Hello. We are into March now. Yay. Usually it seems we get more snow in March, though typically it’s pretty snow and meanwhile the days are getting longer and eventually warmer. I have yet to post my March Preview of new releases as I’ve been busy with my part-time jobs lately so I will try for next week with that. All in due time I guess. And the good news is: it looks like an offer on our previous house will likely go through so we are pleased with that. I’m sure we will be sad to see it go but pleased that another family can enjoy it as much as we did for many years.
Of course March brings to mind college basketball and “March Madness,” which starts March 14, so it’s almost a week away. Time is flying now. Also the Academy Awards is on this coming Sunday. We have seen some of the nominated films including: Elvis, The Fabelmans, The Banshees of Inisherin, Tar, Living, The Whale, and Top Gun: Maverick. But we haven’t seen Everything Everywhere All at Once, which has gained a lot of momentum over the past month. Will it win Best Picture? Perhaps it will.
So far I don’t have a particular movie favorite. I liked all the nominated films I saw but not sure any are my pick for Best Picture. Hmm. This week I still hope to see Women Talking (nominated for Best Picture) as well as Navalny (nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film). I wish Mr. Navalny had not returned to Russia in 2021 after being treated in Germany for being poisoned. Ugh, now he remains in Russia imprisoned for being an activist against Putin, and who knows if he can ever get out. The film on him will hopefully draw more attention to him and other protestors. So what about you — do you plan to watch the Oscars?
And now I’ll leave you with reviews of the books I finished lately.
A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson / Knopf Canada / 304 pages / 2021
I agree with others who gave this novel a 5-star rating. Canadian author Mary Lawson is a natural-born storyteller and her sensibilities with this one are right on. I had read her 2002 debut novel Crow Lake, which I recall being pretty sad and grim (though good) years ago, but this story was more endearing to me and pulled at the heartstrings. I was surprised at first how easy reading it is – almost perhaps like written for a middle school reader though it’s also beautifully-wrought and transportive.
It took me to its setting of a very small town in Northern Ontario, Canada, in no time at all. The story’s chapters alternate between three characters: Clara, age 7, whose sister (Rose, age 16) goes missing; Elizabeth, an elderly neighbor of Clara’s who goes into the hospital; and Liam, a newly divorced man in his mid-thirties who moves into Elizabeth’s house. Soon enough, you find out how their troubled stories intersect and what happens to the dilemma of Rose’s disappearance. I liked each of their stories but perhaps Liam’s and Clara’s best, then Elizabeth’s. Clara is worried about her sister; Liam is down about his divorce; and Elizabeth is thinking over an event from her past. Down the road, they all intersect in an interesting way and the mystery over Rose is solved.
I don’t know why it took me so long to pick up this novel, but apparently it was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2021. I was touched by this tale, which went by quickly, and was pleased that it didn’t get overly dark and grim. It’s just a quiet, heartfelt tale all around. Author Mary Lawson is a gem of a writer, and along with Alice Munro and Michael Crummey, she’s a Canadian favorite of mine — and likely many others.
Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life by Delia Ephron / Little Brown /
304 pages / 2022
Synopsis: This memoir follows the author’s life from 2015, right after Jerry, her husband of many decades, dies and she tries to pick up the pieces. She ends up finding new love but then is diagnosed with leukemia, the same kind her sister Nora Ephron died from in 2012.
I loved the author Delia’s courage in undergoing a bone marrow transplant (in her 70s!) to try and save her life after finding new love at age 72 … to a seemingly wonderful man named Peter who remains by her side through the harshest days of cancer treatment. This memoir is at times harrowing but also life-affirming too. I was holding on as best I could and rooting for Delia to pull through. I especially liked the author’s reading of the audiobook. In it she seems quite open and honest about her life, like she’s telling you personally about her story in your living room. It’s very conversational. And what a rollercoaster story it is.
After suffering through the deaths of her famous sister Nora Ephron in 2012 and her husband Jerry in 2015 to cancer, she finds new love with Peter, a Bay Area psychiatrist, only to get a leukemia diagnosis several months later in 2017. Whoa Delia is dealt a very heavy deck of cards. But with the right doctors and friends and support, she manages to find a will and a way. I’m still not sure how. In this memoir, she’s witty at times, grateful, candid, and also a dog lover, which makes her telling all the more endearing. It’s quite tragic Delia got the same cancer as her sister Nora … and whereas Nora decided against the agonizing bone marrow transplant, Delia went through with it after finding a donor match. I had no idea she had gone through all this agony — I remember reading her 2016 novel Siracusa and liking it. Her memoir is a pretty gripping listen and a testament to second chances and being close to those you hold dear.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these books and if so, what did you think?
What a pretty picture of the snow! I wasn’t aware of A Town Called Solace. I read four of the longlisted books that year and still have two to go in my TBR, which I may tackle one of these days. Delia Ephron’s last decade sounds like an ordeal. It’s good she found a good man to hold her hand through her illness. I finished The Trees and definitely recommend it. It’s quite a story… Morbid, gruesome (most times), but with dark humor. I gave it an enthusiastic 4*. Now I’m reading Trust by Hernan Diaz, and at 10% in it’s pretty engrossing.
