Hi. I hope you all are great and that the spring weather is boosting your spirits. I finished my 14 day quarantine on Friday and feel terrific to be able to walk our dog and be outside again. Most of the snow in our yard is gone and I feel eager to do a yard cleanup. I didn’t have a new photo to share so I’m putting up this oldie photo taken with my husband-to-be around 2004 during my first trip to Canada. On this trip, we hiked up towards the glacier above Lake Louise. You might be able to see the Chateau beyond the lake in the far distance. It’s a gorgeous place … along with the whole range of the Canadian Rockies, if you ever get a chance to go. Luckily we live about two and a half hours away and go several times a year, mainly to bicycle on the backroads near there. It’s beautiful.
This past week we watched a couple movies: “The White Tiger” (on Netflix), which is based on the 2008 debut novel that won the Man Booker Prize by author Aravind Adiga. The movie started out being this seemingly nice rags to riches story set in India about this young man who rises out of poverty to become a driver for a wealthy family, but then towards the end it turns quite dark and it was like: Oh no. Still some of the shots of India and characters made it worthwhile.
Then we watched “My Salinger Year” based on the memoir by Joanna Rakoff, which I reviewed as an audiobook in 2015. It was all right — nothing too great but at least it was pleasant enough when I was looking for something light. It’s set in New York about a college grad girl who gets a job working for the literary agency of the renowned, reclusive writer J.D. Salinger. Sigourney Weaver stars as her grumpy boss, so that was Okay.
Meanwhile we are midway into the first season of the TV series “Your Honor” with Bryan Cranston as a father and judge who’s doing all he can to get his son off the hook after he’s involved in a hit-and-run accident with a mobster’s son. Uh-oh he’s “Breaking Bad” again. The series is quite squirm-worthy. Have you seen any of these movies or shows?
And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of the books I finished lately. Both of these novels (below) are scathing portrayals of elements affecting their societies. I felt the first novel was more effective to me about how it went about this. The second novel I had a bit of trouble sticking with it. I almost DNF’d it, but here’s a confession: I rarely ever stop a novel once I’m a good portion into it. I just soldier on. And sometimes it gets better and other times it does not. I think I’m in the minority about doing this. Do you DNF books midway in?
A Burning by Megha Majumdar / Knopf / 304 pages / 2020
I’m really glad I got to this one, I almost missed it. I didn’t know what to expect going in but really enjoyed the audiobook of it. It’s a story set in India that revolves around three main characters after a terrorist attack on a train that kills 100+ people. There’s Jivan from the nearby slums where the attack happened who writes a rash comment on Facebook about the government and becomes implicated in the attack. Then there’s Lovely, a transgender girl, who took English classes from Jivan and wants to become an actress and star. And lastly there’s PT Sir, a former gym teacher of Jivan’s who becomes interested in a right-wing political party that’s on the rise.
Other secondary characters play parts as well … to this plot that snowballs against Jivan, who tries in vain to proclaim her innocence. PT Sir and Lovely both know Jivan, but their ambitions and rising trajectories complicate them from helping her against the charges. The insight into all three characters is well done and I had to even laugh at times at their characterizations and intentions despite how serious what’s happening is. The parts with Lovely and her acting ambitions are amusing (she was my favorite), and those with PT Sir are too — about his ego-driven thoughts and vanity. And Jivan is likable too, she spent years trying to care for her ailing father and help her mother, and is working her way up at Pantaloons, a mall retail store.
It’s a tragic story that is short (almost too short – I wanted more), affecting, and moves quickly. You might wonder how this could happen, and try to poke holes at its evidence or probabilities (it’s not caught up in real-life crime forensics and might be a bit too simplistic?), but the point is more a damning spoof of the justice system and political parties and the corruption that runs through India’s society. It gets to the heart of the tragedy in an affecting way and without being dense. I will read whatever this author puts out next.
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue / Random House / 384 pages / 2021
I loved this author’s first novel “Behold the Dreamers,” so I really wanted to like this one as well. It started off promising about this African village (Kosawa) that is fighting against an oil company (Pexton) that is polluting and poisoning their land and the country’s colluding corrupt dictator (His Excellency). Both the oil company and the dictator are ruining their village (and other villages), and the poison and chemicals dumping into their river is killing their people and children.
After the opening action that includes a kidnapping of the village headman and two oilmen, the story settles into a many decades standoff in which the villagers try desperately to get Pexton to stop and leave their country to no avail. It’s told from various villagers points of view … notably is Thula, their opposition leader who goes to America for her advanced education and returns a decade+ later to continue the village’s fight against Pexton, first peaceably and then by arms as a revolutionary.
