The Far Field

The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay is the book I've been most disappointed by this year, probably because of all the hype around it and how much I was looking forward to reading it. Although parts are beautifully written, I never understood or liked the main character, Shalini.

She is a wealthy, naive young woman from Bangalore who goes to live for a time with a family in Kashmir, this part is semi-autobiographical. However, the choices she makes are hard to understand and they endanger all the people around her. At the same time, I never really learned anything about the real situation in Kashmir from reading this book. I felt frustrated and disappointed and I don't understand all the praise this book is getting. There are far better books coming out of India these days in my opinion.

Mama's Last Hug

Mama's Last Hug, Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves by Frans De Waal is a book about the study of chimpanzees and other animals over the course of many decades. De Waal, one of the worlds leading primatologists, concludes that we should be treating animals better since they too have emotions. That this is still unknown to so many people is baffling to me.

I'm glad this book is out if this is what is needed to help change the minds of the majority who treat animals as if they are machines, and if it helps bring awareness to the horrible way they live in factory farms and laboratories, for it is truly a crime. Anyone whose spent any real time with animals understands this.

Practical Magic

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is the original book about the Owens family, of which the more recent The Rules of Magic is the prequel. I really enjoyed The Rules of Magic, but was disappointed in this book, it felt dated and indeed it was written in 1995. Too little magic, too many abusive relationships, it just wasn't a very good book and it was turned into an even worse movie.

I still think Hoffman is a great writer, but this is not one of my favorites.

You Think It, I'll Say It

You Think It, I'll Say It:Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld, author of American Wife, reminded me why I don't read short stories. Even when written by writers I like, they almost always disappoint. Here were several stories with unlikable characters that made me wonder why I wasted my time reading about them. Skip this collection and pick up one of Sittenfeld's novels instead.

The Rules of Magic

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman is a prequel to Practical Magic, which I haven't read yet. Hoffman is a prolific writer and a couple of my favorites are The Dovekeepers and The Museum of Extraordinary Things. In this novel we meet the Owens' siblings, Franny Jet and Vincent, all with unique magical gifts but cursed with great tragedy if they fall in love.

Set against the backdrop of NYC in the sixties, Hoffman is a wonderful storyteller; she has created great characters and woven historical fiction with magical realism to create a truly fantastic read. I was completely swept away and didn't want this book to end. I'm looking forward to reading Practical Magic and catching up with the next generation of the Owen's family.

One Part Woman

One Part Woman by Perumal Murugan is written in Tamil and was hugely popular in India. Now translated into English, I feel all the richer for having been able to read it.

Set in rural South India, a loving couple Kali and Ponna are unable to have children. This is an unacceptable situation in their village and they are treated with disdain by everyone, family included. Murugan wonderfully portrays this struggle in an otherwise happy marriage. After praying and making offerings to every conceivable God, their family hatches a plan that could divide them.

A beautifully written, sad and important book.

All the Birds in the Sky

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders is a hard novel to describe, part fantasy, part sci-fi, part love story, part mystery; sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. However, Anders is a truly original voice and one to watch in my opinion.

An ancient society of witches led by the powerful young witch Patricia, who talks to birds and trees, battles a high tech group of scientists led by young brilliant Laurence, who have known each other since they were kids and also happen to be in love. The book is filled with humor and sadness and big ideas about the end of the world. It also addresses the very real challenge of growing up different in a world that doesn't always recognize what is special.

An uneven, yet fascinating and enjoyable read.