I know I said my next post would continue my assessment of my travel wardrobe, but I must have meant “next next.” Because I really have to get this October Reading report out, now that I know the email subscription service is working. I’ve already broken a record for length of time lapsed between end of a month and publication of that month’s reading post, and I can’t let another day go by, even if I suspect that many of you will be too busy with your Thanksgiving festivities (Happy Thanksgiving, my American neighbours!) to look at your screens anyway.
Besides breaking my record for tardiness, my October post is based on another record: the first time since I began my handwritten Reading Journal that I didn’t write a single entry during the month the books were read. So there’s been some scrambling here as I tried to remember a few cogent details about my October reading. . . And as I remembered, I first wrote my impressions in my journal for my personal archive. . .
And then I transcribed those entries to amplify my numbered list (in case you haven’t been reading here long, the numbers begin at 1 each January, helping me to retrieve an entry when needed).
Here goes (and there went!) October:
71. The Other Black Girl. Zakiya Dalila Harris. Thriller; popular fiction; Black Lives Matter; women’s lives; Black writer; American fiction; Young Black women’s lives; Social Commentary; Publishing; Hair; Set in NYC.
I read this because Jennifer wondered what I’d think of it . . . and then I forgot to talk to her about it when we saw each other in Paris.
A thriller, I guess, with a huge dollop of the supernatural — about a young woman who works in publishing, the only Black person in her company . . . until “the other black girl” comes along.
Office politics, race politics, tokenism as racism, feminism (the whole idea of women either competing against each other or supporting each other) complicated by said racism (with class thrown in and at least one decent white guy . . . so intersectionalism as well)
Spoiler alert: the supernatural comes in the form of a hair product and there’s some evocative and moving writing about hair and Black culture, politics, history, etc.
Debut novel, interesting — for me, the work’s tendentious politics are probably valuable and strategically reasonable, but they do ultimately get in the way. And the supernatural thriller isn’t really my genre anyway. Entertaining, though, and thought-provoking and well-written, and so what if I’m not the target audience? We all need more and more and more stories by Black writers broadening the views of white readers and allowing Black readers to see themselves and their lives reflected.
Instagram post here.
72. Death in the Rainy Season. Anna Jacquiery. Mystery novel; police procedural; Serge Morel series; Cambodia.
As I commented when I read The Lying Down Room, first title in the Serge Morel series, I enjoyed that book enough to give the next volume a chance. And I was rewarded — the slight reservations I had about the writing there (the first chapters, especially, feeling as though Jacquiery was still warming up) are no longer a factor. The writing is strong from the outset, and the setting (Phnom Penh, Cambodia in the rainy season) evocative and convincing. Morel is there on a much-needed vacation from his home and work in Paris — Phnom Penh is a place he knows well and in which he has family connections, history on his mother’s side.
He’s asked to stay on and investigate the death of a well-connected French citizen, and the murder investigation is complicated by diplomatic/political concerns, possible corruption. And Morel has personal issues to resolve here as well, relatives hard hit by Cambodia’s violent history from which his mother (long deceased) escaped.
Recommended for plot, characters and for the armchair travel and (not-at-all pedantic) history lesson.
73. Lying in Wait. Liz Nugent. Psychological/Domestic thriller. Set in Dublin.
Page-turning psychological thriller recommended to me by a friend. Set in Dublin, the novel centres around some particularly unlikeable characters and we quickly know “who” done it — it being the murder of a young woman by an older man, urged on by his wife.
But why? And how will the couple’s teen-aged son react if/when he learns the truth.
And then by coincidence he meets. . . But no, no more spoilers. I’ll just say there are twists and lies and a long-buried secret, and at the heart a very creepy and single-minded mother. . .
74 Monsieur Mediocre: One American Learns the High Art of Becoming Everyday French. John von Sothen. Memoir; Ex-pat life; Life in France; Life in Paris; Married Life; Family Life; Aging Parents; Speaking/Living in a Second Language.
The trouble with trying to make a few notes about a book more than a month after you’ve read it (with an intervening trip to Paris and Rome) is that recall is weak on specifics.
An enjoyable memoir though — von Sothen sketches his own interesting background with somewhat elderly parents (of another generation than his friends’ parents) — connected, some money, a very creative mother (artist) who spent time in Paris as a student and who makes sure John spends time in Europe growing up. . . .von Sothen marries a Parisian actor (from a very well-connected French family) after she becomes pregnant (he worries about proposing, but she assures him on Pont Neuf, that they can always divorce later.
They live in the 10th, have two kids, and eventually buy a place in the country for weekends and vacations . . . and there are so many great anecdotes about French life from someone “on the inside” who will, nevertheless, always remain somewhat alienated — a compelling perspective, actually.
