One of my favorite tv series in the past few years is Midnight Diner from Tokyo in which a chef will prepare whatever the customer orders considering One of my favorite tv series in the past few years is Midnight Diner from Tokyo in which a chef will prepare whatever the customer orders considering he has the ingredients, which no matter how bizarre the request, he seems to have in his 2X4 kitchen. This small novel reminded me of that wonderful show, except that the food detectives research, sometimes with fleeting information, dishes their clients request from their past, and upon presentation, get the life lesson they really came for. Lovely. ...more
As with all her previous work, Laura an den Berg writes like no other. Except maybe her husband, Paul Yoon. The fact that they are a "literary couple As with all her previous work, Laura an den Berg writes like no other. Except maybe her husband, Paul Yoon. The fact that they are a "literary couple like no other" explains a lot, with their shared expertise and imagination. State of Paradise is set in a place she knows well having lived there, but as with another Floridian (transplanted), she focuses on the native forces that impact the human population in weird and truly original ways. ...more
Richard Price writes of the City he knows. In Lush Life, it was the lower East Side, where he lived at the time. Far as I know, he now lives in HarlemRichard Price writes of the City he knows. In Lush Life, it was the lower East Side, where he lived at the time. Far as I know, he now lives in Harlem. As with other authors, he sets his story pre-2016 which avoids the changes wrought in that year.
The Lazarus Man is Anthony Walker, who is extricated from the rubble of a building that leveled itself 36 hours previously. The miracle of his being found alive sets off a media frenzy, and he finds another version of himself "blessed" (it is complicated) with the ability to inspire hope in those who listen to him. I did not for one minute forget that his words were forged by Price. What makes Price such a compelling writer is his ability to create characters that jump off the page and stand in front of you. With a few phrases, he creates an entire history and the personality that has been molded by it. The entire community is here, even the victims of the building's collapse as their stories are encapsulated in a memorial, similar to the New York Times's feature on the 911 victims, "The Lives They Led."
Another area in which Prince's talent reigns is dialogue. Years ago I had the privilege of being present at a lunch with him when he recounted the first table read of his first screenplay, in which his dialogue was informed by his experience as a novelist. After reading for what seemed an eternity, Robert deNiro looked up and asked "Am I still talkin' here?" It changed how Price's approach, and his novels and screenplays reflect his snappy, cinematic repartee.
Rachel Cusk continues to deconstruct the traditional form of a novel, daring the reader to regard this collection as a single work unified by exploratRachel Cusk continues to deconstruct the traditional form of a novel, daring the reader to regard this collection as a single work unified by explorations of art in many forms. The central characters are not necessarily the artists, or their work, but those surrounding or attendant to them. The effect of love, either its reality or its lack, is paramount, even that between parent and child. A masterwork....more
What more can be said about Cormac McCarthy who at 89 has lost none of his intellectual curiosity, creativity, ability to inform and provoke through dWhat more can be said about Cormac McCarthy who at 89 has lost none of his intellectual curiosity, creativity, ability to inform and provoke through discourse. I swallowed this book whole, and while much of it was way over my head, was riveted by pages on string theory, atomic bomb culture, and more about the Kennedy assassinations and the Kennedys as a force. The character of Western has taken on life and moved into my mind, much as he moves into uninhabited houses, and I can't get him out....more
Teju Cole, such a graceful writer. Only one with his skill could relate such incendiary subjects with enough kindness that the outrage stays at bay. STeju Cole, such a graceful writer. Only one with his skill could relate such incendiary subjects with enough kindness that the outrage stays at bay. Shifting from style to style, from one POV to another yet maintaining contact with his central character, he never loses the interest of the reader or causes impatience....more
Having read this in the '90s at a time when I was reading his other books, I chose to reread it now as I find myself at a disjointed time as regards rHaving read this in the '90s at a time when I was reading his other books, I chose to reread it now as I find myself at a disjointed time as regards reading. I thought that it would jumpstart me back into that voracious habit, and this has proven true as it has not lost any of the power or spell that it first wove over me. The very definition of existential examination, of what life means when faced with seemingly unfathomable difficulty, of what attracts two people rendering them into one entity. It's all there between those covers. Still a favorite....more
He destroys his license by driving over it, avoids interstates because of (?) cameras tracking plates, won't even eat at a Burger King or stay at a MoHe destroys his license by driving over it, avoids interstates because of (?) cameras tracking plates, won't even eat at a Burger King or stay at a Motel 6 as he escapes eastward. That's all we really know about this narrator who systematically shreds his past and tries to forge a new life deliberately setting himself in a situation so restrictive that anything more and it would be a maximum security prison. What follows is a dissection of white privilege, a theme that Jonathan Dee has pursued in the past but which really hits its stride in this enormously entertaining, frustrating and powerful novel. His backlife is unspooled ever so slowly, and the resolution (if it can be called that) made my jaw drop. Highly recommend. Thank you, Grove Atlantic, for the chance to read this early....more
