All the time, I’m thinking about the war. I’m looking at news sites to see if there’s anything new (there isn’t). I’m feeling terrible for the suffering of the victims of Putin and his willing executioners. But I have to do something else, and that’s reading. As it stands here, I don’t really have the energy to review the last few books, so here’s a simple summary of what I’ve read. Every book is by an author that I already know and have read several of their books.
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| Julie Otsuka, The Swimmers. |
The Swimmers is a hard book to read, because it's a remarkably penetrating portrayal of dementia, which I don't want to think about. There are some good memory parts, though, like memories of odors -- "She remembers the smell of incense and pickled cabbage in the kitchen." (p. 63). Julie Otsuka is a wonderful writer, so her masterful prose makes up for her depressing subject matter, but if you want to read one of her books, I suggest that you start with The Buddha in the Attic or When the Emperor was Divine.
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| Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman. |
Louise Erdrich's characters, mainly native Americans, are really a pleasure to read about. I loved every individual in
The Night Watchman, which takes place in the early 1950s. The locale is mainly on the reservation where the tribe's treaty rights are about to be revoked. The main plot line is how the members of the tribe, led by the main character named Thomas, peacefully challenge the government threat against them. The sub-plots are equally fascinating, about the struggles of very poor but proud and imaginative people against a variety of challenges. As I have with every one of Erdrich's books that I've read, I also loved the descriptions of the food the people cook and eat, and I love the occasional humor.
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| Arnaldur Indridason, Voices. |
Although I enjoyed the local color of the Icelandic hotel in mid-winter where most of this novel takes place, the characters and events -- especially the murder at the center -- are all a bit too sordid and ugly for me to really like it. The previous two books in the series are also similarly extreme.
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| Elly Griffiths, The Woman in Blue. |
Slowly, I'm working my way through the many books in the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, watching the lives of the characters as they solve one murder mystery after another. I think I was more enthusiastic about the earlier ones, but they are a tempting distraction from reality, so I'll probably read more (and more).
Reviews © 2022 mae sander.
14 comments:
The Woman in Blue has been my least favorite Ruth Galloway book. I'd recommend you stick with the series and see if they improve. I like Louise ERdrich too \, but I haven't read any of her books in a long time. Thanks for the reminder to read more. I've read some Indridason, and I don't mind this series, but he wrote The Shadow District, which is more of a thriller that jumps back and forth between WW2 and recent times. I really enjoyed that book. Thanks for your list Mae. hugs-Erika
How tragic that native Americans had to fight for their tribe's treaty rights. This War is also taking up much of my time, with the News on television much of the time we are at home. It's heart breaking to watch.
Hello Mae
Looks like a nice selection of books. I have read all of the Elly Griffiths books, I am waiting for The Locked Room to be available as an ebook. Thanks for sharing your list. Take care, have a happy day and a great weekend!
Stick with Elly Griffiths. I agree with Erika -- that was my least favorite, too. I really need to add the Erdrich to my list. Happy weekend! Counting down till it's warm outside, omicron stays low (and nothing else pops up) and we can meet up in Chelsea. I want to go to that store we both like on the side street! I have a great yen to buy something I don't need.
Great titles! I am ready for a new book!
i read the first books in the Ruth Galloway series but then tapered off. Should get back to them. I know she has written other books not in the series.
Reading is always a great escape!
Reading is such a balm to the soul! I am glad you found some reads that took your mind off of things. I think I would have a hard time reading The Swimmers as well. Have a good week!
Thank you for the alternatives to Otsuka’s The Swimmers. That one hits too close to home, but your review piqued my interest. I enjoyed reading your honest and insightful reviews!
I've read a previous review for The Swimmers and although a heavy topic, it does seem like a good read.
But yes, during this time, I think a few lighter reads might be the better option.
Have a good week Mae!
The Swimmers was a beautifully written book, poetical, true. It was an astonishingly vivid portrayal of a person with dementia.
I've been wanting to read Night Watchman, but the truth is that sometimes great fiction slips past me and I never get around to reading it. I never seem to do the same with excellent nonfiction. And I have no idea why that is...
Playing catch-up here. I read that a sense of smell can trigger a memory from long ago, so I can see how dementia patients could remember these scents and smells.
The Night Watchman sounds fascinating, since I live in native American country. Of course, my taste goes heavily toward mysteries, so both of these sound interesting, although the Elly Griffiths sounds more my style. Thanks for the brief reviews.
I think we are all exhausted, it feels like there is war everywhere, not just in Ukraine.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your recent reads
Wishing you a great reading week
I have loved Louise Erdrich's books since, it seems like, forever and thought the one you just read one of her very best. Now I have her new one "The Sentence" on my library wait list -- the reviews sound like it's completely different from anything else I remember of hers so I can't wait to see if I like it as well.... I didn't know about Elly Griffiths and am hoping the library will have the early books -- thank you! ....
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