A New Favorite Author

Frederik Backman

By all rights, I have no reason to admire Frederik Backman. He writes books about odd characters in Sweden no less. His most famous book, A Man Called Ove,  deals with an angry curmudgeon who wants to kill himself. Why on earth would I read that?
His recent novel is about a small town obsessed with hockey. HOCKEY? I know as a Minnesotan I should love hockey. Um, nope. I fall asleep during hockey. I loathe hockey. But oh my goodness how I love Backman's books. This year, I've read four of them (and am waiting for the last to come into the library):

A Man Called Ove (translated by Henning Koch)

Beartown  (translated by Neil Smith)

Britt-Marie was Here (translated by Henning Koch)

My Grandmother Asked me to tell you She's Sorry (translated by Henning Koch)

Every one of them left me in tears over the poignancy of his stories, the wonderfulness of his writing, and gratitude to his translators who created these moving and marvelous books in English. While his English is fluent, he writes in his native language and the books are translated. Seeing how beautiful they are in English makes me appreciate the skills of his translators. Usually I wouldn't think much of translation but I know how hard it can be - making a book come alive in a language different from its author's.

I listened to Ove on audiobook and found myself commuting through tears many days. Sitting in the parking lot at work waiting to stop crying at some of the incredibly beautiful and sad parts of this book was especially challenging. And we're not talking about a few tears, we're talking about "ugly crying."

While I missed seeing his appearance in Minnesota this summer, I was lucky enough to attend an online chat with him. Even in this brief chat, I found him gracious, kind, and somewhat puzzled by his success. And when he mentioned one of my childhood favorites, The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren as one of his inspirations, I immediately understood why he liked it. Lindgren deals with death and difficult losses endured by young brothers in Sweden. Even though I haven't read it in a good 40+ years, I still remember it vividly. Now of course, I have to track it down and reread it.

All of Backman's characters are REAL, damaged, dealing with the challenges of life. He creates them through his beautiful words and the images on his incredible covers. They all show the protagonist from the back with large type at the top. You never see the faces of the main characters which may be even better. Ove was made into a movie and for once the movie was almost as good as the book. The actor playing Ove really was Ove. Unfortunately I haven't been able to track down the name of the cover designer.

Britt-Marie is a sad older woman who deals with her husband's infidelity by starting a new life in a small town. The main character in Grandmother is Elsa - a seven-almost-eight year old girl dealing with the death of her grandmother, the pending arrival of a half-sibling, the odd characters who live in her apartment building (including Britt-Marie). Over the course of the book, she learns about her grandmother, the other residents, and the stories that bind them together.

Beartown is different. A small northern town (think Hibbing, Chisholm) is obsessed with hockey. The junior hockey team is on the brink of huge success which could bring the town back to life after a crushing economic downturn. Then something happens, something really bad which could turn everything back to virtual depression. I won't say what (please read it for yourself) but I am very happy to hear he's contracted to write two sequels.

I am so grateful to my bookclub at work for having us read Ove and to the Modern Mrs. Darcy book group for listing Beartown this summer. Maybe I would have gotten to them eventually, but maybe not.

http://www.fredrikbackmanbooks.com/about-fredrik-backman.html
http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Fredrik-Backman/411545926

Prize Winning Books?

What does it mean when a book is nominated for a major award? Or when it’s named An Oprah Book? Or is at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list for weeks or months? As an avowed book lover, I do pay attention to these announcements and accolades. But I’m often disappointed in the books chosen or recommended by these “experts.”

For example, last week the Man Booker long list was announced. This prestigious award is given to the best work of fiction published in English in the United Kingdom each year. American authors are also eligible and for the last 45 years, it’s been one of the best known awards given. This year, I’ve read three of the 13 titles on the long list (one I Ioved, two I didn’t care for). A few others are on my To be Read list but I don’t know if I’ll get to them. I’ve learned that being a nominee or even a winner is no guarantee that a book will appeal to me. The list is narrowed down to six in September with the winner announced in October. There’s a cash prize and also a lot of fame (and hopefully sales) for the winner.  So what’s the book I loved? Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. I’m glad to see it getting some acclaim since it really was an amazing book. (Hard to describe but amazing).

