The Guineveres - Sarah Domet

Flatiron Books, October 4, 2016.

 

Four Stars

 

Four young girls named Guinevere – Vere, Gwen, Ginny and Win – have all been abandoned by their parents to be raised by nuns in a convent called The Sisters of Supreme Adoration. The girls share everything, not just their name, and their consciousness is so intertwined that they even refer to themselves as “we” when acting alone. It doesn’t occur to the girls that their all-encompassing connection could ever be severed – until they receive unexpected guests at the convent.

 

Outside of the protective walls of the convent, the world is at war. The conflict is unnamed in the novel, although it is likely World War II, based on other historical clues such as clothing and technology. Because we are never told conclusively where and when the novel takes place, the events have a sense of timelessness, and the girls’ coming of age becomes universal. The girls are isolated from the atrocities of war, until several unidentified soldiers arrive – injured and unconscious, the young men are sent to the convent to be taken care of until they can be identified by their families. The girls think that nursing the boys might be their way out of the convent – in the meantime, each of the Guineveres becomes attached to their own boy, as they practice falling in love.

 

The novel covers the events of one year, in which the girls’ feelings for the boys grow stronger, leading to almost fairytale-like scenes in which they share kisses with the sleeping boys. They analyze the soldiers’ possessions, hoping to get to know them, but in fact they are growing and learning about themselves. In between these scenes of convent life, we gradually learn the story of how each of the Guineveres ended up at the convent – they are tragic events that led to damaged and untrusting girls. The Guineveres intentionally isolate themselves from the other girls at the convent, and even the nuns hesitate to intrude on their special bond. The girls are fragile on their own, but as the Guineveres, they are powerful and strong.

 

The story is written from Vere’s first person perspective, although she speaks interchangeably for all four of the girls – in fact, Vere is surprised to realize that in fact they are distinct people who do unexpected things. Because the Guineveres were abandoned by their families in often horrific ways, their only concept of home is each other. It is not until they begin to develop romantic feelings for “their boys” that they begin to separate, as Domet authentically explores the wonder and confusion of girls becoming women. And when their innocent crushes on the soldiers are contrasted with a shocking sexual act, the girls’ bond is truly tested.

 

The Guineveres is a contemplative novel, written in moody and elegant prose – it takes the ordinary and finds the beautiful and magical elements within it. The convent setting and church doctrine are heavy but always interesting, especially as it affects the girls’ upbringing. The religious figures are multifaceted and realistic, with no clear demarcation between good and evil. It is of course strange that these girls share the same unusual name, but the strangeness adds an otherworldly quality to the story, enhancing the contrasting themes of The Guineveres.

 

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

Cruel, Beautiful World - Caroline Leavitt

Algonquin Books, October 4, 2016.

 

Four Stars

 

In 1969, a time of peace protests and free love, sixteen-year-old Lucy has run away from home with her older, charismatic highschool English teacher. William makes Lucy feel special in a way she hasn’t felt before, and when they move to a rural cottage to start a new life together, she thinks everything will be perfect – but William is not exactly what he seems. He keeps her hidden at home, trapped in their off-the-grid farmhouse while he starts his new job and meets new people. When Lucy decides to set out on her own, her dreams are destroyed in a shocking and dramatic fashion.

 

Meanwhile, Lucy’s sister Charlotte was left behind. As the slightly older sister, Charlotte was always the responsible child who took care of both herself and Lucy after the death of their parents. She reluctantly starts college shortly after Lucy disappears, even though she would rather be searching for her little sister. We get to see Charlotte develop into a shaky yet strong young adult as she faces serious challenges and copes with the aftermath of Lucy’s adventure.

 

The strongest and most fascinating character in the novel is Iris, especially after we learn the details of her intriguing backstory. Widowed in her sixties, Iris was about to start her life over again – taking classes and booking trans-Atlantic plane tickets – when she was suddenly tasked with taking care of young Charlotte and Lucy. There is a surprising reason that seemingly distant relative Iris is given guardianship of the girls, one which she does not explain until the end of the novel. Throughout the novel, it is enough to witness the great care that she gives to the young sisters, as she sacrifices her best years to make them feel happy and loved.

 

The novel is developed in the shadow of world events, including the Vietnam War and the Manson Family murders. Lucy is especially frightened by these issues, and they bring an ominous feeling of threat to her idyllic life in the country. There are big events here, but the focus is truly on the smaller moments, so we feel that we know each character intimately. It is an exploration of unconventional families that must overcome unusual obstacles – and yet, tragedy will still strike unexpectedly, tearing apart the family unit.

 

Leavitt writes with deceptively simple prose, yet it disguises a great depth of character, plot and emotion – the author has an easy talent that is as straightforward as it is unforgettable. Because of its simplicity, the story is haunting, with no clear line between good and evil. With a somewhat open ending, nothing is clearly resolved, and that’s what makes this novel so realistic. These three women – Lucy, Charlotte and Iris – jump off the page and really come to life, leaving a legacy of a true to life family in all its complexities and love.

 

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

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.

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.

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.