REVIEW: &SONS BY DAVID GILBERT

Goodreads Description
Published by Random House, 2013. Hardcover, 453 pgs
One of my favorite quotes:     
 "It was one of those moments, thankfully rare, when you can spot another person's core needs, almost by accident- absolutely by accident since those needs are almost graphic when blatant, like seeing the musculature and tendon required to prop up hope."
       
          This is a family melodrama with nuanced and unstable characters, bookish references, symbolism, details on the arduous writing process, unreliable narrators, and the meaning of life and legacy. New York City is a main character, with it's iconic smoky room/high society lifestyle and literary scene. It takes some analysis, and while initially frustrated at my pace, I was glad that I took my time and absorbed the chapters slowly. I felt my humanity while reading this book- connecting with the realization that, deep down, we are mortal and have a finite time on this earth to accomplish our goals and form meaningful relationships. It's also a fascinating reflection on the futility of fighting the family we are born into, and accepting the circumstances of our relationships while trying to find our own identity.
       This book is extremely meaty, and forces you to slow down with the writing, particularly the interspersed cursive letters between Dyer and his friend Charlie. The documentation pulls you into the story unapologetically, falling deeper into the history of these men and their fates. I alternated between being touched at the sentiments, then frustrated by the unspoken and careless treatment of their families. It felt like reading a classic, and I don't mean that in a negative way. The themes and rich language, along with the coming of age aspects (thwarted ambitions and flashes of success) make it feel like a period piece that readers fifty years from now will appreciate.  
       This was my first Book of the Month club selection! I've heard about it on podcasts for ages and was torn on whether or not to read it. The writing was stellar, and when I read the blurb by the judge who nominated this selection as a May pick, I was finally convinced.      I'm glad this club allowed me to leap the hurdle of my initial prejudice. Isn't that the greatest? When all your preconceived notions turn out to be incorrect and you sink into a marvelous story? From the moment I read Andrew musing "They were hopeless without their women", I knew the story wasn't going to be  misogynistic as I had feared. Even if females weren't the main characters, the kind acknowledgement was nice. I felt in good hands with the author. This might be controversial, but I don't get furious if men don't write women perfectly. Yes, most authors have a mom, wife, sister, or mentor that should serve as some example. As long as an appropriate attempt is made with respect, I'm usually okay. As women, we are very nuanced creatures- writing a woman well can be extraordinarily hard to do if you haven't walked in our shoes. This doesn't mean I excuse crappy writing. However, I would be curious to read a novel by this author from a female perspective.
       I hope this rambling review will convince you to pick up this work of literary fiction. While not incredibly plot heavy, the character study is extraordinary. I think Gilbert is immensely talented, and the interview with Curtis Sittenfeld at the end of my edition further convinced me of his brilliance. Happy reading!

 

REVIEW: KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST BY J. RYAN STRADAL

Published by Viking (an imprint of Penguin Random House), 2015. Hardcover, 312 pgs

I was happy to read this when I did! Since I live in the United States, the entire month of November feels like one big lead up to Thanksgiving- cooking heartier meals for the coming winter, prepping meals for church potlucks, and gearing up for Turkey day itself. When my friend Elena from ElenaReadsBooks asked if I'd be interested in a buddy read, that made it all the better! This month was a bit unusual for me reading wise. I was very distracted with other obligations, and was also bitten by another hobby, the crafting bug. I needed a less-heavy read for this mindset.

In this debut, we follow Eva Thorwald, a young girl who has experienced tragedy early in life, is a misfit at school, and has a hard time relating to her parents. She finds solace in the kitchen and excels at all culinary endeavors. The reader hears her life in different stories from people who surround her. Whether it be a jealous co-worker, boyfriend, a cousin, or friend, the reader gets various perspectives on Eva's life. Different ingredients or foods are mentioned within these narratives, which also make up important parts of her meals and life story.

