On language and writing

THE IDIOT by Elif Batuman appealed because of its cast of characters:

• Selin, daughter of Turkish immigrants beginning her undergraduate studies at Harvard
• Svetlana, a classmate from Serbia and
• Ivan, an older mathematics student from Hungary.

The time period, 1995, and setting - both in Boston and across Europe – also grabbed interest as I began reading and reflecting on college experiences, the efforts to find oneself, and to establish adult relationships. However, I soon felt that Selin was a little too self-centered; although clearly very introspective and clever. Here is an example of her mind at work: “I was thinking about the structural equivalencies between a tissue box and a book: both consisted of slips of white paper in a cardboard case; yet – and this was ironic – there was very little functional equivalence, especially if the book wasn’t yours.” After a time, Selin’s frequent musings did seem less amusing and began to grate, slowing down the story, even though  Batuman is an award winning author who provides a thoughtful commentary on culture, language and “adulting.”

Booklist, Kirkus and Publishers Weekly all gave starred reviews to this semi-autobiographical debut novel and despite its being over 400 pages, I am curious to see if any of our Senior English classes will decide to explore this unique text. 

 BLEAKER HOUSE by Nell Stevens is also about language, writing and finding oneself. She subtitles this memoir “Chasing My Novel to the End of the World” and describes her experiences during a three month fellowship writing on Bleaker Island in the Falklands.  I have to be honest and say I was a little jealous of her ability to get completely away and write in isolation. Granted, she must forego Internet access and lists some “Habits I am being forced to break: Wondering: ‘What year was so-and-so born?’ .... Or any other general, non-urgent but niggling questions, and looking it up at once. Instead, I start a WORD document listing all the things I’d Google if I could: a sprawling, eclectic list of idle curiosity ....”  

I also really enjoyed her observations of the desolation of the Falkland Islands: “I walk for hours and see only monosyllables: cliffs, birds, waves, sand, sheep, rock, moss.” Future writers, travel enthusiasts and anyone with an active imagination should read the excerpt from BLEAKER HOUSE provided by the publisher and then turn to the book itself; there is also a Reading Guide for this debut work which will appeal to book groups.  
 

Spring Break selections...

Does the name Kate Warne mean anything to you? How about Rose Greenhow? Or Elizabeth Van Lew? Given some context (the American Civil War era), I recognized the latter two names as spies, but I had not heard of Kate Warne until I read GIRL IN DISGUISE by Greer Macallister.  This work of historical fiction is set in a favorite time period for me and describes the adventures of Warne, who was the first female detective operative for Allan Pinkerton. 

Readers will also recognize other historical figures, particularly Abraham Lincoln who Warne helped protect from an assassination attempt prior to his inauguration. GIRL IN DISGUISE is a mostly fun mystery read, with a series of cases described and solved.  It becomes more serious as the war evolves and danger increases as the cases turn to protecting military secrets and therefore saving many lives. Chicago of the 1850’s and 1860’s also features in the story; Warne seems to have considered it home and is in fact buried in the Pinkerton family plot in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery. Library Journal called GIRL IN DISGUISE a “stellar historical novel featuring a fierce female lead.”  Similar titles would be Seneca Falls Inheritance by Miriam Grace Monfredo or Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart.

CELINE by Peter Heller involves another private investigator and she is someone I would really love to meet. I think you would agree: after all, the author says, “her favorite snack was a chunk of Lindt chocolate bedded on a tablespoon of peanut butter. She could have lived on it.” Celine is sixty-eight, comes from a privileged background, and specializes in cold cases, often involving adoption and birth families. Her companion, Pete, and son, Hank, provide a balance and steadying support, plus the occasional firearm such as a high-powered rifle or even a .44 Magnum (also, I learned, called a Bear Minimum).

The newest case comes from Gabriella whose father, Paul Jean-Claude Lamont, was a nature photographer; he disappeared years ago and was presumed killed by a grizzly bear. But rumors and hints of his involvement with the CIA persist. Celine and Pete head for Yellowstone National Park in order to investigate, and soon realize they are now being tracked. CELINE is filled with suspense and clever, descriptive writing.  With starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, it seems destined to join both of Heller’s previous novels, The Dog Stars and The Painter, as a best seller.  

If you are looking for something light, try CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH by Colleen Oakley. It’s basically a romantic comedy movie in written form. Due to a rare allergy to human touch, Jubilee (what a great name!) has not left her house for the nine years since high school.  But circumstances shift and she needs to find a job; working at a library (another smile for that choice), brings her into the lives of Madison, an old high school classmate, and of Eric, newly moved to town and his troubled adopted 10 year-old son called Aja. As Jubilee increasingly faces her fears, this novel has some hilarious moments and some sweet and tender ones, too. It is certainly a feel good story that has been lovingly crafted with attention to detail like the small bicycle print that appears on the endpapers of the hard cover. If you enjoy novels by JoJo Moyes and Jodi Picoult, CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH is the perfect beach read – or Spring Break choice.