize you were going to be moving this summer. Are you really moving from NY to FLA full time? I’ll stop by your site to see what’s happening! Thanks for the word about nationals — i’ll need it.
Susan – Thanks for directing me back here to your review. Nickel Boys is certainly the most important novel I’ve read this year. I’m still marveling at the twist at the and and Whitehead’s skill as a novelist… love the way this was structured! I’ve not read his earlier work, but will need to now. Where shall I start?
I recently read an article (Time magazine, I think) about Colson Whitehead and Nickel Boys and I’m eager to read it. Underground Railroad was simply amazing and shifted my understanding of the African American experience.
I love Obama’s reading list—I find it more along my taste lines than that of Bill Gates 🙂
I have only read Beloved but I’m going back to the beginning and plan to read The Bluest Eye before end of year.
I have mixed feelings about The Goldfinch—I listened to it, and literally thought it might never end. I remember feeling that the Las Vegas section was a black hole in which I was trapped, but I ended up liking the book. Not sure I would ever reread it, and I’m not sure I’m that interested in the movie.
Hi Jane: thanks for your comments, all good. I will see if The Goldfinch will ever end … but I’m just reading it every once in awhile — mixed in with other things — so I’m liking it so far. I’m in the Las Vegas section now and perhaps it won’t come out of there, alive. 🙂 I hope to go back and read The Underground Railroad — which sounds like a must. And The Bluest Eye is pretty dark/sad but it’s been a long time since I read it. I’d like to read more of her works too.
I wasn’t planning to read The Nickel Boys but after what you said about it I feel I must.
Also, Obama’s summer list is great, isn’t it? I took a screenshot of it for me to refer to later. He also just posted a music playlist.
Hi Ti, I will have to check out Obama’s playlist. His summer reading list is very good. I still need to read the Underground Railroad sometime. The Nickel Boys is quite harsh a story but worth knowing.