The recipes were enticing, there was a cute, realistically-portrayed romance, and we had a deeply devoted father figure. All these things were refreshing. I also enjoyed that Eva worked in a Mexican restaurant at one point- that's my favorite kind of food so that set my mouth a-watering:-) However, while I enjoyed this, it didn't blow me away. I was impressed with Eva's culinary abilities and wished her well, but the book jumped around so much in trying to tell her complete life story that I ended up not feeling connected to any one person. Thus, I didn't feel invested in the outcome. Some characters I just hated. However, in the cut-throat world of haute cuisine and foodie culture, this is a reality.

I realized half-way through the story that I was subconsciously comparing this to A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. This is totally unfair since both of those are memoirs while this is fiction, even though they talk about food as well. Those had the emotional punch that I just didn't get with this one. While there were many little things I liked, it just didn't add up to a memorable whole. It's an easy, fun read.

REVIEW: SEVEN LIVES AND ONE GREAT LOVE (THE MEMOIRS OF A CAT) BY LENA DIVANI

Published by Europa Editions, 2013. Paperback, 136 pgs.

     I received this book in a Books & Bloggers swap from my fellow cat-loving friend Jo, who raved about the feline narrator as being one of her new favorite main characters. I had it on my wish list from the moment I saw her review, and squealed with delight when I unboxed it. The edition is beautiful, with great page quality and flaps. Luckily, the content was just as wonderful. This story is translated from Greek by Konstantine Matsoukas. Occasionally the structure felt a bit unusual, but that could have been due to the cat narrator as opposed to that it was a translated work. The language was clever and I really enjoyed the writing.

      We follow Zach Sugar, a white kitten with one green and one blue eye who is on his seventh and final life. Yes, our feline narrator confirms that cats do have multiple lives. We open with his discussion on the disgusting nature and morals of his feline mother, and hear of his plans to leave the shrub he is hiding under and procure a human owner to better his position in life. He has chosen a woman referred to as "Damsel" who is attending an outdoor party. Yes, reader. Cats choose their owners, not vice versa. We learn many cat truths and get various myths debunked along the way. In addition to nuggets of wisdom, the story focuses on Zach's insistence to form a relationship with this lady who is not a cat person, and is very independent and reserved to boot. 
     
      The snarky feline narrator reminded me of the cat protagonist from Lynne Truss's Cat Out of Hell novel. Luckily, while that one fell a bit flat, this one was an improvement in that it simply told the ups and downs of a human/cat relationship, and didn't muddle itself with a weird mystery. Both books do confirm that my cat is inwardly laughing at my obsessive/fawning behavior, particularly in my constant efforts to appease her. Apparently I need to play hard to get. This book is further proof that cats are complex, observant, opinionated, and generally great for most bookish people. I laughed at Zach's plaintive speech on how his mistress obviously didn't get the memo that cats are a writer's muse.  

      There are chuckle-worthy twisted logic statements that have surprising truth. "I urgently need to become less of a cat. I need to let the dog in me out so she'll love me like I was human." (pg. 88).  Another fantastic quote "Besides, we are all a little boring at our happiest. Like advertisements of ourselves." (pg. 87). The chapter headings are funny and often poetic, and I loved the "Meow Rules" sprinkled throughout. There are even a few pencil drawings included in various chapters. 

     There is some sadness, which I was anticipating. I appreciated that it came in the expected manner and in a more abrupt fashion. I can't take the long, drawn-out stuff, especially when I read about animals and children. Big wimp here. At it's heart, this novel talks about the powerful impact of the human and cat interaction- their power struggles, emotions, and bonds with each other. If you like cats, please read! If not, there's not much else in this story for you- but I hope you'll read it to see how magnificent these creatures are, and why I love them so much. Plus it's short, so what do you have to lose really? :-)

REVIEW: THE TIGER'S WIFE BY TEA OBREHT

Published by Phoenix, 2011. Paperback, 336 pgs

      As a young child, Natalia regularly visits the tigers at the zoo with her Grandfather. This is a beautifully detailed opening scene. Years later, she is volunteering with United Clinics to provide vaccines to children in war torn Brejevina when she gets word from her Grandmother (Bako) that her Grandfather was traveling to see her (Natalia) and was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Interspersed with Natalia and her friend Zora's work in the community, there are vignettes on her Grandfather's unusual upbringing in a rural village, folklore, and anecdotes of his life. Natalia and her Grandfather have the added connection of both being doctors.

