Wonderstruck is the new novel by Hugo Cabret author Brian Selznick. It is a novel in words and pictures, for young and old alike. My daughter insisted I read it after she finished it.
There is one story happening in fabulously detailed black and white drawings and another in words. By the end, the two converge. It is an exploration into Deaf culture, family, museums, and much more, all beautifully woven together by a master storyteller.
Selznick's novel soars.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
World and Town
World and Town by Gish Jen is a novel that tackles big subjects with tenderness and grace and humor. At the heart of the novel is Hattie Kong, a retired science teacher who is a descendant of Confucius. Now in her late 60's and living in a small New England town, she gets a chance to start over-possibly with her long ago love that she hasn't seen in over 30 years.
Jen enters the tricky territory of science vs. religion, immigrants in America during the time of 9/11, and simply what it means to be a good neighbor and a part of the larger community.
The novel is written in several different voices, and at times I found this a bit distracting. However, it did paint a deeper picture of each character, as Jen delves into their histories and disects their lives to help us understand how they come to be who they are, and why they act in the ways they do.
This is a well written, engaging, deeply moving novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Jen enters the tricky territory of science vs. religion, immigrants in America during the time of 9/11, and simply what it means to be a good neighbor and a part of the larger community.
The novel is written in several different voices, and at times I found this a bit distracting. However, it did paint a deeper picture of each character, as Jen delves into their histories and disects their lives to help us understand how they come to be who they are, and why they act in the ways they do.
This is a well written, engaging, deeply moving novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
The Pirate's Daughter
The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson is part historical fiction, part adventure story, part family saga, set in Jamaica during the late 40's-70's during turbulent times when Jamaica was trying to find it's own identity as a newly independent nation.
The starting point for the novel is Errol Flynn's arrival in Jaimaca in 1946, where he fell in love with the place, bought an island, and stayed. Cezair-Thompson then imagines his affair with a beautiful local girl, who has his daughter, and the story unfolds from there.
I was fully engaged with this novel from start to finish. Cezair-Thompson is a wonderful writer who was able to weave together so many different aspects of this story. I felt transported to Jamaica the entire time. I could see all its beauty and the violence, smell it's gorgeous flowers, taste the delicious food, and hear the lively Patois of the local people.
Ultimately, it is just a really good read.
The starting point for the novel is Errol Flynn's arrival in Jaimaca in 1946, where he fell in love with the place, bought an island, and stayed. Cezair-Thompson then imagines his affair with a beautiful local girl, who has his daughter, and the story unfolds from there.
I was fully engaged with this novel from start to finish. Cezair-Thompson is a wonderful writer who was able to weave together so many different aspects of this story. I felt transported to Jamaica the entire time. I could see all its beauty and the violence, smell it's gorgeous flowers, taste the delicious food, and hear the lively Patois of the local people.
Ultimately, it is just a really good read.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness
Alexandra Fuller's first memoir that came out ten years ago, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, was a truly astonishing account of growing up in Africa. Her follow up is the recently published Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. This book goes back to tell the lives of her parents and how they came to be who they are.
Fuller celebrates her parents eccentricities, their madness, generosity, courage and dignity in this book. We might not always agree with or understand certain choices they make, but that's really not the point.
I wasn't as blown away by this book as by the first one. Maybe because I already knew parts of the story. If you haven't read either, start with Don't Let's Go to The Dogs Tonight, then read Cocktail Hour for a complete picture of this truly original family.
Fuller celebrates her parents eccentricities, their madness, generosity, courage and dignity in this book. We might not always agree with or understand certain choices they make, but that's really not the point.
I wasn't as blown away by this book as by the first one. Maybe because I already knew parts of the story. If you haven't read either, start with Don't Let's Go to The Dogs Tonight, then read Cocktail Hour for a complete picture of this truly original family.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The Lace Reader
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry is a wild ride of a mystery set in present day Salem, Massachusetts, full of witches, religious fanatics and other eccentric characters.
The story is told by Towner, also named Sophya, who has come back home to Salem after 15 years away in California, escaping from her troubled youth. We learn about the mysterious death of her twin sister and try to unravel her memories, which are muddy at best, and told in an almost dreamlike manner.
The death of her Aunt and a missing teenager have the police searching the town. This is all entwined with Towner's own unreliable memories, climaxing in a fully unexpected ending that made me want to go back and re-read the entire book.
Barry has created a page turner of a mystery, one that will keep you up late into the night and keep you thinking long after the last page is finished.
The story is told by Towner, also named Sophya, who has come back home to Salem after 15 years away in California, escaping from her troubled youth. We learn about the mysterious death of her twin sister and try to unravel her memories, which are muddy at best, and told in an almost dreamlike manner.
The death of her Aunt and a missing teenager have the police searching the town. This is all entwined with Towner's own unreliable memories, climaxing in a fully unexpected ending that made me want to go back and re-read the entire book.
Barry has created a page turner of a mystery, one that will keep you up late into the night and keep you thinking long after the last page is finished.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Sonata for Miriam
Sonata for Miriam is a slim, elegant novel by Linda Olsson, author of Astrid and Veronika.
Sonata takes us on both a physical and emotional journey with Adam, who has just lost his daughter Miriam in an accident in New Zealand. He returns to Poland where he was born, in search of his past and then to Sweden where he was raised.
Reading the novel is like listening to the different movements in a piece of music. Olsson's writing is spare and lyrical, she guides us on our journey, but leaves many details for the reader to imagine. I have fully enjoyed both of her novels.
Sonata takes us on both a physical and emotional journey with Adam, who has just lost his daughter Miriam in an accident in New Zealand. He returns to Poland where he was born, in search of his past and then to Sweden where he was raised.
Reading the novel is like listening to the different movements in a piece of music. Olsson's writing is spare and lyrical, she guides us on our journey, but leaves many details for the reader to imagine. I have fully enjoyed both of her novels.
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