I didn't include my recent book reviews in my Unraveled Wednesday post so it's time to do it now. These books include a combination of old, relatively new, a reread, and an advance reader's copy.
I'm not sure how I missed reading Rules of Civility back in 2011 when it was published, but I was glad to finally read it while waiting for my hold on Table for Two. What I liked best was Towles' ability to clearly and realistically write a woman's voice. Other reviewers have disagreed but it worked for me. The story of Katey Kontent, Tinker Grey, and Eve Ross, set in 1930s New York City was written beautifully, but it also provided plenty of impetus that made me want to keep reading. The plot may be slightly predictable but sometimes that's just what I want to read, just like Katey admires Agatha Christie because "everyone gets what they deserve" and justice is served. Three and a half stars rounded up.
I've never been much of a memoir reader, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur. I felt much the same about The Many Lives of Mama Love. Both of these books made me think, "These people sure do lead different lives than I do, and in many ways, they sound quite exciting." But then there are also the terrible parts - drug addiction, committing felonies, getting thrown in jail, losing custody of your children, and trying to overcome the shame and stigma of your past crimes to get a job and become a productive member of society. I was impressed with how Lara Love Hardin reinvented herself but would have liked to learn more about what it felt like to overcome her heroin addiction. I also would like to read some more from the other side - what her children felt like having a mother in prison, and the stories from the D.A. that she had previously slept with and his wife who worked in the probation department. Hardin is surprised by her neighbors' contempt for her but seems to justify her crimes of stealing from them by saying that she had done this to provide for her children. She conveniently forgot that she and her husband had spent all of their own money on heroin. But people who have authored their memoirs are free to cast themselves as the hero, and Hardin has accomplished something that not many others have achieved. Three and a half stars rounded up.
"Escape was always my real addiction, the one true high. Books were just my gateway drug. Sex just got me pregnant. Food just made me puffy. Vicodin just helped me pretend I was happy. The heroin, though, that gave me everything I had ever wanted--peace, joy, escape.
Until it didn't.
And everything I knew and everyone I loved was gone."
I reread Elizabeth Strout's Anything Is Possible because I wanted to refresh my memory about the characters before I started Strout's latest book, Tell Me Everything. I felt the same as when I initially read it in 2017, so my review following is the one I wrote then. With Anything Is Possible, Elizabeth Strout has truly perfected her already great string of books in the form of linked stories. Olive Kitteridge was wonderful; My Name is Lucy Barton was even better, and Anything Is Possible is practically perfect. There is Strout's usual excellent prose as each chapter carefully elucidates a different character with an intimate look at their lives, but I think what I especially liked was how much this book added to Lucy Barton's story. It can be heartbreaking, poignant, sometimes heart-rending, and at times even appalling, but through her understated and evocative writing, Strout manages to make the reader understand the characters presented here and Lucy Barton herself in depth. We are introduced to Tommy, the maintenance man at Lucy's elementary school, Lucy's brother Pete, Patty Nicely of the Pretty Nicely girls, and several other characters originally mentioned in My Name is Lucy Barton. They seemed like minor characters in that book, but loom much larger in Anything Is Possible. Lucy herself makes an appearance in the story entitled "Sister", shedding more light on her family dynamics.
This book helped me better appreciate the wonder of learning Lucy's background and full story the way Strout has chosen to reveal it in two separate books. It's hard to imagine how she'll top this with her next novel, but she is certainly an author I'll keep reading.Tell Me Everything has probably been my most anticipated book this year. I got excited when the cover design was revealed, and even more excited when I requested and was approved for an ARC. Once I had the book in my hands I wanted to read it in one sitting but somehow still savor it to make it last.
Strout tells us more of Bob Burgess' story; remember him from The Burgess Boys? But the book is about so much more and so many more people, including Bob's wife, Margaret, and his first wife, Pam. It's also the story of how Bob comes to defend a local man accused of murdering his mother. There is a small mystery about who committed the crime, but it's more about the changes that Bob helps the accused man make in his life. Bob's brother Jim also appears in this novel with some important revelations for Bob.Bob meets Lucy Barton frequently so they can take walks together. Their relationship is one of good friends who share a special emotional intimacy until possibly, they don't. This part was a bit worrisome for me, but it all came together wonderfully at the end. In one of my favorite developments, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge get together to tell each other stories about "unrecorded lives". I will be thinking about these stories and their meanings for a long time.
