Contemporary Fiction: Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian

Magical realism features heavily in today's book, Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian. Set mostly in the United States, in both Georgia and California, the story follows a young Indian-American boy and his relationship with his neighbor across the cul-de-sac. After being brought into a scheme like no other, the narrator's life will change in a way he never imagined.

The Situation: Neeraj 'Neil' Narayan is a high school student who lives just outside of Atlanta with his family. While his ambitious sister is busy with the Miss Teen India pageant circuit and headed to Duke University, the pressure is on for Neil to be equally if not more focused and motivated. Problem is, he simply isn't. However, much of his focus is on the Dayal family across the cul-de-sac. The mother, Anjali, is often the subject of the gossip Neil is used to hearing from his own mother. And the daughter, Anita, is on the same pageant circuit as Neil's sister, and recently changed schools to attend the expensive and prestigious private school further away from the neighborhood. Neil and Anita may have been childhood friends, but parental pressure and placement tests have come between them, as Anita is doing everything she can to secure her own future, which seems to mean leaving Neil behind.

The Problem: When Neil stumbles upon the secret to the Dayal women's success, he becomes part of a bigger plot he is not ready for. Anjali may promote herself as somewhat of an event planner, but what she really does when she enters people's homes is much more complicated, and goes beyond petty theft. Anjali and Anita have been using the gold jewelry of Anjali's customers to brew an alchemic mixture that takes on the ambition of the original owner. When Neil takes his first swallow, he is hooked, and he wants in. Finally, his ambition has become what his parents have always wanted it to be, and he wants to keep this going. Of course, things go too far, and a tragedy pulls Anita and Neil apart, leading to a future no one wanted. But Anita and Neil may able to fix things, they only need to steal the most gold they have ever attempted.

Genre, Themes, History: This book is fiction and set partly outside of Atlanta, Georgia in the early 2000s, and partly in California in the Berkeley area during the late 2010s. Our narrator is Neil Narayan, a somewhat unmotivated and bumbling young man who is having a hard time with the pressure of fulfilling the dream his parents have for him and his sister. When he becomes entangled with Anjali and Anita Dayal, it is only the beginning of his adventures, and his obsession with gold and its properties. College Neil is still somewhat unambitious, even though he is attempting to write his dissertation for his PhD, but he is also haunted by the past and the events that took Anita out of his life. The author drew from texts on alchemy, as well as the Gold Rush in 1800s California, to bring Neil's adventures to life. 

My Verdict: There are some things this book does well. When painting a picture of Neil, his family, his community, and his general feeling that he is not living up to the dreams that his parents have for him, Sathian presents everything with descriptions that are not overly complicated. It is just enough for the reader to see what is going on and how Neil feels. Also, it clear how haunted Neil is, mostly in his college years, but there is a subtle hint at that haunting while he is a high school student in Georgia. My problem with the book mostly comes from Neil as the narrator. Even during his more innocent high school years, he is not a likeable character, and it is not because he is unmotivated. His obsession with Anita is uncomfortable, and it does not help that she is not all that likeable either. In the first part of the book, I was often bored, and as the book approached its conclusion, I found myself caring less and less if everything worked out.

Favorite Moment: At the start of the novel, there is a scene from Anjali's past that helps explain how and when she discovered the process of making the gold mixture. It would have been nice to have more scenes like this from her early life.

Favorite Character: I did not care for any of the characters enough to pick a favorite. There are a few characters who add some humor and insight, but they are not present enough in the story.

Recommended Reading: The magical realism elements reminded me somewhat of Traci Chee's The Reader series, but only slightly. It is a different kind of story, geared towards younger readers, full of danger, adventure, magic, pirates, and a very special book.

Young Adult Fiction: In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The word "excited" is not quite strong enough to describe how I felt when I found out Jeff Zentner was publishing another book. In the middle of the busy preparations for another school year, In the Wild Light has shown up, offering a story full of uncertainty, pain, grief, despair, hope, and what it means to take a chance.

The Situation: Cash Pruitt has spent his summer in the small town of Sawyer, Tennessee mowing lawns, hanging out with his best friend, Delaney, and taking care of his Papaw. His life has not been easy, but he loves the people in it, and there is enough hiking and canoeing in Sawyer that he has not sought out much more beyond the small town. But the same cannot be said for Delaney, whose has discovered a bacteria-killing mold inside of a nearby cave, earning her a full scholarship to one of the top boarding schools in the country. And she insists she will not be going alone. Another full scholarship has been secured for Cash, all the way in Connecticut, away from everything he has ever known.

