We’re taking a four-day vacation in April, our second longest in about ten years. I’m looking forward to it and already stockpiling some books. I haven’t had much reading time the past few weeks, and I have a surplus of riches.
I’ve only read one, Donna Leon’s charming Give Unto Others, another Guido Brunetti mystery. This book has no horror, minor crime, no violence, and lots of Venice. I love every one of her books, including this one.
Perfect for our hard times.
I can’t relate too much about the others; I haven’t read any of them. But I’m looking forward to all of them.
One of my favorite writers, Anne Tyler, has a new novel called French Bread, the story of one disconnected Baltimore family that spans 50 years. I’ve never read a bad Anne Tyler book or even a mediocre one. This one sounds reflective, even a bit sad.
She is gentle, brilliant, and wise. And she is a magnificent writer. This one will go to the top of the pile now, even though it came today.
The reviews of Elaine Hsieh Chou’s first novel Disorientation is a wild ride, I gather. One of the critics called it an “irreverent campus satire that skewers white sclerotic academic, creep Asian fetishist, and twee boba liberalism, but lastly and most importantly, it’s a satire inspired by recent controversies about an orientalist tradition and its manifestations today.”
I’m in.
The book sounds like the best satire to me, something America desperately needs. Chou is new to me; she states, exciting.
Ann Cleeves has a new book out in her intense and often gloomy Shetland series called Thin Air, one of the best mystery writers in England or anywhere. Cleeves is also the creator of Vera, one of the best TV DCIs anywhere.
I buy and read everything Cleeves writes and am never disappointed.
The British still lead the world in mysteries, a tradition started by Arthur Conan Doyle and then by the famed Agatha Christie’s whodunits.
Her Jimmy Perez is a great detective character, honest, fierce, broody, and looking for love, like the rest of us.
Harlan Coban and I write mysteries about the same time I did; we often showed up at readings together. He took off like a rocket, and I started writing about dogs. (No regrets or complaints.) He’s a good person.
This is the first of Harlan’s many best-selling books I’ve read; it’s called The Match, according to the critics, one of his best yet. That’s saying a lot.
I am happy for Harlan’s success; he is a lovely human being and has lived in New Jersey long past the point where I could tolerate it.
Saba Hair is an accomplished writer and novelist; in All My Rage, she tells the story of a Pakistani family that bought a motel in California and is fighting for its survival; it is said to be both beautiful and wrenching.
I know nothing more about it than that the people who have read it have the highest praise for it.
I plan on having one of two of these books left before we go on vacation the last week in May. I start Anne Tyler tonight.
On our vacation, Maria and I plan to sit on the beach, or if it’s raining, see on our motel patio and read ourselves willing. Also, eat a lot of lobster.
Also, sleep—also, no blogging.
I’m thrilled to have this pile of exciting books to read. As always, I wanted to share my good fortune with you.
You said before that you were going on vacation in April, because May was already booked and much more expensive. The last week in May is primo beach time. How did you manage this?
Ken, I’m going on vacation in April, and I’m sorry, but I don’t think I need to explain the details of the decision on Facebook to billions of strangers. April was the best price, obviously, that why we are going then, as I said on the blog. I like to share my life within reason. If I said May, it was in error..I suspect I made the error, then corrected it when I proofed it. That happens often, and usually, somebody accuses me of lying..life online…
P.S. I should add that when I correct mistakes, they don’t show up on the Facebook version, only on the blog. This leads paranoid people into thinking I’m lying about what I wrote. I shouldn’t have to be wasting my time with a message like this at all, but it’s important to be clear..
Oh good Lord….(whoops, I said that outloud- woke the dog up).
Have a wonderful day Jon! Thank you for all your thoughtful and deliberative writing on a variety of deep subjects, as well as the light and fun everyday ones. I appreciate all of them.
I have a lovely 85 year old friend – his phrase >
Press Onward…. Regardless! ?? Anne
Indeed! 🙂
You might not be lying, but you’re still not accurate: your fourth paragraph from the end still says you’re going on vacation the last week in May, and that’s on your actual blog. When you’re screwing up, I don’t see why you have to be a rude jerk to people whose only sin is noticing.
Janelle, I am often inaccurate…duh…My wish for you is that you find something more meaningful to do than investigate when I am going on vacation…Someday we can get together and talk about what makes people into rude jerks who send nasty messages to people they don’t know.
Thanks, at least, for not calling me a liar. I see you found another way to be hateful.
Don’t be a rude jerk yourself.
People like you made me what I am, but only I can change it.
I always love your stacks of books. A favorite feature for me. I think I shall try a Donna Leon tidbit. Thanks for the tip.
Donna Leon is a tonic..
Jon, I enjoy seeing and hearing about your reads….thanks for the update on your vacation reads. Our mystery book club has been meeting and reading since 2003 in Verdi, NV. Anne Cleeves is yet to be on our list, but will be this year. Thanks and have a lovely time vacationing. Bev
Thanks Bev, Try Anne Cleeves, especially the Vera series. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Just hosted our mystery club this week and Anne Cleeves book was well loved – it was recommended by Maria a couple of years ago and just came to top of my list. I’ll read more of hers now.
I love that you both read and recommend books by female authors. Many men won’t. Thanks for being so open minded to the talents of others!
It’s interesting, but it used to be rare to even see a novel by a female author. They have revitalized publishing and so many write with feeling and openness and imagination. I’ve always loved Anne Tyler, from the first. Thanks for the good words. I admit I’ve always liked women more than men. And Sabaa Tahir seems really exciting, so does Elaine Chou.
I met Anne Cleeves through the Shetland series. A wonderful writer. I’ve read most of the series but have not read that particular one. I have begun the Vera Stanhope series but am only two books into it so far. I suspect that I will have trouble deciding which series I prefer.
I’ve come to love them both..good luck
I just started “French Braid” and am enjoying it-I think you will, too. Stories about families always make for reflective reading.