Well it’s too cold here currently to take a photo outside so instead I will post a photo of the twin pandas on display this past week at the zoo in Tokyo. Adorable bears, born in June. The twin girl and boy are on view only three days due to Omicron concerns. Hopefully the pandas will stay safe!
Thousands have signed up to see them. They’re rock stars already. Years ago I was lucky to see pandas at the National Zoo in D.C. They’re wonderful to watch as they climb and roll around, and seem to have an uplifting effect. I’m sure if the Tokyo Zoo put a panda cam on the twins, I’d probably hardly get anything done.
I hope your reading is getting off to a great start in 2022. I’m on target but not moving that quickly. And the novel that I picked for “first book of the year” didn’t alas turn out to be my first read of the year. I finished three others before it. … Oh well, that’s the way it goes sometimes. I guess I’m a bit scattered already about my reading. Are you?
Anyways this week, we’re supposed to be going on our “first road trip” of the year with the dogs to meet up with family in the mountains of Idaho. But I’m still inquiring if I have the right documents to cross the border and get back in. So we will see if we can go (our dog Willow at left wants to). It’s a bit complicated because I have my virtual Canadian Citizenship Ceremony this week (Wow!!), but then afterwards they mail you the certificate, which will take weeks, so I need to figure out if I can go without it, or if I can get a document in the interim. Hmm. But I’m very excited to become a citizen and take the oath in Canada. It’s a great honor and I’ve been working towards it for quite a while. Meanwhile below are a few reviews of what I finished lately.
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura / Riverhead Books / 240 pages / 2021
This was one of the last novels I read in 2021, but it made a solid impression on me.
The story follows an unnamed woman interpreter at The Hague in the Netherlands who becomes unmoored by life in her new city as she starts work translating testimonies at the International Court. The case is against a Head of State of an African nation who is charged with atrocities. Meanwhile she finds the boyfriend she’s seeing there, who is separated from his wife, might not be leaving his wife after all. She also learns that a friend’s brother, a bookstore owner, is mugged in a wave of violence across the city. Little by little, you get a sense through the woman’s observations around her that it’s having a detrimental effect on her psyche.
It’s a novel where not a whole lot happens but somehow I was pulled in from the beginning … wanting to see what working in The Hague is like for such an interpreter, who’s fluent in several languages. The story is effectively subtle and simmers below the surface. It’s written coolly and its undercurrent feeling is not too unlike Kitamura’s first novel A Separation, which I liked as well. I guess I’m officially a Kitamura fan so I will eagerly read whatever she puts out next.
The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada / New Directions / 112 pages / 2020
I read this novel for the Japanese Lit challenge going on over at the blog Dolce Bellezza and found it well done.
It’s about a young wife who agrees to quit her job in the city and move with her husband, whose job is transferred to the countryside, where they plan to take up residence next door to the husband’s parents and grandpa.
The husband is gone mostly at work, and the wife, who tells the story, is trying to get her bearings after leaving her working life to move. She tries to explore their surroundings a bit and is feeling aimless and awkward with her in-laws, then weird things begin to happen on her walks, including falling into a hole. Are they real or is she losing her sanity? It’s all a bit mysterious and unsettling, but is told in an everyday manner that you really believe that such things are happening.
I’m still unsure if I fully understand what the ending meant in light of the odd things that happened, but I found that okay. I like how not totally knowing made it a bit more disconcerting. I will add the author’s first novel The Factory to my list now. She seems quite a young talent.
Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney / Ecco / 320 pages / 2021
A lot of bloggers have read this author so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, especially since Marin Ireland, who is one of my favorite audiobook readers, narrates it.
I missed the author’s first novel The Nest, which I know was popular, so perhaps that one is better than this. Though I liked the novel okay — it’s about two couples Julian/Flora and Margo/David and a betrayal of sorts … but I found it just needed something a bit else or more to happen.
I liked that it’s about Julian’s acting troupe Good Company and that Julian, Flora, and Margo are all actors who meet working there, while David is a doctor who meets them at a performance. The story focuses on an affair that seems to upend them all in ways. But around and around it goes. And Ruby is Julian and Flora’s daughter, who is getting ready to go off to college, and she is shielded a bit from what is going on.
The five of them have backstories that come out as it moves along. I wanted to know a bit more about Margo and David’s marriage, which takes a hit after he has a stroke while operating on a child. I almost thought the story would go more into that incident and the lawsuit, but instead most of the focus is on Julian and Flora’s marriage. There’s also a bit about the end of Margo’s acting job on a long-time popular TV series. I liked the moments where the story is funny or spoofing a bit about the LA and NY acting biz. I could have used a bit more of that.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these and what did you think?
