Books of the Month: May 2008

Dear Readers,
The sun came out a few days in May and the thermometer even got above 60 now and then. Needless to say, I didn’t read as much this past month as I do during Seattle’s rainy season. But I managed to squeeze in some non-fiction and a couple of Man-Booker Prize winners. It’s not like I wasn’t reading, I just wasn’t reading as much (*= checked out from the library).

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life* (Barbara Kingsolver)
I admit it. I’ve never read Kingsolver’s fiction, but I’m planning to now. This is a wonderful book. Whereas Michael Pollan’s much-hyped Omnivore’s Dilemma has a very strong anti-hero (corn), Kingsolver’s work has several minor heroes (asparagus, heirloom tomatoes, homemade yogurt, family farmers, etc.). Both books encourage readers to think more critically about the food industry and become more ethical eaters. But Kingsolver’s message was a little easier to swallow and much more inspirational. And the asparagus and mushroom bread pudding recipe? Delightful!

The Remains of the Day* (Kazuo Ishiguro)
This was my second Ishiguro experience. The setting, characters, and theme were completely different than Never Let Me Go. But while reading this, it became quickly apparent that Ishiguro is the true master of the sad, slow reveal. He has an amazing, heartbreaking formula behind his writing. And I’ll never look at butlers the same way again.

Brother, I’m Dying (Edwidge Danticat)
For the second time in one month, I found myself reading a writer’s nonfiction without having previously read her fiction. After reading Mountains Beyond Mountains in March, I wanted to continue learning and thinking about Haiti. Danticat’s memoir–a story of her father and the uncle who helped raise her–is a powerful, political, and deeply-wrought emotional experience. A nice meditation on themes of immigration, exile, and family.

The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)
Why didn’t I read this book sooner? Complex characters and difficult themes, together with beautiful prose, make this a highly-compelling book. I was simultaneously drawn in and revulsed by the story of Indian twins Estha and Rahel, and their family struggles and secrets. Roy tackles a lot of hard issues regarding race, caste, family, love, and sexuality. I probably shouldn’t have read it on the bus; this book deserves a close, attentive reader.

What Now?* (Ann Patchett)
Having read all of Patchett’s other books (fiction and non), I was curious to read this piece. It’s an extended version of a graduation speech Patchett gave at her alma mater, Sarah Lawrence College. I’m glad I got it from the library rather than shelling out 15 bucks for this quick read. The text is padded out with random photos and the content, though lovely, is pretty standard college graduation speech material. Fun fact: the vice president’s mansion in Bel Canto (my favorite Patchett book and also my favorite book about opera and/or hostage situations) is modeled off of Sarah Lawrence College’s president’s home.

Bee Season (Myla Goldberg)
I didn’t realize that I was reading Bee Season during the real bee season until today. This started out as a freakishly charming portrait of a spelling bee champion and her family, but I felt the second half a little outlandish and out of place. Nevertheless, I’m reminded of my own spelling bee foibles. It was fourth grade. It was the final round. And in my excitement and haste, I spelled recipe with an S, thus losing the biggest contest of my young life to Tiffany W. Readers, what’s your spelling Achille’s heel?