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The Book of You by Claire Kendal
His name is Rafe, and he is everywhere Clarissa turns. What could have been a formula stalker thriller, is luckily so much more. It’s a creepy, often graphic read, and with my husband out of town, I checked the door was locked and read with several lights on in the house.
Clarissa, as the main character, develops as the book progresses. She hides, cowers and seems vulnerable, but the reader will cheer the bravery in her relentless gathering of evidence against Rafe. Upon police advice, she keeps a small journal “The Book of You” detailing every stalking move Rafe makes. And while repulsed, she also keeps all his “gifts” and lurid photos – all in the hopes of gathering enough evidence to have him arrested. The story is told interspersed between her journal entries and current time.
The stalking soon becomes part of her everyday as she attends jury duty, meets another man and tries to carry on a normal life. She keeps Rafe’s stalking, her journal and her fear a secret from everyone – adding to the suspense of the book.
Most compelling was how the author, little by little, lets the reader fall into the mind and feelings of a stalking victim, how they try and maintain normalcy, how their lives are turned into a mine field of psychological terror, and how even the simple things that brought them joy (Clarissa’s sewing) can be made dirty. This is what sets this debut thriller apart from the standard. The ending was so good, I raced through the last few chapters and then the next morning re-read them to savor the twists of the plotting.
In several instances the narrative breaks down and defies logic, and the dialogue can be stilted and poorly crafted – especially from the neighbor lady — “You think I’m just a sweet old lady, Clarissa, a kindly spinster who knows nothing and has experienced nothing….” arghhh.
But those two minor critiques did not stop me from devouring this chilling read and it still lingers in my mind.
Advanced Reading Copy provided by Harper Collins
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We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
I’d been hearing the raving reviews of this novel, and so was thrilled to receive an Netgalley review copy. I started the novel and was immediately bogged down. The novel begins in the center of the story and through flashbacks the secrets are revealed. I stuck with it and learning the (not-so-secret) surprise that our narrator Rosemary was raised with a “sister” Fern who happened to be a chimp and disappeared when Rosemary was five years old.
This reveal turned out to be the most interesting part of the novel
Now I was intrigued but still having trouble slogging through the flashbacks, and overly complex story lines.
I get that this unusual chimp fostering experiment had a long armed impact on various members of the family — especially Rosemary and often the writing is magical, funny and warm — but I could not finish this book.
I had trouble relating to any of the characters and found the this ever-churning tale of family loss, coming of age, and animal abuse extremely sad. Beware — the last part of the book involves gut-wrenching and sickening animal experiments and that is where I stopped reading.
Review copy provided by Penguin Group via NetGalley.
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This kid wrote the best book review — ever.
I can relate…
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Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
I heard Roz Chast talking about her newest book on NPR and bought this memoir the next day. I strongly recommend getting this book in the hardback versus the electronic version, as you want to experience her cartoons and text laid out as she intended.
I inhaled this book in two sittings. I’ve long been a fan of Roz Chast’s cartoons in the New Yorker and elsewhere, so this was an insight into a moving part of her life.
This is a cartoon (with prose) memoir of her aging Jewish parents – well into their 90’s and, although always independent and self-sufficient, now in decline. As their only child, Ms. Chast tries to muddle through their needs – wanting to respect their pride, while still caring for them with their weakened health and memory issues.
Sounds dreary? Wrong! This is a funny, moving and soulful accounting of caring for aging parents that is in fact deeper and more insightful than a cartoon memoir might appear.
Some of the humor is laugh-out loud funny, other times I found myself laughing uncomfortably but through her cartoons, Ms. Chast is able to assure us that the negative, frustrated feelings in this difficult situation are as important and valid as the positive, loving feelings. It shows the complicated emotions dealing with aging parents – especially when they’re resilient, resistant and proud.
If you’re a fellow baby boomer (hate that term, but OK) and dealing with these issues or already have – you will gain insight from this book. The ending is devastating and emotional, but the entire memoir is TRUE and honest – frightening and yet lovingly funny. Yes, that’s it – lovingly funny, honest and true. Read it.