The Pulitzer Prize for Literature is another prestigious award. This year’s winner is The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Unfortunately this is one of the prestigious books that I didn’t care for at all. It was reading this book and hearing how much acclaim it had received that made me really think about the value of these awards.  I wanted to like The Underground Railroad because it is SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK. But I had no emotional response to it, although it was a very violent and harrowing tale of slavery in the American south. Most of the characters meet incredibly violent ends and many simply vanish into the background of the story. I also found it confusing because the author kept wandering off into tangents and backstories about minor characters. So this was definitely not the book for me.

Another REALLY IMPORTANT BOOK this year was George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo. I hadn’t read any of his previous works (primarily short stories). I listened to the audiobook and found it incredibly confusing with its cast of hundreds. Perhaps the print book would have worked better. It was an ambitious work with a style that should have been fascinating and engaging. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it either.

Oprah Winfrey carries a lot of weight with the reading public. I’ve generally found her recommendations uninteresting and am skeptical of any of the books she names. In looking at the list of 51 books she’s recommended in the last 20 or so years, I’ve found only a few I enjoyed (Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi, Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides). Three out of 51 isn’t a great average. And she also named The Underground Railroad as a top book.

So what’s the value of these rewards and reviews? Why don’t I like more of them? I think titles and authors get more publicity for being nominated but it doesn’t mean you or I are going to like them any more than we might like a small title that is never acknowledged on a bestseller list or by Oprah.

To be fair, I have to mention that one of my favorite books of all time is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This wonderful book won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Fiction, was on the top of the New York Times Bestseller List for weeks.  It was also shortlisted for a National Book Award. I recommend this book to everyone and I know I’m not alone in my love for it. So not every prize winner is a loser. It all comes down to taste – your taste and mine over that of distant judges and critics. If you hear of a book being nominated for a special award, it could mean it is wonderful but there are no guarantees. I have much more success reading books recommended by friends and co-workers. But again, no guarantees.

“Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters”

Soundtrack to White Christmas by Irving Berlin

Due to the luck of the draw and the Modern Mrs. Darcy summer reading list, I read two very different novels about sisters this week.

First was “The Almost Sisters” by Joshilyn Jackson and second was “The Identicals” by Elin Hilderbrand. Both share plots revolving around sisters (and near sisters), their relationships, traumas, and some dramas. Both involve some romance, struggling younger women (nieces in these cases), family secrets and compelling settings. The similarities end there.

“The Almost Sisters” has far more depth and original characters. Leia is a 38-year old artist who is well known for a graphic novel (Violence in Violet) that is a top seller. When she attends a fan convention, she gets drunk and meets a cute guy dressed as Batman. They share a wildly romantic night and she ends up pregnant with no way of finding him. At the same time Leia's dealing with this news, her aging grandmother’s caregiver and friend Wattie contacts her with the news that her beloved Birchie has started acting out and become violent. In another twist, Leia’s stepsister Rachel’s marriage is crumbling. So Leia and her step-niece set out on a southern adventure.  Secrets are revealed, Leia grows up and faces the truth about her grandmother and her idyllic southern upbringing.

What makes this story compelling is the descriptions of southern life that forces Leia to realize there are really two Souths – the perfect one of her youth and the South that still challenges the African American population. The difficulties facing Leia (and Birchie and Wattie) bring the different parts of the community together despite the undercurrents of racism. At first I thought (especially based on the cover) that this was going to be some chick-lit book (two sisters in love with the same man, hijinks ensue). It is far from that. Jackson’s writing made the South real to me in ways I never imagined. I have never traveled in the southern US so have no real exposure to the areas she discusses. "The Almost Sisters" brought the atmosphere alive as well as made real the people who live in southern small towns..  Leia at first seems like a shallow young woman running from her mistakes but she is really a compassionate and caring person devastated by the looming loss of her grandmother and challenged by the impending arrival of her biracial child.  Five stars.

