This past week I’ve been busy attending Wordfest, the annual weeklong book festival here. I went to eight events and heard more than 20 writers give readings and interviews.
See authors: Peter Behrens, C.C. Humphreys, Steven Price, and Peter Robinson at left. It’s been great, listening to a wide variety of authors, from such well-known fiction writers as: Emma Donoghue, Yann Martel, Affinity Konar, Lisa Moore, and Madelein Thein, who’s novel is on the short list for this year’s Man Booker Prize, to many lesser-known authors as well. The talks have been interesting, and one thing’s for certain: I need to read more “CanLit” among other things.
Before moving to Canada full-time over six years ago, I didn’t really know much about CanLit other than reading Margaret Atwood and Carol Shields. But since then I’ve read a sprinkling of novels that fit the mold from across this vast country (including a few from the great Alice Munro), but I need to get to a lot more.
I picked up some Canadian books from the festival and had signed: Lynn Coady’s fiction “Hellgoing” and “The Antagonist,” Lisa Moore’s novel “Caught,” Julie Salverson’s book “Lines of Flight: An Atomic Memoir,” and Jowita Bydlowska’s memoir: “Drunk Mom,” which looks pretty harrowing. (Unfortunately Jowita was sick and did not speak at the event or sign books.) I also heard from and picked up copies of Rowan Hisayo Buchanan’s debut novel “Harmless Like You” (she’s from England) and U.S. authors: Jim Lynch’s novel “Before the Wind” and Alexander Maksik’s “Shelter in Place.” So I have a new pile of books, which I’m sure wasn’t totally necessary on top of my other piles, but it’s good nonetheless so I can read some new voices. Have you read or heard of any of these?
Meanwhile I finished Andria Williams’s debut novel “The Longest Night,” which came out earlier this year. Any military brats out there? This one is set in Idaho Falls, which was a remote military town in the late 1950s when the book begins. It’s based on the true story of the only fatal nuclear reactor accident to occur in the U.S.
It’s about a married couple that moves to the town with their two young kids. The husband Paul is there to help oversee one of the country’s first nuclear reactors, but soon finds out that the reactor is compromised and the higher-ups would rather delay fixing it. Meanwhile his wife Nat is struggling to adjust to their new life, which is stifling amid the societal mores of the times. As troubles mount with the reactor, so too do cracks surface in their marriage.
I completely fell into this novel and could feel the Army base lives of these characters and the remoteness of where they were and the staid times in which they were living. The mores and gender roles of the late 1950s and early ‘60s are pervasive in the story and feel suffocating. I felt particularly thankful not to be a woman living there at the time, and sympathized with the wife, Nat, for having trouble fitting in. I liked how the book alternated chapters between the husband Paul, Nat, and Jeannie, the wife of Paul’s boss. You get a wide range of perspective and feeling for their lives and situation.
“The Longest Night” is quite a believable story and one that I did not want to put down despite it being a slow-burn of a read. The story and characters develop and develop until finally at the book’s end things boil over (quite literally with the accident and aftermath). I hadn’t heard of this historical event — the 1961 nuclear reactor accident near Idaho Falls — so I was very interested to read the novel and look up the accident online. Among other things in the story, it’ll make you think twice about nuclear energy.
I also finished the audiobook of Suzanne Rindell’s 2013 novel “The Other Typist,” which is set at the height of Prohibition in New York City. It’s about a police department stenographer (Rose) who becomes obsessed with a newly hired glamorous typist named Odalie. They become friends and soon Odalie lures Rose into the underground world of speakeasies and jazz, which ultimately has dire consequences.
Oh where to begin with this one?! I was engaged in the story, but it also wore me out quite a bit. I tired of the narrator Rose, who describes herself as a pretty insular woman who grew up an orphan and was lucky to get a job with the police, typing crime reports and confessions. She waxes on about Odalie, the stylish well-off woman whom she has met from the typing pool.