While I admired the story’s theme against environmental degradation by a foreign company and the country’s dictatorship, the narrative — to me — seemed laid out in such a way that becomes repetitious and tedious. It spins its wheels over and over again about the ills happening and what Pexton has done, but it only seems to move the story forward in such small increments that you go a bit stir crazy. Around and around it goes on and on and on. It’s true it has some beautiful writing to it, but there’s not much active action, rather just remembrances of how it’s been and continues to be and whether anything will be done.
I felt for the villagers, but it became muted because of the story’s seemingly long, redundant telling. And I was never fully taken with the characters, though I was hoping to latch onto Thula. In the end I wanted to feel a bit more for the story that is surely scathing, heartbreaking, and truth-telling to what has happened to parts of Africa and is still happening. Despite these qualms, I will continue to follow this author who grew up in Cameroon and came to the U.S. to study and live — as her first book was a winner for me and her writing can be enticing.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these books, or watched these shows, and if so, what did you think?
I haven’t heard good things about How Beautiful We Were so won’t be trying it out. I definitely DNF books by page 80 if they are not working for me. Ok, yes, sometimes sooner. A Burning sounds really good!
Bryan Cranston’s show sounds like a good one. I will finish The Indian Doctor this coming week so will need a good show.
We are trying to figure out if our summer trip to the UK and Europe is going to happen. It all still seems up in the air right now. Perhaps we can at least do the UK/family part, which would be lovely.
Hi Helen, yeah it’s hard to know if travel will be able to go forward this summer. We still haven’t gotten the border open up here. I hope you can visit with your UK family. And it’s good to know you DNF books. I feel too infested sometimes so continue on. You would probably like A Burning … and perhaps the Cranston show which is a bit intense. We will see what happens at the season’s end. Enjoy your week.
Glad u are out of quarantine now. I have The Burning on audio so glad to read you enjoyed it. We loved Your Honor” fantastic series and the finale was incredible! Have a great week.
Hey Diane: Wow that’s good to know you liked the Cranston show. We are nearing to the finale! It’s pretty intense eh? I think you might like the audio of A Burning … the characters can frustrate how they don’t do the right things, but it’s an interesting take on what’s going on. You have a great week too.
I bet being out of quarantine feels nice! Glad you were able to get out a bit. Lovely pic from back in the day! We would love to make a trip to Canada one day. Such gorgeous land up there.
White Tiger is on my list to watch but I haven’t yet because I thought about reading the book first but I’m slowly realizing that that’s probably not going to happen! lol. So I think I will give it a go. I haven’t heard of the new limited series with Cranston. I’ll keep it on my list if I can find a way to watch it!
A Burning has been on my TBR. Glad you enjoyed it. I’m sad the other story wasn’t quite up your alley. I hadn’t heard of that one.
Hope you have a lovely week and no snow storms! We’re supposed to get a little snow in the middle of the week. But then the temps look to go up again, hopefully.
Hi Heather, we are also supposed to get a couple of inches of snow tonight. Argh. March weather goes back & forth. We are ready for more bike riding. And it feels great to be free of quarantine. If the border ever opens, you can do a road trip up here someday. It’s not too far, & plenty of hikes for you. I think you will probably like A Burning … and I’m curious about what you’ll think of The White Tiger …. the 2nd half seemed a bit incongruous to the first half. Hmm. Have a great week.
So glad to hear that you are out of quarantine and able to be outside! Hooray! The rain has returned here, so I’ve been inside baking, reading, working on a puzzle and riding my bike. This has been the rainiest winter! I need to do some yard cleanup, too, but everything is too soggy at this point.
Great photo of you and your husband. Lake Louise has always been on my travel list and I hope to see it in the next few years. My parents were there many years ago and stayed at the Chateau. It’s beautiful!
I hadn’t heard about Your Honor, but it sounds like a great series. We’ve just started Sneaky Pete (which also stars Cranston) and we’re eager to watch more tonight. Funny thing–we both think the main actor (Giovanni Ribisi) looks a lot like Cranston’s co-star (Aaron Paul) from Breaking Bad.
I usually give a book about 80-100 pages before I decide to call it quits. Right now, I’m reading Circe and have hit the halfway mark (200 out of 400 pages). I’m a little tempted to call it quits, but I’ve invested so much time and it’s not a bad read, so like you, I’ll soldier on.
I haven’t read A Burning, but I’ve seen it around on other blogs. Your review has me intrigued and I may look for it on audio. It may be a while though, as I have over three dozen audiobooks in my queue. Eeek!
Have a great week and happy Spring!
