What I Read in March
What a productive reading month over here! I read my favorite book of the year, had one I did not finish, and a lot of books in between.
Circling the Sun by Paula McClain
4/5 Stars
Brought to Kenya from England as a child and then abandoned by her mother, Beryl Markham is raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe who share his estate. Beryl forges her own path as a horse trainer, and her uncommon style attracts the eye of the Happy Valley set, a decadent, bohemian community of European expats who also live and love by their own set of rules. But it’s the ruggedly charismatic Denys Finch Hatton who ultimately helps Beryl navigate the uncharted territory of her own heart.
This book really swept me away to another time and place, which is just what I needed. The setting was well rendered and the storytelling straightforward and easy to follow. There is an emotional heart to Beryl's backstory, the trauma of being abandoned by her mother and the struggle of belonging, and it all served as a strong foundation for the book. However, I did find the pacing lagged at times, the events feeling kind of wayward (literally, as the book is about her trying to find her place in the world). But overall, if you want to be transported somewhere else, this book does the job.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
5/5 Stars
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Through centuries she lives alone, until she meets someone who remembers her.
I absolutely loved this book. What a story. I would even call it a masterpiece! I often see books with an amazing premise but that never really go anywhere with it; this book goes places. The plot spans centuries, crosses oceans, and even though it did lag at times, it ultimately kept my interest on the whole. I connected with the book's themes of mortality, the desire to leave your mark on the world, and the loneliness that comes with the changes of life. Even the antagonist is sympathetic at times, making the plot all the more complex.
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal
5/5 Stars
This Victorian gothic novel is about a young girl who wants to be a painter at a time when only men can do so. Her misshapen collarbone and bright red hair catch the eye of a curiosities shop owner who specializes in taxidermy and deformed animal specimens—and he soon grows obsessed with having her for his collection.
Incredible. My favorite book of the year so far. Be warned, this is a dark and grizzly tale that made me squirm more than a few times. The author does not shy away from the graphic details of daily life in Victorian London. The plot is chilling and perfectly paced, while the characters are so memorable and unique. I love stories with a good villain, and for me, a sympathetic backstory makes for a good villain. Silas, the antagonist, is complex, his childhood as an outcast in want of a friend and later as a craftsman in want of respect makes him as sad as he is scary. The romance is well crafted without being sappy or unrealistic, and Iris, the protagonist, is easy to root for. Overall, this is a fantastic thriller/gothic/historical novel.
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
3/5 Stars
A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong.
This is a unique and memorable book, I'll give it that. The writing is literary but doesn't always strike the right balance of telling a story vs tangential description that muddies the plot. Especially difficult to stomach were the strange (and I think unnecessary) sexual descriptions; there was one line that was something like "His penis was annoyingly curved, an insult to beauty." Like, why. I just don't see how sex is necessary to this story.
The mood of this book is its strongest point. The sense of fear and uncertainty is palpable and carried all the way through. The commentary on information technology and our dependence on it is well done. The racial aspect is a little more rote, in my opinion. A white family doesn't trust black strangers? Groundbreaking. I just don't know what point this book is making about race.
The plot is underbaked, and I wish there was more going on. There were a lot of missed opportunities, like one character seems to go do something for a certain reason, but then that reason never materializes and it was all for nothing. I guess it ultimately adds to the atmosphere of uncertainty and helplessness, but it doesn't make for a satisfying read. Instead, this book offers a ton of meandering descriptions, micro-flashbacks, and just unrelated reveries (the pyramids of Giza are mentioned at one point) that had me scratching my head.
I think if you like this style of writing but like a sharper plot, definitely check out Emily St. John Mandel or Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
5/5 Stars
In Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending.
A hard but essential read about aging and death, and what medicine can and can't do to ease our ends. This book is so readable, sprinkling in personal anecdotes along with facts about dying (did you know the average life expectancy of people in the Roman Empire was 28?) and an astute analysis of the failures of modern medicine and elder care, especially in the US. Yes, it is a massive bummer to think about your own death or that of your loved ones, but it also gives a practical discussion on how to prepare for it and to minimize the suffering. It also left me with a reminder about perspective, to appreciate the little things in life like simply being mobile or having memory or parents still living.
