November 28, 2016

Here I Am - Jonathan Safran Foer

Penguin Random House, September 6, 2016.

Four Stars



Here I Am is a spiritual, contemplative novel disguised as a family drama. Jacob, the main character, explores issues of fatherhood – the title is taken from the biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac – as well as the complexities of marriage and how familial bonds affect one’s practice of spirituality. Jacob struggles to define what it means to be Jewish today in America – is it about simple belief, committed practice, or the extreme of sacrificing himself for Israel’s freedom?


The novel covers the events of one month in the life of Jacob Bloch and his wife Julia, in present day Washington, D.C. The Blochs are facing problems in their marriage that have been building for a long time, and they have reached a point where even minor issues cause major conflict. They are still deeply connected to each other but they are disconnected and lacking passion. Their three sons are clever and precocious – sometimes too much so for their age, but their dialogue was definitely the most fun part of the novel. Even when Jacob and Julia discuss divorce, their bond is strong and their communication is clever and respectful.


The Blochs’ family drama is interrupted by visiting Israeli relatives, in town for Jacob’s oldest son Sam’s bar mitzvah. Their trip to D.C. coincides with a catastrophic earthquake in the Middle East that has far reaching effects on political policy. Jacob sees his visiting cousin as an alternate version of himself, had he chosen to live in Israel and focus more on his Jewish heritage – he is inspired by his nephew, a soldier in the Israeli army, to contemplate relocating to Israel in order to defend the country in the war that seems to be coming. The international conflict echoes Jacob’s internal one, as he struggles with his concept of religious identity.


Foer’s new novel makes many surprising observations about spirituality, love and life – but I think there is just too much going on here. It felt like Foer just had so many ideas for this book, and he was unable to edit out any of them for the greater good. Although the dialogue between the Bloch family members is the strongest part of the novel – the conversations are so authentic yet so entertaining – many of the situations felt like parts of short stories that were thrown in because they share a common theme. It does seem like Here I Am may be autobiographical to some extent, as Foer has recently split with his wife, author Nicole Krauss, and the emotional complexities of the novel feel like they were perhaps a cathartic process.


Like Foer’s other works, this novel is full of irreverent yet mature humour, referencing topical current events. It is a more mature version of Foer’s earlier novels, in which his usual thoughts and ideas are grounded in realism yet made broader at the same time. The strength of Here I Am is in speech – not only the dialogue, but the speeches that define events such as Sam’s bar mitzvah – and even Abraham’s speech to Isaac and, more importantly, to God. Even though the threads of this novel get tangled halfway through, it is not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating. Fans of Foer will once again love this book.


I received this book from Penguin Random House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 23, 2016

A Change of Heart - Sonali Dev


Kensington Books, September 27, 2016.



Four Stars



Nikhil works as a doctor on a cruise ship, drowning his sorrows in alcohol after the death of his wife two years before. Jen, Nik’s wife, was working for Doctors Without Borders in Mumbai when she discovered a black market organ transplant right – her knowledge of this criminal element likely led to her murder. Instead of trying to discover the truth about Jen’s death, Nikhil hides his feelings in a bottle, until another woman appears and challenges his views on life.


When Jess first meets Nikhil, she seems to know secrets about his life with Jen that she couldn’t possibly have access to – she claims that she was the recipient of Jen’s heart, and that Jen is speaking to her, not only about her life with Nik but also about the circumstances surrounding her death. The gaps in the story are filled in by quotes from Jen’s diary at the beginning of each chapter, and they give hints of what is to come. Jess convinces Nikhil that they need to return to his hometown of Chicago to search for clues and find out the truth – meanwhile, we find out the truth about Jess, and she has an ulterior motive in recruiting Nikhil.


The perspective alternates between Nikhil and Jess, so we know right away that she isn’t who she seems to be. Her abusive childhood led her to a career in a Bollywood dance troupe, and she trusts no one, with the exception of her young son, Joy. Everything she does is for Joy, although we don’t learn the full extent of Joy’s involvement in Jess’s actions until much later. Meanwhile, we also see inside Nikhil’s head as he slowly but passionately begins to fall in love with Jess.


A complicated bond forms between the two, and although their relationship often felt emotionally manipulative, it was always riveting. It felt like a new adult romance with a touch of melodrama – two damaged people trying to save each other while sacrificing themselves. On a deeper level, the novel also explores the darkness under the surface of modern Indian-American life – and I liked the references to Indian culture that were made without dumbing them down for a white audience. Nikhil’s family features strongly in the story, and they are also characters in Dev’s other novels.


