Author: literarymasters

2013 Best Translated Book Award–the Finalists for Fiction

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Save the date!!!  Tomorrow the winner of the 2013 Best Translated Book Award will be announced.  Here are the finalists for the fiction category:

The Planets by Sergio Chejfec, translated from the Spanish by Heather Cleary (Open Letter Books; Argentina)

Prehistoric Times by Eric Chevillard, translated from the French by Alyson Waters (Archipelago Books; France)

The Colonel by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, translated from the Persian by Tom Patterdale (Melville House; Iran)

Satantango by László Krasznahorkai, translated from the Hungarian by George Szirtes (New Directions; Hungary)

Autoportrait by Edouard Levé, translated from the French by Lorin Stein (Dalkey Archive Press; France)

A Breath of Life: Pulsations by Clarice Lispector, translated from the Portuguese by Johnny Lorenz (New Directions; Brazil)

The Hunger Angel by Herta Müller, translated from the German by Philip Boehm (Metropolitan Books; Romania)

Maidenhair by Mikhail Shishkin, translated from the Russian by Marian Schwartz (Open Letter Books; Russia)

Transit by Abdourahman A. Waberi, translated from the French by David Ball and Nicole Ball (Indiana University Press; Djibouti)

My Father’s Book by Urs Widmer, translated from the German by Donal McLaughlin (Seagull Books; Switzerland)

I haven’t read even one of these books–and I read a lot!  How about you?  For more on each book, click here.  And don’t forget to check in tomorrow and I’ll let you know which title won!

Women’s Prize for Fiction: the Short List!

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Save the date!  We will have a winner for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, formally the Orange Prize, on June 5th.  Until then, you have some reading to do!  Here’s the list:

  • Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
  • NW by Zadie Smith
  • Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
  • May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
  • Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
  • Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Clearly, we are spoiled for choice.  Congratulations to the women whose works have made it thus far!

Should Your Book Club Read Schroder by Amity Gaige?

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Hmm…well, this is a quick read, and it’s one that book clubs will enjoy.  I will not be choosing it for my Literary Masters book groups, however.    I would recommend taking this novel to the beach or on an airplane, though–it’s a compelling read.  The story is narrated by Schroder, aka Kennedy, who is writing some sort of apologia to his ex-wife (for one) because he kidnapped their daughter.

Here’s what I liked about it: it was, as I said, a quick read, one I didn’t have to exert too much brain power for, and I was in the mood for just that.  Yes, it’s definitely a page-turner.  I wanted to find out how reliable the narrator Schroder/Kennedy is.  I wondered if we had a Humbert Humbert on our hands.  The narrator in this instance admits to his duplicity up front.  Hmm…is he believable?  Is he forgivable? 

I liked that I really entered the head of Schroder/Kennedy.  I think the author does a good job there.  And I felt his love for his daughter, and hers for him.

Here’s what I would have liked more of: the bit about silences and pauses, and poetic reversals.  I think she could have fleshed this out much, much more and developed a much more literary novel.

I wish I knew more about Schroder’s childhood and relationship with his parents.  Although the author touches on the narrator’s background, she doesn’t give enough information to fully or convincingly explain the psychological reasons for what he is doing. 

I wish I knew more about Schroder/Kennedy’s relationship with his ex-wife.  Again, we get a bit of that, but much more would have illuminated the motives of the narrator/kidnapper and would have gotten this reader, at least, more invested in the story.  We don’t get her perspective at all–or minimally, anyway–so the story feels rather flat.

I think the author has the bones of a great novel here, but I don’t think she layered those bones with enough muscle, sinew, and flesh to make it a literary book.  I feel like when I try to “dig deep,” I hit the skeleton pretty quickly, and that is that–on to the next book.

I do love the name Amity Gaige, though. 

Congrats to the Winners of the Windham Campbell Prize!

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According the website of the Windham Campbell Prize, “The Donald Windham Sandy M. Campbell literature prizes at Yale University recognize emerging and established writers for outstanding achievement in fiction, non-fiction, and drama.”  (For more info on the prize, click here.)  So, many congratulations to:

Fiction:

  • Tom McCarthy
  • James Salter
  • Zoe Wicomb

Non-Fiction:

  • Adina Hoffman
  • Jeremy Scahill
  • Jonny Steinberg

Drama:

  • Stephen Adly Guirgis
  • Tarell Alvin McCraney
  • Naomi Wallace

National Book Critics Circle Award–the Winners!