A panda-cam would be blissful. 🙂
Congratulations on getting your Canadian citizenship. I have dual with the US and UK and it makes travel there much easier.
I do hope you get to take your long road trip. I am so itching to travel!
Thanks Helen. It would nice to travel! I think it’s cool that you are a dual citizen with the UK. Which area do you know best there? Someday we’ll be able to go back. If I find any panda-cams, I’ll let you know … ha. Have a great week.
Ah, Canadian citizenship. I’m happy for you! My nephew is attempting to get Italian citizenship for his mother and me as well as for himself. It would be lovely to be part of the EU. My great-grandfather was born in Italy and he did not become a citizen of the US until after my grandfather was born. Somehow this makes us eligible for Italian citizenship.
I will now look for The Hole and Intimacies. I am not sure I will have a lot of luck finding them, though. It seems as if my local library has not been ordering as many books, and I end up waiting until I can get books from the Houston Public Library, which takes much longer.
A panda-cam would be very entertaining! Let us all know if you find such a thing.
Hi Deb, that’s interesting that you’re eligible for Italian citizenship and it would be fantastic. I hope you & your nephew get it. We have loved Tuscany!
It’s odd but I found that our Calgary library had more ordered books than Houston’s Public Library which I’m also a member of. We also get to keep library books here for 3 weeks instead of 2 weeks. But I’m sure Houston is a much bigger city. Hmm. Perhaps I’m just looking for different books they don’t have?
No, I honestly think many of the libraries have cut back on their purchases. I have seen it in my county library system, but it also seems to be true of other systems in my local area.
I hope it’s not a trend, and that it is simply a result of the library hours cut because of the pandemic.
Good point Deb. I’m sure many libraries have scaled back purchasing during these times. I too hope it’s only temporary. I get almost all of my books via the library and love it.
Congratulations on your dual citizenship. How wonderful to have a foot in two countries!
Pandas are certifiably adorable and a panda-cam would be very popular.
Of the books you mention, I’ve only read Intimacies and I liked it a lot. I found the world it describes fascinating.
Thanks Dorothy. Tomorrow is my virtual citizenship ceremony … and I’m already floored by the whole procedure. Wish me luck.
I would love a panda-cam! And I’m glad you liked Kitamura’s book … it was eerie how the dictator got away with the crimes against humanity in the case the woman was translating for. Gracious!
I was lucky to see the pandas in the Chengdu Panda Research base in China. They were so adorable, I could have stayed there all day.
Hope your road trip goes well and congrats with the dual citizenship.
I haven’t read any of the books, but everyone speaks highly of Intimacies. My reading is off to a good start, it’s like I always have extra energy after a long Christmas break. It will soon slow down again.
Wow Stargazer! You got to see pandas in China … how Amazing! That’s very awesome. What year did you go? I haven’t seen anything that amazing since I saw wildlife in Africa in 1990.
I’m glad your reading is off to a good start! I will stop by soon to see what you’re reading. Intimacies is a bit different kind of read … slow & subtle perhaps but effective too. Thx for stopping by.
It really was amazing. The panda is one of my favourite animals. I went in 2012, so it was while ago. I still remember it very clearly, though. Safari in Africa is amazing as well! I hope we can soon start to travel to more exotic locations again.
That’s so cool Stargazer about going to China. I went on safari in Africa in 1990 but I still remember it so fondly. Hopefully travel can resume later this year. There’s many places I’d still like to go!
How great having dual citizenship soon in (2) countries. I hope you get to travel as planned. I haven’t read any of those books but have Intimacies on my list. I read The Nest and wasn’t crazy about it so I skipped the more recent book. I do like Marin Ireland though.
Thanks Diane, I’m excited about getting my citizenship here tomorrow! I think perhaps the novel Good Company is skippable … even with the great Marin Ireland on audio. There’s too much else to read. Whereas Intimacies is a short quick read and is a bit worth it. Did you like A Separation? Have a great week.
The pandas are cute, but Willow is even cuter! Haven’t read any of those books, but they sound interesting. 🙂
Thanks Lark. Willow is a cutie. Her personality is very sweet too. We were lucky to get Willow in September of this year. She’s fit in with us and our other dog so well! Hope your reading is off to a good start. Enjoy!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen panda bears, but I did see koalas at the San Diego Zoo many times over the years we lived there (San Diego, not the zoo!). I’ve finished 3 books and should be able to wrap up the other 2 before the end of the month. Maybe even 3. Jury duty set me back a little bit… My first book of the year (Taste) wasn’t my first book finished, either. I’m actually savoring it even though I could’ve zipped through it super fast.