A Change of Heart combines romance and intrigue with a thrilling mystery. It is about tortured, broken people struggling to reach a happy ending, but it never sinks into cliché – at the last second, Dev surprises us with fresh and new twists. The ending is happy, but not perfect, as the soap opera melodrama comes on a bit strong. Although the story wasn’t the most believable, it still gets a solid four stars for emotional impact.


I received this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 20, 2016

The Strays - Emily Bitto


Legend Press, August 15, 2016.



Five Stars



In the 1980s, Lily receives an invitation to an art retrospective from a childhood friend, and it brings back all of her conflicting memories of growing up in 1930s Melbourne. Lily’s passionate friendship with Eva Trentham allowed her entrance into the family’s bohemian lifestyle, led by Eva’s father. The infamous modernist painter, Evan, his wife and their three daughters, live in a rambling old farmhouse with several other artists, building their dream of a creative utopian commune. Lily becomes wrapped up in their world, but it is a fantasy that cannot last.


Young Lily fell in love with the entire Trentham family and their eccentric lifestyle, and she wants to completely immerse herself in it. When her own family experiences tragedy, Lily gets her wish to stay temporarily with the Trenthams. She is a part of their alcohol and drug fueled parties, as well as the intimate moments between members of the commune. The adults around her are making careless and even dangerous decisions, but it is Lily and the other girls who will pay the price.


This is a story about the compromise between creative ambition and family life, in which conflicted loyalties will be exposed and difficult choices must be made. The young girls are treated with a level of maturity that they are not mentally prepared for, and it leads them to make adult decisions that their young minds cannot handle. The older Lily, a wife and mother herself, still regrets the decisions she made as a child – she was expected to know better, but she was much too young to understand the far-reaching consequences of her choices.


The setting of the Trentham house is pastoral and nostalgic – it has a youthful simplicity that Lily wishes she could return to, but beneath the façade lay obsessions and secrets. The bohemian idyll, seen especially through the passionate intensity of childhood, is unsustainable. The mystery behind Lily’s story is compelling, but it is also somewhat comfortable because we know that Lily survives her past as she looks back to tell us her story. It felt like a Kate Morton novel, a passive mystery, that of an outsider looking in on events that are no longer a threat to her.


The language used to describe Lily’s past is lovely – flowing and atmospheric. However, the flow was sometimes interrupted by a particularly jarring metaphor or unnecessary adjectives. This is Bitto’s debut novel, but she also has a Ph.D. in creative writing – the writing is almost perfect in a technical sense, but there is a lack of experience. I was impressed that each and every character felt so real and complex, pulling us into their story. This novel wasn’t suspenseful, but its mysterious, leisurely pace was completely enjoyable and I look forward to Bitto’s next novel.


I received this book from Legend Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 17, 2016

To the Bright Edge of the World - Eowyn Ivey


Little, Brown & Company, August 2, 2016.

Four Stars



The stark beauty of the Alaskan landscape is brought brilliantly to life in Ivey’s latest novel. As the 19th century comes to a close, exploration of the northern land is still going strong, and the vast setting is filled with mysteries. Colonel Allen Forrester is given the task of navigating Alaska’s remote Wolverine River with a small group of men – the American government wants to use the river to open up trade routes and access gold reserves, but the traditional people and spirits of Alaska may not allow him to succeed.


Forrester has recently been married to Sophie, but he must leave his young bride behind almost immediately, in order to explore the wilderness. Sophie soon realizes she is pregnant, and she begins to feel trapped in the Oregon army barracks – she craves adventure too, at a time when women were expected to stay safely at home. To compensate for her homebound life, she takes up hobbies such as birdwatching and photography, and she manages to expand her own horizons in surprising ways.


The story is told through the letters that pass between Forrester and Sophie, and they are supplemented by maps, illustrations and newspaper articles that bring a real sense of the time. Alternating with the story set in 1885 are sections set in the present day – these also take the form of letters, between Walter, a descendent of Forrester, and Joshua, an Alaskan museum curator. They are planning to exhibit Forrester and Sophie’s various historical ephemera in the tiny museum, to preserve a part of Alaskan history. Although their sections act as a framing device, they are just as strong as the other parts – they are fully developed characters in their own right.


