Hi. How is everyone doing? Well here it is already the 12th of April and I’m just now putting out my first post of the month. That’s quite unusual but I’ve been tied up with things lately.
Last week I refereed a national junior (U14) tennis tournament and had to be at the indoor courts for 11 hours a day all week. Crazy for an oldster like me, but the teenagers, who came from across the country, had a strong competition, and I only had to give them occasional warnings on behavior. So I’m glad it went well and I can rest up now.
Before that I had a neat opportunity through Publishers Weekly to interview author Geraldine Brooks, who has a new novel coming out in June called Horse. You can read my short Q & A with her here. Brooks has always been a talent and someone whose books I’ve admired. You might recall her novel March — that imagines the Civil War experiences of Mr. March, the absent father in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women — won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005. Her new novel follows the true story of the life and legacy of the famous 19th-century racehorse named Lexington. I enjoyed it and think it’s one to check out.
And now after having nice spring-like weather last week, we have returned to wintry conditions this week. Brrr. Wind and snowflakes, snowflakes and wind. I think it’s winter’s last stand. But I have posted a photo from a couple weeks ago when things looked more promising. And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of what I finished lately.
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner / Knopf / 256 pages / 2021
I listened to the audio of this memoir, which the author Michelle reads well. When I picked it up I didn’t know what the book was about and that it’s in part a cancer story about Michelle’s Korean mother. I had recently finished Ann Patchett’s These Precious Days, which also has a sad cancer story in it, so here I was again back picking myself up off the floor. Had I known what it was about, I probably would’ve skipped it, but then that would have been a mistake.
This memoir is in part a sad poignant story about the author’s relationship with her dying mother, who Michelle didn’t always get along with, but they reconcile and Michelle cares for her during her illness and moves her wedding up so her mother can be there. The thing is: the memoir is also about a lot more than a cancer narrative and what happens after. It’s also about Michelle and her mother’s Korean heritage, their love of Korean food, their family with her American father, and Michelle’s travels in Southeast Asia. Later it also talks about Michelle’s blossoming career as a musician and singer with her band Japanese Breakfast, which I didn’t know about before, but plan to check out.
Granted this memoir has a lot about cooking and eating Korean and Asian food in it and I am not a foodie (like so many others are) per se so those parts sort of passed me by a bit, but still it had enough other things that lured and spoke to me. I liked how it was about the author’s identity being half Korean and American, her place in her family, and finding herself and what she wanted to do and how she could contribute. I was impressed by the author’s creative talents and her poignant memoir.
Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift / Knopf / 196 pages / 2016
Publisher’s summary: Twenty-two-year-old Jane Fairchild has worked as a maid at an English country house since she was sixteen. For almost all of those years she has been the clandestine lover to Paul Sheringham, young heir of a neighboring house. The two now meet on an unseasonably warm March day—Mothering Sunday—her last day to be with him before he weds a family friend’s daughter of his own class. It’s a day that will change Jane’s life forever.
My Thoughts: I think I found out about this short novel from JoAnn over at the blog Gulfside Musing and then I had my book club pick it to discuss, which we plan to do later this evening. A new movie has been made of the novel, but I haven’t seen it yet. And I have to wonder if it can capture the main character Jane’s inner thoughts as interestingly as the book does, but we will see.
Set mostly on one day (Mother’s Day) in 1924, this British novel starts off slow. Oh the minutia! Many times, I wanted to say: Get on with it. But then towards the end it gets more interesting … after more happens, and the maid (an orphan) Jane Fairchild’s life opens up. The event that happens in this comes when she’s just 22, which she never talks about later in life, and it hangs over her, but then the novel talks about her becoming a writer in her 40s and marrying a man who was a code breaker in WWII. And how the narrative talks about fiction writing and truth is intriguing along with what’s happened in Jane’s past. It mixes both to interesting effect.
The novel and beautiful writing reminded me a bit of Ian McEwan’s novels Atonement and On Chesil Beach, both of which are excellent and have a sad, haunting quality that hangs over a character about something from their past. Mothering Sunday might not be for everyone due to its slow start, but it’s worth sticking around for.
Lastly my husband and I streamed the movie Licorice Pizza recently — a quirky, coming-of-age film that’s a bit of a love story between its protagonists Alana Klein and Gary Valentine, growing up in the San Fernando Valley in 1973. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, but I think we wanted to like it more than we actually did.
