Review of THE READING LIST by Sara Nisha Adams

3.5 Stars

This novel is about the transformative power of books. It will appeal to bibliophiles though it doesn’t say anything avid readers won’t already know.

Wembley, a suburb of London, is home to the Harrow Road Library. Here 17-year-old Aleisha works as a library assistant. Though it is not the summer job of her dreams, she likes that the library provides her a refuge from a difficult home life where she and her brother Aidan have to look after their mother Leilah who suffers from mental illness.

Mukesh Patel is a widower mourning the death of Naina, his wife of fifty years. He goes to the library thinking that reading might connect him with Naina and with Priya, his book-loving granddaughter. He asks for a book recommendation but Aleisha does not enjoy reading and so is at a loss. By chance, however, she found a reading list with eight titles and so suggests the first book on that list, To Kill a Mockingbird. She decides to read the suggested books as well, and the two become unlikely friends as they discuss their impressions of what they read. Aleisha confides in Mukesh and when a tragedy occurs in her family, he proves to be a true friend.

The book is told from the perspectives of Aleisha and Mukesh though there are chapters focusing on secondary characters who also find the list of books. The inclusion of Chris, Indira, Leonora, Izzy, Joseph, and Gigi adds little to the book. When some reappear, it’s difficult to remember who they are.

The portrayal of mental illness bothered me. The nature of Leilah’s illness is unclear and she has no diagnosis because she’s never seen a doctor. Aidan and Aleisha take turns staying with their mother but they don’t make any real effort to get professional care for her? Then at the end, despite a heart-breaking tragedy, she seems to improve rapidly and agrees to see a doctor?

The theme is obvious: books can transport people to other worlds and also bring people together. Books provide escape, comfort, and a sense of community. They can help a person understand and cope with life’s challenges. For instance, Mukesh feels closer to Naina when he reads a book she read. Mukesh also finds that “reading had helped him find something to pass the time, some way to connect with others, a reason to get out of bed and out of the house.” There is nothing new in what is mentioned; book lovers will find much with which to agree: books “open up your world”; “books say different things to different people”; “books aren’t always an escape; sometimes books teach us things. They show us the world; they don’t hide it”; and “Books always change as the person who reads them changes.”

Sometimes the showing of the influence of books feels heavy-handed. Mukesh identifies with Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird, finds parallels to his life in Rebecca, and sees his daughters in Pride and Prejudice. Aleisha identifies with Pi’s situation in Life of Pi, and finds parallels with her life in both Pride and Prejudice and Little Women. It’s as if the list were curated just for them!

Because of its exploration of topics like grief, mental illness, and loneliness, the book has some heart-breaking moments. However, the ending is predictably heart-warming. For me it was an okay book, though nothing exceptional. What I actually enjoyed the most was thinking about the books on the list, all of which I’ve read, and considering which titles I’d put on a list if I were to recommend my favourites.

Review of BEAR by Julia Phillips (New Release)

 4 Stars

I really enjoyed Phillips’ debut novel, Disappearing Earth (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2020/01/review-of-disappearing-earth-by-julia.html), so looked forward to her next novel. It’s very different but just as great a read.

Sam and Elena are sisters living on San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest. They have unrewarding jobs in the hospitality industry as they struggle financially to make ends meet. Besides a mortgage and living expenses, their mother’s terminal illness has resulted in spiraling medical bills. One day a bear turns up outside their home. Sam is terrified but Elena is enchanted and exhilarated by its presence, so much so that she encourages further encounters. The bond between the sisters frays as they clash over their perceptions of the bear’s repeated appearances in their lives.

The story is narrated from the third person point of view but entirely from Sam’s perspective. As the novel progresses, the reader cannot but question the reliability of her viewpoint, especially when it becomes clear that Sam may not know her older sister as well as she thinks.