Walter’s descriptions of the historical documents add context to Forrester’s adventures, which are often surreal. The intervention by white explorers led to the disappearance of the spiritual and even supernatural elements that were present in Forrester’s time, and he describes his surprising interactions with them in his letters. He speaks of shapeshifters, shamans, and crossing the boundaries between the living and the dead. However, even though Forrester’s discoveries were interesting in a larger way, it was Sophie’s domestic exploration of her small, intimate world that I enjoyed most.


This is a lengthy novel, but it held my attention for the most part by jumping through time, place and perspective. The beautiful setting and strong sense of place add a magical element to the characters’ lives, although they are deeply rooted in the earth. Considering the poetic title and stunning book cover, this novel definitely lived up to my expectations as a beautiful, complex and timeless story.


I received this book from Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 13, 2016

Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye - Marius Gabriel


Lake Union Publishing, August 4, 2015.




Three Stars



Gabriel’s novel follows the three Redcliffe sisters in the years leading up to World War II. Beginning during the Spanish Civil War, two of the sisters are trapped in rural Spain, while one remains in England. Isobel is the oldest, separated from her wealthy Spanish husband after the death of their child. Her youngest sister Felicity is only nineteen, and she has recently decided to join a convent back in England as a nun. When Isobel’s mansion is requisitioned by the Republican army, one of their soldiers decides to escort the women across the country so they can find safe passage back to England.


The soldier, William Willoughby, features throughout the sisters’ lives for many years to come. Although Felicity has a crush on him, his rejection solidifies her decision to become a nun. Isobel travels from Spain to Germany in a show of support for the Fascist cause, but when she reverses her politics after witnessing the persecution of Jewish citizens during Kristallnacht, she ends up in the arms of Willoughby. Isobel is strong and domineering, but even loving sister Felicity is shocked by the ensuing events.


Meanwhile, middle sister Chiara is relatively safe in London, living a fun and carefree life at dances and on dates, until she meets a much older man who refuses to commit to her. At the same time, London becomes more dangerous for everyone as bombs drop with increased frequency. Each sister grows up under the shadow of WWII, and it brings them together and drives them apart in shocking ways.


The novel is episodic, broken into long chapters that almost stand on their own – in fact, they were originally released individually as separate short stories. Each chapter does enhance the others, as we see overlapping events through the eyes of another sister. Although they care deeply for each other, they are just as likely to cause each other pain when they make difficult decisions.


I found the historical aspects very interesting, especially Isobel’s uneducated support of Hitler’s Nazi regime and her shock and disappointment when she learns the truth about the government’s agenda. I liked that none of the sisters were all good or evil – they were well-rounded, complicated individuals. What I did not enjoy was the stiff, unrealistic and often silly dialogue. The sisters’ emotional responses seemed real, but their ability to realistically express themselves was lacking. There was also an issue with the unresolved ending, which may be leaving room for a sequel. There were plenty of loose ends for the Redcliffe sisters to resolve in the future.


I received this novel from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 09, 2016

The Girl from the Sea - Shalini Boland


Adrenalin Books, September 16, 2016.



Three Stars



The Girl from the Sea is yet another novel that is being compared to Gone Girl, and once again it doesn’t quite stand up to the original. I’m looking forward to the day when every thriller with a female character isn’t being compared to Gillian Flynn’s famous novel, because it does a disservice to both. Boland’s novel is very different from Flynn’s – it is not quite as strong, but it explores a very interesting idea and it manages suspenseful elements quite well.


A woman is found washed up on the beach in England, with no memories of who she is or what her life was like. After several days of being unable to even recognize her own reflection, the woman is claimed by her apparent boyfriend Piers, who tells her that her name is Mia James. She learns that she is very wealthy, with a beautiful waterfront townhouse, glamorous friends, and a wonderful lifestyle. However, Mia immediately feels uncomfortable in her own life, and she is certain that Piers is keeping secrets from her. The only think she truly knows about herself is that she loves to row, and she is drawn to the rowing club and one of its charismatic instructors, Jack.


Mia has no idea how she ended up on that beach, but investigators assume it was a rowing accident – she must have gone out alone at night and fallen into the sea. Mia doesn’t remember anything from her past, and she is shocked to learn that her father is dead and she is estranged from her sister and mother. However, as the secrets surrounding her are gradually exposed, Mia realizes there may have been a more sinister explanation for her accident – and the person she trusts the most may be the most dangerous.


This novel had an exciting start and it moved quickly in many different directions, but then many of these loose ends were just abandoned with no explanation. The concept of Mia’s accident is an original idea, although I didn’t feel like the suspense followed through to the end. I did figure out much of the ending – although there was a twist I didn’t see coming – but it wasn’t surprising or thrilling enough to really get excited about. This novel was a great escape for a few hours, but not powerful enough to put it in line as the next Gone Girl.