The more you learn about an author, the more you respect their work. The effect of Virginia Woolf on Robin Black was profound, first as a college studThe more you learn about an author, the more you respect their work. The effect of Virginia Woolf on Robin Black was profound, first as a college student where Woolf was an icon, and later, inspiration as an author. In fact, she didn't read Mrs. Dalloway until she was in her 40's. Merging her own life with that of Woolf and of her characters, Black has generously shared her ADD diagnosis and its effect on her writing, but also the facts of her family life growing up. Thank you for this deep dive into a beloved work....more
There have been so many well received books dealing with grief of losing a parent, but of all those I've read, this most closely reminded me of Helen There have been so many well received books dealing with grief of losing a parent, but of all those I've read, this most closely reminded me of Helen MacDonald's H is for Hawk and Cheryl Strayed's Wild. In all three, there is a return to nature to gain insight on the relationship and gather strength to continue with life. Sheila Heti was already working on Pure Colour when her father died, "With a few people in one's life too much happens emotionally ...". She was in the process of ruminating about color, the importance of art in life when her focus took a turn and she became intrigued with the peace of death as opposed to the churning quality of ongoing life. "She had thought that when someone died, it would be like they went into a different room." With the realization that so long as she was infused with her father's spirit, he was tethered to this sphere. So there is this not quite fictional account of the importance of culture to the living, enhanced by lifelong lessons through her father and her artist grandfather that inform Heti's works. Although there is a metafictional aspect to this piece, it is more of a spiritual journey, a beautiful, thought provoking one at that....more
It's been about 40 years since I read Ridley Walker, but I remember it as being the foremost dystopian novel of its time. And now, with so many projecIt's been about 40 years since I read Ridley Walker, but I remember it as being the foremost dystopian novel of its time. And now, with so many projections of apocalypse in novelistic form, comes the next classic. When Russell Hoban wrote Walker, the computer age was in its infancy, the Internet and all its fallout were still the thing of science fiction, the lives we live now incomprehensible to us back in 1980, thus leading to deeper visions of apocalypse spearheaded by climate change, mega population growth, the list goes on. What will the world be in 40 years. Williams's view is frightening as is Noah Hawley's in Anthem, but it's where we're headed....more
A woman and her mother, Chinese by heritage and Australian by nationality, travel to Japan to visit museums, enjoy the beauty of autumn, possibly re-cA woman and her mother, Chinese by heritage and Australian by nationality, travel to Japan to visit museums, enjoy the beauty of autumn, possibly re-connect. Beautiful, enigmatic, inconclusive the book is told from the unnamed daughter's POV. The visit engenders memories of their life, their history, what she has been told of her family in Hong Kong and whether it is true or not. Deceptively slender, this book may carry elements of metafiction, and is already an award winner. Special....more
With so many books on my shelf, I gave up. If I wanted a deep dive into introverted metafiction, I'd return to Karl Knausgaard.With so many books on my shelf, I gave up. If I wanted a deep dive into introverted metafiction, I'd return to Karl Knausgaard....more
I have no idea why I chose this book in the first place -- it doesn't show up on anyone's list that I go to for reference, there are no stellar reviewI have no idea why I chose this book in the first place -- it doesn't show up on anyone's list that I go to for reference, there are no stellar reviews, and it definitely wasn't one I'd have picked up on my own. Given its amorphous shape and stagnant propulsion, I'm surprised I spent an entire morning reading it cover to cover. It reminded me in tone of the work of Patrick Modiano, given the its dreamy quality. And there were passages that literally took my breath away. The encounters in a surreal hotel in Moscow display the paradox of making a place a home for a short time, a place that has housed many others before and after you, but interpersonal experience is non existent, and even the shapes of the rooms are disquieting and lead one to wonder why anyone would chose to stay even for a night. As I said, I read it in one sitting, but warn anyone considering it, to be forewarned. ...more
As has been mentioned elsewhere, this book, in two completely different parts, does have a point that may not be apparent until well into it. About toAs has been mentioned elsewhere, this book, in two completely different parts, does have a point that may not be apparent until well into it. About to give up during the first part, I read several assessments from people whose opinions I value, and thus carried on and am glad I did so. ...more
This parable or fable was originally written in the 1990's but has received this new translation at a time the publishers felt deemed appropriate. LyrThis parable or fable was originally written in the 1990's but has received this new translation at a time the publishers felt deemed appropriate. Lyrical and lovely, but not really my cup of tea....more
Rachel Cusk got inspiration for this fable-like novel from a real situation, but it's better not to know more than that. Her writing is eerily hauntinRachel Cusk got inspiration for this fable-like novel from a real situation, but it's better not to know more than that. Her writing is eerily haunting, and her style, elliptical, but the story flows smoothly and the characters are sometimes charming sometimes exasperating. As with most of her work, I find I can't put it down, but she respects her readers and leaves a lot up to them....more