Hi Carmen – nice report. I’m impressed you read The Trees. Sounds like a doozy. I’ll check to see if I could handle it. It seems your reading is back.
Ephron experienced quite a dreadful ordeal. I’m exhausted just hearing about it but glad things came thru. The Lawson novel is a really easy read and seems a bit different in that respect than most Booker-listed books. I’m surprised it was on the list. I might try Jeannette Walls’s new book next. We’ll see. Have a great week and enjoy the Oscar show if you watch it.
I remember enjoying Crow Lake long ago—so long ago, I’m not sure I even wrote a review (okay, I looked and I did, but it’s not much of one)—so A Town Called Solace sounds good to me, too.
The Ephron memoir is appealing to me as well. Love in your seventies after loss? And deciding to battle it out with the same cancer that killed your sister? Fascinating.
I’m glad that your house is finding a new family. Enjoy your week, and try to squeeze in some books.
Thanks Deb. It’s good news about the house. I think you would like both of these books. Both engaging and rather quick too. I was drawn in from the get-go.
I hope you have a nice week as well. It must be pretty there in March.
What a stunning photo! I have always loved snowy scenes with a crisp blue sky backdrop. Just lovely. Hooray for the offer on your house. I’m sure you’ll feel bittersweet when it closes, but look at that beautiful spot you’re in now. Wow.
I loved A Town Called Solace, and like you, I especially enjoyed Clara and Liam’s perspectives. I wish my book group had chosen it to discuss this year. Maybe next year, especially if it’s out in paperback by then.
I have Left on Tenth ready to listen to later this year. I’m glad you enjoyed the audiobook, especially since Ephron reads it herself. That doesn’t always work, but it sounds like Ephron does a fine job with the narration. Bumping it up in my audio tbr queue!
Thanks Lesley. I’m looking forward to see what spring & summer will be like at our new location. I think I will like the gardening and much needs to be done around the house! At least we’ll be able to get outside more.
I hope to read Mary Lawson’s two other novels sometime to see if I like them as well. And I think Delia Ephron’s voice takes a little while getting used to — for the audio … but who better to bring her story home. Her hospital chapters are a bit intense – and all the medical stuff but I weathered the storm and learned a bit in the process. I hope you are enjoying the cove! Happy March.
Oh my – you have been reading some books that tug at the heartstrings. They both sound like good reads! Glad to hear you got an offer on your house. Happy March!
Thanks Gretchen. Yes many heartstrings, ha! I seem to love these kinds of books. They aren’t too too dark but touching. Hope you are well. Happy reading!
Your photo is beautiful. I am glad you got an offer on your previous house! My mom still gets updates about her old house from her former next door neighbor. So many memories created in that house . . . I think she misses the house and what she left behind but is happy now to be closer to us and likes the life she’s been building for herself.
There was a time I paid attention to the Academy Awards–now I have no idea what movie is up for what. Haha
I enjoyed Crow Lake by Mary Lawson when I read it years ago. Although it doesn’t stand out much in my memory otherwise, sad to say. A Town Called Solace does sound good.
I hope you have a great week, Susan.
Thanks LF, from Calif snow to Canada snow, right? It’s hard to tell but spring is on the way! And I’m buoyed by the belief that the new couple will love our old house and I can drive by and see it every once in awhile, ha. I think I’m still transitioning a bit. It’s good about your Mom, building on a new place. I take comfort in that, I can do it too.
Funny about the Oscar movies. I know what you mean, ha! I’m not clear on what’s what either.
I think you’d like A Town Called Solace. It’s even better than Crow Lake. Sweet in a way. Hope you have a great week too! Happy March.
What a pretty winter photo! I must admit, when we reach March, I am ready for spring. Unfortunately, we have snow here in the UK as well, which is very unusual for this time of year. And to make it worse, I am at home with a bad cold. Like you, I haven’t watched Everything Everywhere All at Once, but I have a feeling it might be just my thing, so will get to it soon. A Town Called Solace sounds good. I remember it from the Booker nomination, but never got around to read it.
Hi Stargazer, sorry to hear about your cold – that can be a drag at the end of winter. Argh. but hopefully it will leave (with the snow) soon!
I think I’ll see if that movie is streaming yet. It probably is right? I’ve been a bit hesitant about it – but people are liking it and say it’s funny so I’ll go for it – maybe see it this week. It really looks like it has been taking the top awards so far. And the Mary Lawson novel is quite simple but good regardless. It’s just a quiet kind of small story that works. Rest Up and feel better soon.
Found and watched Everything Everywhere All at Once on Amazon Prime. Really bonkers, but good entertainment. Does it deserve an Oscar? Who knows, but worth spending a couple of hours on.