And so many laugh-out-loud passages, and so many I had to read to my husband.
75. Piranesi. Susanna Clark. Fantasy; Literary fiction (won 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction).
I had a hardcover copy of this for months (found on the give-away shelf in our mail room) and somehow didn’t feel drawn to it. But once I started, finally, it was tough to put down. It’s a genre-defying tale — generally considered Fantasy, but by the end you might be inclined to agree that it’s also a Psychological Thriller. So intriguing as we learn this cavernous watery world — the House — from the narrator’s perspective and we try to understand his deference to and dependence on the one other occupant — who, the reader gradually senses, is manipulating the narrator, Piranesi.
And also, gradually, references to a history that both might share, but which is obscured by possible lies and obfuscation. There are bodies, there are days, months, important events, years erased from memory. . . and journal pages recovered that have evidently been thrown away in an effort to hide some important secret. The narrator’s trust of his supposed master is shaken when two other figures appear and the reader begins to see there might be links to events and personal histories in “the real world.” And then what is this beautiful space with its tides and its statues and its hundreds of rooms that the narrator maps. . .
And the policewoman who persists . . . who keeps coming back for the narrator. . .
But no more spoilers. . . .Read it for yourself, and then we can chat. . . .
My Instagram post about Piranesi is here.
76. The Nest. Kenneth Oppel. Children’s literature; YA novel; Supernatural; Psychological; Siblings; Wasps.
I read this novel — novella perhaps, as it’s quite short — because my granddaughter counts it among her favourite books. The protagonist is a pre-teen boy with a younger sister and a baby brother who is sick with an undetermined diagnosis and many worrisome symptoms. Older brother Steve turns to an unusual resource for help — a wasp-angel that appears to him in his dreams — but quickly realizes he might have committed to actions that will endanger the baby’s life.
Supernatural elements (wasps that can communicate with humans via dreams, as a starting point) mix with sensitive treatment of childhood anxiety and family life. And note-perfect all the way in respect for readers of all ages. Also, some very cool entomology involved, although the wasps in Steve’s dreams are not your average wasp.
And that’s it for my October reading. At least I squeaked in under the wire, before November is over . . . and now I can begin catching up the handwritten notes for next month’s posts!
But between now and then, perhaps you’ll find time to let me know what you’ve been reading. We can even compare notes if you’ve read some of the books I mention here.
Let the book talk begin!
Stu and I both read an earlier Liz Nugent called Unravelling Oliver. It was weird and very captivating. She seems to take an unusual approach to her plot ideas, which I like. I must try this one.
Also looking at that memoir you’ve mentioned about living in France. I am not much of a non-fiction reader but I do love a good memoir. This one sounds great.
My friend and I, who have totally opposite tastes in books yet respect the other’s views, talked books on our walk this week. She loves Sci Fi and has been reading a book by Kazuo Ishiguro called Klara and the Sun, about parents finding a robot friend for their child . It sounds fascinating, although not my cup of tea. Then we chatted about a former student whose post graduate work has been on robots and werewolves in medieval literature. I said that if we’d been able to sell that idea of a future job to teenage boys we’d have a lot more of them interested in studying English. I love a good walk combined with a free-wheeling discussion of varied literary topics. Ha.
Author
I read a review or two about Unravelling Oliver, and I’m intrigued. . . and if you and Stu found it “weird and very captivating,” it’s going on my list for sure!
And Ishiguro’s latest could go on as well; in fact, I haven’t read the one before either, The Buried Giant. Sigh. So many books, so little . . . well, you know!
I’m wondering about small worlds and all that, because my medievalist friend and ex-colleague has extended her scholarship to fantasy in popular culture, the works of Joss Whedon in particular (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc.) I’m very envious of your walk with such an array of topics — that’s really my favourite kind of free-wheeling conversation.
I really enjoy your reading lists and reviews–thank you for doing this! I confess that my preferred genre (mystery; thriller) is what I read mostly but I do occasionally branch out into fiction and non-fiction. I prefer your choices over the NYT reading list! My friends read books that simply don’t interest me (for one reason or another). I do believe you have more discipline in your choices but at this point in my life, I’m just glad to have even a tiny list…..
Thank you
Author
Thanks for letting me know you find my book posts worthwhile, Sally! As you can tell, mystery/suspense/thriller is one of my favourite genres as well. If you ever have a series or author to recommend, feel free!
I enjoy reading memoirs, so I’ve added Monsieur Mediocre to my reading list and will see if our local library has it or can bring it in. Living in a town of about 800 people, I love the inter library loan system and use it often!
Author
Isn’t it a great system? Imagine living in those small towns when they were restricted to the acquisitions the community could afford (and would approve!)
Two new mystery/thriller authors to check out and a memoir on living in Paris – thank you!