And so while I enjoyed the performances of Alana and Gary — played by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman — and some of the scenes and the whole 1970s vibe to it, the story went off on weird tangents that weren’t that great. So for me it was a mixed bag. There are some cute and funny parts to it … and the actors did well, but the script needed more honing or streamlining. You know what I mean … though as a Californian I remember those gas lines back in the ’70s and those long lost songs and awkward teenage days.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read or seen these, and if so, what did you think?
How cool that you got to interview Geraldine Brooks! 😀
Thanks Lark. It was quite a thrill for me. Have a great week.
I haven’t had a lot of luck with Geraldine Brooks; my book group has read a few in the past. Crying in H Mart is on my TBR (love a good memoir). I also thing Mothering Sunday sounds good. I need to try that one as well.
Hope the rest of the month is a good one for you.
Thanks Diane. I can see where reading Brooks’s books might not be for everyone as her multiple narratives jump about etc. I usually like one of her narrative threads in the book more than others … as was so with the new one.
I hope you like Crying in H Mart … it seemed quite a foodie memoir in ways. See what you think.
Welcome back, Susan! You’re taking plenty of advantage of the outdoors despite not being that warm yet. I requested an ARC of Horse but wasn’t accepted. 🙁 I have several Geraldine Brooks’ on my Kindle, but I have yet to read one. How cool that you interviewed her! I rented Licorice Pizza, and it’s about to expire but I haven’t seen yet. Oh, so many buts! Mothering Sunday sounds interesting.
Hey Carmen, I forgot to mention the tournament I reffed was indoors. So I have corrected that. Otherwise I would’ve frozen …. though last week was warm-ish and this week we have snow on the ground! Crazy eh?
The Licorice Pizza movie is a bit odd … but humorous in ways too. Not sure if there’s much of a story (form ) to it … it’s sprawling, but probably captures a bit of the times then. And the Brooks interview was quite a thrill. I’m not sure how I pulled that off. I hope you well. & enjoying your reads.
Missed seeing Licorice Pizza but know it won some acclaim.
Hey Harvee: Yeah it’s a bit surprising the movie got 3 Oscar nominations. I’m still wondering about that. Have a great week.
It’s awesome that you got to interview Geraldine Brooks. Horse sounds pretty good too. Crying in H-Mart is everywhere. I guess I should read it and find out what the hype is about. I usually love memoirs.
Thanks AJ: the Brooks interview was a thrill for me. And yeah the H-Mart memoir and the novel Horse are worth checking out. Michelle Zauner seems to pour herself into the memoir …. though it is sad too. Have a great week.
Congratulations on the Brooks interview. I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever read anything by her. Nothing springs readily to mind, but I know she is an acclaimed author and a favorite of many.
Mothering Day does sound interesting. I might add it to my TBR list.
Winter lingered longer than usual in our area as well and it was much colder than we normally experience here. Consequently, much of the garden is slow to wake up, but spring finally seems to be here to stay.
Thanks Dorothy, the interview with Brooks was a thrill. You might like her new novel coming in June; it’s pretty much historical fiction I’d say. And Mothering Sunday is readable in a day or two. It’s short.
I look forward to seeing pictures of your garden, which is amazing. Right now it’s snowing here … so it’s usually mid-May before I can start planting, but I enjoy it. Have a great week.
That interview opportunity is too much! Wow! I’ve not read Brooks. Can you believe it?
It turned cold here too. We had 95 degree days and then yesterday it was so windy with a high of 45. Very cold for us given the temp the day before. I am sitting in my drafty house now unable to stay warm. If I turn the heater on my son, the furnace, complains.
Time can slow down. It’s going by way too fast and I am feeling a lot of anxiety about the girl and her summer plans which are still up in the air. I think I need a literal chill pill.
Hi Ti – thanks the Brooks interview was a total thrill for me … and unexpected in my little life. You might like her new novel coming in June; it’s historical fiction mostly. I heard about your heat wave there … and now it’s cold??? Crazy but I can relate it’s snowing here today, and last week it was in the 60s. hmm.
I’ll stop by your site soon to see if your daughter’s summer plans have been settled. It’s not easy…I’m sure – but stay calm if possible! take care.