Thanks Lesley, that sounds like a lot of rain there! I am also doing a puzzle right now. Very addictive these things. I’m glad your parents stayed at the Chateau, that’s nice. Always a treat to stay somewhere like that … with the glacier water & view right outside the window. And I too think once I’m 200 pages into a book I’m too invested time-wise to quit so somehow I get thru it. I guess I avoided Circe b/c I wasn’t sure it’d be for me. I’ll be curious what you think of Sneaky Pete. The Cranston show is a bit intense but consuming. I have a stack of audios as well. I keep delaying the holds at the library. Good luck with all of yours.
Yay for being out of quarantine! I’ve read A Burning but haven’t reviewed it yet. I really enjoyed it – like you, I’ll read whatever she comes up with next. Lovely was my favorite character too – a nice little bit of comic relief at times.
Hi Rachel, that’s great you liked A Burning too. Lovely was a great character! Perhaps she will have another Lovely in her next book. It was interesting how the novel combined both dark & light elements in the story. It was horrifying and yet also funny at times. Crazy! Enjoy your week.
I love that picture! What a wonderful view, enhanced, of course, by two handsome people.
I haven’t seen any of the movies or series you mention. I am a Bryan Cranston fan so I might get around to watching that one. I did read and love A Burning and I’m delighted to see that you read it and liked it also. How disappointing that How Beautiful We Were just didn’t do it for you. I have it in my reading queue so perhaps we’ll soon see if I agree with you.
Good luck with seeing the owls at Weaselhead!
Ha Dorothy, I had to laugh about the handsome people. That’s been a good 15 years now. But the view is a good one.
So glad you liked A Burning too. It was a unique telling that captured me. And I’m sorry about Mbue’s novel … but I’ll be curious about what you think of it. Perhaps I’m in left field about it … and you will like it. I so wanted to. !
I’ll let you know if I see any owls at the Weaselhead. I hope to do it — when the birding crowds aren’t around. Owls to me are magical to see. Gosh it would be a treat to see one.
Ha! I feel I left a year of quarantine last night when we gathered at my nephew’s house for his birthday. I saw my sister whom I have not seen for longer than I can remember (she lives in Michigan) and even my local relatives. I forgot what it is like to be around so many people at the same time! And being with children was special.
Thanks for both of your reviews. I will read the Imbolo Mbue book at some point because I also loved The Dreamers, but I am warned! The other one sounds interesting too. I just finished I Am Malala, so that was Pakistan, now I am in The Netherlands with a translated novel. Right now I am just fine with not being in the US while reading!
Hi Judy: I’m so glad you were freed & could visit with your relatives, especially your sister ! …. seems so great and essential. So much joy …. I can imagine. I’m glad your year of quarantine is Over. It’s important to be with those we are close to. So I toast to you! We are closing the gap I think on this pandemic even though we still have a long way to go. Canada is a bit behind on the U.S. on vaccinations. Still it’s coming.
I like traveling to different places & countries in my reading. It seems I’ve been going to India a lot lately … and that’s cool. Enjoy your books.
A Burning has been on my GoodReads list forever. I am glad you liked it. The fact that you felt it was too short says a lot.
So quarantine is over and you are free!! That is wonderful. I’m sure it feels so good to be back outside.
Movies, last night we watched St. Elmo’s Fire. Why? Because after reading Andrew McCarthy’s book I could not recall it at all. I mean, I know I’ve seen it but it wasn’t one of his more popular ones IMO. Watched it last night. My daughter loved it. She thinks Lowe and McCarthy are very easy on the eyes. I do, too. Shhh. Because it reminded me so much of The Big Chill, I’ve now put that down for our next movie night.
Ha. St. Elmo’s Fire …. I remember those Brat Pack kind of movies. Yep I saw them all back in the ’80s. Do they really stand up over time?? They were definitely teenagey or young adult romance drama, but I’m glad your daughter enjoyed it. The Big Chill was a post-college later life kind of movie; it’s good still.
Being out of quarantine is great … though I still don’t know when I’ll get the vaccine maybe April or May. Just trying to catch up after being gone for a long time. Hope you are well. Enjoy your week.
Hooray – you are free! I know you’re enjoying being outdoors… and thanks for sharing that photo memory.
Behold the Dreamers was a favorite a few years ago and I’m planning to try How Beautiful We Were, but the initial reviews have not been particularly glowing. I’ll lower expectations and carry on.
A Burning is on my wish list, though new releases have pushed it further down. I’ll be sure not to let it slip too far. Thanks for the reviews.