I hope all goes well and you can get across to Idaho. Do they have snow? I guess you don’t mind that, do you? 🙂
Not sure if I’ll try Good Company even though I love Marin Ireland. I listened to several hours of The Nest but finally called it quits before the ending. Just didn’t care about any of the people. Good Company sounds a little bit like that. Oh, well.
Good luck and congratulations on your citizenship. I’m sure the virtual ceremony will be somewhat emotional!
Thanks Lesley. I’m pleased to get the citizenship. It’s taken a long while! We will see how the virtual ceremony goes. 🙂
I think it’s likely best to skip Good Company. Not sure I cared too much for the people in it either. The driving to Idaho could be slow due to snow. We are monitoring the road conditions but hope to go.
You seem to be off to a great reading start, even with jury duty. I will stop by your site hopefully before we leave. I love koalas but haven’t seen those at a zoo — you are lucky. I hope to someday get to Australia to see them. Have a great week.
The two novels by Japanese authors interest me, especially the first book. The second book, with strange and unusual things happening to the main character, reminds me of Murakami. What do you think?
Hi Harvee. thanks for stopping by. I must say I haven’t read Murakami yet … but I often find Japanese Lit like in the Hole story … that is something is off-kilter and a bit surreal. I like the strangeness of it. The Hole story is a translated novel from Japanese, but the Kitamura novel is American, written in English, despite her name. I should have noted that above. I’d like to read more of the Japanese Lit. Cheers. Have a great week.
Congratulations for the dual citizenship and I hope the ceremony went seamless! Those pandas look adorable. I saw a video of them sliding in the snow in the DC Zoo, maybe two weeks ago? It was the cutest thing! Willow is a cutie too and is already out-staging Stella.
Out of the three novels I think I would pick Intimacies to read. It sounds different and interesting too, plus the short page count is an asset too. 🙂 I’ll be finishing The Master either today or tomorrow. It’s a remarkable novel about such a remarkable man! The Magician was often funny and insightful, which I liked a great deal, and it detailed the life of the family too, adding variety to the novel. The Master is more tightly focused, more revealing, and more serious too. Thomas Mann was a family man, but Henry James was lifelong bachelor, attached mostly to his social circle, which makes the story more intimate.
Wow Carmen great report on The Master and The Magician. Both sound quite fascinating. Who knew Henry James would be such a great subject. The Master seems shorter than The Magician, right? I’m curious to read both sometime. Would you say Toibin’s style is quite readable and not dense? I will put one on my radar for reading this year. I have not read Toibin!
I finished my citizenship ceremony yesterday and it went well. It’s a relief to have it behind me now! We leave today for the road trip with a car full of dogs & skis & bags. I hope there’s room for me. Will post when we get back. Cheers.
Congratulations again! I hope you have fun on the trip (if there’s room for you). 🙂 The Master is substantially shorter than The Magician (about 342 pages vs. 512); it feels a little dense at times, but I read it at the same pace I read most books, so no big deal. Also, it has two very good chapters that I think you will appreciate more than others, at least I did.
Hey Carmen, sorry our trip took me away for awhile but we’re back now. Maybe I should start with The Master before The Magician. ? Shorter reads appeal to me … because of being a slow reader and with the blog.
fyi — We passed a tiny hamlet called Carmen, Idaho on our road trip … ha … mostly it consisted of a few fields with cows but I thought of You! Nice to have your own spot!
I remember when the San Diego Zoo hosted pandas–the line to see them felt forever long, but they were so adorable when we finally reached them. It was worth the wait. Congratulations on your Canadian citizenship! I hope you are able to figure our what you need for your trip and I hope that goes well too! It’s been ages since my last road trip. My husband and I were talking about going on one either this year or next, depending on the pandemic situation. Maybe to Utah to visit his parents or somewhere else we’ve been wanting to visit. Of the three books you read and reviewed, I think Intimacies caught my attention the most, although they all sound interesting. I will have to check out A Separation too.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks much Literary Feline. Yeah the San Diego Zoo is amazing, right? We just got back from the long road trip … and it was great fun, so I recommend it. I think there’s ways to avert covid even on the road … We were careful and many times we were the only ones wearing masks … but stayed our distance! We have returned safe & sound. I look forward to catching up on blogs and visiting yours soon.
I love the idea of falling into a hole and not knowing if it’s real or metaphorical. Sounds like an interesting novel!
Hi Andrew, thanks for stopping by. Yes! the whole idea of falling into a hole is such a great metaphor … and it’s a bit like Alice in Wonderland. I think this Japanese author has cleverly done this in her novel. I must check out her earlier novel The Factory. hmm.