You wonder what’s going to happen to these two — and if their lives at the police department will catch up with their underworld parties. The story has some vibrant touches, but I also thought it rambled extraneously at times, was repetitious, and piles on a heavy dose of foreshadowing. I thought the Big Reveal in the book was quite drawn out and when it finally came at the end it was confusing. Perhaps a couple realities could be possible of what happens at the end, but I know what I think happens. It’s one of those switcheroozy types of novels, which you can’t say much about without giving stuff away. In this respect it reminded me a bit of Dennis Lehane’s novel “Shutter Island,” but that story had more action and suspense. There’s still plenty for me to think about with “The Other Typist,” but I guess I’m not a huge fan of this type of book twist. Maybe it depends on the novel. What about you? If you like such twists, you might like this one.
Finally last week, my husband and I saw and both liked the movie “Deepwater Horizon.” Wow I almost had to be picked up off the floor afterwards. This one is much better than I had expected going in. My husband wanted to see it as he’s an engineer and I was glad I tagged along. The movie is not your typical fluff Hollywood reenactment but rather takes a gripping look into the 2010 disaster of the offshore drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. It’s a hair-raising movie. I couldn’t believe most of the 126 workers on the rig made it off alive. Kudos to those who made the movie — amid all the legal maneuvering that had to be done just to bring it to the Big Screen. It may not honor every single detail accurately but shows that when human beings with various incentives interact with complex systems, sometimes bad things happen. It’s also a moving tribute to those who died on the rig and is well worth seeing.
What about you, have you read either of these books or seen the movie “Deepwater Horizon,” and if so — what did you think?
I remember reading a few reviews when The Other Typist was released, and it peeked my curiosity but I guess not enough to pick it up. I have more books to read than I’ll probably be able to accommodate in my lifetime… I want to go to the cinema as I have not been in three years, but I have grown used to renting films when they come out, and it is nice to know in advance what’s good so I can plan accordingly.
You should treat yourself every once in awhile and go to the theater. It’s a different experience on the big screen and with newer releases. I like it more, but I can see where renting movies is more convenient. Enjoy your week.
It sounds like Wordfest was great. It has been far too long since I have attended a literary festival. It is time that I got to one.
Many of The Canadian Authors that you mention sound super. Aside from Margaret Atwood I have not read many but I would like to change that.
Yeah thx Brian the festival really was a lot of fun. I think it gets a bit better every year. I’m just getting into new Canadian authors. It will take awhile!
I loved The Other Typist, but mostly because the audio narration was excellent. A few passages were especially wonderful/insightful… I had to get a print copy to reread them. Rindell recently released a new novel and I’d like to try it.
Added The Longest Night to my wish list when it came out, but never got around to reading it. You know how that goes! It does sound like my kind of novel, so thanks for reminding me.
Would love to attend an event like Wordfest!! The books you brought home are all new to me… will look forward to hearing more about them in the coming months. Enjoy!
Thanks JoAnn. Yeah I’m still thinking on The Other Typist. It did engage me — the audio, but the story was sort of loopy. The Longest Night is a quiet (historical) novel but good. Wordfest was great. I can’t believe it goes for a full week; I’m quite tired now! Have a good week.
I enjoyed The Other Typist, but yes, the ending was definitely confusing.
The Longest Night looks appealing…I can relate to the stifling times…and the gender roles that kept women confined and sometimes isolated (especially in small, remote towns).
Thanks for sharing…and have a great week! Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Okay good Laurel, I’m glad I’m not alone about the ending to The Other Typist. I saw on Goodreads that others were also somewhat confused too. I think I know what happened but others had different opinions. So who knows! The Longest Night is quite good, I enjoyed it. Have a good week.
I have read one each by Maksik and Lynch. I loved the Lynch book () and wasn’t sure about the Maksik. I need to read more Canadian lit and have taken notes! The Longest Night fits in with the older books I am reading as far as time period goes. I have thought at least 100 times about nuclear energy and I don’t think humanity in its current era of development is ready to handle it. That movie sounds quite good. I am putting it in the queue!
