You will get LOST in LOST

Well, I have finally finished reading Daniel Mendelsohn's 528 page detective-adventure-memoir account Lost: The Search for Six of Six Million, written in September 2006. I have been reading this riveting narrative by this American award-winning book critic, contributing editor for Travel magazine, author and classics professor for the better part of two months. It is an incredible, deeply personal narrative of a man who had recalled hearing, lifelong, that six of his relatives were believed to have perished in the Holocaust. He had come upon a stack of old letters from an uncle, begging for help for himself, his wife and their four daughters at the onset of the early years of Nazi grip on their Polish village. Interestingly, as a boy, the author brought relatives to tears just by walking into a room because of his strong resemblance to this particular uncle. Mendelsohn's book is the coverage of his obsessive, extensive search of what really happened to this part of the family, as none of the relatives can say for certain.

He travels worldwide to unearth morsels of truth, to acquaint himself with those very few who may have known the family members and to interview other Holocaust survivors in an attempt to shed light on the mystery. His photographer brother, Matthew, accompanied the author on many of his travels, catching priceless shots of a increments of past world; on one trip, the author's sister and another brother accompanied them.

While the author may digress by including portions of the Bible's Genesis, relating memories of his youth combining this with travelogue and history then offering personal viewpoints about his academic & teaching background, Mendelsohn's unbelievably suspenseful, haunting, amazing trail of discoveries leading back & forth from the U.S. to Australia, Israel, Ukraine, Scandinavia several times, offering the reader a dim light on hope.

His effort to retrieve a forgotten world is ambitious, heroic and sprinkled with the most flabbergasting coincidences ever known. Lost offers a most horrible vision of hell, but Mendelsohn also reveals human nature, tenacious and empathic, in this emotional, provocative and profound journey that I would strongly recommend.

Haven Kimmel's Novels

I have just begun reading Something Rising (Light and Swift) which is the second book in a sort of geographic trilogy, all focusing on fictional, small town rural Indiana and all filled with tough, eccentric residents. I can already tell that this novel will be rewarding, but it is somewhat slow to build. First and foremost, its heroine Cassie Claiborne, age 10, supports her family by hustling pool. Her family life is bleak and dismal; her family members are a neurotic crew, each believable and sympathetic.

This book bears little resemblance to Kimmel's The Solace of Leaving Early, but it does contain the same quiet charm. The Solace of Leaving Early is a heartbreaking/heartwarming tale of two individuals at odds with themselves and small-town life. Kimmel's characters in Solace are troubled individuals seeking solace, struggling with their problems, both large and small. Langston, the main character has walked out on her PHD oral exams, returning to her hometown, while Amos, the town minister is torn by a tragedy he was unable to prevent. Kimmel's wonderful gift for slowly revealing secrets is what helps this novel to be so enjoyable. There is a great deal to enjoy in this lovely novel that is told with empathy and

wit.

The third installment of the trilogy is The Used World, which also features Amos and is placed in rural Indiana, but, again, is a completely different story. I think we visited that novel on this blog a month or so ago.

"BLOOM"-ING BOOKS

Now that I have completed all of the fiction that Amy Bloom has written, I am looking forward to what she will be writing in the future. She is a past National Book Award finalist for her earlier short story collection, Come to Me, which I beleive we've visited on this blog before.

I recently read Bloom's first novel, Love Invents Us, which chronicles Elizabeth Taube's, rather disturbing journey into adolescence, then adulthood, introducing along the way a collection of vividly drawn characters, who are each a vital part of this neurotic, but perceptive young girl's life. While not a heartwarming novel, it is captivating. Bloom's Elizabeth, lonely and neglected, is an intriguing heroine whose burgeoning self-discovery and identity questions is sympathetic and real . Bloom, who teaches creative writing at Yale, is a former pyschotherapist; readers will wonder how if many of Bloom's clientele appear in this work, as well as her two short story collections and her new novel, Away.

BLOWN AWAY BY AMY BLOOM'S AWAY

Just wondering how many readers have had the chance to get their hands on Amy Bloom's wonderful new novel, Away.

I read it over the past 10 days and most certainly agree with the Publisher's Weekly reviewers who say it is "absolutely stunning". The novel is not long, a short 256 pages, but it is so packed with details, characters and amazing geographic settings that it is not only a thrilling page-turner, it also full of humor, suspense, desire, heartbreak, the danger of re-inventing one's self and, most importantly, love.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Amy Bloom and being present at her reading of this splendid novel. She entertained the small audience with a tale or two of her writing experiences and her new career, which involves writing tv screeplays for the Lifetime channel's State of Mind. Bloom read many passages from Away, most certainly whetting the appetite of those who had not yet tried this book. I feel this is one of the year's best books because of Bloom's description of Lillian's panoramic odyssey and the understanding of the heart.