JoAnn: I’ll be curious to hear what you think of the Mbue novel. I know she actually started this novel before Behold the Dreamers but then finished it after. I was such of fan of hers too … but I’m sure I’ll probably like the next one.
A Burning was good and that young author seems to have a lot of promise for sure. Check out the audio if you get a chance.
As for the photo memory …. it’s a good blast from the past. ha.
Have a great week.
Hi Susan,
At least a quarantine gives you a good excuse to read more! I didn’t realize White Tiger had been made into a movie. The dark turn happened in the book as well, and as I recall that’s why I didn’t like it all that much. I read A Burning last year. I’m glad I did, but WOW! What a tough/sad story. Take care!
Hi Susie: glad to hear from you. Yeah I think I need to mention in my review that A Burning is a very tragic story on top of everything. Because of some of the lightness in its portrayals … you don’t think it’s going to go there … but then it does, so it’s disturbing in what happens. I thought it was effectively done.
The White Tiger really changed towards the end … and it seemed a bit incongruous to the guy prior to that, which didn’t go over too well. Hmm. Hope you are doing well and you get some spring reading done. Enjoy.
I admire you and Canada for doing the difficult thing. (Could this be the difference between the US and our northern neighbor? We are the ADHD folks of the world?) I’m glad everything went smoothly and that you are able to resume your outdoor activities.
We haven’t settled on a new tv series after finishing seven years of All Creatures Great and Small and nine seasons of Seinfeld. We are looking for light, but our trouble is our age and most of contemporary light is also a bit too crass for us.
So sorry to hear that How Beautiful We Were did not work for you. I don’t care how far I am into a book; if it doesn’t work for me, it’s over. At my age, I’m only interested in reading the good books.
Yeah Deb, much of Canada seems more strict than the States on Covid prevention: quarantines & wearing masks etc. Perhaps that is some of the reason why Canada has 22K covid deaths vs. the U.S. 543K …. though the States is much more populated.
We do love Seinfeld too. We still watch reruns. But you’re right there’s very few TV series that remain light & entertaining. Your Honor is not one of them.
And I’m glad to hear you DNF books that aren’t working. I wish I could too … but instead I just try to pick the right books to begin with. Have a great week.
I only watched the beginning of Your Honor with my partner, he didn’t like it so I’ll continue alone later. Thanks for sharing the review of “A burning”, I had in mind to read a lot of Indian literature next year and it’s good to have new ideas. I’m glad your quarantine is ended and yay for spring, at last !!
Hey Iza, yeah Your Honor is quite an intense series where morals & such go out the window, so I can see where it won’t be for everyone. I’m still wondering if it’s for me; it’s nuts. And I need to warn others too that the novel A Burning is a tragic story though it’s done rather well. So it’s a little intense too. It’s not light Indian fare. Hope this helps. Enjoy your week & books.
How Beautiful we were has such a lovely cover! And it sounds great.
Happy spring vibes to you. It is definitely slowly but surely becoming autumn here with us. I love summer and I’m going to miss it soooo much!
Elza Reads
Hey Mareli, thx for stopping by. I’m glad you tell me what seasons are in S.A. now. Do you get much coolness in the weather in autumn? That would be a relief if so. I can imagine your summers are really hot. We are thrilled to be done with winter (soon) it snowed last night! Come on spring! Enjoy your week.
Beautiful photograph. Definately TBT worthy. The subject matter of How Beautiful We Were seems interesting. I surpised it wasn’t more enthralling to read.
Hey Liberty, thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked the photo. Yeah I was really expecting Mbue’s novel to be so much more but alas it seemed to go over the same thing endless times. But her first book was so good Behold the Dreamers. Have a great week.
Lake Louise! Must visit. My parents were married in Banff in October, 1943 and after my dad retired, my parents visited Lake Louise many times. I still have never been. It’s always fun to revisit favorite places via our photos.
Have a good reading week!
Thanks Jane. Wow great story. That’s exciting your parents were married in Banff. Were they from Colorado? That’s neat they came to Louise several times. I would recommend the off-season to visit as it gets very crowded in usual summers. My husband & I were married in Banff too at the Banff Springs Hotel. So it’s fond in our memories. Take care.
The White Tiger book felt the same and I just cannot bring myself to watch the movie as well. Shudder.
That is a beautiful photo of the two of you at Lake Louise. I will need to add it to my list of places to visit. I like that you guys visit it often enough each year.
Thanks Athira. Yeah the mountains here are pretty awesome. Perhaps we will get out there this month for a walk or a bike ride. I agree with you about The White Tiger …. that violent change towards the end threw me for a loop. I didn’t see it coming either. Enjoy your weekend. & thanks for stopping by.