A recent visit to my cousin, book lover par excellence, yielded a treasure trove of more Japanese novels in translation. I began reading the first one while waiting for the ferry home and I was immediately hooked: On Parole by Akita Yoshimura, translated by Steven Snyder. It’s a very sparse, slim novel written in 1988. Every word and detail adds to the character study of a man adjusting to life outside after a long prison sentence. The insights into Japanese culture are very interesting too. By far the best book I’ve read recently.
Author
Thanks, Frances! Aren’t we lucky to have translators — I’m just reading Magda Szabo’s The Door, and the introduction by Ali Smith points out that only 3% of books available in English are books that have been translated. What a wealth of other literatures (and perspectives! and styles!) we’re missing out on. Lucky you with access to a curated library like your cousin’s (just found On Parole in the VPL catalogue and put it on my For Later list).
How interesting-all of them are going to my never-ending list….
I’m longing for soothing,mild but well written books (maybe Monsier Mediocre from your list?),but it seems that my books for October (and part of November) were nothing like that,except well written
I’ve read Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize awarded The Promise,excellent saga about one family,four funerals,one promise and changes in post-apartheid South Africa,an allegory for all the promises,poignant and dark
Leila Slimani’s In the Country of Others (even the title is an excellent one-first part of her family trilogy) takes us to Morocco during the years of decolonisation,through an interracial family drama. No one is wrong, no one is right,everyone is wrong,everyone is right…..
Elena Ferrante’s La Figlia Oscura,The Lost Daughter:soon to be realeased film with Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson (though world premiere was on Venice FF). It was first published in 2008.,frank and brutal ,as her writing and books are….I find it more like a study for her later books: motives and characters,surrounding,locations….all are here
And the darkest of all,destroying Kate Elizabeth Russell’s My Dark Vanessa. Relationship between a fifteen year old girl and her teacher ( repeat offender ,manipulative,narcissistic paedophile) and longevity effect of the trauma in her life
Alka Yoshi’s The Henna Artist is a story about a woman struggling to live and succed in Jaipur,India (fifties again) about destiny,family,friendship,love…
I’ve already mentioned somewhere Jurica Pavičić’s L’eau Rouge (read in croatian)- marvellous,Grand Prix de Littérature Policière categorie ètranger awarded book
Dottoressa
Author
You’ve already read The Promise and In the Country of Others>?! These are both high up on my list, but I haven’t got either yet — and I’m glad to hear you recommend them both.
But no, you definitely didn’t manage “soothing and mild” in your recent reading!
I still haven’t read La Figlia Oscura, although I should have after Georgia wrote such a convincing argument for it in a guest post here, back when I hosted that My Brilliant Friend readalong.
The other books also appeal to me, although I may never get to them — but I’ll put L’eau rouge on top of my French reading — I don’t remember you mentioning it before, so I mustn’t have been paying attention — I can practice my French, get more exposure to Croatian writers, and read in my favourite escape genre. Win-win-win!
Well as promised I had a little scout around to see what I have been reading lately and what is on the nightstand for the next while…and somehow!!! I have just now ordered two books of poetry as Christmas gift to self.
In common with your lists, past and present, I’ve just finished What I Loved (Siri Hustvedt) and have a collection of her essays in the TBR pile. Also read Standard Deviation sometime over the summer and Monogamy on your recommendation (Sue Miller, I keep meaning to check my own shelves for some of her backlist, am sure there’s something there). Reread, no I lie, reskimmed Bear and it’s still the same as it was although of course I think differently about it now (and my current thoughts are mostly about how we come as a human creature to another creature – can we shed what we carry culturally and meet on some level – although I don’t think the author poses that question at all).
You know I’m a dedicated rereader so the winter pile on the night table includes Nigel Slater’s Christmas Chronicles, Gaudy Night (for the annual reread), John Donne (as we near the year’s midnight) and a Monty Don gardening book that I have had for a bit but will be wanting to read on January when gardening is far away for me.
Proust has been put aside until spring…and I didn’t really get far because I read the first section about 10 times, I loved thinking about it as I was falling asleep…
Author
Poetry on the nightstand — that’ll work!
You read What I Loved? Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did (suspect so, if you’ve added those essays to the TBR) — you didn’t happen to borrow my copy, did you? Thought I’d lent it to my daughter, but she says No, and I can’t find it anywhere. 😉
Yes, about Bear. It’s still the same but we’re so different now and think about other animals quite differently. Of course, Engel and her protagonist are distinct from each other, and in some ways I think Engel was prescient in that staging, in drawing attention to what the interloping white woman was projecting onto the surroundings she found herself in. Except then I also know that Engel was doing the same kind of projecting . . . mise en abime-wise. . .