      Obreht is a wonderful writer. I enjoyed the stories featuring "the deathless man" and any discussion of her Grandfather's odd, out of the way village. I loved Barba Ivan's little Pointer dog Bis, and the obvious affection the family had for him due to the number of watercolor portraits featuring him in their house, as well as the monastery. A lot of the other animal content is rough stuff, but luckily Bis isn't one of those! There is a great scene where children are receiving shots in a subdued fashion, and Natalia is bothered because the kids don't seem to be affected like children who have not been in war torn areas. Her relief when she is kicked in the shin restores balance and is a powerful image to the reader.

       I appreciated all the stories about her Grandfather....from the lighthearted ramblings to his dog "You're a dog, where are you?", to the more serious discussion concerning what specialty of medicine Natalia should pursue (pg 152 in my edition). I stopped after reading that page and read it two more times, even reading it aloud to my husband. Those were (by far) the two paragraphs in the novel that were the most powerful and honest feeling- conveying a sentiment that can be so very hard to describe. I felt like I knew this intelligent, nuanced man from Natalia's remembrances.

      I did have some struggles. I know embarrassingly little of the Balkans conflicts and the Yugoslav Wars. I Wikipedia'd and found myself fascinated with the repeated uprisings and rich history of this area. I think I would have a deeper appreciation for the story if I understood more, because I still feel quite uninformed...which then translated to the reading experience and made me feel slightly disconnected.

      Since there were a lot of anecdotes, the book felt a lot like a short story collection in ways...and I struggle with those. I didn't care about certain surrounding characters to the Grandfather (even though I realize this was included to give context on the people in his life), I just wanted more of Natalia and his relationship. The ending was fitting and expected for this type of book, but still left me feeling a little unsatisfied. There's also a small disconnect for me in this book besides the historical situation, and I honestly can't put my finger on it- even though I have stewed on it a few days before typing this review. I recommend this to literary fiction lovers who enjoy fables and family stories filled with reflection on relationships.

        

REVIEW: STATION ELEVEN BY EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

Published by Vintage, 2014. Paperback, 333 pgs

On the night of a production of King Lear, popular actor Arthur Leander unexpectedly falls dead. What follows is a swift flu pandemic that decimates earth's population in a matter of days. The reader follows a young girl Kristen Raymonde, who was present on stage and witnesses Leander's death, through her journey to adulthood with the Traveling Symphony- a collection of actors and musicians who put on plays in passing remaining cities and towns. The caravan they travel in bares the slogan "Survival is insufficient", from a Star Trek episode. The narrative is also told through other perspectives, both before and after the apocalypse...from the paramedic who tries to assist Arthur on stage, to Arthur's friend and confidant, to a librarian in a small town trying to archive events. We even hear from two of Arthur's ex-wives.

There is no shortage of post-apocalyptic fiction. While some are literary and diverse, most focus on why the apocalypse occurred, are often action/adventure based, and deal (appropriately) with finding food and basic survival. Mandel briefly addresses these necessities, but mainly highlights the need for humans to retain artistic expression in some way to make life worth living. The very title of the book relates to a comic book that forms meaningful connections throughout the novel. Humans need stimulation through cultural means of plays, music, books, art, poetry...anything that can connect us in the face of tragedies. It is a way of feeling less lonely, whether there are people around or not.

The most poignant moments in the story (for me) were the sections detailing with what people take for granted in today's day and age. Not only that, but what would we most miss? It forces you to take stock of your life- and evaluate the most important pieces that make up the whole. I appreciated the nuances of human existence, the connections Mandel made among the characters, and the notion that the important parts of life are made up of accrued small moments and coincidences, not big events.  Really pleased I got to this one...you should too! Mandel is a gifted writer and I'm glad her book has received acclaim. 