The sisters, though very close in age, are very different. Self-absorbed and very reliant on Elena, Sam is emotionally immature. She rages against her lot in life, always complaining about the world’s injustices: she sees the “whole world . . . [as] twisted and threatening and completely unfair.” She is resentful of anyone she perceives as having more than she does, whether that be money, education, or opportunities. Her resentments often have little basis in reality because she always assumes the worst. For instance, she assumes that Ben, the man with whom she has regular sex, thinks she is ignorant because he has seen more of the world, and she is angry because he has more freedom than she has. Restless, she yearns to get away, dreaming of a better future once their mother dies and they can sell the house and leave the boredom and oppressive nature of their lives. She is a fantasist, coping with life by telling herself stories, with a skill “of picturing things better than they would ever be.”

Elena, on the other hand, is the pragmatist who faces obstacles calmly. She’s the one who deals with life’s practicalities such as paying the bills. She’s the organized and reliable one who takes most responsibility for the care of their mother. It’s very telling that when Sam helps her mother to the bathroom, her mother asks her not to be rough and not to rush. Elena has the patience Sam does not. Unlike Sam, Elena is always smiling and friendly with others.

How the sisters respond to the bear illustrates their personalities. One sees the bear as a threat, the other, as a wonder. Sam wonders and worries why the bear chose their house while Elena thinks they’re so lucky that it did. Sam wants to flee the situation whereas Elena wants to embrace it, saying, “’What’s going on here is not dangerous. It’s magical. It’s the best thing that has ever happened to us.’” She speaks of it as “a specter, a spirit, an extraordinary beast. A visitor from someplace enchanted. A vision of the mysterious world.”

And the arrival of the bear unravels their closeness, bringing to the forefront frustrations, worries, and resentments. The bear is really a metaphor for all that is keeping them apart. Both have secrets not shared with the other sibling. Sam realizes how different she and her sister really are, though to the reader it’s more obvious that Sam doesn’t really know her sister as well as she thinks. Like about other people, she makes assumptions about Elena, and she has expectations of her that are not grounded in reality.

What speaks to the complexity of the character development is that both sisters are both relatable and frustrating. Elena’s behaviour, enticing the bear with food, is both illegal and an inappropriate obsession. The wildlife expert warns of the dangers of feeding, both to humans and the animal. On the other hand, it is possible to understand how the constant stresses in her life can lead to her seeing the bear as a friend, as a symbol of possibilities in life; even the wildlife expert says that when people are overwhelmed, they “’act without thinking. It’s completely understandable.’” A bear is a wild and potentially dangerous animal so Sam’s worries are not without merit, but then I couldn’t help but wonder if her concerns are for Elena’s safety or because of jealousy of the bear. Some of her actions are manipulative, selfish attempts to get Elena to agree with Sam’s plans for the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a great deal to ponder: the symbolism of the bear is one topic worthy of analysis, and the purposes of the parallels to the “Snow-White and Rose-Red” fairy tale is another. The causes of rifts in relationships as portrayed in the novel would also make a good essay topic. My first reading left me with a lot to think about, and I think a second reading would reveal more layers and nuances.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of BOYS WHO HURT by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (New Release)

 4 Stars

This is the fifth book in the Forbidden Iceland series set in Akranes. Once again I enjoyed visiting with Elma and her colleagues and family members.

While Sævar is on paternity leave, looking after their young daughter Adda and getting them settled into their new home, Elma has returned to work at the West Iceland CID. The case that awaits her is the brutal killing of Thorgeir Reynisson, the son of Elma and Sævar’s neighbour. Thorgeir’s body was left with an ominous message scrawled on a nearby wall. Meanwhile, a chance discovery has Sævar reading the diary of a young boy which details events at a Christian summer camp in 1995. The writer of the diary and Thorgeir were neighbours and attended the camp together along with other friends. Could the events of the past have a bearing on the current case? As Elma and Hörður investigate, it is quickly obvious that many people have secrets they wish to remain hidden.

The book, like the previous ones in the series, shows that the author excels at red herrings and misdirection. Early on, I identified a suspect, though I felt I was missing information. Everything is not as it seems so, while reading the book, I was right but wrong and then right again. It speaks to the writer’s skill that I was fully engaged in trying to solve the case.