How wonderful that you got the opportunity to interview Geraldine Brooks! I know her as an author, but I also think of her as the wife of one of my favorite humorous authors, Tony Horwitz, who passed away in 2019.
We had two days of snow here in Paris…and they say that snow is rare here.
Hey Deb, Snow in Paris?! Wow. An unusual spring so far. I hope you’re having a great time. We too have snow on the ground here this morning, but I’m guessing it’ll be gone by next week.
And thanks, the Brooks interview was a great thing, and unexpected. Her husband was quite a talent — she spoke of him a bit & it seems they very close. Sad he passed. But I’d still like to read a couple of his history books. Cheers!
I am so far behind on visiting people’s blogs this week! I would be totally intimidated to interview Geraldine Brooks so good on you for that; what a wonderful opportunity.
I haven’t seen Licorice Pizza and probably won’t even though southern California in the 1970s is my era, too. I have, however, found two fun series, which I talk about in my Sunday Salon tomorrow. And I had a great reading week so it’s all going swimmingly here.
Great Helen, glad things are good there! I will check out your Sunday post and see which series you’re talking about. Not sure you’d care too much for the Licorice Pizza movie – it is a bit odd but it was all right. And I was very nervous about interviewing Geraldine Brooks … good grief – I’m not an outgoing person at all — so I had to find courage from somewhere, ha! Have a great week.
I’ve only read one book by Geraldine Brooks but am aware of her work and what an honor this was for you to interview her! I might be interested in Horse. I only read part of Crying in H Mart even though I love to read memoirs, this one seemed so melancholy that it wasn’t for me. This was not a reflection on her writing, but on my level of enjoyment.
Yeah Mia. I can understand some of these cancer memoirs are very sad – and not always fun reading. Luckily I thought H Mart had a few other elements to it.
And thanks – the Brooks interview was a total honor for me. You might like her new one coming in June. Which book did you read of hers? Have a great week.
I’ve read “Crying in H-Mart” and “March” and enjoyed both of them. Looks like you have a really great list of books this week.
Best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks Mae. I’m glad you liked these books as well. I will check your site to see your review of H Mart. March was awhile back … but I wonder if that review is on your blog as well. I’ll see. I enjoy your reviews.
Sounds like you’ve been quite busy. Welcome back to the blogging world.
Hi Mark: thanks for stopping by. It’s cool to get a new visitor here. And are you from Southern Cal? That’s my home state as well. I will check out your blog. Cheers. Enjoy your books.
Oh Goodie- A new Geraldine Brooks book. Adding it to my TBR!!! I listened to Crying in the H Mart also. Quite an emotional book but I did love the way she found herself in the process of grief. Happy Easter! My Sunday Salon Post – Easter!
Happy Easter Anne! Thanks for stopping by. Yes you are quite right about H Mart … she does find herself along the way, which makes it hopeful. I hope you will like the new Brooks book coming in June. Have a great week & I plan to stop by your site soon. Happy spring.
I’d forgotten about the Mothering Sunday movie… that had to be a hard one to capture on film. We’ll have to watch that one soon. That was such a beautifully written novel!
Still haven’t read Crying in H Mart, despite having a hardcover copy on my shelf… and so cool that you were able to interview Geraldine Brooks!
Hi JoAnn: you might like to do an audio/read combo of H Mart. The audio read by the author is quite good — though emotional too. See what you think.
I thought the book Mothering Sunday had quite a few layers to the story which made it interesting & we had a good book club discussion of it. Now this Tuesday I’m planning on seeing the movie of it at a theater in town. Will let you know!
And thanks the Brooks interview was a thrill for me. Quite a smart accomplished lady! Enjoy your time in Conn.
I also had the suggestion for Mothering Sunday from JoAnn at Gulfside Musing! I liked it and didn’t know about the movie.
Geraldine Brooks novels are good, I have to add this one to my Goodreads list.
Hi Tina. Yeah Brooks’s new book is quite an interesting read … I fell into it hook, line, and sinker. See what you think when it comes out. And I’m glad you liked Mothering Sunday as well. It has quite a few layers to the story! I’m planning on seeing the movie this week — it’s at a theater in town! Have a great week.