REVIEW: DAYS OF AWE BY LAUREN FOX

Published by Knopf, 2015. Hardcover, 256 pgs.

      Isabel Moore, in her early forties, is an elementary school teacher in Milwaukee. Her best friend has died, she is recently divorced, and her adolescent daughter is going through the usual angst with life. Basically, Isabel is sad and trying to pull herself out of depression. This is not a plot driven book, the main events are laid out right at the beginning and the rest is a focus on Isabel's internal struggles and some poor discussions she makes in an attempt to pull herself out of her mid-life crisis. The decisions aren't overly destructive, just a bit insensitive in that she tries to use other people to feel better, and causes a couple scenes with old friends when they try to move on with their lives. I really liked the interactions with Isabel's mom, as it shows our parents have been through some of our own experiences and can help put things in perspective.

      While the events she experiences are sad, I was only slightly sympathetic with Isabel's character. Sounds bad, but I didn't even like the enigmatic and wild friend she was mourning either. I just didn't connect, except in some instances with raising girls and the heartbreak that can entail. All of the men present were wishy-washy and meh too, with a few points awarded to Isabel's ex for being a good dad. Due to the disconnect, I didn't feel invested in the story.

     The writing was quite lovely and there were some nice quotes. However, the narrative just felt a little recycled and stale...like a story that has been written time and time again. I understand it's because these are common life experiences, especially for women who might want to start over. However, I've read novels that spoke to me in a more interesting and nuanced way. One such book with an unlikable protagonist is the teacher from Claire Messud's The Woman Upstairs (strange parallels even though that character was unmarried and without children). She made you cringe but there was this draw to find out more and become invested in her life. I feel bad, but don't think this book will be particularly memorable in a few months.

REVIEW: THE DOG MASTER: A NOVEL OF THE FIRST DOG BY W. BRUCE CAMERON

Published by Forge, 2015. Hardcover, 416 pgs

      I'm a huge animal lover, owning four hairy mutts and two cats. Upon hearing of this release, I squealed with delight. I was even more pleased to find out that Cameron will be an author present at the Books on the Nightstand podcast reader retreat known as Booktopia, held this September in the beautiful Petoskey, Michigan. Surprisingly, it took me awhile to get into this one. It might have been the prehistoric time period and necessary setup that felt a bit textbook-y Luckily, I forged on and after 100 pages felt invested in the various tribal and wolf perspectives. I love the idea of receiving some historical information via a fictionalized narrative.

      I quickly became grateful that my life doesn't consist mostly of survival through food acquisition. Cameron's story is a plausible version of how wolves and mankind formed relationships in this brutal landscape. Hearing the details of hunting teams and the roles of men vs women was interesting as well. I found the tribal structures to be surprisingly organized, and the nomadic lifestyle a necessary, if inconvenient, part of their lives. Limited food sources and constant moving must made for some lean people, no gyms necessary indeed. The

     Unfortunately, this rough existence was still fraught with relationship turmoil, tradition vs. following one's heart, and the angst of pack leadership. The fight for Hunt Master was rough, but nothing compared to the brutality of the women, particularly the council mother. The character of Albi is one of the best villains I've ever read. The most poignant parts of the story were those talking about the wolf pack and their rituals, specifically when tracking prey or in mourning. Just when the camaraderie and bonding is heartwarming, the fights for dominance help remind you that they are animals.

      This ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I loved the structure, although I'm not sure the brief present day sections added value to the story except some modern speculation. I think Cameron could have provided his additional thoughts in the Afterword and it would have been just as effective. This fictionalized account had all the elements I love in a story...soap opera drama, history on an unfamiliar era (Upper Paleolithic), incredible amounts of suspense, amazing characters, an appropriate ending (although I wanted the book to go on and on!), animal elements, and truly memorable scenes. There is some rough content due to the brutality of the time period, but this was the predator/prey reality of this existence. Highly, highly recommend!!