There’s a dual timeline. The investigation is set in the present – December of 2020. The focus is on the investigative team, but occasionally the perspectives of other characters close to the case are included as well. There is no shortage of suspects as the thoughts of these characters reveal hidden pasts. Then there are sections set in the weeks leading up to the murder; these sections are from Thorgeir’s perspective and also from the viewpoint of someone who emerges as a major suspect. The brief spotlights on characters connected to the case make readers feel they are sometimes a few steps ahead of the investigating team, but there are dangers in over-confidence.

Elma is a likeable character. Her traits are consistent with her portrayal in previous books. She’s intelligent, determined, and hard-working. Seeing her in her role as a mother adds another dimension. What I especially appreciated is her not jumping to conclusions; she keeps an open mind until there is sufficient evidence to warrant further inquiries.

The many connections between so many of the characters struck me as almost unbelievable, but then I had to remind myself that Akranes has a population of about 8,000 so it is inevitable that people will know each other. That being said, it has to be admitted that the killer does have more than one fortuitous chance meeting with people. What also bothered me is the number of abuse victims. Does Iceland really have so many overbearing or absent or abusive fathers?

The title is perfect because “hurt” can be either a verb or an adjective. Boys who hurt others? Boys who are hurt? Or is it a case of hurt boys hurting others? I love it!

Oh and then there’s the ending! It suggests ramifications because of what has been discovered in this investigation. I assume the personal repercussions for Elma and Sævar will be addressed in the next installment. I can’t wait.

Review of A TRICK OF THE LIGHT by Louise Penny

 3.5 Stars

This, the seventh of the Armand Gamache series, is in my opinion one of the better books thus far.

Lillian Dyson, a former friend of Clara Morrow’s, is found murdered in Clara’s garden the morning after a party celebrating Clara’s solo art show in Montreal. Gamache and his team arrive to investigate and once again become involved in the lives of Three Pines residents. They are also drawn into the world of artists, art dealers, art critics, and gallery owners.

The title of the book is perfect because much of the book is about shadow and light where much is hidden and has to be brought into the light. I enjoyed the discussions about whether it is possible for a person to really change. The theme of forgiveness is also important; there are several characters seeking forgiveness or trying to forgive. All three of these ideas come together in the resolution of the case.

I guessed the identity of the murderer because there are sufficient hints, especially with the discussions about a person’s ability to change. As I read, I found myself applying the criteria for a credible character change that I taught my students (ability to change, motive to change, credible time span). The absence of one of these is a definite clue. Nonetheless, there is sufficient misdirection to keep the reader guessing. Unlike in previous books, the motive for the killing and the manner of killing are more straightforward and therefore more believable.

As I’ve been reading this series, I’ve realized that the murder cases in these books have become a secondary interest. I find myself more intrigued with what is happening with characters than in the crime being investigated: Will Olivier forgive Gamache? Will Clara forgive Peter? Will Jean-Guy confront his demons? Will Rosa return to Ruth? Penny excels at developing relationships and doesn’t shy away from complexities. Peter and Clara’s marriage is a major example of relationships developing and changing in the course of the novels. I’m going to start thinking of the books as a drama series rather than crime fiction.

One episode that doesn’t ring true is Jean-Guy’s confrontation with Gamache. Given what bothers Jean-Guy about what he sees on the leaked video of the incident outlined in Bury Your Dead, he’s most angry that Gamache hasn’t tried to discover who leaked it? I understand that we are to see his lashing out as a symptom of his problems, his not having recovered from trauma, but it is unconvincing and feels awkward since he doesn’t mention what this thoughts indicate is his real concern.

I’m off to listen to the next book in the series to see if it is, as its title suggests, a beautiful mystery.

