Historical Fiction: Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor

Books, even fictional ones, about areas of the world I know little about are often fascinating to me. In Whale Fall, Elizabeth O'Connor tells the story of what happens when a small remote island in Europe is visited by two researchers after a whale washes up on its shores. Short and to the point, the book follows one of the island's young inhabitants as she considers her future, while observing the island along with its new visitors.

The Situation: On a small island off of the coast of Wales, 18 year-old Manod lives with her father, Tad, and her younger sister Llinos. It is 1938, and while the island receives most of its news much later than the mainland, the news about an impending war still manages to reach its shores. But something else that has reached the shore and stolen nearly everyone's attention is the body of whale, and what follows its arrival are two English ethnographers who hire Manod as their assistant due to her ability to speak their language. For Manod, close contact with the researchers feeds her desire to some day leave the island and see a world she has always wondered about, and hopefully be able to bring her sister along.

The Problem: Manod is glad, almost proud to help the researchers, though their seemingly sophisticated ways often make her embarrassed of her simple life. She is happy to translate for them, while also show them around and explain the island's culture and customs. But while the visitors may prove to be Manod's ticket to leaving the island and seeing the world as she has dreamed, their work may also end up being a source of misinformation to those outside, as it does not look like they are accurately portraying life on the island. Manod does not recognize the people from their descriptions, and worries about the pictures they are taking. The longer they stay, the more things unravel, and the less sure Manod is about her future.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in 1938 on a small island off of the coast of Wales. The first-person narrator, Manod, is an 18 year-old girl who spends most of her days taking care of the house and her younger sister, until a pair of English ethnographers arrive on the island, and ask her to assist them, mostly as a translator. The body of a whale washes up on the shore of the island in the very beginning of the novel, and while it is not the primary focus of what is happening, its presence is always there, in the background, occasionally making an appearance as the residents attempt to figure out what to do about it. In the note on the text, the author explains that the island, while fictional, is an amalgamation of several islands around the British Isles. For Manod, there is a strong desire to leave the only community she has ever known, as well as the realization that the outside world may also be coming to them.

My Verdict: This is a short book, clocking in at under 250 pages, and yet it is pretty impressive how much O'Connor manages to put into this story, and I am not necessarily talking about the plot. It is a fairly straightforward story, but the struggles of the community; Manod's worries over their future as well as her own; and the researchers' weighty judgement of the island (while also being gleeful over how they will profit from what they find) is all conveyed through the young narrator's simple and somehow also complicated and tangled up observations of her own life, as well as how the ethnographers go about their work. The plotline of someone wanting to leave their small community for the big world outside may be a common one, but Manod's story feels unique and different and refreshing.

Favorite Moment: There are small moments when Manod's frustrations with her life come through, but they are never heavy-handed and are rarely obvious. 

Favorite Character: Tad is a lobster fisherman and the father of Manod and Llinos. He may not be the most attentive father in the world (most of the time he does not even call Manod by the correct name), but I appreciate that he is a man of few words, and is able to make it clear how he feels about the ethnographers, while saying very little.

Recommended Reading: I recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which is a very different (and much longer) story, but also about the inner workings of a remote community and one of its families. 

Nonfiction: There's Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib

As much as I would have loved to sit in on Hanif Abdurraqib's talk at this year's San Antonio Book Festival, I had just landed back in town less than 24 hours earlier from a trip to Tokyo, Japan, and the jet lag was too much. I managed to walk the festival grounds for a couple of hours that morning, and spend way too much money, but Abdurraqib's talk was later in the afternoon. So I bought There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, a few t-shirts, a massive barrel of lemonade (you read right), and went back home.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book in which Abdurraqib talks about his life and history with Columbus, Ohio, as well as his lifelong love of basketball, while also looking into the career of LeBron James, in particular his relationship with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Broken up into five sections, including the "Pregame" and then four quarters, Abdurraqib allows the clock to count down while remembering the kids he grew up watching: the ones that people filled high school gymnasiums to watch and proclaim were destined to be the next big basketball star. Using both poetry and prose, Abdurraqib also talks of his love of Ohio, even with its myriad of teams known for losing, and the moments of violence that extend back to the 1970s car bombings.