  

REVIEW: THE BONE CLOCKS BY DAVID MITCHELL

Published by Sceptre, imprint of Hodder &Stoughton (an Hachette UK company) 2014. Hardback, 595 pgs

     Throughout this novel, I kept having panicky "How on earth am I going to review this book?" thoughts. Since David Mitchell is British, I hope this American reviewer can get by with saying that it is bloody brilliant. This is my second of Mitchell's works, the first being Cloud Atlas, which was unfortunately a bit of a slog for me. This has a similar sense of style, but I enjoyed the story quite a bit more. I also was fortunate enough to read this with some Booktube buddies on a Voxer app, sharing thoughts back and forth, which greatly enhanced my enjoyment.

       The Bone Clocks will require me to simplify extremely. Basically, the reader follows Holly Sykes, a girl from Gravesend, England, throughout the course of her extraordinary life. We meet her at age 15 in 1984, travel to the present, and eventually the future to her mid-eighties. Having certain gifts, she unwittingly becomes a pawn between two warring factions. While difficult, I feel Mitchell's work is best described as a kaleidoscope, with elements of the story blending together, shifting, and often times feeling out of focus. 

       Mitchell exposes the reader to a myriad of locations, so you really feel you're traveling the world with these characters. It's evident he does extensive travel and research. The insight into journalism, and the state of Iraq from the character of Brubeck was really engaging. I also liked how Mitchell explored literary criticism. His mind is so intense and philosophical in places, as evidenced by a conversation between two people on the nature of power and the possibility of deferring death into perpetuity. Similar to Cloud Atlas, this work tackles political climates of nations, and our environmental future if we continue to consume at this rate.

      The writing is superb, but the difficulty emerges when you become immersed in the current narrative and the story switches perspective (and usually time), so it feels like you're starting from scratch. I'm here to tell you that you can trust Mitchell to explain and connect in due time! Patience does pay off.

    If you enjoy magical realism and get on well with short stories, I think this would be a good book for you. Some of the book seems to defy explanation, other parts I'm still chewing on, and explaining the rest of the difficult bits would be too spoiler-y.  Even though this read took me awhile and parts of it seemed over the top in terms of magical realism (for my taste preferences), I can't detract from the star rating for these reasons because this read is just too memorable.

REVIEW: ELIZABETH IS MISSING BY EMMA HEALEY

Published by Harper Collins, 2014. Hardback, 302 pgs

Maud is in her eighties and is certain her dear friend Elizabeth is missing. Voicing her concerns to the police, caretakers, and Elizabeth's own son, she is mostly ignored. Unsure of her own sanity and her fragmented memories, Maud tries to piece together her memories of the last few weeks with wanderings around town and note taking. The story is told by Maud, so we acutely feel the frustration of her condition. Reading it felt oppressive at times, and therefore was a bit slow going. The flashbacks to her teenage years during World War II were a sort of reprieve, except things weren't always rosy on that side either with wartime rationing and a crisis with her sister.

This book is good, but so relentlessly heartbreaking. I unrealistically kept wishing Maud would have breakthroughs in her dementia, and wouldn't have to continually suffer the confusion and defeat of her disease. I desperately wanted her to just stay home and follow her notes in an orderly fashion- no exceptions.

I wanted to hug Maud's daughter Helen, and tell her what a good job she was doing, and not to get discouraged. We hear so many bad things about caretakers and family members in the news- this novel was a breath of fresh air in reminding readers that family members can be good to each other as well. They are often unsung heroes. The details we get on Maud's deep friendship with Elizabeth are sincere and strong, in stark contrast to her lack of immediate short term memories. 

It's an emotionally draining read. You feel you've gone through battle with her family, and unfortunately this condition is ultimately a losing battle. However, Healey manages a great story and bits of truth and reality to seep in, with a satisfying conclusion. If you like powerful reads, a bit of mystery, literary writing, and unreliable narrators, Elizabeth is Missing will satisfy. 3.5 stars

REVIEW: THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE BY MAGGIE O'FARRELL

Published by Mariner Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. Trade Paperback, 341 pgs

This book has one of the best titles I've encountered in literature. I was even more pleased when I heard that the Irish O'Farrell is a gifted storyteller. Praise for her other well-titled work, Instructions for a Heatwave, finally persuaded me to dust this one off from the upstairs shelves and give it a go.