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Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
I’d had this book on my shelf for ages and could never get past the first few chapters, so donated it to the Friends of the SF Public Library and forgot about it.
Then, I discovered I was going to be in Maine, so checked it out as a Kindle book from the library – that’s just how I roll folks.
This novel tells the tale of three generations of Kelleher women; Alice – the cruel matriarch, Kathleen – flawed, recovering alcoholic, Anne Marie – duty-bound daughter-in-law, and Maggie – the young hapless victim.
Because I planned to read this while at a friends camp (cottage) on a lake in Maine, I thought this would be the perfect novel. But, turns out Maine (the state) does not really have any role or influence on Maine, the book.
Despite the back cover/inside flap copy this book is NOT a fun beach read about a family’s enjoyable summer days spent at their summer house in Maine — there’s no fun in this Maine. Where’s the lobster dinners eaten outside while slapping the mosquitoes, the chilly early morning swims, or the lazy hot afternoons reading on the porch?
Maine is a dark and grim expose of women joined by dysfunctional drama. Told in alternating narratives, each chapter is the voice of a different character. The author sets up the plot of past hatreds and buried secrets and then lets each character delve into their viewpoints, resentments and pain.
The book is extremely well-written and really starts to take off halfway through, when the women come together in Maine at the family summer house. But, I found it hard to relax and just enjoy this book. This is a book where motives have to be analyzed and resulting actions dissected – a good book group discussion could result from the family dynamics. And as a bravo to Ms. Sullivan, much of the family dysfunction is made real and familiar for anyone with a family — issues or not.
Perhaps that’s what Ms. Sullivan meant to achieve – an deep, unflinching look into a flawed and dysfunctional family.
So, don’t be mislead by the book’s “summer beach read” promotional copy and do read Maine if you want a well-written, darkly real and unflinching family saga.
Quote:
Ann Marie sat at every family dinner and listened to them tell the same stories over and over. She never met a family so tied up in their own mythology.
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The best way to get kids to read….
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This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
I’ve read almost everything by Ann Patchett (Magicians Assistant is one of my all time favorite novels) so I was clambering to read this collection of her essays.
I was surprised to find it available for checkout as an ebook though the S.F Library system – Score!
It’s lovely to have this collection of her personal essays from various sources (New York Times, Harpers, Granta, etc.) all in one place. As I hoped, the essays give an insight into the author; her writing career, her marriages, her dogs, her discovery of opera and her bookstore -Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee. If you’re an Ann Patchett fan you will definitely enjoy this.
However, there was one essay “Do Not Disturb” which disturbed me (ha!). She has a house full of guests getting on her nerves, so she ditches them to her husband’s care and flies to LA to check into the Bel-Air – seriously? She is a successful author and can certainty afford it, but this seemed over the top.
Otherwise these essays are fun, insightful, not too sticky-sweet and very readable.
Some favorite quotes:
Playing the cello, we’re more likely to realize that the pleasure is the practice, the ability to create this beautiful sound, not to do it as well as Yo-Yo Ma, but still, to touch the hem of the gown that is art itself.
The love between humans is the thing that nails us to this earth.
There can be something cruel about people who have had good fortune. They equate it with personal goodness.
(On her husband Karl)
He encouraged me in everything I did. His answer to every question was yes. He was proud of me, and he never found a way to undermind my success or spoil a happy moment.
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Maya Angelou 1928 – 2014
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Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall
The subtitle, How I learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart, struck a instant cord…I’m a sucker for gardening books – especially those wherein a garden is transformed. (I secretly wish to be Vita Sackville-West.) So this memoir seemed just for me.
Turns out Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening is not so much about gardening as friendship, cancer, life-lessons, and humanity.
