It was a busy weekend. I was away competing at a provincial tennis tournament, which I won at the 5.0 level — my second tournament win of the summer. It’s quite a wonderful surprise in middle age as I can’t recall winning anything like this since my youth. So hooray. I must be doing something right recently. I arrived home and pretty soon became consumed with watching the Olympics. It’s addicting stuff and a refreshing change from the political campaign circus. I’m constantly flicking channels to see the various sports, particularly swimming, gymnastics, tennis, soccer, volleyball, and late in the week track and field will start. I won’t miss it.
Meanwhile this week I’m starting Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer,” which I assigned for my book club to read and discuss in September. Thanks to Judy at Keep the Wisdom for her enthusiastic review of it earlier this year. I don’t know if it will be a challenging read (it doesn’t seem to have much dialogue), and being sort of slow, I need to get into it pronto. I’ve also started the audiobook of Kevin Kwan’s novel “China Rich Girlfriend,” which seems like a catty satirical romp. Hopefully it’ll be a fun book for late summer. Have you read either of these?
Meanwhile last week I finished Jung Yun’s debut novel “Shelter,” which JoAnn over at Lakeside Musing had recently really liked. I didn’t know what to expect going in to it, but soon found out it’s about a 36-year-old Korean biology professor (Kyung) living in suburban Boston with his wife and 4-year-old son — and his parents who he takes into his home after a horrific crime takes place at their house. Kyung has had quite a rough past with his parents from his childhood (which includes domestic violence) so taking them in proves to be very tension-filled. Making it more complex, Kyung and his wife are severely in debt and his parents are wealthy, which he wants no part of. While the criminal case is being pursued, Kyung’s anger and emotions with his parents living at his house comes to a head, and what follows includes some wrenching twists and secrets along the way that kept me pretty glued to the book’s ending.
I found “Shelter” to be captivating in an understated way — it simmers beneath the surface until, like any good suspense story, it boils over at the end. I thought it was very well done, although the story might not appeal to everyone. The main character Kyung is a pretty unhappy person, seemingly on the verge of a breakdown with hang-ups from his childhood and house bills he can’t pay. And the tone of the story is rather grim and a bit graphic involving the crime. It’s unsettling for sure — a family drama in which a man struggles to come to terms with his relationship to his parents — and how he wants to be with his own son. It’s a novel, too, that touches on cultural differences of immigrants in the U.S., and how the American Dream of home ownership is no guarantee for happiness. Like Celeste Ng’s novel “Everything I Never Told You,” which also touches on ethnicity issues in the U.S., “Shelter” left me pondering its themes and story long after its last pages.
What about you — have you read this novel, or are you watching the Olympics — and if so what do you think?
I was not completely won over by either Shelter or Everything I Never Told You, but I agree they have certain similarities.
Congratulations on your tennis wins! It is always good to find your strengths in middle age. I have been working out more steadily than ever this summer and it is good to feel strong.
Thanks Judy. I think the key is staying injury-free in middle age which I’m trying to do, after knee operations and injuries in my recent past. I’m glad you are having a good summer too working out. Hooray to a summer of health!
Thanks for the shout-out. I hope you love The Sympathizer as much as I did.
I’m looking forward to it, if only I had a desert island of no distractions so I could fall into it.
Congratulations on your Tennis win!
All the books that you mention sound good.
I want to read The Sympathizer. I have heard very good things about it. The plot and characters of Shelter sound so well crafted. You commentary has made me want to read that also.
Thanks Brian. Yeah The Sympathizer – so much has been talked about this book — could be one of the books of the Year, now I just need to get into it. It’s Vietnam from the other side.
I thought Shelter was so great, too – I love when you can find a book that seems to blend literary with a bit of suspense so well. I’ve been itching to read The Sympathizer for so long, so I hope it’s a great read for you!
Yes Shannon, you’re right — Shelter was both literary and suspenseful. I like that too. I’m trying to think of another novel: that has done that well recently: perhaps Station Eleven, which I loved, or ? The Sympathizer should be a doozy. I’ll let you know.
The Sympathizer has been quite a sensation, and I’ve read great things about Shelter as well.
Thanks Carmen. Yeah I think The Sympathizer might be a bit slow-going for me but very good as well.
First, congratulations on the tennis win. That’s quite an accomplishment! I’m also enjoying the olympics, a welcome break from politics… which is just too upsetting these days. Glad you enjoyed Shelter, and thanks for the shoutout. There are interesting parallels with Everything I Never Told You, another book I really loved. Finally, I’ve been on the fence with The Sympathizer, so will be keeping an eye out for your thoughts.
Thanks JoAnn. I did like Shelter quite a bit although Kyung isn’t totally a winnable or likable character. I thought it was well done. I will see what I think about The Sympathizer. & let you know.
Congratulations on your tennis wins! After reading your review I am intrigued by “Shelter”. Have a lovely day 🙂
Thanks RT! Shelter starts a bit slow but then it builds and becomes suspenseful at the end. It’s quite an unsettling story but I was glad to have read it.
Congratulations on the win – that is quite an accomplishment and something to be proud of 🙂
I agree… the Olympics are a welcome change to the political garbage that has dominated television all summer.
Thanks Molly. I was quite surprised & pleased by the tennis wins. I must admit I’m loving the Olympics and not missing watching the political vitriol.
Congrats on your tennis victories! Thanks to you, I picked up Shelter before stepping on a plane and it kept me very busy for the long dull ride. I appreciate your reading tips.
Yeah Shelter is quite a doozy of a read. Quite dark and morose but still kept me reading. Glad it helped you on the plane!
I haven’t read Shelter, but wanted to say that I totally loved China Rich Girlfriend as a fun summer read.
And congrats on your tennis wins! Hope you have /had fun in Ottawa! We have just returned from visiting the California relatives. I took Valley of the Dolls to read as it is the 50th anniversary of publication 🙂 Jillann
Hi Jillann, thanks so much for writing. For some reason I put down China Rich Girlfriend for another book but it does seem like a totally fun read. Ottawa was a lot of fun, and full of good tennis battles. It was great to be in the East for once! I hope you enjoyed Valley of the Dolls — which seems like something I should read on its distinguished anniversary year. Wow it’s been awhile. Thx for stopping by!
We watched as much of the Olympics as we could before we went away. My kids especially like the gymnastics and track & field (which we missed most of). They were pretty excited about the gymnast from Halifax, Ellie Black.
Shelter is definitely on my list – all the reviews I’ve seen so far have been good ones.
Congrats on your tennis wins!!
Hey thanks Naomi. Tennis is a blast for me. Yeah I must admit I was pretty addicted to the Olympics. The different sports were fun to watch. That’s great about Ellie Black from Halifax. The novel Shelter is a pretty dark or unhappy book (subject wise) but it is one I had to get to the bottom to. It keeps you reading.