Review of THE AXEMAN'S CARNIVAL by Catherine Chidgey

 4 Stars

Novels with non-human narrators are not my favourite, but I decided to read this one because it’s written by Catherine Chidgey. I’ve read two of her novels, Remote Sympathy and Pet, and loved them both. I’m glad I didn’t let my skepticism about a magpie narrator keep me from reading the book because I really enjoyed it.

Tama is a magpie chick that falls out of its nest and is rescued by Marnie, a farmer’s wife on the South Island of New Zealand. Her husband Rob does not approve, but Marnie enjoys the bird’s companionship. And though he misses his magpie family, Marnie becomes the centre of his world. When Tama learns to mimic human speech, his talent may be a way to alleviate the couple’s financial woes. All is not well in the home, however, as Tama witnesses Rob’s short temper, coercive control, and violent outbursts.

Tama won me over almost immediately. He’s charming, clever, and cheeky. He is very observant though he does not always understand what he sees. He adds a lot of humour. Some comedy derives from his literal interpretation of people’s comments, but it’s his interjections of phrases he has heard which add a lot of humour since they are sometimes totally inappropriate in the context. Even his descriptions are hilarious: seeing Rob naked, Tama mentions that “the thing between his legs hung like a hairless mouse.”

A magpie can “sing two notes at once” and I love how the author incorporates this into the novel by giving Tama two voices. His “bird” voice, the one that narrates the story and that he uses to talk to his bird family, is expressive and eloquent; however, his “human” voice, the one he uses to mimic human speech, is stilted and awkward.

Despite the humour, there is a growing sense of unease. There is tension between Marnie and Rob as they struggle with drought and debt. The house is actually a symbol of their relationship: it is mouldy and “All the wood in the house was the same, eaten by borer beetles too small and secret to see, and one day the entire place would turn to dust.” Rob has several troublesome qualities: he is possessive of his wife, and resentful and jealous of the success of others. He drinks and he is not a happy drunk because that’s when his short temper comes to the fore. Tama keeps repeating, “I did not trust him and I was right not to trust him.” And Tama’s foreshadowing only adds to the suspense: “When I think about what happened later” and “I suppose everything that happened afterwards was my fault.” Tama’s father always warns of the evil of humans so that just adds to the tension. Rob is obsessed with being the champion at the annual woodchopping competition, and it’s obvious he will not take defeat well. The title refers to that competition so there is a sense of inevitability, a feeling that an axe is hanging over Marnie, an axe which Rob wields expertly.

The book touches on a number of issues: toxic masculinity, domestic violence, and the exploitative nature of social media. Tama becomes a social media sensation, but there are dangers to such fame. Though Tama sees the duplicitous and manipulative nature of some humans in real life, the negative aspects of human nature are amplified on social media.

This is a unique novel; it is relevant in its exploration of serious issues but is also emotionally engaging. I highly recommend it.

See my reviews of Chidgey’s other novels:

Remote Sympathy: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2022/04/review-of-remote-sympathy-by-catherine.html

Pet: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2024/03/review-of-pet-by-catherine-chidgey.html

Review of THAT NIGHT IN THE LIBRARY by Eva Jurczyk (New Release)

 2 Stars

This book was not for me. I finished it only because I felt obligated to do so.

On the night before graduation, seven people gather in the basement of their university’s rare books library. They plan to perform a drug-infused ritual which will have participants “emerge unafraid of the horror of death.” Of course, a death occurs almost immediately. Since there is no one else in the place, one of them must be the murderer. They are effectively locked in together for the night with no contact with the outside world until the morning so tensions rise and panic ensues.

A major problem is that all the characters are easy to dislike. They are all self-absorbed and pretentious and just annoying. Because they are so unpleasant, I couldn’t connect with any of them. Though back stories are provided, I found it difficult to distinguish one character from another, and I didn’t care for any of them. I certainly didn’t care who might die next. Perhaps what is most unbelievable is that seven supposedly intelligent people would agree to gather with a group of virtual strangers for some bizarre ritual. Were the drugs the appeal? None of them seemed to have a fear of death so there seemed little motivation to attend. Then they act so irrationally and make such stupid decisions that even the effects of their taking acid don’t fully explain.

