Book Review - Should We Stay or Should We Go? Lionel Shriver

 

Should We Stay or Should We Go; Lionel Shriver

Harper Collins - June - 2021

In 1991 when Kay Wilkerson's father dies in his 90s, Kay feels nothing but relief.   Kay felt that Alzheimers, in reality,  took her father from her some ten years earlier.  Kay and her husband Cyril are medical professionals for the NHS. Kay is a (National Health Services Nurse) and Cyril a NHS doctor.  Both of them realize that living a long life does not mean living a quality life.  After some discussion, Kay, now 51 and Cyril just slightly older, make a pact.  They decide that when Kay turns 80 the two of them will end their life with a lethal cocktail so that they won't be a burden to anyone.  Sound simple?

Fast forward and it's 2020 and Cyril has turned 80 and Kay will be there soon. They are both in pretty good health. What about the pact? Over the next (12) chapters some very different scenarios play out - some are quite funny and downright cynical, while other scenarios fell flat. Topics like Brexit, the NHS, the pandemic / lockdown, immigration and other sometimes controversial issues arise.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I began this book somewhat blind.  I did think it was about an elderly couple deciding to end their life at the same time.  I really thought I would enjoy it but, I ended up being disappointed. My biggest complaint about this book, was not the story itself but the writing.  I found her literary style rather pretentious and after a while just plain frustrating.  It was like she chose to use a version of a word that had the least frequently used synonym.  Here are just a few of those unusual word choices: Wherewithal - tautology - horlicks - ebullience - propinquities - foetal and that was just some of them in the first 100 pages or so.

It's been a long while since I read a Lionel Shriver book. In fact, I checked it was the summer of 2013 when I read both: We Need to Talk About Kevin and Big Brother.  While I liked both of those well enough (especially Kevin), I'm wondering whether her writing style has changed drastically over the years?  Have you read this author recently, if so, what did you think?

Rating - 2.5/5 stars

eGalley provided by Edelweiss and Harper Collins in exchange for my unbiased review.

Spotlight Post - The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris; Marc Petitjean

 

The Heart Frida Kahlo in Paris; Marc Petitjean (translated from the French by: Adriana Hunter)

I long been fascinated with the somewhat tragic life of Frida Kahlo and, I was happy to learn about this new book now available in paperback by Other Press. (released September 7, 2021.)

This intimate account offers a new, unexpected understanding of the artist’s work and of the vibrant 1930s surrealist scene.

(about the book)

In 1938, just as she was leaving Mexico for her first solo exhibition in New York, Frida Kahlo was devastated to learn from her husband, Diego Rivera, that he intended to divorce her. This latest blow followed a long series of betrayals, most painful of all his affair with her beloved younger sister, Cristina, in 1934. In early 1939, anxious and adrift, Kahlo traveled from the United States to France—her only trip to Europe, and the beginning of a unique period of her life when she was enjoying success on her own.

Now, for the first time, this previously overlooked part of her story is brought to light in exquisite detail. Marc Petitjean takes the reader to Paris, where Kahlo spends her days alongside luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, André Breton, Dora Maar, and Marcel Duchamp.

Using Kahlo’s whirlwind romance with the author’s father, Michel Petitjean, as a jumping-off point, The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris provides a striking portrait of the artist and an inside look at the history of one of her most powerful, enigmatic paintings.

Book Review - Billy Summers; Stephen King

 

                                                             Billy Summers; Stephen King

                                                       Simon & Schuster Audio and Scribner - 2021

Who is Billy Summers? At 44, Billy has seen a lot, a decorated war vet who served in Iraq, a professional sniper and a calculated killer with one last hit to accomplish before that part of his life is over.  While waiting for just the right moment to make that final hit, he uses not only multiple disguises but, also poses as an author who needs quiet and seclusion to work on a book his is writing.  

It is through this therapeutic writing exercise that we learn so much about Billy and his childhood tragedies as well as the horrors he experienced in Fallujah.  The internal struggles that Billy deals with help the reader to understand the real Billy, a man ultimately in need of redemption.  When a young, college student named Alice is drugged and viciously raped and dumped on the side of the road, it is Billy who rescues her and helps her heal from the physical and emotional trauma.  We suddenly see the softer side of Billy, a man with compassion but also one who understands in the need for justice.