Ohh good to know Stargazer. We have Prime so I’ll look for the movie. It seems pretty bonkers. LOL. Sometimes the oddest picks get Oscars. ha. Enjoy the Oscars, if you watch it on Sunday.
Congrats on the offer! I haven’t watched the Oscars in so long. I’m so behind on movies. 🙁
Ha Greg. Funny. We’re trying to stay up on the nominated movies – but it is hard. Thanks about the house. It’s been a long while. Happy March to you!
A Town Called Solace was a 2022 favorite for me. Since it didn’t win the Booker, I had to read the winner (The Promise by Damon Galgut) to see if it was indeed “better”. That was a great book, too. I rated it 4.5 stars, but still prefer the Lawson.
Left on Tenth is still on my audio list… which seems to grow every day! Beautiful photo of the snow.
Hi JoAnn: Yeah I loved Lawson’s book too — perhaps the story wasn’t complicated enough or issue-oriented enough for the Booker. I think it didn’t make the shortlist but it was awesome that it made the longlist in 2021. I still need to read one of Galgut’s novels. Hmm.
I hope you like Left on Tenth. It’s a pretty quick one, easy to follow – though a bit intense at the hospital. But there’s other things about it, like love late in life, Yay.
Hope you have a good week.
Pretty snow photo! Good luck with the house sale. I hope you’re having a great March.
Hey thanks. One day we had hoar frost on the trees and they looked wonderful so I took a few shots. It seems the house sale is going to go through so that is really great. We can move on with life. Happy March to you too!
The Delia Ephron memoir sounds really good although I am always hesitant (hypochondriac that I am) to pick up memoirs dealing with serious illness. I have one book for example by a favorite writer Natalie Goldberg where she writes about her cancer diagnosis and as with Delia, Natalie goes into the core of what it means to be told you have cancer and the treatment that follows. But the purpose of books is to challenge ourselves. It can’t only be entertainment and cozy mysteries which are also good but if that’s all we stick to we will miss out. So I am at some point going to try Natalie’s book and Delia’s as well and thank you for recommending Left on Tenth. It has given me the push I needed.
Thanks Kathy. You make good points. I don’t read many cancer kinds of books either. Books do challenge us — like this one does — when she gets severely ill after the transplant. But I’m glad I persevered because I learned quite a bit in the process and it is quite touching and says something about the human experience and life. I hope you find the books worthwhile. Hmm. Have a great week.
I don’t mind March snow quite so much just because it melts so fast. (But we’ve gotten so much snow this winter here in Salt Lake, I really am very ready for spring to come!) And thanks for the reminder about A Town Called Solace. It’s a book I meant to read two years ago, then forgot about. Am returning it to the top of my TBR list. 😀
Hey Lark. I’ve heard Utah has had a ton snow this winter. A lot of shoveling right? I’m also ready for spring – but I don’t enjoy the huge melt-a-thon ahead because that causes other problems, like muddy conditions everywhere. Yikes.
Still it will be great to see green leaves again.
I hope you enjoy the Lawson novel – it’s a quick read and a gem. Cheers!
Both of the Ephrons were very accomplished, and I simply love Nora’s films. Like others, however, I’m not fond of memoirs about illness and misfortune! Glad you enjoyed it.
best…mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, yeah this memoir has a bit of everything in it — it’s not solely about her illness but towards the end there’s a chunk of it that is. It’s also about her love life after losing her husband 🙂 I didn’t know much about Delia … as I knew more of Nora’s books & movies but it was interesting finding out a bit about Delia. Quite a family! Enjoy your weekend.
I haven’t seen any of the nominated movies this year! Somehow movies haven’t been on my radar. I need to remedy that. Left on Tenth sounds really tense and powerful; some people are so resilient and life-affirming. I am sure it increases their chance for survival.
Hi Helen, yeah I was a bit surprised by Ephron’s will to fight and persevere at her age this very hard bone marrow transplant. Wow.
The movies have sort of snuck through. I’m not sure I’ve been enthralled with any so far but I’ve liked a few. Enjoy your weekend.
I just added A Town Called Solace to my reading list. I read Lawson’s book Crow Lake years ago and remember it being emotionally impactful. // Love the photo of the snow and trees. Is that now? This weather. Who can figure it out?
Hi Anne: yes the tree photo was recent — it was a morning where hoar frost had accumulated on the trees. It’s weird but I think it happens when fog and cold hit and gives a frost effect. It’s neat to see on the trees. Today we are supposed to get quite a bit of snow whoa! We already have about 8 inches on the ground.
I think you will like A Town Called Solace. A good story. I liked it a bit better than Crow Lake. Enjoy your weekend.
After the Oscars, my friends ran out to see Everything Everywhere All At Once and were disappointed. I have not seen it yet! Your photo with the snow scene is beautiful.
Thanks Judee. I love taking these photos of the snow. I havent actually watched Everything Everywhere … but I think it might not be my type of film with the magic in it and special effects. I tried to watch it once & fell asleep! But I might try again. I hope you are enjoying an early spring.