This is a quiet story detailing the story of two couples. One couple's narrative is set in the past, in 1950's and 60's London. Lexie Sinclair has just escaped her stifling small town and come to work as a secretary for the enigmatic Innes Kent, an editor for the magazine Elsewhere. Their tumultuous affair is interspersed with life in the artistic era of post-war Soho. Fast forward to present day London where we meet Elina, a gifted painter and Ted, a movie editor. Their infant son has been born under difficult circumstances and the couple is entering into parenthood with this health struggle in addition to the usual trepidation and fatigue a newborn brings. There is a hidden connection that binds these couples, and this is the journey into their lives and the crossroads where their paths intersect.

I think any female who has experienced childbirth (whether it was a mostly positive or negative experience), will relate to the opening scenes in this book. There is a scene where Elina is disoriented from exhaustion and describes her husband leaving for work with dazed detachment. It brought my post-baby experience to top of mind and put me right back in that anxious state-especially of the first child! However, O'Farrell highlights the incredible bond and positive nature of motherhood to balance the unnerving scenes.

Besides the post-baby scenes, I felt the book was just okay. Ted has flashbacks of his own childhood where there are discrepancies in his memories. This is supposedly triggered by having his own child, but it seemed like a convenient plot device. I would have preferred more of Elina's story to the other couple's journey, but the novel was still good.

I don't want this to sound like an exclusionist review, but I don't think the parenting stories would have nearly the punch-me-in-the-gut feeling if I didn't have kids. I recommend to anyone wanting to explore the power and change of children in our lives, but otherwise I might pass since other elements didn't seem strong enough to make their own entertaining story.

  FINAL RATING:

REVIEW: TIPPING THE VELVET BY SARAH WATERS

Published by Virago Press, 1999. 472 pgs

*This is my first review since revising my review process. If you'd like to see why I decided to change the format, please click here.*

Nancy Astley is a young woman who grows up working in her parent's Oyster House in 1880's Whitstable- a small harbour town in Kent, England. When her sister Alice begins dating a boy whose Uncle is the Canterbury Palace Manager, the sisters embark on nightly adventures to the Music Hall. Nancy quickly falls in love with the glamor and atmosphere, but mostly attends for the thrilling performances of one Kitty Butler. This is a novel about her coming to terms with her sexuality, dealing with changing family relationships, first love, the highs and lows of show business, and ultimately trying to find happiness after major life setbacks. 

I was looking forward to reading Water's debut novel since completing Fingersmith and loving her writing style and storytelling ability. Waters is great at depicting lesbian characters, and brings nuance and feeling to an area that was lacking in fiction. She also lavishly explains the theater experience and joy of entertainment. I love Victorian settings, and she is masterful at bringing them to life.

I appreciate her openings to stories...in this one, she provides basic info on the main character through a series of questions (hypothetically posed to an outsider who might have visited her restaurant when she was young):  "Do you remember the bulging sign that hung above the door, that said that Astley's Oysters, the Best in Kent were to be had within?....Can you recall the chequered cloths?....Were you served by a girl with a rosy cheek, and a saucy manner, and curls?" The author is also great at foreshadowing without giving specifics away: "I should have remembered this, later" or "I could not know soon we would collide, nor how dramatically." I adore her writing.

However, while I was sucked along because of the prose and descriptions, I hated the story. It felt like a cycle of porn, sadness, and desperation. The main character realistically resorts to common destructive behaviors, but never seemed to have redeeming value. I felt little empathy for Nancy and her plight, and thus wanted the story to end. It made me squeamish and often repulsed, which made me feel a bit prudish. I feel I've read rougher content, but the disturbing transformation in this is just jarring. This was simply not my bag, but I'm sure it has it's audience. Waters is immensely gifted, so I will continue with her other works- this was just not my cup of tea in any way.