I will admit this story took a while to get going but, once it did, everything just flowed making this a book that was so hard to put down.  Through Billy we get a taste of small town life as he goes about his business using different aliases along the way, talking with some towns people while he poses as a writer.  There are loads on literary references in this story which I enjoyed. Some of the locations where Billy finds himself are "red state areas" that allows the author to make several political observations which may annoy some readers, but that is a rather small insignificant part of what what ends up being a very satisfying crime novel.  I could definitely see this story playing out on the big screen. Highly Recommended

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This was a combo read for me. The audio book, read by Paul Sparks was very well done. The audio download was made available at no cost to me by Simon & Schuster Audio and the print edition I borrowed from my local library. 

Book Review - The Long Call; Ann Cleeves

 

                                                              The Long Call; Ann Cleeves

                                                                       Minotaur - 2019

In this new series, Detective Inspector Matthew Venn is a 40-something, gay man who returns to North Devon and the strict evangelical community where he grew up.  Matthew has been estranged from his parents, disagreeing with their fanatical religious views.  His father has just died and Matthew is now happily married to Jonathan, a kind man who manages the Woodyard, an arts center that also runs a day program for developmentally disabled adults.

Matthew's first murder case here involves a body of a young man that has been found along the beach. The man later identified as Simon Walden was stabbed but, the reason that he was killed is a mystery. As Matthew and his partner Jen Rafferty begin to investigate Simon's murder, they learn he has struggled with alcohol issues and killed a young child while driving drunk. As the case develops this and a few other crimes that develop seem to have ties to The Woodyard which puts Matthew in a awkward position since his husband Jonathan is a manager there. 

This is Book 1 of the Two River Series.  I was pleased with this book and I liked the soft spoken Matthew character, he's introspective, a little unsure of himself but, has keen observation skills.  His partner Jen is a single parent who has left an abusive relationship. She is quite different from Matthew yet, I think they will work well together. I'm curious to see if Jen matures a bit more along the way. There are several other characters which added a nice element to this crime mystery, including Lucy, a developmentally disabled young woman with a very protective father. There were also two other women like Lucy, Chrissie and Rosa who play into the mystery here. I love the writing style and all the little details about places and people that made the story a treat to read.  I did think the story started out slow but I do understand how that was necessary in order to learn about some back stories, introduce new characters, and to understand possible motivations of characters and suspects.  I just started to read Book 2, The Heron's Cry, which released on 9/7/2021 in the US.

Rating - 4/5 stars

I borrowed the print edition of this book from my local library.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Stolen Hours; Allen Eskens

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. 

Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon.  

Stolen Hours; Allen Eskens

Mulholland Books - Sept 7, 2021

Chapter 1

Lila Nash counted her steps as she walked from the kitchen to the bathroom of her apartment. Ten, nine, eight--the numbers falling silently in her head, a remnant from those days when she paced from the corridors of the hospital. Seven, six, five--turn into the bathroom--four, three--close the door--two--turn--face the mirror--one.

Her last step had been little more than a shuffle, but it allowed her to stop on one, which somehow eased the clockwork that ticked inside her chest.

What do you think? read more or pass?   Today is release day for this book.  I've read every book this author has written and this sounds like a good one to me as well.

Sunday Salon - Playing Catch-up

Thank You Deb@ Reader Buzz

How was your week everyone?  It's been (2) weeks since I did a weekly update but we've been busier than normal these last few weeks. Last week we did a few fun things. We used to be season subscribers to a local playhouse but when COVID hit the theatre closed and there were (2) shows that we missed out on.  When they reopened last month, they began with one of the shows that we missed. The show we ended up seeing was a baseball theme play which was very good.  The theatre requested that masks be worn, which was a relief but, of course there were a few rebels in the rather crowded theater. Despite this it worked out for us and we had a good time with really great seats as well.

The day after we had the whole family (kids and grandkids) over for pizza and salad and it was delightful having everyone together for a few hours. 

This past week another busier one with yoga, a visit to a butterfly conservatory and extra time with two of the granddaughters as mom had to return to school a day earlier than the girls.  I wasn't sure what to expect from the butterfly place but, I loved it as did the kids - just so may different varieties of butterflies in a tropical environment.  Here's a few pics:

READING

This week will be less hectic so more reading should be possible.  I finished The Long Call; Ann Cleeves (book 1 of a newer mystery series). I really enjoyed it and hope to get to review it a day or so.  Book 2 of the series releases this month: The Heron's Cry; I'll be reading that one for RIP XVI as well.  Right now for RIP I'm finishing Billy Summers by Stephen King and have about 10% left.  It took about 40% to hook me but, then it became addictive. This one is not a horror story at all.  

20 Books of Summer

Although I didn't read (20) books from my summer list. I did have fun and read (14) plus one DNF that wasn't working for me.  Here is my completed 20 Books of Summer summary.