I greatly enjoyed revisiting many of Strout's past characters, especially Olive, Lucy, and Bob, and their interactions with each other now that many of them live in Crosby, Maine. Because Strout has caught the reader up on many favorite characters, this book feels as if it could be an ending to the Lucy Barton series. There were parts of the book that felt as if they might be moving too slowly, but Elizabeth Strout's novels have never been page-turners or plot-driven. They are stories of humanity, love, loss, empathy, and true human connections, and in these respects, this is one of Strout's best. Four and a half stars rounded up.
Olive said, "Wait." As Lucy turned, Olive said, "Well, phooey. I feel connected to you too. So there. " She stuck out her tongue."
As a big Lucy fan I’ve yet to read Olive. I think that’s a goal before this new book is published. Thanks Bonny! PD
ReplyDeleteI wasn't even aware of The Burgess Boys, but I've read every other book in the series (if you can call it that), so clearly I need to read that before the new book comes out!
ReplyDeleteI read rules and I think I liked it! I need to reread Olive and then read the rest of the books.
ReplyDeleteYou write the best book reviews, Bonny. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your reviews! I have Tell Me More in my queue (but Amor Towles Table for Two came up at the library, so I jumped over to get that read and off to the next in line!) I am saving Tell Me More for vacation next week and I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to the new library yesterday I actually checked out a book. I'm normally an Audible type gal as my hands are always busy but I did read 4 chapters yesterday. I'm so proud of myself....lol.
ReplyDeleteI probably listen to more audiobooks than I read with my eyes, but thankfully you can often check out audiobooks from the library, too.
DeleteI plan to re-read Rules of Civility before I read Table for Two and I am looking forward to the new Eliz. Strout book! Your book reviews make me look forward to reading these books!
ReplyDeleteI'm anxiously awaiting my turn in the hold queue for Table for Two. I hope you read and enjoy Tell Me Everything!
DeleteI just reread Olive and am now reading Olive, again. I went to our local library book sale this week and picked up Lucy Barton to reread before I read the other books in the series this summer.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good plan to me! I was amazed at Olive's personal growth from the first to the second book. She's one of my favorite literary characters!
DeleteYour book reviews are so informative. My local group read Rules of Civility last year and we had a good discussion. I enjoyed the book. More and more I like "predictable." I so enjoyed the Lucy Barton books so I"m looking forward to this new one. Lucy and Olive together sounds so interesting. I'm reading North Woods this week. I find it very engaging.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic roundup here, Bonny! I can't wait to read Strout's latest. What a culmination of her characters -- and I look forward to hearing more from Bob Burgess. (Burgess Boys was actually one of my favorites -- plus the Olives. Love the Olives.)
ReplyDeleteMama Love sounds like *quite* a memoir! It also sounds like...a lot. It might max my patience. (I very much didn't like Wild Game and found Adrienne Brodeur annoyed me more than anything. And I love memoir! But, hmn.... Maybe not EVERY memoir!)
And Amor Towles. Lincoln Hwy is one of my favorite recent novels...but I am not in that same camp for Gentleman in Moscow. (If it makes any sense, I've liked it more AFTER reading it than I did WHILE reading it...?!) And I keep forgetting about Rules of Civility--which I very much want to read. Partly because I'm moved at how well Towles can shift voice, character, setting -- and show up with just as much strength as a writer each time.
What a rich, thought provoking post!
I'm glad you enjoyed it! You will love Tell Me Everything if The Burgess Boys is one of your favorites. No spoilers, but Bob figures largely in the new one and is in a good place! I'm not sure what I liked about Wild Game - probably not Adrienne Brodeur or her mother, but maybe it was just the story of real-life people acting like something out of a soap opera! I'm in a long, long wait for Table for Two but thankfully I've got lots to read in the meantime.
DeleteWe're going to listen to Table for Two on our drive to/from Thomasville this weekend - I can't wait! and I'm so looking forward to Tell Me Everything - the only book in your list I haven't read is Burgess Boys ... I've heard conflicting opinions about it, but now I'm for sure going to read it. Thanks for the reviews Bonny!
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to Tell Me Everything! (It's "up next" for me; I'm so excited!) I have read The Burgess Boys twice now, and it is my least favorite of Strout's books. But I like Bob better in Lucy By the Sea, so I'm really looking forward to learning more about him in this newest installment! Thanks for your always excellent book reviews.
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