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The National Book Critics Circle Award winners have been announced, and once again, Literary Masters book groups are ahead of the curve!  Our choice for this month is Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain, which just won the award in the fiction category–yahoo!!!

For more on the awards, click here.

Should Your Book Club Read Imagining Argentina by Lawrence Thornton?

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Ahhh…this is a tough one.  I think this is a really important book to read, but I have to say that it is somewhat difficult, perhaps too difficult for some book clubs.  When I say “difficult,” I am not referring to the structure or the plot or the story; I am thinking of  the scenes of torture that are essential to our understanding of what the book is about.

The story takes place in Argentina during the “dirty war”–from about 1976 through 1983–when a military junta, after ousting Isabella Peron, gripped the country in a state of prolonged terror.  Anyone who opposed the regime, anyone suspected of subversion, anyone related to those who opposed the regime–basically tens of thousands of people–were taken, or “disappeared,” in the middle of the night.  No explanation.  The kidnapped were tortured and killed.  Yet the regime denied anything of the sort was going on.

In this novel, Carlos runs a theater group for children, but when people start disappearing, he seems to have a magical ability to imagine what has happened to them.  Worried relatives seek his knowledge and he soon develops a following.  The narrator of the story cannot explain how Carlos does this and is skeptical, swinging from suspended disbelief to cynicism, much like the reader of the novel.  Yet, the narrator (and this reader at least) ends up firmly in the camp of those who believe in Carlos’ imagination–and its power to defeat the terror.

I would love it if your book club would read Imagining Argentina because I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.  It’s a very beautifully written novel (in spite of the scenes of torture) whose message I’m not sure I understood.  It seems like it was saying that we must imagine our way beyond the banal, beyond the evil.  And by doing so we will transcend it.  We can do this through art, through story-telling, through spirituality or other means, but it is very important that we do it.  That we remember and tell what happened.

Let me know if your book club reads it and what everyone thinks.  And if you’re not sure your book club should read it, why don’t you read it first–because every individual should–that’s for sure.

Should Your Book Club Read The End of the Affair by Graham Greene?

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The answer to the question: yes, with reservation.  This novel was the February selection for Literary Masters book groups and literary salons.  It proved to be a very difficult book for a lot of members, BUT we had seriously intense and riveting discussions.  So, I say “with reservation” because, if your book club is more social than serious, your members may have trouble with the book.  On the other hand, if your book club likes to “dig deep” into great literature, this is the book for you!

So what can your book club discuss?  The following contains many spoilers, and is in no particular order.  In fact, forgive me if there’s a rambling nature to this blog post, but my head is swirling with thoughts due to the many fantastic insights my LM members expressed, and I want to get them down here.

Warp-speed plot summary: Maurice Bendrix is obsessed with Sarah Miles, who is inconveniently married to the unassuming Henry.  When Sarah breaks off the affair abruptly with no explanation, Bendrix is determined to find out why.

There are many lenses through which to view this novel.  Let’s take a look at a few:

The biographical lens:  Yes, this book appears to be somewhat autobiographical.  Greene’s house on Clapham Common was bombed during WWII.  Greene had an adulterous relationship with a woman who seems strikingly like the character Sarah.  Greene and his lover kept diaries that they shared.  Greene converted to Catholicism but seemed to struggle with his faith.  Greene went through Jungian psychoanalysis when he was young–and this book seems to be some sort of therapy for both Greene and Bendrix.  Greene is said to have suffered from depression (and was bipolar according to some accounts) throughout his life.

However, most of us knew none of the above before we read the book, so this information colored our reading experience in retrospect.  Once we knew these details, though, we couldn’t help but conflate the life of Green with the lives of his characters.  And let’s not forget that we have an author, Greene, writing about an author, Bendrix, writing about the end of his affair…who comes across the diary of his lover…

The historical lens:  We all discussed how this novel was about more than a love affair; it was about a whole new world that had exploded on the scene, literally, due to two world wars.  We talked about how of course one would question his or her faith–and whether there could be a God in a world that had seen such atrocities.  Note the references to the Victorian age in the novel, and see what message you can take away.

The psychoanalytic lens:  I mentioned above that Greene went through Jungian therapy, and my bet is that he read plenty of Freud.  So was it intentional on his part, or am I just reading into the novel the structure of the Oedipus Complex?  Motherless Bendrix has found his substitute in Sarah; he is the phallus for her, and the two of them are emotionally inseparable.  When Sarah, in the role of mother, leaves Bendrix, in the role of child, for the father–and in this case it’s God the Father–Bendrix attempts to kill that father by denying his existence.

