Hello, reader…
Happy New Year, bookworms!
Looking for a few good reads to add to your towering TBR pile? You might find them here…
There There by Tommy Orange
Marly shared this bestselling novel of twelve Native American characters who converge at a large annual powwow event and explores their interconnection and individual journeys.
Problems with People by David Guterson
Veyot read this short story book twice while she was snowbound and enjoyed it both times.
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb by Mary Jo Pehl
A funny memoir about Pehl’s mother, also read by Veyot. When the author cleans out her mother’s house, she finds – to her surprise – 400 book reviews on index cards. Her mother read widely – from romance novels to philosophy to world affairs. The word most often used in her reviews gives this book its title.
A Christmas Courtship by Shelley Shepard Gray
A simple story of two romances, set in an Amish community during the Christmas holiday season. The courtships were sweet and involved a kind librarian and her bookmobile. Zoe really enjoyed this quick and easy read.
The Death of Vishnu, The Age of Shiva and The Age of Devi by Manil Suri
Suri is a mathematician who wrote a planned series of three novels that, while not serial, represent a kind of trinity in Hinduism.
Bernice read the first several years ago when it first came out. The second, The Age of Shiva, is about a young woman who tries to escape her domineering father by marrying a man he disapproves of. It doesn’t go well. After her husband dies, she becomes wrapped up in her son, her only child.
The Age of Devi is an apocalyptic story, set in a slightly futuristic India, where hostilities between Hindus and Muslims have reached a fever pitch. The story is about a young man, who is a physicist, his wife, and his male lover. Though Bernice found this to be an interesting story, she wasn’t sure how she felt about the ending.
Bernice said all three were interesting reads and she learned quite a bit about Indian culture from them.
Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson
A super witty hilarious story about a community in England – middle class, pretentious, artistic – and the various social leaders competing with each other….starting with one of them complacently wandering around the village feeling important and then realizing that her rival has snagged a real eastern Indian “guru” who has all the village ladies in the backyard doing yoga and breath exercises, etc. Scout found it all very silly and fun.
The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul, a Dirk Gently #2 book by Douglas Adams
Written by the author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this is a quirky book that takes places in a day or two in time and is a stream of consciousness in crazy British thought patterns. Recommended by FireWoman.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
A book that has been on FireWoman’s radar for a while, here is a quote that she found profound, “Wisdom is not bestowed. In its raw state, it is the hearbreak of knowing things you wish you didn’t.”
This is the author’s first book and it has been a #1 best seller. The author is an American Indian and has set this book in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It’s a tale of mystery and self-discovery.
E.F. Benson’s ghost stories
Note from Zoe: A specific story/collection wasn’t mentioned though there are collections available to read for free online.
Kal mentioned Benson’s ghost stories after hearing Scout talk about his Queen Lucia novel. He commented that they’re great, in a MR James, supernatural fireside sort of way.
Heatwave by Victor Jestin
A French novel that has won quite a few awards there recently and isn’t quite as dark as its premise suggests. It’s about a campsite where a teenage boy sees his friend being strangled to death by the ropes on some swings in a playground – we never find out whether it’s through suicide or misadventure – and our main character does nothing to stop it. Then impulsively hides the body on the beach.
Kal felt it was more of a coming of age tale/social satire than dark. He likened it to Camus’ The Stranger or any of JG Ballard’s novels on gated middle class communities. It’s about the artificial enforced fun on places like holiday camps and our relationships in those sort of places. Though he’s unsure if he would 100% recommend it, it’s definitely an interesting book.
A short list of these books may be found here.
Our next gathering will be on Sunday, February 12th at 1pm SLT. Hope to see you then!
The Reading Room 