BTW, I have not gotten any recent email announcements about your posts. I am going to sign up to follow by email again and see if that works.
Thx Judy for letting me know about the email of my posts. I’m not sure what’s going on with my site, breaking down? I’m impressed you’ve read Lynch and Maksik before. I hadn’t heard of them, but their new ones sound pretty good and they both were good speakers. I agree with you about nuclear power. It’s scary to me — disasters that could happen. I guess I need to mix in Canadian Lit when I can but I’m still caught in the usual U.S. flood of titles. The movie surprised me in that it was good; I wouldn’t have thought so beforehand.
Oops. Forgot to say I love book festivals and author panels. The Jim Lynch book I read was The Highest Tide.
The title sounds interesting. Lynch’s latest novel involves sailing and apparently he says it’s his most personal or autobiographical — maybe not fully but more than his others. He’s a funny guy and lives in Seattle; he grew up sailing there. As for book festivals, I’m considering going to the L.A. one in the spring. I’ve never been to it, so it’s a bit on my bucket list. But somehow I pick up a little too many hard copies at these things, sigh.
Wow, that sounds like such a great book festival! I remember the publicists from Europa talking about Shelter in Place at BEA and it sounded really wonderful.
Hi Shannon, Yeah the book festival wore me out just like BEA! But even more so as it went a full week. It was nice to hear the authors read & speak about their works. I will see about Shelter in Place. I guess I’m unfamiliar with Europa books. Apparently it’s a fairly new publisher eh? I’m new to the author Maksik too, but his novel appears to be about a bipolar guy and it’s a bit violent I think. Set mainly in Washington state. hmm
Thanks for taking me to Wordfest–discussion, readings, and audience questions were interesting, and I wanted it to go on longer. Way to go for completing the whole WF marathon.
Ha. Yeah it was a marathon but worth it. Glad you came. Thanks for trying out WF! There’s always next year for more.
Hello Susan, it sounds like Wordfest was great. How exciting life you have. On each visit I am transported to amazing adventures with you. It’s great to crunch the life to the fullest… I am fond of.
Okey dokey, returning to what matters. No, I have not read or heard any of these books. Like you I only know Margaret Atwood – I am a huge fan. But I intend to change that…
Lastly, thank you for your thoughts on the film, I will give it a chance. Have a great day 🙂
Hi RT, thanks for your kind words. Yes I try to have many adventures! We will see what is next. Enjoy your week!
Wordfest sounds like so much fun! And what a great pile of books! Caught is good (it’s Lisa Moore, after all), and I was enthralled with Drunk Mom – maybe because it was so outside of my own experience? (had to put that in there in case you thought otherwise – ha!) I still have yet to read Lynn Coady, but I really should have by now. Maybe you’ll beat me to it!
Thanks Naomi — you’re my go-to blogger for all things CanLit. I’m interested to hear you read Drunk Mom which seems pretty dark, but I think I might read it. I’m curious too about Lynn Coady as I have heard good things. It all depends what I pick up next. My mind is all over the place at the moment. 🙂
I love twisty novels and so enjoyed The Other Typist but did feel like the author was overly ambiguous with the ending. There are several book blogs that have posts with spoilers so now that you’ve read it you could google it and see the discussions if you’re interested. A lot of opinions out there!
I’m so excited you got Before the Wind! I absolutely loved it. I thought Shelter in Place was really well written, it just didn’t keep me going. I was able to put it down and kind of forget about it, if that makes sense.
Thanks Catherine. Yeah I’ve read some of the possibilities with the ending of The Other Typist. I guess I don’t think it’s too confusing not to be understandable. You get the idea of what happened. The flip and all. I guess maybe that genre is not my fav but I can see why others like it a lot. Glad you gave me the lowdown on Before the Wind and Shelter in Place. My husband is a sailor so we have to check out Lynch’s novel!