When I recommended, with caution, the book Beartown to my dear friend in Denver, she recommended Homegoing by Gyasi to me. With caution.
Homegoing is historical fiction, a sweeping many-generational view of slavery and its' everlasting historical rippling effects. It starts in Ghana more than a century ago and sweeps and sweeps forward.
It's a magnum opus. It's magnificent. It's poignant, painful, insightful, brilliant. It doesn't apologize for or try to make sense of the complexities. It just is, and lets the reader figure it out. I guess that's what I like the best---Gyasi doesn't talk down to her reader, she expects a brilliant recipient for her brilliant work.
Gyasi is very good. I think she handled so much very deftly, and I think she'll get better as she writes more. I look forward to seeing if she will try again.
You can read the summary on Amazon. But if you can handle something with meaning, try this. If you want fluff and a feel-good storyline, this is not for you.
Like last week when a friend asked me about Flowers for Algernon. I said, "It's good. Just heavy. But good. Just heavy." She said, "Oh, I can't handle that right now," and I told her to go find Ove.
So Homegoing. There is adult content, you have to decide if you want that. But just know it's good.
Just heavy.
But good.
Just heavy.
I will read it again. It belongs with Their Eyes Were Watching God and Things Fall Apart. And also with The Good Earth, though that's Chinese not African.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
American Fire by Hesse
I haven't read many historical novels---I'm not taking historical fiction, but real history. But I guess I should read more, because I really enjoyed American Fire by Hesse.
In this book, Hesse examines the arson (86 fires!) that occurred a few decades ago in the Accomack region of Virginia. It is about the arsonists, but it's also about the town, and why there were all these old buildings because of the vanishing railroad industry. And what happened to the town after that. It's about the fires, but also about the men and women who volunteer on the town fire department and fight them. It's about what happened and why.
Hesse found the story, and I like her writing! She took this topic: arson, that I would readily dismiss, and make it interesting and accessible. Her style is conversational and interesting, but not too chatty. I'd like to have Hesse over for dinner and try to get her to talk.
I don't need to own a copy, but I would recommend this to history buffs and book clubs.
Just not necessarily church book clubs looking for a certain kind of content---there is some adult content in this book. But for some members in my book club, I'll whisper to them during our book club meetings about books deemed appropriate: " . . . Hey, you should try American Fire by Hesse."
Yep, it's true. I'm one of THOSE women. Who whispers clandestine recommendations under her breath while someone else is talking.
Oh Dear. There, I've confessed.
Mariann, I think you'd like this one.
In this book, Hesse examines the arson (86 fires!) that occurred a few decades ago in the Accomack region of Virginia. It is about the arsonists, but it's also about the town, and why there were all these old buildings because of the vanishing railroad industry. And what happened to the town after that. It's about the fires, but also about the men and women who volunteer on the town fire department and fight them. It's about what happened and why.
Hesse found the story, and I like her writing! She took this topic: arson, that I would readily dismiss, and make it interesting and accessible. Her style is conversational and interesting, but not too chatty. I'd like to have Hesse over for dinner and try to get her to talk.
I don't need to own a copy, but I would recommend this to history buffs and book clubs.
Just not necessarily church book clubs looking for a certain kind of content---there is some adult content in this book. But for some members in my book club, I'll whisper to them during our book club meetings about books deemed appropriate: " . . . Hey, you should try American Fire by Hesse."
Yep, it's true. I'm one of THOSE women. Who whispers clandestine recommendations under her breath while someone else is talking.
Oh Dear. There, I've confessed.
Mariann, I think you'd like this one.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Fredrik Backman's works
I read my way through Fredrik Backman's works. What a writer! Here's what I thought:
1. I absolutely loved A Man Called Ove. I've recommended it to everyone in the last year who has asked for a good book.
It's been a long, long time since I've read something that made me weep from laughter and sentiment. I read it on a road trip we took with the kids (Eric was driving. I was managing food distribution, conflict resolution, and media consumption. It's how we roll on every road trip.) But in my off moments of negotiating, I read. I would cackle loudly, and then sob, with tears gushing down my face. Eric would look over at me and ask, "Are you OK, over there?" I would whimper/sniff, "Yessssss", and then go back to my blubbering and cackling.
The main character is a lovable, grumpy old man named Ove. My favorite thing about recommending this book is that everyone who reads it comes back and tells me about the "Oves" they have in their own life. For me, it's my grandfather, for a friend: her neighbor, for another friend: her husband.
There is some swearing.
*Note: If you are missing Ove after you read him, and you want to meet Alfie, his kindred spirit, go watch The Beautiful Fantastic, which is a lovely, quirky movie. I like quirky charming movies, not quirky weird movies, and the movie is quirky charming.
2. Britt Marie Was Here. I read this because I wanted more Ove. Well, there was no Ove, but another quirky, lovable, flawed, funny character.
It's amazing to me that these were all written in Swedish, because whoever translated them did a flawless job with translation (not that I know Swedish). I just know that the humor comes through: dry and hilarious.
Also some swearing, I think adult content. But another book I liked.
3. I read most of My Grandmother Told You To Tell You She's Sorry, and I bought the book. Out of Backman's four books, this is the one I'll pass on and not keep on my shelf. I didn't get into this one so much, but the concept of a fable having more meaning than just a bedtime story isn't new to me.
Some people adore this book, great. Just not me this time.