And if you don’t like that triangle, how about this one: the Karpman Triangle, where each of three people take on a role of either Persecutor, Victim, or Rescuer.  In this relationship dynamic (which you can google to find out more about–it’s really interesting) the roles are very fluid with the three individuals moving around and taking on a different role at various times.  One Literary Master member brought this to our attention; she said she was seeing these triangles all over the story!

We have more than a few feminists among us, and there was quite a lot of discussion about Sarah and what she got out of her relationship with Bendrix.  We tried to understand her in the context of the times, but she is a slippery one–we couldn’t agree on her at all.  Lacan would have a field day with this!  (You know, Jacques Lacan, the “French Freud.”)  Sarah needs someone to admire her–to validate her existence.  You’ll want to talk about her mother and how that relationship has affected Sarah.  Interestingly, more than a few of us thought that Sarah made her vow as a way to break off her relationship with Bendrix.

No matter how you feel about Sarah, you’ll want to discuss whether she truly did believe in God.  And if yes, when and why.

You’ll want to explore the same question about Bendrix.

Henry is another character that will consume quite a bit of your time.  Some of us saw some homosexual tendencies in him–and in Bendrix.  Regardless, you’ll want to dig deep into Henry’s motivations.

This has been called a “Catholic novel” by critics.  You may or may not agree with this characterization, but you will want to discuss the miracles that occur in the story.  Are they truly miracles, or is there always a scientific explanation for what has occurred?  Are they just coincidences?

You’ll want to discuss the role of suffering in the story and how it relates to love.

You’ll want to discuss the language and Greene’s use of opposites for effect. Not only are words and phrases contrasted; characters are as well.  We have the “high” and the “low” and you’ll want to wonder why.  Speaking of characters, you’ll want to carve out quite some time to discuss the secondary characters in this novel.  For example, what is the purpose of the scene with Sylvia Black?  (My answer–just a hint–focus on her initials…)

You’ll want to discuss the symbolism and imagery in the story.  (Does Bendrix “rise from the dead”?)

If you’ve read all the way to here, kudos to you.  You’re obviously a serious reader who will enjoy Greene’s work.  When you’ve finished the novel, watch the movie (I watched the version with Julianne Moore and Ralph Fiennes).  You’ll want to compare it with the book.  It’s really good!

As always, let me know how your book club gets on–and enjoy!

Should Your Book Club Read Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter?

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Should your book club read Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter?  Yes, absolutely.  If you’re not in a book club (poor you), you should read it anyway.  It’s funny and charming and compelling.  And very thought-provoking.  There’s a lot of serious stuff going on beneath the humor in this book.  I laughed at parts and I cried at others.  This was Literary Masters’ choice for September, and it was a huge hit!

Warp-speed plot summary:  It’s 1962 Italy and the stunning Dee Moray arrives in the beautiful but forgotten seaside village Porto Vergogna on the Ligurian coast.  Our hero Pasquale is immediately smitten with her.  For reasons I won’t go into here, she disappears from his life, and fifty years later he embarks on a quest to find her.  The reader is zipped along from Italy to Seattle, with stops that include Edinburgh, Rome, and Hollywood along the way.  Each place is brimming with unforgettable characters–each one more human than the next.

So what can your book club talk about? 

Well, you’ll want to start by asking my favorite question:  What is this book about?

This elicited quite a few different answers, largely because this book has a lot going on in it.  A few themes stand out, though, and you’ll want to ‘dig deep’ into each one.  For example, you’ll want to talk about living the life you think you should be living versus really living the one you’re in.  And speaking about the life you should be living, who has imposed that “should”?  Who has dictated the narrative of how your life should be led?   

One’s identity and how it is formed is related to this, and you’ll want to consider what the book is saying here.  For example, how are our identities shaped by our culture?  And who shapes or makes our culture in the first place?  Who has the power to do so?

The theme of storytelling runs throughout the novel–you’ll want to ponder:  who gets to tell the stories that reflect and/or shape our culture?   And how do I create the narrative of my own life?  And who owns my story and why do I relinquish the telling of my story to someone else?

You’ll also want to talk about the characters’ quests for fame.  Why are they so intent on being seen by others?  Is this just human nature?  And you’ll want to discuss the relationship between fame and art.  What is the book saying about this?