My Verdict: I will start off by saying that I love how the book is organized. I liked having the four quarters, with their time outs and intermissions, and the countdown worked well with Abdurraqib's language and movement. The narration is linear, while somehow also not, without being confusing or frustrating. If anything, it simply felt to me how memory works: Some things bring up other things, and that other thing reminds you of something that contradicts what you said about the first thing. Often apologizing, and then refusing to apologize, Abdurraqib tells the story of why he loves where he came from, and why he had no desire to ever 'make it out' of there.

Favorite Moment: I do not follow basketball the way I used to...not that I ever did all that closely. But it was one of those things I used to know a lot about because I watched it with my dad, and being able to recall personal memories of some of the events mentioned in the book is a point of pride. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Boom Town by Sam Anderson. In this book, Anderson details the history of Oklahoma City, as well as its basketball team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Contemporary Fiction: Colton Gentry's Third Act by Jeff Zentner

The work of Jeff Zentner has always been welcome on this blog, so it was an easy decision to cover Colton Gentry's Third Act, which is the author's first offering for adults. When a country music star speaks his mind, it costs him everything, which means starting over in his hometown. Confronting the past can be painful, but it may be exactly what Colton needs.

The Situation: Colton Gentry is about to do what he loves. He finally has his hit country song, and is ready to go on stage as the opening act for one of country music's biggest stars. Unfortunately, he has already been drinking, something he has been doing heavily since losing his best friend during a mass shooting. And after letting a few hecklers get under his skin, Colton lets loose a few choice words, right before they cut his mic. A handful of drunken (and profanity-filled) words are enough for the musician to lose everything, seemingly overnight. His career is over; his wife leaves him; and he is out of money. After some time in rehab, Colton has little choice but to return to his small hometown of Venice, Kentucky, the site of the first big mistake he ever made.

The Problem: Colton's mother may be happy to have him home with her, and while he gets the occasional requests for autographs, some of the locals are not too thrilled to see him, given what he said about gun control the last time he was on stage. Determined to lie low, an unexpected circumstance while with his mother at a restaurant brings him face to face with his high school girlfriend, and the inspiration behind his only hit song. Turns out she went through her own ups and downs after they broke up during the summer after their senior year in high school. But she extends Colton an opportunity, and he hopes this is the chance he manages to not mess up. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set during two points in history, alternating between them. In 1995, Colton is a senior in high school anticipating the inevitable separation from his girlfriend, Luann, when she goes off to college in New York. In 2015, Colton has watched his chance at being a country star dissolve after he loses his composure on stage, letting the world know how he feels about the state of gun control in this country. Colton returns to his hometown of Venice, Kentucky having worked the 12 steps, but still full of grief, regret, and with no money. The idea of second (and third) chances is big in this book, as Colton has to start over yet again, when it seems impossible to do so.

My Verdict: This book is full of the same heartfelt - and often heartbreaking - scenes, encounters, dialogue, and memories that readers have found in Zentner's previous books. The characters are realistically flawed, while being given incredible backstories that only make more colorful the story that is currently being told. Colton's road to redemption will look familiar to many: filled with grief; moments that leave him feeling blind-sided; and many many mistakes. Zentner's books have always left me feeling hopeful, while also being melancholy in a meaningful way, against a delightfully southern and country backdrop, and this one is no different. It is his first novel for adults and he was able to convey his usual sense of hard-earned (and hard-fought for) joy that has been in his books for young readers.

Favorite Moment: There are two moments, very brief, that involve Colton's dog Petey, in which the author speaks directly to the reader, and I do not think I have ever enjoyed a fourth wall break more.

Favorite Character: Luann is a delight, but she also has her hang-ups (and rightfully so). I adore her determination and resolve, and would love to be able to visit her (fictional) restaurant. 

Recommended Reading: Of Zentner's four YA books, I was always partial to the first one, The Serpent King, but I absolutely have to recommend In the Wild Light as well. 

Science Fiction: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

With artificial intelligence being such a topic of concern right now, it felt appropriate to pick up Sierra Greer's Annie Bot. At the center of the story is Annie, an extremely lifelike robot meant to be the perfect companion. But is that even possible? And does it matter what Annie wants?