Book Group Discussion

A few of us met for lunch before our book group meeting last month and that was a nice treat to get to talk to other members about things other than books. We then headed over to the library to discuss American Dirt  which I read in 2019.  There were about 10 of us for the discussion and everyone was happy that they read the book and it made for a good discussion as well. We also talked about the huge controversy about the author and publisher push of this book which we all felt was blown out of proportion for the most part.

This Weeks Plans

Dental check up/cleaning, yoga, return some unread books to the library, and pick up a few more. I also hope to start: The Guide; Peter Heller and possibly begin: Should We Stay or Should We Go; Lionel Shriver or Stolen Hours; Allen Eskens this week.

Hope you all have a great weekend -- (3) day for some here in the US.

brief Book Reviews from late August reading: Council of Animals; Nick McDonnell, His Only Wife; Peace Adzo Medie and Sooley; John Grisham

 

                                                   The Council of Animals; Nick McDonell

                                                           Henry Holt & Company - 2021

This slim book (just 208pp.) was the strangest of stories that I've read in a while.  It reminded me in some ways of what I remembered of Animal Farm (from decades ago).  In this story there is an event referred to as "the great calamity" where humans were pretty much extinguished from the face of the earth except for about a dozen remaining who are frightened as to what will become of them.  The event appears to have had something to do with climate change or something nuclear even but something caused by human actions or inaction.  

Left to decide the fate of the few remaining humans are "The Council of Animals" which consist of dog, cat, bear, raven, cow, horse and baboon. Since the animals feel the humans are the ones that caused the calamity, should the dozen who remain be allowed to live or should they be killed and eaten?  The manner in which the debate and finger/paw pointing goes made me smile as chaos erupted. The animal factions and their rationale was entertaining.  Yes, it's political satire but, it seems in some ways to mimic the finger-pointing that has been going on in our own politics and the divisiveness that we witness day in and day out.

I started with the short audio book (3 hours) read by the author but, the narration and sound seemed a bit annoying so I switched over to the eBook which had some cool illustrations done by Steven Tabbutt.  Although this wasn't the type of book I would normally read, I thought it had merit and was certainly thought provoking enough.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars

(Thanks go to NetGalley and Henry Holt Books for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review.)

His Only Wife; Peace Adzo Medie

Algonquin Books - 2020

Afi is a young seamstress Ghana and after her father dies she and her mother are faced with poverty.  She is convinced by family to marry Eliken Ganyo, a wealthy man she has never met in what will be an arranged marriage. When she agrees  Eliken doesn't even show up for the wedding, there is a stand-in and the marriage happens anyways.  When Afi moves to Accra to be with her new husband she learns he is in love with another woman and there is even a child involved.  

The entire set up for this marriage was by a powerful, elder Aunty -- picture the female Godfather. Aunty's intent was to get Eiken away from the woman the family does not like.  Afi starts out with an almost child-like behavior but, it was nice seeing her mature over the course of the story and begin to grow more confident. This story started out a bit slow, but, I loved the setting, Ghana, and learning about a new culture and customs. 

Rating - 4/5 stars

(Thanks go to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review.)

Sooley; John Grisham

Random House Audio - 2021

Samuel Sooleyman is a boy who loves basketball and is living in South Sudan.  He is in his last year of secondary school and gets the opportunity of a lifetime. He will join other basketball players from his country to play in a tournament in the United States.  Sooley, has led a sheltered life and has never even flown on an airplane but, this is an opportunity for the seventeen year old to be seen by scouts.  He isn't the best of the best, in fact he's the last to be chosen but, he's determined and practices every opportunity he has even when others have stopped. He improves and his determination pays off as he gets noticed.  Meanwhile back home in South Sudan, a civil war is raging, he father has been killed and his sister abducted, terrible things happen.

This is not a book just for sports lovers as I enjoyed it even more than I expected. My husband really loved it as well. It's a story about basketball and a ags to riches stories. It's also a story about a country devastated by civil war and the dreams of a better life elsewhere.  Sooley was a character to root for and I loved the way his character developed and how he transitioned into a life that was so different.  I must say that we hadn't anticipated the way the story would end (don't look for for spoilers). I do recommend this one - especially on audio.

The audio book (10 hours, 27 min) was narrated by Dion Graham who did a fantastic job. BTW: In case you have never listened to this narrator he is also narrating Colson Whitehead's new book: Harlem Shuffle which I plan to begin soon.

Rating 4.5/5 stars

(Thanks go to Penguin Random House audio for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review.)