A deluge of rain hit here this past week. In fact it’s been about three weeks of wet weather, and if I hadn’t had that trip to California earlier in July, I would’ve lost my mind by now. Where has summer gone? It’s got me gloomy beyond belief, along with the news out of Nice, France, and other places. Luckily the forecast says the sun should be out this coming week, and it’s supposed to be clear. Though I won’t hold my breath over it.
This week I’m half way through Steven Rowley’s debut novel “Lily and the Octopus” and so far I haven’t found it as entertaining or likable as apparently hordes of others on Goodreads have. It’s about a thirty-something gay man and his elderly Dachshund who’s facing health problems. I’m a dog lover, too, but so far the book seems like fairly thin, autobiographical stuff. I will try to hold on to see if more comes of it. Meanwhile, I’m still enjoying Curtis Sittenfeld’s novel “Eligible” on audiobook, which is good fun. It’s quite a lengthy book with short chapters –181 in all — oh my! But I’m in no hurry to be done with “Eligible” as it’s quite a hoot as a modern-day take on “Pride and Prejudice.”
Meanwhile when I was in California recently, I finished Emma Cline’s highly praised debut novel “The Girls,” which is about a 14-year-old girl named Evie who gets herself involved in a cult (based loosely on Charles Manson’s Family) in Northern California in the summer of 1969. Evie, a lonely child of divorced parents, finds herself drawn to the group’s feral female groupies out scavenging around town in their black bus. Evie is particularly enamored by the cult’s enigmatic Suzanne — who, along with the others and the cult leader Russell — eventually leads her down a path along the lines of the notorious Manson murders in Los Angeles.
Oh it’s eerie, spooky stuff, but luckily “The Girls” is not as graphic or explicit as I guess many of the books about Manson’s cult are. As a California kid, I was too scared to read the 1974 true crime book “Helter Skelter” about the Manson murders. Though some of the photos from the book were somehow etched in every kid’s head from those times. Later in life, an employer of mine who grew up in Los Angeles not far from where the crimes happened in Beverly Hills, told me a story that she was at home (alone?) one night during the time when the Manson Family was still on the loose, when all of the lights suddenly went out. She was terrified — as L.A. was gripped by the fear of the murders then. It turned out a car had hit a telephone pole nearby, which she didn’t know, and it took awhile to get the electricity back on. It’s an incident, which would’ve keeled me over, just sitting there in the dark, with the Manson clan on the loose.
“The Girls” does well replicating this creepiness. There were times when I thought: do I really want to read about these people or topic? Why dwell on these Manson-like groupies? The only reason I picked up the novel was because it received such positive hype. It’s been all over the blogosphere. Surprisingly to me, it turned out that the novel lived up to its hype. I had been skeptical too. But from the prose and style, I wouldn’t have guessed that Emma Cline was a young, first-time author. She completely envelopes the anxieties of adolescence, as well as the 1969 cult and era even though she wasn’t born till 1989. She expresses the young women, their dialogue, and particularly the naive Evie so well. You could see how a young person with self-esteem issues and a marginal home life could get sucked into a communal group that seems fairly harmless at first. The story feels visceral. Knowing the Manson history, you want to shake some sense and warning into Evie but there’s no use. She doesn’t seem to listen.
I liked how the novel alternates from chapters on Evie’s present life in middle age to her fateful past in 1969. The back and forth adds to how what happened hangs over Evie’s life, reverberating decades later. I might not have necessarily liked the topic, but I was impressed by Cline’s evocative novel. She’s a young author on a mission.
Meanwhile this week, my husband and I saw and liked the British spy thriller “Our Kind of Traitor,” which is at theaters now and is adapted from the John le Carre book. Simply put: it’s about a married couple who find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. While on travels they’re conned into helping a Russian oligarch planning to defect, and pretty soon they find themselves caught between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service. Ewan McGregor stars as the husband who helps the rich Russian, played by Stellan Skarsgard, and Damien Lewis plays the British agent. All are excellent. It’s a plot that kept me on edge from the get-go. If you like John le Carre’s books, or spy plots, you will likely relish “Our Kind of Traitor.” Apparently there’s been 11 films adapted from le Carre’s spy novels over the years. I think I’ve seen about 5 of them. “The Constant Gardener” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” are perhaps my favorites of those, but I wouldn’t mind seeing some of the other films.
What about you — have read Emma Cline’s novel “The Girls,” or seen any films based on le Carre’s novels, and if so what did you think?
I’m glad that The Girls lived up to the hype.
I read Our Kind of Traitor when it was published. I didn’t think it was a story to write home about, but that has happened to me with Le Carre’s novels in general. I prefer Frederick Forsyth and Daniel Silva. That said, I would like to watch the film and see if I find it interesting.
Yeah my husband grew up reading le Carre books so we always see his films. I think le Carre’s memoir, which is coming out in Sept., should be interesting. Our Kind of Traitor didn’t blow me away but it was good considering a lot of the other summer fare out these days. Hope you like.