There is a famous Jack Kerouac quote, "Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain." But I think this book questions that adage. Whatever you find joy in, no matter large or small, that is what the dying long to do one more time at the end of life. A piano teacher with a terminal illness wants to keep teaching her lessons up until the end, because it gives her a sense of purpose to see her students through as long as she can. That is her "office," and that is what gives her meaning. This book notes that as people's time horizons shorten, they put less importance on achievements or growth (e.g., climbing that goddamn mountain) and more on quality time with family or other simple pleasures of daily life. By all means, climb the mountain while you can. But in the end, you will equally, if not more, remember the time you spent mowing the lawn if that gave you pleasure.
I think everyone would benefit from reading this book, as it will no doubt encourage you to live a more mindful life.
Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
1/5 Stars (DNF)
This crime novel draws the reader deep into the life of Inspector Sartaj Singh—and into the criminal underworld of Ganesh Gaitonde, the most wanted gangster in India.
Unfortunately, I called this book DNF at 130 pages. It took me 9 days to read these 130 pages. The book was just moving too slow. There were some intriguing scenes that caught my attention, but I just found myself completely unable to grasp what was going on, how each police character was different (they all blended together for me) and what the hook was.
The Death of Vivk Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
4/5 Stars
One afternoon, in a town in southeastern Nigeria, a mother opens her front door to discover her son’s body, wrapped in colorful fabric, at her feet. What follows is the tumultuous, heart-wrenching story of one family’s struggle to understand a child whose spirit is both gentle and mysterious.
Such a beautiful, heartbreaking book. If you aren't one to shy away from emotion and really sad, regretful situations, this book is for you. I loved the way the story was framed, especially with Vivek's perspective after death woven in. This book will have you lamenting how humans are so cruel to each other, and for what?
The only thing I disliked about this book was that it veered into melodrama at times; some of the dialogue got so theatrical, almost like a Shakespearean tragedy, that it felt too put on. I wish that the author had pulled back in those moments and let the unspoken things hold their weight instead. But overall, much praise to this book.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
4/5 Stars
A longtime Brooklyn resident delves into the history of her neighborhood’s gentrification and discovers a sinister plot when her neighbors go missing.
A really well written, unique thriller. The pace was excellent, the setting well rendered, and the larger social commentary on race is essential. However, the fact that the main character is doing a literal history report on the area and the racist history was not at all subtle and definitely not what I read a thriller book for. We're talking a bone-dry, pages-long explainer on red lining smack in the middle of the action. Totally unnecessary. Yes, it gives the book important context, but it also implies the reader would be too dumb to understand the message of the book without it. Absolutely people should know about redlining, but I wish there had been a less disruptive way to include that, like excerpts from real news articles or policy documents or public comments from politicians as an intro to a chapter, rather than weaving it in clumsily with the plot. There were also a couple plot holes (like why would these villains communicate on message boards on Facebook about their crimes?) but otherwise, this was a good read.
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
2/5 Stars
In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Evvie takes in a new tenant on her property who happens to be an ex-MLB star. Together, they try to restart their lives.
A perfectly pleasant and lighthearted read, which is just what I was in the mood for. Great for a vacation, but I don't think it will really start any deep thoughts or conversations.
What an odd place small-town Maine must be, where people are in each other's business and speak really candidly. The main character texts a new acquaintance for a lingerie shop recommendation (is there no Google in Maine?) like that's not weird. The best friend gets bent out of shape when the main character didn't share something with him that was none of his business. These people need to chill out and butt out. I just struggled the whole book to understand why these characters were making big deals out of things that weren't that big.
Then the romance aspect was lukewarm at best. There was no mystery to the will-they-or-won't-they plot since you can tell right away that they will. It was exactly like a Hallmark movie, and for me, that's not a good thing.
Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark
3/5 Stars
A dark fantasy historical novella that gives a supernatural twist to the Ku Klux Klan's reign of terror.
A for originality and action. I do prefer my novels to be too heavy on the action rather than too light, but I found myself constantly wanting to pause and ask someone, "wait, why are we doing this?"
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
4/5 Stars
A group of friends go away together to a hunting lodge for New Year’s Eve. Secrets are revealed, gloves come off, and one guest doesn’t survive the trip.
I definitely enjoyed this one for the Scottish Highlands setting and overall well-written story. The first third of the book was a little slow because the main action had to be delayed in order to get allll the characters' backstories, but it was eventually worth it. Lots of twists I didn't see coming.