In a nutshell, Away focuses one Lillian Leyb, an Russian immigrant to America, who has tragically lost her entire family and barely survived a pogram in her small village, circa mid-1920s. She makes a life for herself in NY, living with relatives and surviving as mistress to one man, a sort of decoy to another. Lillian knows she can get by and actaully makes the most of her existence, that is, until the one day a cousin, presumed dead, shows up, telling Lillian that Lillian's own small daughter is not dead, but alive and well. It is at this juncture that Away changes from a story of "getting by" to one of sheer survival, as Lillian travels from the east coast all the way to Alaska, in an attempt to leave the U.S. to reach Siberia and re-claim this child. What begins as a small tale of immigrant life develops into a study of human nature in some of the country's most remote regions. A special trick Bloom uses, a tiny bit of telegraphing what the characters' future holds by giving out small details as the story rolls forward, is an especially nice touch. This book is a extraordinary: striking, hypnotic and unforgettable. You'll certainly be swept away...

BEASTS OF NO NATION-Incendiary novel

If you have not yet read Beasts of No Nation, maybe it is time to try. TRY is the key word here because this is not a book that is everyone's taste. In fact, this "pseudo-memoir" and the life that it reflects make for one harrowing read.

Written as a thesis at Harvard, Uzodinma Iweala offers this harrowing portrait of Agu, the preteen boy who becomes a guerilla soldier in a war-torn, unnamed West African nation, gives this anguished account while forced to serve in this batallion. He has seen his quiet preacher father killed before his eyes, his bible-reading mother and sister eveacuated by the U.N. and nowAgu relays this heartbreak, while fighting a war which he knows little about, attempting to stay alive in the mayhem and chaos surrounding him. Told in Pidgin English, Agu's haunting voice takes the reader into this descent into hell, this nightmare of violence. Once a scholarly boy, Agu is now in the throes of brutality and takes on the ways of his marauding fighters. conflicted yet fascinated by war, Agu comes to receive care at a shelter/ hospital. This totally different powerfully important novel is a dehumanizing coming-of-age tale.

any splendid thoughts?

Well, I have finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. I guess it is really difficult for a writer of a terrific, much-loved novel to turn around and WOW readers again. I am a fan of Kite Runner, so my expectations for the author's second novel may have been high, as Kite Runner was terrific. So, readers, such as this one probably approached this second novel with trepidation. Hosseini has aimed high with his second novel. I have to admit that I liked the idea of this novel more than I actually enjoyed the novel. I had problems with Hosseini's writing this time out. Mainly I felt that these characters were cardboard-y. He tells a gripping story, conveying 30 years of Afghan history; readers learn the endurance of the women facing enormous oppression. The unbelievably tragic story, filled with graphic violence, is definitely an eye-opener: the war-torn story that unfolds is of two women survive tremendous odds. at times Hosseini seemed heavy-handed and preachy; at times, he merely seemed rushed. Kite Runner is a subtle novel, with depth and style that rarely slowed down; though an interesting novel that offers a big slice of history, A Thousand Splendid Suns, unfortunately, feels a bit contrived and manipulative. Looking foorward to many thoughts about this novel...splendid or otherwise.

plotz

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
thousand splendid thoughts?


Thoughts on A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I probably should wait until I am finished, but I am just wondering who has read this second novel by the author of The Kite Runner. I have read about 150 pages and while it is interesting and intriguing, I find that it is not as compelling as Hosseini's debut novel. Undoubtedly, he is a marvelous story-weaver, which is evident in this work; there is a good amount of heartbreak, a dramatic presentation of escalating danger and various violent turns yet I am finding the characters a bit one-dimensional. I am sure very soon I will find it difficult to put down, but so far my reaction is a bit tepid. Let's hear from you and your reactions to this highly acclaimed novel...looking forward to your thoughts.

Posted by ana anyogn at 5:46 PM 0 comments



Thursday, September 6, 2007
so interesting

As a sort of footnote to what I previously posted~for those of you interested in reading additional info. about author, Haven Kimmel, there is a most interesting interview with her on this lovely blog: Seven Impossible Interviews before Breakfast#9: The One. The Only. Haven Kimmel

Here you go: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=522

ENJOY!

Posted by ana anyogn at 4:53 PM 0 comments

Wow!

I often read "advance copies" of books soon to be published so that I can review them for various resources. Often this is a lot of fun, but, at times, there can be a time-crunch where I find myself looking for extra time to read these books. Recently, I became acquainted with Haven Kimmel's newest book, The Used Emporium, which is the final book in her sort of Indiana-based trilogy---the first books of the trilogy are Solace of Leaving Early followed by Something Rising (Light and Swift). I had never read Kimmel, but was aware of her two non-fiction works: A Girl Named Zippy and She Got up off the Couch.

This novel is incredible. A bit slow to begin, by the time I got to page 100, the many developments began to play out. Many characters here and some spirituality, many memories, sordid secrets and more than a twists and turns. Caution: read carefully. Readers who enjoy Billie Letts' novels are likely to appreciate Kimmel's new book. The book is surprising in many ways and as the characters seem like living, breathing individuals, I expect it will stay with me for some time.

Stay tuned for more book news. . .

short stories

I have been waiting to read Away by Amy Bloom, but before trying it, I decided to sample a collection of short stories by this author. A Blind Man can See How Much I Love You is the title of this collection I brought home. Warning: don't begin reading this unless you are prepared to do nothing but read, read, read for several hours. Powerful stories that are difficult to put down. Each one is haunting in its own inimitable way. The focus of these stories cover the gamut from family illness, to familes reuniting to re-formed familes. Amazing. Highly recommended.

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