I received this novel from Adrenalin Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 06, 2016

The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy - Beau North


September 16, 2016.



Three Stars



When Elizabeth Bennet rejects Darcy’s marriage proposal, he goes to bed feeling devastated, with a plan to leave for London the following day to hide from his disgrace. However, unlike in Jane Austen’s original Pride and Prejudice, Darcy doesn’t wake up the next morning and carry on with his life, eventually clearing up the misunderstandings between himself and Elizabeth. Instead, he awakens to hear the maid singing the same song as they day before, and he soon realizes that he is reliving the previous day over again.


At first, Darcy is pleased because it is as if his proposal to Elizabeth never happened, so he can carry on without the embarrassment. He treats the day as a reprieve, and goes to bed happy – but when he wakes up, it is once again the same day. As the pattern repeats over many days, with the maid singing her song each morning, Darcy experiences the gamut of emotions, including a descent into madness and carelessness with his own life. He feels he is living a waking nightmare that he can never escape.


It is not until Darcy begins to think less of himself and more of fixing the problems he has created that he finds he may have hit on a solution to his recurring day. Selfish Darcy finally decides to take the initiative to make better choices and change for the better in his treatment of others, especially Elizabeth and the Bennet family, and he has infinite second chances to be the best man he can be.


The nuances of language and character are perfectly fitted to Austen’s original novel. This is good, solid fan fiction, but I don’t think it would succeed on its own. It relies too much on the original Pride and Prejudice source material to enforce the romantic aspects of Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship – if you haven’t read the original, it is unlikely that you will recognize any spark of romance between the two of them here. This novel has very high ratings because it is so easy to transfer the fans’ love of the original onto this Darcy novel, but it cannot stand alone. However, judged as a companion novella, it is an interesting, clever idea and I think fans will love it.


I received this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

November 03, 2016

You Will Know Me - Megan Abbott


Little, Brown & Company, July 26, 2016.



Four Stars



Katie and Eric Knox have based their whole marriage on getting their talented gymnast daughter Devon into the Olympics. They have sacrificed their own careers, taken out a second mortgage on their home, and spent countless hours on the road, taking Devon to practices and competitions. It will all be worth it, because Devon is six weeks away from the competition that will make her an Elite gymnast, only steps away from the Olympic team. However, a sudden death could ruin all of Devon’s dreams.


Coach Teddy takes care of all the girls at his gym, including his wayward niece Hailey. When her boyfriend Ryan is killed in a hit and run car accident, Hailey suffers from a mental breakdown and begins harassing Devon. Katie, who thinks she knows everything about her daughter, can’t figure out what Devon has to do with it – but there are dark secrets swirling all around her. In the close-knit gymnastics community, rumours abound and loyalties are constantly shifting.


You Will Know Me is written from Katie’s perspective, which makes this different from Abbott’s other teen-centric novels. Her stories are about adolescents, but they are focused on very adult themes, so it is interesting to see this one told from a mother’s point of view. It is about the moments when a child leaves the shelter of home and becomes a separate person – a person that her mother does not even recognize. Katie always thinks the best of Devon, but even she isn’t sure what her daughter is capable of.


Katie was drawn to Ryan in life – his charismatic personality made her feel important in a way that she hadn’t since falling into the shadows of parenthood. After his death, Katie becomes almost obsessed with him – the crime itself, and how it has affected everyone around her. The microcosm of the gym shows the full desperation of desire and ambition, as embodied by young teenage girls. There is an overarching layer of dark foreshadowing, and creepy hints of what is to come.


Abbott is so fantastically manipulative, always providing new twists just when you think you have it all figured out. She makes you question how well you can know your own family – the people you are physically closest to, but who still hold so many secrets. Abbott’s genre has been called “girl-noir”, and it’s a fitting term – she is not as obvious as other suspense writers, making her novels a guilty pleasure with a measure of intelligence. She takes seemingly small, domestic situations and extrapolates them to the full extent of their darkness.


You Will Know Me was perfectly timed to coincide with the 2016 Rio Olympics – watching those powerful young gymnasts on tv gave me a mental image of what Devon and her peers were going through in this novel. It doesn’t even matter if you figure out who killed Ryan, because it is more about character and family dynamics. Once again, Abbott has used great writing to elevate a basic plot into perfection.


I received this book from Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.