“The Identicals” was my first Elin Hilderbrand novel. According to reviews, she seems to have a corner on the summer beach novels. Set on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, we meet Tabitha and Harper, 40-year old twin sisters whose relationship was destroyed by a tragic death (Tabitha’s son Julian). The setting was beautiful but the descriptions of fashion (their mother is a well-known designer), various alcoholic beverages, and paint colors almost put me off. Mistaken identities (of course they switch places, confusing their potential romantic interests), a troubled 16-year old (Ainsley, Tabitha’s daughter), an aging and unwell mother, and other challenges are neatly tied up at the end. And there’s Fish, an adorable Siberian Husky. I did like the story but it lacked the depth of “The Almost Sisters” and I doubt it will stay with me as long.  There were times I wanted to smack nearly every character (for goodness sakes, TALK TO EACH OTHER). The dog was my favorite character. Three stars

I’m looking forward to reading other works by Joshilyn Jackson (gods in Alabama is next on my kindle), but probably won’t turn to Elin Hilderbrand again until maybe next summer.

Resources:

Irving Berlin’s Sisters from White Christmas.

The Modern Mrs. Darcy bookclub and summer reading challenge. Anne Bogle hosts a wonderful website for readers as well as a fantastic podcast (What Should I Read Next?). Since “meeting” the MMD crowd, my TBR (to be read) list is toppling. I’ve read some books I never would have considered before. Check out modernmrsdarcy.com and the What Should I Read Next podcast.

“The Almost Sisters,” Joshilyn Jackson, Harper Collins, 2017. http://www.joshilynjackson.com/jj/books/the-almost-sisters/

“The Identicals,” Elin Hilderbrand, Little Brown, 2017. http://www.elinhilderbrand.net/index.html

The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey

The Dark Lake

Sarah Bailey

Gemma is a young Australian detective working to solve the murder of a high school classmate – the beautiful and mysterious Rosalyn Ryan. Gemma’s own secrets and earlier traumas are woven into Rose’s life and death in surprising ways.  But Gemma and Rose aren’t the only ones with secrets. It seems that nearly everyone who comes into contact with them carries the burden of hidden pasts and secrets that are begging to be revealed. Of course that could be characteristic of any small town where multiple generations continue to live (and die) in a confined space.

A well-written debut by Sarah Bailey is a great read for fans of Tana French, Claire Mackintosh, and also The Dry by Jane Harper.

In addition to juggling her own mixed feelings about Rose, Gemma is also working through romantic issues with her older partner, dealing with her romantic partner (no, not her husband as she repeatedly states), and her ambivalent feelings toward motherhood. All these issues are set against a hot December in Australia.

Secrets come out, the past is dealt with (or at least reconciled with) and Gemma finds a clearer path in her career and personal life.

Thanks to publisher Allen & Unwin and to NetGalley for the free copy in return for an honest review.

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/fiction/crime-mystery/The-Dark-Lake-Sarah-Bailey-9781760295899

http://www.sarahbaileyauthor.com

Why this book?

I was excited to read/review my first book for NetGalley. It was fun to read something thoughtfully and think about whether I would recommend it to someone else or if it was just meh. Once I got into the story, I forgot about the review and just enjoyed it for what it is – a tightly woven mystery set in an unfamiliar-to-me environment. In this case, I’d definitely recommend the book to readers of Tana French, Claire Mackintosh, Jane Harper. It’s really for anyone who likes the British/Irish/Australian style native to these writers.

I also enjoy reading books by women dealing with the challenges faced by female (and in some cases, male) detectives and police officers. Of course I don’t read a lot of male authors (not sure why). The style is different from American police procedurals/crime fiction and I definitely find it more enjoyable.

More about the author

This is Sarah Bailey’s first novel. Based on her website, she has years of experience in writing and advertising. She definitely is a skilled write and is able to create a real sense of place and feeling through her description and characters. Similar to Jane Harper’s The Dry, she deals with oppressive heat during an Australian summer and the heat/environment nearly becomes another character in the book.  I look forward to future offerings from this engaging author.

All Books, All the Time

I learned to read when I was three or four. I was the tiny six-year-old hauling a briefcase full of books from the Children’s Room at the St. Paul Public Library (now the George Latimore Central Library) to my dad’s office in the courthouse a few blocks away.

Then I was the 12-year-old sneaking into the Skinner Room (the young adults room) and the 14-year-old rummaging through the main stacks in the Circulation Room.

The librarians never seemed to mind that I was “reading up” and they encouraged me to read whatever I wanted. My parents supported my passions and soon my room was filled with books.