Interactions between characters feel contrived. One character accuses another of being a murderer but then ends by saying directly to the accused, “‘No offense’”?! Another character, when trying to determine the identity of a killer thinks, “There’s something about a person who wears glasses that makes them improbable as a villain”? One character dislikes strangers but agrees to spend a night with strangers?

A locked-room mystery lends itself to the creation of suspense, but that is not the case. Pacing is part of the problem. Some sections are very slow. And then there are the irrelevant tangents. The random story of the man who donated the money for the rare books library serves no purpose. The story of Demeter and Persephone, which inspires the ritual, is told twice?! Why would all workers in a library be forced to apply for a job even if they weren’t interested? And the reader is supposed to believe that the library doesn’t have smoke detectors or fire alarms linked to the fire department? The result is that the reader is anything but breathless with anticipation!

As I stated at the beginning, I often felt like abandoning the book. Rather than a thriller, it becomes more of a plotless, mindless horror requiring a great deal of suspension of disbelief. There is an interesting twist at the end, but there is so much drudgery to get to that ending. I can’t recommend this book. No offense.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of THE CELESTIAL WIFE by Leslie Howard

 2.5 Stars

I came across this book in a magazine article written by a former student in which she regularly highlights the most anticipated fiction of the month. This title appeared in her April 2024 list. Unlike my former student, I would not recommend it so highly.

The novel begins in 1964 in Redemption, B.C., the home of a polygamist cult partially modeled after the Mormon fundamentalist group in Bountiful, B.C. When Daisy Shoemaker turns 15, the leader of the community decides she will be the wife of a man 40 years her senior who already has 35 wives and 156 children. Unwilling to accept this fate, she flees to the outside world which she has been taught to fear. With the help of others, she builds a new life for herself. Five years later, she decides she has to help her friend Brighten escape; in order to do so, she risks her newfound independence and even her life.

The book clearly outlines the conditions under which women and children live in Redemption. Children receive minimal education. Residents are restricted from receiving proper medical care. Women have no control of their destinies; the bishop makes all decisions for their lives. Absolute obedience is expected or harsh punishments are meted out. Underage girls are married, often to much older men who already have multiple wives. Under the guise of religious freedom, sexual abuse is rampant.

My problem with the book is that many parts are unbelievable, too convenient and unrealistic. In other words, the plot feels contrived. Jean, a 19-year-old man who befriends Daisy, has already dropped out of law school? He conveniently receives three tickets so Daisy and her best friend Saffron can accompany him to a Beatles concert in Vancouver?! At this concert, attended by 20,000 people, people from Redemption come to look for Daisy and they manage to find her?! Saffron decides she will get a job to manage ferry traffic using the radio so of course she gets the job but is given no training? Fortunately, Daisy can teach her friend because she did something similar in Redemption! And these are just some of many examples.

There are other issues. Characters appear and disappear. Daisy’s father is a perfect example. Donald, a young man from Redemption, is another character who appears and then disappears, only to magically reappear when needed. Having Daisy attend both a Beatles concert and Woodstock certainly seems contrived. Then there’s the problem of characters behaving inconsistently. For instance, it is totally unbelievable that the Bishop agrees to allow his people to attend a love-in held by hippies. Then there are inconsistencies; the community can run a sawmill even though the Bishop doesn’t own it and has no proof of ownership? And the true owner doesn’t do anything for years to wrest control back, though he tells his daughter to hire lawyers to do so? Is it better to be a first wife or the third celestial wife? If a celestial wife is the “most highly favored wife,” then why are girls so hoping to become a first wife who only has status?

Daisy is supposed to be the spunky heroine, but I found her unconvincing. We are supposed to admire her determination and courage, but what stands out for me is her stupidity. Even after learning that certain people cannot be trusted, she still falls into their traps. There’s the bizarre episode of Daisy agreeing to a meeting at a sawmill which certainly falls into the same category of stupidity as checking on a strange noise in a reputedly haunted house. Because there’s a gap of years between Daisy’s escape and her life five years later, the reader doesn’t get to see her struggles with adapting to life outside Redemption. What does she do to try and find her father? She maintains more contact with Brighten than she does with her mother, though her mother has more access to the outside world?