FINAL RATING:

(Would have been two stars if the writing weren't fantastic!!)

REVIEW: THE LUMINARIES BY ELEANOR CATTON

Published by Little Brown (division of Hachette Book Group), 2013. Hardcover, 830 pgs.

SUMMARY: I have so many thoughts and feels on this story that I will begin with two of the only less-than-stellar elements of the book:
1. The cover is beyond bleh. For a super large book, the design is critical in attracting attention and if I were in a bookstore (without having heard the buzz and award-winning status), I would have passed it on by. This would be a shame as the author is extremely talented. Unfortunately, judging a book by it's cover is often a reality if the reader hasn't heard anything about the story.
2. The length is daunting. I heard about this on a podcast, bought it as soon as it came out, and even when it won the Man Booker Prize in 2013 still let it languish on my shelves. Thankfully my Booktube friends Yamini from The Skeptical Reader and Elena from Elena Reads Books had the same issue and proposed we finally buddy read it in June. I'm so grateful they did!

This whopper has tons of polarizing reviews on Goodreads and I'd like to offer a helpful tip if you're interested but nervous about starting...GOOD NEWS! If you love the writing style of the first 30 pages, you're in a for a treat as it stays consistent throughout as the mystery deepens. If you find it verbose and stylistically unappealing, stop. Love it or hate it is a strong and general assumption to make, but I really feel like this is a particular type of book to enjoy. We are avid and varied readers, and this reviewer has a "no shame" in not-finishing a book policy. We have too little time in this life to slog through unrequired reading.

The basic rundown-A mining town in New Zealand in 1866. A hermit is found dead in his cottage with a considerable fortune, a prostitute has attempted to commit suicide, and a rich prospector has disappeared....all on the same night in January. Every type of person and shenanigan is involved and it is the hottest of messes. A secret meeting of twelve gentlemen is held in the Crown Hotel a couple weeks after these events to discuss the connections that might bind them to these unfortunate situations. "Men united less by beliefs than shared misgivings."

WRITING: I adored it. Heavily literary, it reads like a Victorian classic. Here's a good litmus test of whether this book would work for you:
"For human temperament was a volatile compound of perception and circumstance; Moody saw now that he no more could have extracted the true Shepard from Nilssen's account of him than he could have extracted the true Nilssen from his portrayal of Shepard." (pg. 392)
If you would prefer the author to have simply said, "Judge people for yourself" this might not be your type of book. I loved her use of language and the themes it let her explore with these flawed characters.

CHARACTERS: Catton can set a scene like nobody's business. She captures the nuances of a person's expression or snippet of dialogue. At the very beginning, Walter Moody meets Thomas Balfour in the lounge and they embark on this weird social dance- using subtle turns of phrases and questions to gleam info from each other without being overt.

The people are often affected, pretentious, and struggling with their version of the truth. It is a deep character study with lots of long, clever observations that feel like soul-bearing confessions. "He seized an idea, only to discard it immediately, if only for the reason that it was no longer novel to him; he started in all directions at once. This was not at all the mark of a fickle temper, but rather, of a temper that is accustomed to enthusiasm of the most genuine and curious sort, and so will accept no form of counterfeit- but it was, nevertheless, something of an impediment to progress." (pg. 82).

PLOT: This interconnected story becomes more and more intricate- and is not your usual straightforward mystery. Astronomy (specifically the stellar and planetary positions) play an important role in the telling . Someone who has knowledge or a keen interest in this subject would appreciate the way this thread was woven into the story perhaps more than I.

PACING: I like how the reader is fed bits and pieces of character and story over time, and you don't get all the information up front. It felt more natural to life, and less info-dumpy all in one place. Granted, this makes for a long book, but everything felt thorough. Around page 340 there is a nice summary of connections that pull the story thus far into focus. I suppose fifty pages or so could have been eliminated for argument's sake, but I'm not sure where.