4. Lastly. I also read Beartown. I'm conflicted about recommending this one. Ove and Britt Marie had language, but I could manage it. I enjoyed their character sketches with one main character, developed very well.
Beartown is different. There are main characters, but the book is about so many things: misogynist sports culture, small town mindset*, loyalty, etc . You can get a summary from Amazon.
My brother Jon was once telling me about his movie choices and he said, "You have to know how much filth/questionable material you are willing to see in the name of entertainment." I feel that way about this book. For some of my friends, this book is too much. Too crass. Too crude. Too anti-women, too vulgar. For other friends, this is a beacon a illuminating light into dark places: a marvelous commentary about difficult topics.
But I can say this. It's offensive. It's meant to me. I skipped what I couldn't handle, but if you skip everything . . . you skip everything.
So I wouldn't hand it to everyone. I will keep it high on my restricted shelf. I don't want my kids to read this until they are past 25. Personally, I wouldn't have gone past the first page until well into my thirties.
But from here, in my mid-forties, I've seen more. I'm more comfortable with ambiguity. I can tell the difference between an author who is using crude jokes because he/she can't do any better, an author who uses crude jokes because he/she thinks they are genuinely funny, and an author who uses crude jokes because he/she knows they are repugnant, and to make a point. Backman is the latter.
In short, I thought Beartown was one of the best books I've read in a long time.
But maybe it's not for you.
At any rate, go meet Ove. Start there. Then proceed at will.
*I've lived in several small towns. There are some very nice things about small towns. But when I say, "small town mindset" I don't mean it kindly. I mean the darker side of living in a small town---the manipulation that goes on to keep kids in the small town; the pressure to marry kids from the same town hoping the imagined couple will stay there; the anti-achievement culture that pervades; and the long-held town gender stereotypes that the upcoming generation is indoctrinated into following. That kind of small town mindset, I've seen it plenty. And I don't think it's good.
1. I absolutely loved A Man Called Ove. I've recommended it to everyone in the last year who has asked for a good book.
It's been a long, long time since I've read something that made me weep from laughter and sentiment. I read it on a road trip we took with the kids (Eric was driving. I was managing food distribution, conflict resolution, and media consumption. It's how we roll on every road trip.) But in my off moments of negotiating, I read. I would cackle loudly, and then sob, with tears gushing down my face. Eric would look over at me and ask, "Are you OK, over there?" I would whimper/sniff, "Yessssss", and then go back to my blubbering and cackling.
The main character is a lovable, grumpy old man named Ove. My favorite thing about recommending this book is that everyone who reads it comes back and tells me about the "Oves" they have in their own life. For me, it's my grandfather, for a friend: her neighbor, for another friend: her husband.
There is some swearing.
*Note: If you are missing Ove after you read him, and you want to meet Alfie, his kindred spirit, go watch The Beautiful Fantastic, which is a lovely, quirky movie. I like quirky charming movies, not quirky weird movies, and the movie is quirky charming.
2. Britt Marie Was Here. I read this because I wanted more Ove. Well, there was no Ove, but another quirky, lovable, flawed, funny character.
It's amazing to me that these were all written in Swedish, because whoever translated them did a flawless job with translation (not that I know Swedish). I just know that the humor comes through: dry and hilarious.
Also some swearing, I think adult content. But another book I liked.
3. I read most of My Grandmother Told You To Tell You She's Sorry, and I bought the book. Out of Backman's four books, this is the one I'll pass on and not keep on my shelf. I didn't get into this one so much, but the concept of a fable having more meaning than just a bedtime story isn't new to me.
Some people adore this book, great. Just not me this time.
4. Lastly. I also read Beartown. I'm conflicted about recommending this one. Ove and Britt Marie had language, but I could manage it. I enjoyed their character sketches with one main character, developed very well.
Beartown is different. There are main characters, but the book is about so many things: misogynist sports culture, small town mindset*, loyalty, etc . You can get a summary from Amazon.
My brother Jon was once telling me about his movie choices and he said, "You have to know how much filth/questionable material you are willing to see in the name of entertainment." I feel that way about this book. For some of my friends, this book is too much. Too crass. Too crude. Too anti-women, too vulgar. For other friends, this is a beacon a illuminating light into dark places: a marvelous commentary about difficult topics.
But I can say this. It's offensive. It's meant to me. I skipped what I couldn't handle, but if you skip everything . . . you skip everything.
So I wouldn't hand it to everyone. I will keep it high on my restricted shelf. I don't want my kids to read this until they are past 25. Personally, I wouldn't have gone past the first page until well into my thirties.
But from here, in my mid-forties, I've seen more. I'm more comfortable with ambiguity. I can tell the difference between an author who is using crude jokes because he/she can't do any better, an author who uses crude jokes because he/she thinks they are genuinely funny, and an author who uses crude jokes because he/she knows they are repugnant, and to make a point. Backman is the latter.
In short, I thought Beartown was one of the best books I've read in a long time.
But maybe it's not for you.
At any rate, go meet Ove. Start there. Then proceed at will.
*I've lived in several small towns. There are some very nice things about small towns. But when I say, "small town mindset" I don't mean it kindly. I mean the darker side of living in a small town---the manipulation that goes on to keep kids in the small town; the pressure to marry kids from the same town hoping the imagined couple will stay there; the anti-achievement culture that pervades; and the long-held town gender stereotypes that the upcoming generation is indoctrinated into following. That kind of small town mindset, I've seen it plenty. And I don't think it's good.
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