The Situation: Annie lives in New York, where she shares an apartment with Doug, her owner. When he bought her for an amount just shy of a quarter of million dollars, he was allowed to pick out what she would look like (figure, skin color, eye color, etc.), as well as what type of bot she would be. As a 'cuddle-bunny,' Annie is mostly meant to meet Doug's physical needs, though she can also learn to cook, clean, and do other various tasks. As far as Annie knows, her primary objective is to make Doug happy, whatever that may mean. Able to gauge her owner's rate of displeasure, measured on a scale of 1 to 10, Annie does her best to do what she believes Doug would want. Seems simple enough, except that it is not.

The Problem: Things are going along as they should, with Annie getting better and better at doing what Doug wants, until one of his old friends makes a surprise visit to ask Doug to be the best man at his wedding. Suddenly, Annie is questioning what it means to be the ideal human companion, while understanding that she is 'only' a highly sophisticated machine that can easily fool most people. The more human she acts, the less pleased Doug seems to be. And yet, how real she seems is what he often has praised her for. Confused, scared, and occasionally angry, Annie begins to look for answers, while also attempting to obey her own programming, something that proves to be difficult, even for a well-built machine.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in modern-day New York, and tells the story of Annie, a bot under the ownership of Doug. With a main objective to keep Doug happy, Annie finds this to be incredibly difficult, especially as she attempts to be more human. Her AI can follow directions, as well as learn, even read, but reconciling her emotions with what is happening proves to be a struggle. If she wants nothing more than for Doug to be happy, then why is she able to lie to him so easily? Artificial Intelligence may be front and present in the novel, but so are humanity, relationships, ownership, and even grief.

My Verdict: This novel is as complicated as the subject matter it tackles. The general plotline is straightforward enough - an AI robot does her best to fulfil her purpose of making her owner happy - but the path to success is difficult and full of scenarios that only confuse her. What the book does well is carefully and thoroughly show how Annie's attempts to perfectly imitate humans is complicated, and seemingly impossible, even for the best AI technology available. And while a first-person perspective would have limited the view to only Annie, or to only Doug, the third person limited perspective widens the view just enough to show what it is Annie is up against. The questions and issues brought up in the novel certainly add to the AI conversation.

Favorite Moment: Annie's observations about how human beings interact with each other are fascinating, and often humorous (see 'Favorite Quote' below).  

Favorite Character: She appears briefly, and only through a phone call, but the wife of Doug's good friend, Lucia, offers a refreshing moment of honesty. She cuts through the nonsense and gets right to the point.

Favorite Quote: "It occurs to her, eventually, that Doug and all the other humans talk about their lives with a myopic intensity, sharing singular, objective opinions as if they are each the protagonist of their own novel. They take turns listening to each other without ever yielding their own certainty of their star status, and they treat their fellow humans as guest protagonists visiting from their own respective books. None of the humans are satellites the way she is, in her orbit around Doug." 

Recommended Reading: Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino does something similar, but it is an alien being attempting to report back on what it means to be human. It was also mentioned on the book jacket that Greer's story is a sort of blend between the observations made in books by Kazuo Ishiguro, and My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell.

 

Young Adult Fiction: The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

We have reached the end of another YA Fest, and this time we are closing out the month of June with The Reappearance of Rachel Price, by well-known thriller writer Holly Jackson. Last year I discussed Five Survive, and knew to expect that same kind of intensity and suspense from Jackson's latest release.

The Situation: Eighteen year-old Annabel 'Bel' Price would love if life could simply return to normal. Granted, 'normal' was not all that great either, mostly because she has always lived in the shadow of the mystery behind her mom's disappearance 16 years ago. Since then it has always been her and her dad, leaning on each other to make it through. But now that her father has agreed to have a  true-crime documentary made about Rachel Price's disappearance, there are camera crews everywhere Bel turns, and she is once again being asked about the day her mom disappeared. Bel was the only witness to what happened, but she was too young to remember anything. Too young to remember what happened in the car that was found on the side of the road.