FINAL RATING: 5 STARS
Whatever side of the fence you're on, it's hard to ignore the author's immense talent in breathing this story into life. I love literary fiction because I enjoy how a skilled writer can take something simple like "walking down the street with a sideways glance", and turn it into a brilliant thought or conjure up some evocative image that makes me see something in a whole new light. This is one of my very favorite things about reading.
Catton is merely thirty, and I'm greatly anticipating her future work!

REVIEW: STATE OF WONDER BY ANN PATCHETT

Published by Harper Perennial 2014 (first published in 2011)
Paperback 400 pages

I was lucky enough to visit Patchett's bookstore Parnassus in Nashville, Tennessee while in town to see two comedians perform at the Ryman. The added bonus to visiting this beautiful store was that all of her in-stock novels were signed. The Olive Hill editions are compact and similar in size to a mass market paperback, but have the nice page quality of a standard trade paperback. These special editions are published by Harper Perennial as part of their 50th anniversary. There are your nerdy publishing details- onto the content!

Marina Singh studies lipid levels and statin medications (all relating to cholesterol) at the drug company Vogel in Minnesota. At the start of the story, the CEO of the company walks into the lab with a letter penned by Dr. Swenson from the Amazonian Rain Forest in Brazil regretfully informing them that Marina's lab partner Anders has died of an apparent fever. There is little information and Marina is devastated. She has worked for years in close proximity to Anders, with over 50 hour work weeks. Dr. Swenson has been funded by this company to do research on a drug that will hopefully be tested in the markets soon. However, she has mostly gone off the grid and little is known of her research and status. Marina is inevitably asked to travel to the rainforest by the company. She agrees for three reasons- mostly to provide information to Ander's grieving family, to find out what the actual development stage is of the drug in question, and also because she always does what is asked by her superiors. Thus starts a wild, compelling narrative as Marina travels to South America and attempts to locate the rogue Doctor.

WRITING:
Patchett is very down to earth and personal in her writing. I was happy that I read her non-fiction collection of essays (This is the Story of a Happy Marriage) last year. She is an honest writer. This particular reader feels like she would be a great person to share coffee and donuts with while chatting about life in your kitchen. She is extremely relatable. There is a great literary quality to her work as well and I enjoy how she crafts a sentence.

PLOT: I have the Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff Vandemeer on my TBR (about scientist's who go on an expedition to Area X and attempt to investigate it's hostile mysteries for the government). I enjoy these adventure stories about trips to the unknown and appreciated Patchett's plot. I imagine researching these stories would be quite the bear and commend these brave authors!

PACING: Satisfactory. There was a sense of foreboding the entire time as the Jungle is full of harmful insects, snakes, and who-knows-what lurking in the river. However, a lot of the time a scientist obviously spends in a lab so the pace reflected that.

CHARACTERS: Patchett excels due to aforementioned writing skills. While Marina was obviously heavily fictionalized, there were shreds of Patchett's personal life present as well. A professional woman who is married to an older man, has decided not have children, and had a brief failed marriage when very young. There was a depth to this character that was reflected from this personalization.

Sometimes it feels like a big character study. Patchett just gets people. Whether describing a researcher in the jungle, a hostess at a restaurant, or a front desk clerk, within a couple paragraphs you feel you understand them as more than a one-dimensional character.

FINAL RATING: 4 STARS
This was a highly atmospheric book based on the extreme climate descriptions- the harsh cold of Minnesota or the sweltering heat and thick humidity of the rain forest. There was good commentary on indigenous people and our innate desire to "Americanize" everything. The book also addresses the relationship between students and mentors and the skewed perspective that often occurs due to hero worship. All of this combined with great storytelling and characters made this a great read.

I did have some problems with the end. There were weird elements to the conclusion and a scene I felt was more than a little surprising and strange- departing from how I thought the characters would behave after all they'd been through. I also thought it was a bit abrupt. However, I still recommend to any literary fiction lover as an entertaining and thoughtful story about an unfamiliar place, the wonders of nature, and the moral complexities of drug research.