Like you, my wife and I thought the performances by Haim and Hoffman were outstanding, but the movie was otherwise lacking. And compared to other movies that were up for Oscars, it seemed like an odd choice. We just watched and listened to a little of Michelle Zauner with her band Japanese Breakfast at Coachella yesterday. She is quite an interesting person, we think.
Hi Bryan. I’m glad for you & your wife’s take as well on Licorice Pizza. It did seem an odd choice for Oscar nominations. Hmm. And thanks for letting me know that Zauner’s band was just at Coachella now. How did you watch it? I will try to see if I can find it online. Zauner seemed pretty normal & down to earth in the book … but in life she seems more avant garde-ish? But I need to check out her tunes. Cheers!
She’s on the Youtube channel right now, in a rebroadcast from yesterday.
Here’s the link. Channel 3. https://youtu.be/1fB87Hesjkw
Thanks Bryan for the link! I actually had to find an international link from Canada — but I got it! And watched her whole set! I liked the band’s music … wow she is pretty interesting, her lyrics are a bit hard to decipher but I liked the vibe to her tunes, not too hard, contemplative perhaps. I’m glad you filled me in on this Coachella live rebroadcast. Entertaining to watch & listen!! thx
Hi Susan!! Life does tend to run away with us every now and then. And anything to do with teaching or couching, steals hours upon hours!
I don’t know any of your books displayed, but Horse does sound interesting.
Have a good week ahead and take care of yourself!
Elza Reads
Hey Mareli, thanks & good to hear from you. Yeah sometimes the days seem to get by us in a hurry! Crazy that April is flying by. I plan to stop by soon and see what you’re up to. All is good here for the moment. Knock on wood. Have a great week.
Crying in H Mart looks like one I would like to read, not only for the food but the experiences of this young woman.
Yeah Harvee – It is a pretty good read. She goes through a lot for a young person but she’s pretty grounded & learns much in the process. Check it out if you get a chance. There’s much about her Korean heritage that made it interesting to me.
Nice to see your post! I’ve just about given up on Bloglovin’ and have created a blogroll bookmark tab since I continue to get messages on Bloglovin’ about their servers being over capacity. This problem has been on-going for a couple of weeks now. Argh!
The weather has been crazy, hasn’t it?! We had flurries and hail while visiting our daughter in Franklin, TN and came home (well, to Seattle) to a wintery mix. More hail here at home when we returned. At least things are looking nice and green.
My book club is reading Crying in H Mart later this year. I need to decide if I want to read or listen.
I’ll also have to look for a copy of Mothering Sunday. I loved Atonement (the first time I read it; not so much the second time). I like the idea of a novel set in one day. Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours are two favorites and they are both set in a solitary day.
I’m not sure if my husband and mom would be interested in watching Licorice Pizza, but I plan to watch.
Just finished posting my review for The Absolutist by John Boyne. Outstanding novel! Have you read any of his books? He’s quite the writer.
Hi Lesley. How was your trip?!? Can’t wait to hear about it. Hope it went well but the weather surely has been crazy. I’ll stop by your site later this week to see. And no I have not read any of Boyne’s books but I am curious and will check out your review. Hmm. I’m not sure why I’ve waited on his books but wasn’t sure of his book Invisible Furies but perhaps I need to check it out.
I think you’d like H Mart book as an audio listen. The author reads it and it goes by pretty quickly. There’s a bit of a distance to Mothering Sunday that makes it perhaps not as good as Atonement but it has a few layers. Licorice Pizza is a bit “out there ” but still I am glad I saw it, just to see. Enjoy your week! More snowflakes tonight?! yikes.
I hope spring has arrived for real by now. We also had snow in London in early April, which is highly unusual. We didn’t have a single snowflake all winter. Good to hear you enjoyed Crying in H Mart as well. I can see all the food memories wouldn’t appeal to everyone, but as you say, there was plenty of other stuff. Actually, I thought food would have been a more dominating part of the memoir than it actually was.
Interesting Stargazer, it seemed to me the author was often mentioning food in the memoir … but I liked how it fit in with her whole Korean heritage theme.
April was a bit different here with weather this year as well. But now we might be finally done with the snowflakes! How is your spring going in London?
I’ll be stopping by your site soon to see what’s up. Cheers. Happy reading to you.