The Problem: As Bel looks forward to when the camera crew leaves and they can all move on, the impossible happens. Rachel Price has reappeared, almost back from the dead, since that is what many people assumed her to be. But here she is, with an explanation of what happened to her and where she has been for the past 16 years. Bel is not sure how to feel about the reappearance of a mother she does not know, but then she starts to see what she feels are cracks in Rachel's story. But why would she lie? With the camera crew around, Bel will have a hard time doing her own investigation. But she needs to know the truth, even if finding it means a 'normal' life will never again be within reach.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult thriller focused on Bel Price, the daughter of Rachel Price, a woman who disappeared 16 years earlier and was presumed dead by many. Because of this, Bel has understandable abandonment issues, believing that everyone eventually leaves, and often pushes people away pre-emptively. Her world consists of her father, uncle and aunt, grandfather, and cousin, Carter. When it is discovered that Rachel is alive, matters are immediately complicated, including the filming of the true-crime documentary about her disappearance. There are plot twists, family secrets, hidden dangers, and the reality of living life in the shadow of a public family mystery.

My Verdict: Well, what a way to close out YA Fest. I may not be as hardcore of a fan of true crime as some, but I appreciate the odd podcast or documentary here and there. If I came across the synopsis of this story while scrolling through Netflix, I am actually not sure I would watch it, but being able to see what really happens when the cameras are not rolling makes for a heck of a novel. I will say this: A little suspension of disbelief may be required at certain moments. And not every loose thread is tied up, despite the story's clear attempt to not leave anything hanging. Regardless, true crime and thriller fans will love it.

Favorite Moment: Bel does not approach most conversations with tact or caution or diplomacy. Sometimes this works against her, but there is one occurrence where her tendency towards confrontation was a refreshing change from how most protagonists would attempt to handle the situation. 

Favorite Character: Ash is part of the crew working on the true-crime documentary about Rachel's disappearance. Every description of him and the clothes he wears is more ridiculous than the last, and while being somewhat of a liability on set, he is able to stand up to Bel's rough energy and harsh words.

Recommended Reading: Five Survive is another intense thriller by Jackson, but also very different, and more contained, giving it a sense of pressure and volatility that I do not often find in books. 

Young Adult Fiction: The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma

This third week of YA Fest brings us The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma. A freshman and a third-year at a New Jersey university stumble upon a stack of old letters that may be a missing clue to a decades-old mystery that has long been believed to have ended in tragedy. Jessie and Ravi decide to follow the trail, while wondering if their own story will have a similar ending.

The Situation: Eighteen year-old Jessie Ahuja is nervous about her first semester of college, but she is also incredibly prepared. The goal is simple: study hard, work hard, and become an engineer so that she can take care of her parents, who have done their best to provide for her and hold onto their own version of the American dream. It has not been as easy for her family as it has been for Ravi Kumar's, who is a legend on Hartceller University's campus, mostly because of his father's company and his family's connections. Sure, Ravi has zero interest in a life in the tech industry, but the job, and fortune, and secure future are practically waiting for him on a silver platter. These two have little in common aside from being in the same Creative Nonfiction class, and coveting the same study room in the library, but it may be enough.

The Problem: Jessie only wants to work, study, and never lose sight of the overall goal, which she feels she must keep a tight grip on if she wants to keep her scholarship. But after meeting her at a party right before classes began, Ravi is drawn to Jessie and will not leave her alone. When Jessie finds herself in a part of the library that is supposed to be blocked off for renovations, she discovers a hollowed-out book full of old letters, which may contain the answers to the mystery of a fire that happened in the building back in the 70s, and the two people that were rumored to have perished in it. She also may have landed on a topic for her final Creative Nonfiction project. But if she is honest with herself, Jessie has to admit she is searching the old letters for answers as to whether she and Ravi could ever really be together, or are they as doomed as the mystery couple.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set on a college campus in New Jersey, the fictional Hartceller University (the name of which references the Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965). It is freshman year for Jessie, while Ravi is returning for his junior year as a marketing major. For Jessie, college is a step on the path to financial security for her and her family by way of becoming an engineer. For Ravi, it is almost a formality as he is guaranteed to follow in his parent's and brother's footsteps in the tech industry, except that is the last thing he actually wants. The book explores generational trauma, as well as expectations, tradition, and the difference in struggles for various generations of immigrants, and children from immigrant families.