Just the other day I was again waffling over whether I would read The Girls. It came out on some list, I think the Alt TOB on Goodreads. So you have ended my indecision. I am reading it! I too have always been afraid to read Helter Skelter, though I bet I will after I read The Girls.
I love leCarre, even when his endings suck as they often do. I am looking forward to seeing Our Kind of Traitor. That book stands out in my memory.
Right now I am reading Homegoing. It is gruesome but somehow also good.
Hoping you get some sunshine. Me, I long for clouds, as it has been relentlessly sunny here though the temps are bearable.
Hi Judy, thx for the word on Homegoing. The Girls I think is worth reading though I still wonder if it’s been overly talked about. It probably has. If you go in expecting too much then you might wonder what all the fuss about. It seems a pretty sedate novel for what it’s about. Still I give it a thumbs up.
I think my husband likes le Carre books and has read most of them — I like seeing the movies and trying to figure out who the mole is, etc.
ps. We saw the sun today 🙂 !
I can’t seem to make up my mind about whether to read The Girls or not, so I’m glad to hear you think it lives up to the hype. Have not read Helter Skelter, but would like to one day. I’ve already decided to skip Lily and the Octopus, and your experience reaffirms my decision. Maybe I’m just feeling extra cranky (or maybe picky is the better word) about books lately. If you haven’t read Shelter yet, it’s an excellent book… quite a page-turner, though dark. Very highly recommended.
Hi JoAnn: Yes I definitely want to read Shelter. Thanks for the word on that. I have put it on hold at the library. I’m quite disappointed with Lily and the Octopus. Ugh. I don’t have time to waste on sub-par reads! I hope you enjoy your trip to Santa Fe! Have fun.
I did enjoy The Girls, and was quite pleased with how it swept back and forth in time, which kind of softened the horror it might have otherwise portrayed, IMO. Having been a young adult living in California during those times, I still feel the pain of what that summer was like. How we sat around on our patio talking about it.
I did later read the book Helter Skelter and saw movies based on it, and that horror still gives me nightmares.
Even watching an old movie with Sharon Tate in it makes me cry (Valley of the Dolls).
I am considering Eligible as a read; the short chapters would be a definitely plus in a long book, I think.
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
Meant to say a “definite plus.” LOL
Thanks Laurel. Yes I agree with you that the time changes within The Girls helped to soften the book. Thank goodness for that. I was too young really to remember much of that summer of ’69. You must have been brave to have seen & read Helter Skelter. That would stick in my head too much. On a much lighter note, I think you would like the novel Eligible. It’s a fun and entertaining read. Perfect for summer.
I want to read “The Girls”. Based on your commentary and some other things that I have heard it sounds so good.
It is surprising that such a young author has handled this topic so well.
I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and I also remember how scary the Manson murders and Family seemed to be.
Yes Brian — amazing how this young author threw herself into this topic. I was a bit afraid of reading it — but luckily the author handled the topic a bit differently than just the horror of the event. She was more interested in the innocence of this young girl who gets sucked in and why all these young women joined the Family. So I liked reading about that angle.
I do enjoy le Carre’s novels but I have never seen the movie versions. I will have to check this one out.
I agree with you on Emma Cline. That is a young woman to watch. Such power in the writing is not something you expect or normally get from new authors. Very impressive indeed.
I agree Michelle: Emma Cline is one to watch in the future. If you get a chance, check out a le Carre adapted movie. This one is good, and The Constant Gardener is probably the most intense & sad.
Thanks for explaining The Girls as I’ve been wondering about why it was getting so much buzz. My husband loves spy movies and enjoy them too so thanks for the recommendation. I wish we could share some of our sunshine with you. It’s been an unusually warm and dry summer in Maine. We could do with some of your rain.
Thanks Sarah. After 2 weeks of rain here in early July, it appears we are back to summer sun again, which is very nice. Yeah my husband makes me see all the spy & Cold War movies, so I’m pretty used to them by now :-).
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Susan.. it is quite annoying and frustrating to persist with a book that is not taking you on a mesmerising journey.
A few years ago, I read the book “Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders” by Greg King and also saw a movie based on this tragedy, that gave me nightmares for a while.
That said, you intrigued me with Eligible… Such a lovely post: I always enjoy reading about your adventures. BTW, I send you tons of sun, here in Switzerland the sun is shining 🙂
Thanks RT, glad to know the sun is out there — as I suspect Switzerland is beautiful at this time of year. Eligible is quite a fun book for summer — with a little romance & humor thrown in. I dont think I can watch anything affiliated with Manson — as I’m sure I’d have nightmares for a long while. I hope you are enjoying your summer.
I completely agree with your review of The Girls! I knew going in I would probably like it. Helter Skelter is actually one of my favorite books!