Carol Wall forms a friendship with a local gardener, Mr. Owita, hoping he can transform her garden. She is a difficult client and Mr. Owita does what he thinks is best for her garden ignoring her wish to have all the azaleas removed and giving her his bits of wisdom on gardens and life.
As the days progress, Ms. Wall’s cancer returns, she forms a closer friendship with Mr. Owita and learns more about his background. He’s from Kenya and actually has a PhD in horticulture, but is unable to get a university posting and is forced to work several minimum wage jobs. He has a daughter he had to leave behind and is working hard to save enough to bring her over to the US.
Ms. Wall’s troubles feel lighter and she becomes less self-involved, as she learns more and more about Mr. O’s burdens. At the beginning of the book she is whiny and very self involved – but then again, she is suffering greatly from a re-bout of cancer – so I didn’t find it too off-putting.
I did drink in this memoir filled with satisfying insights and reflections. Ms. Wall has a lovely writing style – just perfect for the story told. I found myself liking Carol Wall –she is far from perfect and is not afraid to display her missteps, foibles, and narcissist tendencies.
A really nice plot point about why she didn’t want azaleas or color in her garden left me sighing with pleasure…while an undeservedly nasty letter to her husband left me shaking my head. Mr. Owita’s challenges seemed more interesting than hers, his character fascinatingly wise and I wished there was more development of his character.
Ms. Wall has a right to tell her story in her way and I will not criticize a book for NOT being what I thought it would be. This is a lovely memoir about living with cancer (warning, cancer looms large), finding friendship, the joy of a garden (as opposed to actual gardening) and life lessons learned from someone who is suffering their own silent burdens and tragedies.
Review copy provided by Putnam Group via NetGalley.
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The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais
The film is coming – the film is coming. So I grabbed this book off my shelves where it has been ignored for several years now. As always, I want to read the book before seeing the film (with Helen Mirren – oh boy).
I bought this paperback several years ago, solely based on the cover, call me shallow, but isn’t it delicious? See the gold embossing up the edge of the spine?…sigh. My copy doesn’t have the red circle announcing the film.
Anyway, now to the book. The Hundred Foot Journey tells the story of an Indian boy, Hassan Haji, whose family is forced to move from Mumbai, to England and finally to Lumiere, a small village in the French Alps.
They purchase a large country house and because Papa Haji is a entrepreneur and the aunt excels at Indian cuisine, they blithely open an Indian restaurant. Just across the street is the Michelin starred restaurant of famous French chef, Madame Mallory. As expected the cultures and cuisines clash, an Indian restaurant in the French countryside – mon dieu! The main storyline follows the coming of age and the making of famous chef – young Hassan.
I found the book interesting and often captivating, but many aspects fell short for me. The glimpses into the various cultures and their cuisine were superb – Mr. Morais obviously knows and loves food. The descriptions of meals served and eaten are cinematic (thus the film adaptation). The kitchen scenes felt very realistic, but be warned some of the meat slaughter and preparation scenes will have you contemplating vegetarianism.
The narrative fluctuates from first person to third person which I found a bit jarring and the pacing is a bit sporadic. The book glossed over any real hurdles immigrant families might face – language, assimilation and what about the endless paperwork?
In the end, however, the food is the only thing that comes alive in this novel. I found the characters lacking warmth or depth and some are an actual mockery – Papa Haji has a manufactured Indian dialect that I found condescending. A relationship between Hassan and Margaret lacks any warmth or passion. Hassan, robot-like, ascends the heights of his star chef status, without enthusiasm. Madame Mallory is the most developed character, as Mr. Morais gives us insight into her past and emotions. She is the one who singles Hassan out for greatness: ”That skinny Indian teenager has that mysterious something that comes along once a generation. He is one of those rare chefs who is simply born. He is an artist.”
So why did I finish this book? – THE FOOD – read this book for the vivid and mouthwatering descriptions of hot, frenetic kitchens, food lovingly prepared, wines carefully chosen and meals savored.
The real heart and soul of this book is the joy of cuisine.
Hoping to see the film soon.