It’s probably 45 or more years since I read Dorothy Sayers. Perhaps I should consider a reread or two. That’s a lovely nightstand pile — I love the way those four very different choices are all ultimately comforting, even cozy (hmmm, Donne? cozy? maybe not quite) in diverse ways. Almost a narrative right in that stack.
Your last paragraph!
So many interesting suggestions. My favorite book read lately was The Childrens’ Train by Viola Ardone, translated from the Italian by Clarissa Botsford. It takes place first in Naples and Bologna just after WWII in the words of 7 year old Amerigo and then in the 1990’s when he is in middle ago. My grandmother was originally from Naples and the family spoke the Neopolitan dialect which is heard throughout the book. Mostly when they wanted to keep secrets from us kids. It also deals with the ambivalent feelings one has towards a parent once they are gone. I was quite touched by this book. this month I have turned to some guilty pleasures, especially in terms of suspense, Ann Cleves The Darkest night, a Vera Stanhope mystery and the Maidens by Alex Michaelides. I suppose Jennifer Weiner can be considered chic lit by some but she often deals with serious and current subjects and her main characters are not cookie cutter. Just finished That Summer. Her response to the “me too” movement. I did read, as I might have mentioned previously Klara and he Sun. I can see that it brings up some important questions but honestly it was not for me. maybe it’s written for a younger audience. And now on toe the next book.
Author
I’ll make a note of The Children’s Train — sounds as if it must explore many aspects of Italian history and culture — that division/connection between north and south especially.
I read a Vera Stanhope a few weeks ago! These dark months call for the guilty pleasures, no? But honestly, I don’t think we need to feel guilty at all. As you suggest when you mention Jennifer Weiner’s books, genre fiction can also shed light on serious and current subjects. Also, we’re allowed simple enjoyment and we don’t need to justify it, right?
Curious — have you read other books by Ishiguro and enjoyed them more? Remains of the Day, perhaps?
I admit this was the first book I have read by Ishiguro. My daughter passed on to me Never Let Me Go some time ago but at the time I thought that the themes was too disturbing. I only saw the film version of Remains of the Day, which I liked. I am planning a trip to the library this week and this may be the time to give one or the other a try.
Author
I’ve only read Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go myself but hope to catch up eventually… never will, but live in hope😉
You seem to be leaning towards sci-fi & supernatural this month which is something I struggle with . I am a memoir fan though . At the moment I’m really enjoying The Great Western Beach by Emma Smith . She writes beautifully of her childhood in Cornwall in the 1920s . It’s idyllic at times but this is countered by the shadow cast by her father who must have been badly effected by WW1 . Diane Athill said she had rarely come across a more gripping childhood memoir which is quite a recommendation .
Hope you are weathering your latest storm ok . It’s pretty grim here today too with lots of storm weather warnings . We’re just about to get wrapped up & head off for our walk . The dog is looking worried .
Author
Yes, I sometimes struggle with supernatural elements in fiction as well. But they can be such an effective way to extend our thinking, to allow us to reimagine possibilities or re-conceptualize what we’ve taken for granted. And, after all, fiction is fiction, and strict realism is a very recent phenomenon in story-telling. . .
Anything recommended by both you and Diane Athill is going to get a look-in by me, so I’m going to the library website next to see if I can find Emma Smith’s memoir. I have hopes of visiting Cornwall someday (and a visit to a Barbara Hepworth exhibition at Paris’s Rodin Museum two years ago stoked that desire — someday!)
I saw a photo (Annie Green’s Instagram post — @nohatnogloves) of a tree (one of her favourites) that had come down in a Yorkshire storm. We’re fine here in the city, but rivers are rising and mud likely sliding. . . Hope you’re back home and cozy now and the dog snuggled by the fire. . .
The dog walk was cut short by two fallen trees across the narrow path . One was a very old oak too . Very sad . We have a layer of snow now . Ah well , better weather tomorrow.
Author
Yikes! Although I’d welcome a bit of snow as diversion from all the rainfall here… not the fallen trees though…
I just finished Piranesi and I absolutely adored it. It felt like a parable to me of our world today, the rising seas. Just wonderful. Wish we could curl up on a sofa and talk about it!
Author
Yes! It’s such a good example of what fantasy can do—the world-building particularly but then also the existential questions at the heart of it—all wrapped up in compelling storytelling.
Piranesi is on my list, as is Klara and the Sun (Sue). I love your lists and your comments and have to think about this one further. I shall try to come back, but that may not happen. In the meantime, I need to get my own October list up before December dawns.
Author
I’m feeling the same constraints, Mardel. Just read your October list and enjoyed it, but didn’t feel I could spare the time to comment especially as I didn’t have anything particularly worthwhile to say. The wheel has really speeded up, typical for this time of year (which is strange, because really, the body wants to hibernate. . . )