The prose style is unsophisticated. There is a lack of emotional depth because there’s much more telling than showing. This book reads more like young adult fiction and it’s young readers who might be most interested in Daisy’s coming of age story. As an adult reader, I was underwhelmed.

Review of FORGOTTEN ON SUNDAY by Valérie Perrin (New Release)

 4 Stars

I loved Valérie Perrin’s novels Fresh Water for Flowers (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2020/11/review-of-fresh-water-for-flowers-by.html) and Three (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2022/06/review-of-three-by-valerie-perrin-new.html) so was excited to learn that her debut novel, Forgotten on Sunday, has been translated. Though not as polished as Fresh Water for Flowers, it is still a good read.

Twenty-one-year-old Justine Neige is a geriatric nursing assistant working at a retirement home in a small French village. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her paternal grandparents with whom she still lives, along with her also-orphaned cousin Jules. Justine loves her job at the seniors’ home and spends a lot of time listening to residents’ stories. She becomes particularly close to 96-year-old Hélène Hel whose story she decides to write.

The book tells Hélène’s story, especially her romance with Lucien Perrin. But it also tells Justine’s story. The narrative alternates between the two women, Justine’s sections being narrated in the first person. We learn about the deaths of Justine’s parents, her work at The Hydrangeas retirement home, and her regular one-night stands with a man whose name she doesn’t even know. We also read about the car accident that claimed both Justine and Jules’ parents, an accident which Justine comes to realize is connected to secrets kept by both Gramps and Gran.

Another mystery is the identity of the anonymous caller who phones families of residents who seem to have been forgotten because they haven’t had visitors on Sundays, the regular day for family visits. The caller falsely announces the deaths of these residents, thereby forcing relatives to visit. The phone calls are traced to The Hydrangeas, but who is the mystery caller?

Justine is a character the reader cannot but like. She is devoted to the residents who are not always easy to care for. She does a lot of unpaid overtime so she can listen to residents’ stories. Her actions indicate she’s warm, patient, sensitive, empathetic, and caring. She saves money so Jules will be able to attend university but doesn’t want him to know that she’s the one paying for his education. What makes her convincing is that she also has flaws. She’s insecure about her appearance; more than once she compares herself to others and concludes she is not pretty. She also makes cruel comments intended to hurt, “to take my revenge.”

Love is a major theme. Hélène experienced a love that survived separation and time. This is the type of love Justine hopes to find: “I tell myself that what I don’t find pretty about me will one day be someone’s beautiful. Someone who’ll love me and become my artist. Who’ll continue me. Who’ll take me from rough sketch to masterpiece.” She wants to be as lucky as her best friend Jo who has found a soulmate in her husband Patrick. Ironically, it’s obvious that What’s-his-name is very interested, but Justine seems to fear commitment. Perhaps Hélène , who didn't agree to a marriage because it was "not love as she'd imagined it, the love that leaves you reeling," tells her story to Justine because she sees some of herself in the young woman.  Justine seems towant a handsome Prince Charming, not a man who has poor taste in his clothes.

I did find some events problematic. I had difficulty accepting Edna’s actions, especially when it comes to her daughter. Justine sees What’s-his-name regularly but doesn’t ask him any questions, not even his name and occupation? Armand’s secret relationship also stretches the reader’s credibility, and parts of the closing border on over-sentimentality.

Regardless, there is much to love in the book. The challenges of aging and the inevitability of death are not glossed over. I enjoyed the character connections between Hélène’s story and Justine’s (Rose, Roman, Claude, Fatiha). The touches of humour are delightful. Because of the drama, romance, and mystery, there is something for everyone; parts are heart-breaking but others are heart-warming. For me, reading the book was an immersive experience.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.