My Verdict: Lovers of romance will get caught up in the push and pull of Jessie and Ravi's relationship. I would not necessarily put this book in the 'enemies-to-lovers' group, but there is certainly a level of animosity in the very beginning, though mostly on Jessie's part. There is more of a star-crossed lovers angle to it, which we of course have seen before, but the addition of the mystery and the old letters gives readers another layer to the story, while also still being primarily invested in what is happening with Jessie and Ravi. There may be a few plot twists and leaps that I found hard to reconcile, but they did not take away from the overall story of two people deciding who they want to be, despite what is expected of them.

Favorite Moment: Jessie reserves a study room in the library, which is apparently a mistake as Ravi comes along to claim that it as 'his.' This is only my favorite moment because I have met students like Ravi, both as a student and now as a staff member, and the interaction was incredibly true to form, in all of its ridiculousness. 

Favorite Character: Jessie is stubborn, but focused. Both of those traits serve her well, but she also has to learn when to yield, if only a little, and also to give people a chance.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat.  

Young Adult Fiction: The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

In this second week of YA Fest, Bethany Baptiste's The Poisons We Drink will be the focus, with its vast array of characters and intense action. Set in a world where society is attempting to reconcile the existence of witchers sharing space with humans, one teenage girl must come to terms with her past, as well as the power she holds to shape the future.

The Situation: When Venus is on the clock, working for the family business, she knows what is at stake. Or at least, she likes to believe she does. Once her mother receives a phone call from a client, Venus receives her directions and must be careful, for many reasons. Brewing love potions is already a dangerous and delicate (and illegal) business. And matters are not helped by the massive amount of animosity and fear that is directed at the witcher population every day. But brewing love potions pays the bills, and Venus will do whatever is needed to help provide for her mom and her younger sister, Janus.

The Problem: Venus was already suspicious that something was not quite right. Her feelings are more than confirmed when a bullet made of iron, the substance that is harmful to witchers, kills her mother. Now Venus is more determined than ever to find answers, and also exact revenge. And when the head of her coven, the Grand Witcher, gives her the opportunity for both, Venus takes it, despite the chance for incredibly steep consequences should things go wrong. Naturally, the Grand Witcher's offer is not a free one, and in exchange, Venus must brew potions that will help sway powerful politicians against anti-witcher legislation. It is not long before Venus is again suspicious, and it becomes nearly impossible to know who can be trusted.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fantasy novel set in modern-day Washington, D.C, with 18 year-old Venus at the center. As a witcher, her calling is as a brewer, just like her mother. But since the existence of witchers was made known to the general population, there has been much animosity between the human and witcher population. And because witchers are incredibly weak to iron, many groups and businesses have been using the metal to keep them out of certain places, or have forged the material into weapons to use to force, harm, and even kill. The story explores grief, trust, vengeance, and trauma, as well as discrimination, political violence, and hatred. 

My Verdict: This book checks many boxes, and not just the ones for those who love a good fantasy novel. There is potion brewing, and shape-shifting, with portals opening, and fierce familiars such as cats and frogs ready to jump into battle to fight for the people they have pledged to protect. But there are also strong family and friendship bonds, the kind that causes characters to react without thinking, with only the loved ones' safety being the chief concern. The interactions between family members were the most intense, and frustrating, of all of the interactions in the book. The villains were indeed larger than life, but the struggles with blood relations will feel all too real for many. It is a colorful world that has a lot going on, but for any reader ready for a fast-paced adventure full of magic, this book will be ideal.

Favorite Moment: One thing that Venus is continually discovering is just how much information has been kept from her. So every little reveal is satisfying in its own way, and provides an answer that has often been hidden for too long.

Favorite Character: I would have loved more of Uncle Bram. In the earlier parts of the book, his power is only hinted at. But then it shows up in full force and it is like the scene in an action movie when the hero gets to let loose.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis.