Hi. I hope everyone had a great weekend. Have you been under the heat dome lately? It seems we have been under the rain dome the past couple weeks. Luckily the rivers here seem to have crested so it doesn’t appear they will flood like they did in 2013. This photo was taken on Sunday June 12 when we went for a hike on our anniversary. It was nice to get out in the foothills with the dogs, where everything is quite green. We didn’t run into any bears but kept our eyes peeled as one was spotted in the area.
It’s a busy time of year and we are off on Friday to vacation back East for a week in the Thousands Islands area of Ontario. It should be a lot of fun and I will report back on how it goes. We are hoping for sunny skies and plenty of bicycling and summer reading. Unfortunately the dogs will have to stay behind with the dog sitter, but the week should go by pretty quickly. And now here are reviews of what I finished lately.
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa / translated by Stephen Snyder / Picador / 192 pages / 2009
This is a quiet little novel, which I read for my book club and ended up loving. It’s about a housekeeper whose employment agency sends her to work for a 60-year-old man who has memory issues from a car accident that happened when he was 47 … so his memory can only hold things for 80 minutes.
But the housekeeper manages to adapt and work around his disability and comes to respect the Professor for his mind and his ability to teach math so well. He’s a math whiz who solves and wins mathematical contests through the mail since he doesn’t go outside much. And the housekeeper, who narrates the story, is a single mother whose boy comes to stay after school at the Professor’s place while his mother cleans and he does his homework.
The three form a heartwarming bond over numbers — there’s a surprising amount of math equations in this book — and baseball, but I found both to be oddly enjoyable. And there’s also enough of a mysterious quality about the Professor and his sister-in-law (who oversees his care) … to keep one turning the pages in this short, moving novel. I felt I sort of knew these three and their friendship by the end and it was hard to let them go. This is my second book by Yoko Ogama whose novel The Memory Police I liked quite a bit as well. She’s a big talent in Japan. Here’s a profile of her from the New York Times in 2019.
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott / Dutton / 336 pages / 2021
The novel unfolds in two storylines with the first being about a Black author on a book tour, and the second being about a Black boy named Soot who is bullied a lot at school for the darkness of his skin. The first storyline about the author is quite funny in parts and I had to laugh about how much he seems to dislike talking and answering questions about his bestselling novel on tour. I’m not sure he was meant to go on a publicity tour, though it’s quite funny and spoof-filled about the publishing, book world.
Along the way, the author who has an excessive imagination begins to see (or not see?) a Kid, who follows him in certain spots and you begin to wonder if the Kid is real or imaginary and what’s happened to him. Meanwhile the second, alternating storyline — about the boy Soot is quite sad and disturbing when he sees a policemen stop his father outside their house. There’s a few police pullovers in this novel that are disturbing. And the author’s examination of the Black experience and events going on today, which make their way into the story, are noteworthy, scary, and moving to hear.
It’s interesting how the storylines eventually merge and make a strong, cohesive impact. Hell of a Book is more than I thought it’d be at first with the humorous author tour. I listened to the audiobook version read by JD Jackson and Ronald Peet, who both did a great job. With many issues to think about — it’s no wonder the novel won the National Book Award for fiction in 2021.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn / Morrow / 656 pages / 2021
This long sweeping novel, which took me nearly two weeks as an audiobook to finish, was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I liked much of the historical aspects of the Enigma code breakers, particularly the women, at Bletchley Park during WWII and the atmosphere of the Blitz and the war, I thought the romance and relationship-y drama parts of the story seemed to take over a lot of the novel and the three main women characters irked me a bit at times.
There’s Beth, who’s shy and a smart code breaker, but whose wimpy side can get a bit annoying; then there’s Mab, who marries a lovely poet named Francis Gray, but who lashes out at her close friends when tragedy strikes; and finally Osla, who I seemed to like best, because she snags a relationship with Prince Philip of Greece a couple years before he meets Queen Elizabeth. Having Prince Philip and his one-time real girlfriend as part of the story, I thought was entertaining. Osla has a bit of a party girl image to her (with Philip) – so she is a bit refreshing and you wonder about their pairing and what Philip was like then. Osla is also involved in a wrenching bomb scene that is particularly chilling.
Perhaps other aspects of the story get a bit farfetched along the way. Code breaker Beth gets put in a sanatorium (for what’s believed are indiscretions), but she still manages after a few years to discover a traitor in their midst … who her friends and her band together to try to find and capture after the war, which seems all well and good for a rousing culmination.
Kate Quinn has an easy engaging way about her storytelling and how she weaves it all together, which rightfully earns her a lot of kudos. My only quibbles with the book is that I think I was looking for something a little bit more substantial or less romance-y in a historical tale about the lives and code-breaking of those at Bletchley Park. Perhaps I should read some memoirs and nonfiction to delve deeper into the particulars. I remember liking the 2014 movie The Imitation Game, which was about the Enigma code breakers, and there’s plenty of other books on the subject.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read any of these and what did you think?
The Rose Code has been on my list for a bit and, I’m sure I will read it but, the romance could be a bit much for me as well. I did listen tor The Diamond Eye this year and thought it was pretty good. I read The Housekeeper and the Professor when it was first released and I recall enjoying it a lot.
Enjoy your time away; I’m sure the pups will iss you and vice versa LOL
Thanks Diane. You might like The Rose Code more than I did. I’m definitely in the minority on that one. I had read her book The Alice Network which was all right, but I’m not sure if I will read Quinn again. Hmm. But I really liked Yoko Ogawa’s novel. Nice. Our trip should be good. Have a great week.
Have a fun trip! 🙂 The Housekeeper and the Professor sounds quirky and fun. I didn’t feel compelled last year to pick up Hell of a Book, even though I read two or three books that ended up being finalists of the National Book Award; anyways, you make it sound so appealing that I may reconsider reading it.
Hi Carmen, towards the end I thought Hell of a Book got a bit meandering. There’s quite a bit going on or to think about in it. There were parts I liked more than others — the author’s book tour was light while the other parts were dark. So be ready for a mix of both. It’s a bit hard to say if you will like it, but it seemed to make a worthy impact or point especially about police brutality and justice.
We’re getting close now & I’m looking forward to our trip! It’ll be good if I can make some reading progress. Have been busy with other things lately. Hope you are well. Happy reading.
Hope you have a nice trip! You can send the rain down south. We are indeed under the ‘heat dome’. Desperate for rain. Take care!
Uh-oh Kay, the heat dome does not sound good. I will try to send rain your way. We’ve been getting thunderstorms quite a few days per week. I hope the dome leaves your area soon. Stay well & in the A/C!
I am curious about The Housekeeper and the Professor. I like quiet little books now and then, especially when we have the chance to explore the characters.
Your upcoming vacation sounds really good. I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks Laurel. Our trip should be good. And I recommend Yoko Ogawa’s books either this one or the Memory Police. I hope she will come out with something new soon. There’s a bit of a mysterious quality to them. Happy reading.
{whines} Yessssss it has been so bloody hot here, with the raging humidity. I don’t like it.
That picture is GORGEOUS! What a beautiful place you live in!
Hey Jinjer. Good to hear from you. Gosh it seems too early in the summer to be that hot already. I hope you cool off there. Stay near the A/C.
This photo is taken about an hour away from where we live but it’s pretty easy to get to. It’s nice to get out there! Have a great week.
What a lovely place to hike! We are leaving Livingston, Montana today, and the owner of the home where we are staying warned us about bears when we hike. I worked all summer at Yellowstone Park long ago, and I never worried much about bears. I probably should have.
I enjoyed The Housekeeper and the Professor very much, but I never thought about recommending it for my book club. I wonder if the others would like it as much as I did.
Hi Deb, Livingston is a nice place! It’s not far from where my brother lives. Yeah be aware of bears when you’re out walking there — we always carry bear spray and our dogs wear bells. I didn’t realize you had worked at Yellowstone – what a great summer job. I’d like to see the wolf packs there, which I’ve read about.
The Yoko Ogawa book turned out to be a good one to discuss and everyone in our group seemed to like it. It’s a bit mysterious but also warmhearted. And a short novel too. Our last one was Mothering Sunday – so we are on a roll with these short mysterious & haunting novels. Have a great vacation in Montana!
My book club tends to like shorter novels.
The owner of the Airbnb home where we stayed warned us about bears. She said they come up into her yard in August!
Yikes bears in the yard is a bit too close for comfort. Need to pay attention so one doesn’t walk into them. I’d like to visit Livingston again – I’ve been there once, neat place. Hope you are having a great trip & time.
All three of your books sound really good. After reading The Rose Code I watched the series The Bletchley Circle which was fun as it pairs well with this novel.
Hi Helen: Yeah I think I watched Season 1 of The Bletchley Circle. I thought it was entertaining but my husband wasnt keen to watch Season 2. ha. The Rose Code seemed a lot like the series or vice versa. Have a great week.
No heat dome here, although it’s supposed to get pretty warm this weekend. The forecast says upper 70s, which is pretty hot for the coast, but I’m ready! I actually sat outside on our deck yesterday afternoon. It felt so good to be in the sunshine!
I love hiking, but am always concerned about bears and mountain lions. Glad you didn’t run into any on your hike.
I remember hearing about The Housekeeper and the Professor when it was first published. I’m glad to know you enjoyed it and will look for a copy at my library. I’m currently reading Crying in H-Mart and struggling with it, so I may switch to the audio version. I picked it for my book group read for August, so I can’t give up on it. I have the print copy of The Rose Code in my stacks. I haven’t read anything by Kate Quinn, so we’ll see how that one goes.
Have a great trip! It sounds lovely.
Hi Lesley – yeah switch to the audio version of the H-Mart memoir. It will help a bit I think. The Kate Quinn novels are light historical fare — more about people’s relations but can be entertaining in places — long though! I’ve read 2 and might be done. Yoko Ogawa’s books are quite interesting either this one or The Memory Police. Different, a bit mysterious.
It takes about 45 mins to get into the foothills here but the bears can be around. So we always carry bear spray and have bells. Still I’m always concerned too.
I hope you have a great weekend! We are flying East just for a week. Hope to see the sun. Cheers.
I really like the sound of “The Housekeeper and the Professor” and am adding it to my reading list. My daughter and I listened to a couple of audiobooks on our recent road trip and they were great entertainment but whenever I’m stationary I always choose the written word.
Hi Dorothy, I’m getting to the point where I like audiobook listening on dog walks, while gardening and cooking, and even sometimes while doing laundry & chores. Though certain books are better for reading, and others for listening. I hope you had a good trip.
I think you’d like Yoko Ogawa’s novel – as well as her other book The Memory Police. Did you read that one? That’s stranger than this one. Happy reading!
I’ve had The Housekeeper and the Professor on my list for years, so I appreciate the nudge to read it soon . Not sure Hell of a Book is for me, that one is on my list, too. I enjoyed The Rose Code more than you did. For me it was a nice follow-up to The Splendid and the Vile. Enjoy your time in the Thousand Islands… such a beautiful area!
Thanks JoAnn. Sometimes we go over to the New York side of the Thousand Islands. Like Clayton, New York. We always like it there. Quiet, nice areas along the water.
I still need to read the Erik Larson book (my husband liked it as well). I’m still curious about Bletchley Park … and perhaps Tessa Dunlop’s nonfiction book The Bletchley Girls looks quite interesting. We’ll see. I probably need a break for awhile first on the subject.
You would love Yoko Ogawa’s book! And her others as well. She’s my new favorite Japanese author. Cheers!
Romancy relationships are forced into a lot of novels, and I just assumed that it was the demands of readers that caused the phenomenon. Maybe not. Maybe there are people who want to know more about actual history.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Yeah Mae, I guess I just wanted more of the real stuff. It’s a really popular novel so many others loved it. She’s a pretty good storyteller but it’s a bit romancy for my tastes. Have you read Quinn before? Cheers.
I read the Housekeeper and the Professor a few years ago and remember really enjoying it.
I’ve been a bit ambivalent about Kate Quinn’s books. I didn’t like her first book that much and my complaints were the way she treated the characters and the world. So I don’t know if your review inspires more confidence in trying her again. Oh well.
Beautiful picture! Glad no flooding hopefully. And happy anniversary!!
I hope you enjoy your week and your vacation! looking forward to your pics.
Thanks Heather, nice hike on the anniversary. And eventually I will read more of Ogawa’s books. I liked the 2 I’ve read so far – they’re a bit quirky. But I’m not sure either that I will read Quinn again — I’ve read 2 and they’re fine storytelling-wise but not really my cup of tea perhaps, though I know they’re hugely popular.
Things are really green this month here with the rains, so that is the good news.
Hope you’ve been able to hike lately. Enjoy!
Love the photo!
Hey thanks Vicki. The photo was taken about an hour outside of where we live. We drove into the foothills to do this hike – where I got this shot. It’s really green right now from a lot of rain. Cheers.
I loved The Rose Code so much that I listened to it twice and gave it 5 stars on GoodReads. Personally, I thought the balance between the war work the women were doing and the romance/friendship was just about right. It wasn’t all froth, nor was it all serious. I think it reflected how people approached the war–you have to look for the fun bits in the midst of the horror or you go mad.
I wonder if anyone was ever really locked away based on the work they did or the spite of others, using the secrets act as a foil. I guess I wouldn’t be surprised so that made the Beth story more believeable.
Osma was definitely my favorite character. I would love to see a mini-series based on this book.
Hi Jane, in Quinn’s author note at the back she did say that various women then had breakdowns and were sent to sanatoriums — though I don’t know if any was due to the secret’s act at Bletchley, perhaps so. I am glad you liked the novel and thought it had a good balance. Quinn’s storytelling is engaging and this is my second of hers after The Alice Network. I also liked Osla the best of the three. I didn’t like the story as much as you — but I did get an idea of their circumstances and what it was like from the novel. And it made me keen to do more reading about Bletchley in the future. I’m glad for your thoughts. Cheers.
The Housekeeper and the Professor is one of my all-time favorite books! I really love it. And I hope you enjoy your vacation. It sounds like a very fun trip. 🙂
Thanks Lark. I’m glad you liked the Yoko Ogawa novel. I liked it too and will look for whatever she writes next. We are having a lovely trip. Lots to see here. Have a great weekend.