Shane’s motto is “act as if,” which seems particularly relevant to today’s “social media generation.”  Or perhaps people have always done this.  Perhaps people have always been projecting an image to others of how we want to be perceived.  Your book club can decide…

The characters that seemed to stand apart from the others were Pasquale and Michael Deane.  You’ll want to talk about the innocence of Pasquale–and why he chose to do what he did–and you’ll want to talk about…the incredibly unique Michael Deane.  One of my groups spent quite a long time trying to decide whether he is a narcissist or just a control freak.  Or both.

We talked a lot about what motivated the characters, and we ‘dug deep’ into the theme of desire in the novel.  “People want what they want.”  You’ll want to give this statement a lot of thought.

The Donner Party chapter is one you’ll want to discuss.  I was fascinated by how we came at this from different perspectives.   For example, is the main point that Eddy is a hero whose story isn’t told?  Can there even be a hero if there is no story?  Or is the point that, although there is a heroic person and story to be told, the audience is more interested in hearing about cannibalism?  Are we to draw the parallel between the cannibals of the Donner Party–eating each other to survive–and Hollywood–where much the same thing goes on?

The pillbox with the paintings also generated a lot of discussion.  Is it true art if no one sees it?  Why did Pasquale and Dee Moray invent the story about the artist?  And why was the “truth” so far from what they had imagined?  What is the book saying about truth and reality?  Your book club can have some deeply philosophical discussions, if you’re so inclined.

You’ll want to consider the epigraphs and their significance, if any, and you’ll want to do the same for the title.

Well, I could go on, but I think this should get you started.  This wonderful novel has landed on more than one “Best of” lists for 2012 (if you “like” Literary Masters on Facebook, you can find a link to many of the “Best of 2012” lists), and I think you’ll agree that it deserves all the praise.  Let me know how your book group enjoys it!

Should Your Book Club Read The Round House by Louise Erdrich?

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My answer to this question is yes.  In fact, I think this is one of those books that is better read in a group than on one’s own.  Trevor over at The Mookse and the Gripes reviewed it (click here for his excellent review) and he captured much of what I was struggling with as I read it.  As he so eloquently put it, it’s a “bit of a mess.”  Having said that, though, it’s really a mess worth reading and discussing with your book club.  Really.

It won the National Book Award, which put it on my radar.  My personal book club (not my Literary Masters groups) read it, and we had a rollicking discussion.  So, what can your book club discuss?

Warp speed plot summary (for a more comprehensive review, refer to Trevor’s above):

Set on an Native American reservation, this is a coming-of-age tale, told through the eyes of a 13 year old boy.  The narrator is much older now, but he is looking back and telling us the story of a pivotal event in his life: his mother was brutally attacked and raped by someone either on or near the reservation.  How the family copes and what ensues makes for a very interesting and thought-provoking read.

Your book club will probably want to discuss:

  • The family dynamics and the reversal of roles that takes place in the aftermath of the attack.  We all agreed that the love the boy feels for his family was the most moving part of the story.
  • You’ll want to talk about the significance of the Native American myths that are woven throughout the novel.  How do they parallel, echo, or reinforce the themes of the book?
  •  What do you think of how life on a reservation is portrayed?  Is there a statement being made here?  This may open up the discussion of how Native Americans have been treated historically.
  • You will definitely want to talk about the narrator’s motivations for telling us his story.  Why is he doing so?  Is he a reliable narrator?  Is his story important and why or why not?
  • In the afterword of the novel, Louise Erdrich states, “This book is set in 1988, but the tangle of laws that hinder prosecution of rape cases on many reservations still exists.”  You’ll want to discuss how the law plays a role in the story.  And you’ll want to discuss whether the events at the end of the book are justifiable in the light of the legal situation. 
  •  Shifting boundaries pervade the story, and you’ll want to talk about this.  Legal, familial, racial, physical: nothing is contained forever, no matter how much people try to enforce limitations.  This is a huge and important theme throughout the book.
  •  You’ll want to discuss the symbolism and imagery in the book.  Hint: it opens with some significant symbolism.  How does it illustrate the meaning of the novel?
  • There are many characters worth discussing, especially in their relation to Joe, the narrator.  Considering this is a coming-of-age tale, you’ll want to understand what Joe experienced as a boy, without his ‘future understanding as a man,’ and what he is reflecting upon as a grown man.  Very different–and rather important differences.  Memory and perspective will come into your conversation, no doubt.

All right, I could go on, but this should get you started.  My personal book club discussed all of the above and then some, and we came away from our meeting feeling like we had really ‘dug deep’ into the book.  Let me know how your book club meeting goes–enjoy!