VPL Staff Fiction Picks - February 2009
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Townsend, Sue In this latest volume of Sue Townsend’s brilliant series, Adrian has reached the grand old age of 39 ¾. Beset by health worries, marital problems and financial difficulties, Adrian continues to muddle through life as best he can. I love the characters who attach themselves to his life – especially the eccentric pensioners. Despite his faults, Adrian has a certain underdog charm and appeal. And, as the elder-lovely Mr. Carleton-Hayes puts it, “Adrian is perhaps the kindest person it has been [our] privilege to meet.” I think you will agree.
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Meyer, Philipp Set in an economically depressed steel town, Meyer’s depiction of a young man, Isaac English, coping with his failed dreams has earned American Rust comparisons with John Steinbeck’s Depression-era masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath.
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At 36, high school guidance counsellor Kate Cavanaugh is widowed. Her grief is compounded by the reactions of her children to their loss. They act out in ways that challenge Kate both professionally and as a mother. This would be a good book for fans of domestic fiction.
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Malliet, G. M. G.M. Malliet has written an engaging and entertaining follow up to her award winning Death of a Cozy Writer. Edinburgh’s Dalmorton Castle is the perfect setting for a Dead on Arrival crime writers’ conference. A perfect company of old, traditional and shocking new “chick lit” authors, and their publishers, are housed in a castle, complete with drawbridge. When one of the authors is murdered, the guests are confined to the castle for questioning. A delightful and humorous insider’s view of crime writing and publishing is exposed as Portia de’ Ath and Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just search for the killer.
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Ambrose Zephyr and Zappora Ashkenazi are married and in love. Son of a newspaper typesetter, Ambrose was inspired by the alphabet, impressed by the word Zanzibar “a place with 2 z’s? Indeed, and two a’s.” This is their story of an unexpected, unwelcome diagnosis and how the alphabet influences their decision making. Set in London, the tale unfolds like a fable. Details of the past are interspersed with the current day in a dreamy, restrained manner that is absolutely compelling. Beautiful writing that will not disappoint.
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Doctorow, E. L. Is clutter driving you crazy? Then imagine your house filled with more than 25,000 books, 14 pianos, bundles of yellowed newspapers and magazines, jars of pickled human organs and the chassis of a Model T automobile. Workers removed all this and tons of garbage from the Collyer Brothers' New York City brownstone in 1947. E.L. Doctorow's novel is based loosely on the story of brothers Homer and Langley Collyer and the compulsive hoarding that was their undoing. Read it and you'll be organizing your closets in no time!
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Sexual tension runs high at an all-girl prep school on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Leo Binnhammer, the only male teacher, confronts his insecurities when a charismatic rival, Ted Hughes, is hired. Binhammer is keeping a secret that drives the relationships in this compelling debut novel.
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Dasgupta, Amit When Chicago-born Mandeep (Mandy) is sent to India to represent his parents at a family wedding, his expectations are not high. The crowded conditions, poverty and customs such as arranged marriages trouble Mandy. During his stay, he gradually rediscovers links to family and culture that run far deeper than he ever suspected. Indian by Choice offers the same vibrant colours found in Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding.
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Crowley, John This wonderful, story combines the traditions of multi-generational fiction and the fantasy novel. The book offers complex story lines, beautiful love stories, and glimpses into the border world between human and Faerie. Little, Big should appeal to fans of Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast Trilogy or Gregory Maguire’s Wicked Years series.
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Aw, Tash This is the story of two brothers separated by circumstances in post-colonial Indonesia. Aw combines fascinating historical detail in a style that would appeal to readers of Rohinton Mistry or Michael Ondaatje.
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Pamuk, Orhan Pamuk’s new novel is essentially two love stories. One story features a young man named Kemal torn between his engagement to a young woman named Sibel and his infatuation with another young woman named Fusun. The other is the story of Pamuk’s love affair with the city of Istanbul. Another fine novel from Pamuk.
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Buck, Pearl S. Normally I do not choose to read sad stories but this novel based on the once-thriving Jewish community in Kaifeng, China is exceptionally good. In mid-nineteenth century China, Peony, a young Chinese bondmaid falls in love with the son of her Jewish master but realizes that their love for each other can never be consummated. It is a beautifully written novel of love and sacrifice that will tug at your heartstrings.
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Boldrewood, Rolf Fans of Peter Carey’s True History of the Kelly Gang will enjoy this Australian classic first published 1882 - 1883. The book is notable for its use of a plain, natural narration and tells the story of Dick Marston 29 days before his scheduled execution. Recounting his life in crime, Marston tells us about his life as a bushranger with the notorious Captain Starlight. Fascinating historical detail about the Australian gold rush in the 1850’s is another added plus.
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Rogers, Linda In this compassionate work of love, B.C. author Rogers memorializes the life of a young First Nations boy, Charlie Louie, who died in tragic circumstances. Perhaps Rogers’ greatest achievement in writing this beautiful book is that she is able to give Charlie his voice back.
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Barry, Sebastian Centenarian Rosanne McNulty has spent most of her adult life unjustly confined to an Irish mental institution. She begins writing an account of her life which she hides under the floorboards of her room. Dr. Grene, the hospital's senior psychiatrist, is reevaluating Rosanne's case and becomes intrigued. He endeavours to find out why she has been institutionalized for so long and in the process, begins keeping a diary himself.
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Small, David In Stitches, award-winning children’s book illustrator David Small offers us an amazing autobiography in the form of a graphic novel. Depicted in moody ink washes and tight close-ups, the book tells the story of family disfunction in an age of material wealth and medical misadventure. The book will appeal to anyone who grew up in the false optimism of the 1950’s and early 1960’s.
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Wilson, Kevin This wonderful collection of short tales offers everything from touching coming of age stories to satiric takes on loneliness, family and love. Somewhat on the geeky side, Wilson’s narrators conduct their lives as if they were science experiments and attempt to project the probability of future happiness or unhappiness. This would be a good collection for David Sedaris fans.
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Hutton, June Spanning both world wars and the Depression, Hutton has created a compelling story of a young man, Albert Fraser, searching for direction and meaning in his life. Another fine book from Vancouver’s SPiN writing group.
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Payne, C. D. Meet cult favourite Nick Twist - Adrian Mole’s evil twin brother. If, as many of his pals discover to their cost, friendship with Nick is fraught with danger, then being related to him is positively lethal. One of the funniest books I’ve ever read and now a major motion picture. You will also want to check out the sequels: RevoltingYouth, Cut to the Twisp, and Revoltingly Young.
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