Books opened new worlds to me when I didn’t want to leave my room. As I moved from Nancy Drew to Trixie Belden to “A Wrinkle in Time” to “The Three Musketeers,” I learned about bravery, taking a stand, and reaching goals no matter what the obstacles. I was inspired and intrigued by the new worlds I read about (whether present day, historical, or imaginary). Seeing love triumph over evil and pain helped me move forward when my life evolved in new directions. And it seemed my life was always evolving and changing. Harry Potter was a prime example of how love could surmount all obstacles and I read those wonderful novels in my 40s.

I dreamed of becoming a writer and creating stories that would help others feel less alone and less “different.” Writing came easily but I realized making a living at it would be a lot harder. So I moved into publishing, first as an editor and later as Editorial Director for Llewellyn Publishing in Woodbury. Helping others bring their words to life seemed a good fit for me. I was lucky enough to find a career that combined my love for books and the written word with my organizational (oldest child) skills.

Reading still fills many of my hours and I enjoy printed books, ebooks (though I miss that good book smell), and audiobooks. Finding other readers through Facebook and different blogs and lists has meant a growing TBR (to be read) list and the feeling I’ll never get to read everything I want to. The library is still my home away from home and books continue to surround me.

Writing about my love of books and discussing which books have changed my life seemed a natural next step (hence the blog). I might throw in some reflections on other arts (theater, visual, and performing arts in general) but mostly this will be about books!

Thoughts on Church

Over the years, I've been a member of about ten different churches. I grew up in the Episcopal church (St. Clements, St. Paul) though I never identified strongly as Episcopal. I remember getting baptized the Easter I was nine when my youngest sister was a baby. My mother was not in favor of our baptism and I don't think she attended. I was also confirmed (age 16) at St. Clements.
In college, I went to chapel at St. Thomas and later converted to Catholicism. Even though I'd attended Catholic high school, I was one of the only non-Catholics in the school. I liked the way religion was practiced at St. Thomas and, since I was planning to marry a Catholic guy, it seemed a good idea that we share a church and faith.
We went to a couple churches in St. Paul, tried out Joan of Arc when we moved to St. Louis Park and landed at a suburban Catholic church where I stayed several years (probably longer than I should have).
Catholic theology and practices became less relevant the longer I was there. I couldn't understand why, as a woman, I was somehow "less than" the men in the church. Yes, I could serve on committees, read at Mass, distribute communion and nearly everything else. But there were no women in key leadership positions. I also found that some of the core theological concepts simply didn't fit my beliefs.
I knew I had to find a new home and started exploring. One day in about 1994, I found an article by Dear Abby describing some odd sounding religion (Unitarian Universalism). I researched more and decided to give it a try.
I knew there weren't many UU churches in the Twin Cities so choices were limited. I remember attending First Universalist Church in early September 1994 on Balloon Sunday. They read the story "The Red Balloon," we released our balloons and they floated up to the ceiling. Somehow I knew that was the place for me. I'd planned to try out the other UU churches but never did.
I stayed at First U for about several years and left in 2007. I was very active (committees, teaching RE, leading small groups, worship leader and on and on). Everything in my life changed and I found it necessary to change churches too. I tried out a couple other UU churches and eventually just stopped going.
While spirituality and my relationship with God (yes, I still use that term) seemed just as important as ever, attending church became less important. I was tired of the politics, the committees, the seemingly endless debate on any issue. So I quit. I thought about rejoining or looking for a new church but just didn't want to make the effort.
I asked myself several times why church had become less important, whether it just filled a particular need at a particular time, if I wanted to try again or if I should just let that expression of my spirituality go. I started going to Nia classes Sunday mornings (Nia is a movement class based on tai chi, yoga, kickboxing, dance, and a variety of other movements) and that seemed to work better than church.
Now Marie and I are exploring churches together. I'm not comfortable with a lot of Christian theology so our choices are pretty much between UCC and UU congregations. Right before Christmas we tried out Clark Memorial UCC in South St. Paul. It's a fascinating community with a very interesting history. I hope it works for us since I really would like to have a shared spiritual experience with someone who is so important to me.
I also hope I don't end up on a bunch of committees or in a leadership role. At this stage, I don't think I want that part of a church experience.