The Problem: The opportunity to attend high school at Middleford Academy is no small thing, but Cash cannot imagine being away from his Papaw, whose breathing gets a little more ragged everyday. Of course, Cash cannot imagine being away from Delaney either, and she feels the same. Though it takes some convincing, the two friends are Middleford bound, and both are incredibly anxious about the people they will meet. Kids who attend the expensive boarding school are children of politicians and of men who own large businesses. Their Instagram's are full of pictures from vacation homes and international trips. Plus, Cash cannot shake the thought that his Papaw does not have many days left. The decision to attend Middleford could change Cash's life, but will it be worth it?

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set partly in Sawyer, Tennessee, and partly in New Canaan, Connecticut where the Middleford Academy is located. At the center of the story is Cash, and at the center of his world are his relationship with his grandfather, and also his best friend, Delaney. After losing his mother to an opioid addiction when he was young, Cash's grandparents raised him. After meeting Delaney due to them both being children of addicts, the two have become inseparable, literally. She refuses to go to Middleford without him, and he cannot imagine Sawyer without her. But even with his best friend just a dorm building away, Middleford is a challenging place to be, and not just academically. Though he discovers poetry, and rows on the crew team, being far from home is hard. Cash acknowledges that Sawyer does not have much for him, except his grandparents are there, and his Papaw does not have much time left. It is the classic struggle between taking a chance and trying something new, or staying behind in the familiar with those you love.   

My Verdict: Maybe it is the times we are in, and everything happening around us, but I do not think I have ever been as emotional while reading a book as I was reading this one. Most of it came from the relationship between Cash and Papaw. I am not even sure how to describe the relationship between the grandfather and grandson, but Zentner has put down on the page something special, and warm, and lovely, yet also genuine and sincere. And Cash's opportunity to leave Sawyer for Middleford feels like both a gift and a punishment. For Cash, it means he loses something either way, and that struggle is both uncomfortable and familiar. Something extra about Zentner's novels are his callbacks to previous ones, which are always delightful reminders that they all take place in the same universe, and gives the feeling of checking in on old friends. I have my own questions about the timeline, but unraveling that mystery adds to the fun. No need to read them in order, but I do recommend them all.

Favorite Moment: Basically any time Papaw speaks.

Favorite Character: Papaw is a wonder. All wisdom and strength (despite his delicate health), love and humor.

Recommended Reading: Zentner's first book, The Serpent King, is as good a placer to start as any. I also recommend Sadie by Courtney Summers.  

Classic Fiction: Native Son by Richard Wright

Yes, it is time. Native Son by Richard Wright is another one of those books (much like 1984 and Of Mice and Men) that I was somehow never forced to read in school, and am just now getting around to in my adult life. It actually did not spend too long in my to-read pile, but it was still a struggle to pick up. Throughout history, feelings toward this book have always been complicated, and now I certainly understand why.

The Situation: In 1930s Chicago, Bigger Thomas lives in a one-room apartment with his mother, little brother Buddy, and little sister Vera. Their building is situated in the city's Black Belt, and is owned and operated by the South Side Real Estate Company. Bigger is to report to the home of Mr. Dalton, the owner of the company, for a job, though he less than interested. He resents his current position as a poor black man with no money, power, education, and as he sees it, freedom. Working for the rich white man who owns the apartment building that he hates living in is not what he wants. He would rather continue to earn his money through the petty crimes he commits with his friends. And when he reports to work, he finds that Mr. and Mrs. Dalton are nice enough, as is Peggy, the housemaid. But he immediately dislikes Mary, the Dalton's rebellious daughter, and when he is tasked with driving her to an event at the university, Bigger's life takes the turn he was always afraid it would.

The Problem: Though he was never above stealing, public indecency, and bullying his closest friends, murder was never in the plan. When he kills Mary in a moment of panic, Bigger must work fast if he hopes to save himself, and being a young black man in 1930s Chicago, if he is caught for what he has done, he will be executed for sure. It would be easy to believe that committing murder is hitting rock bottom, and yet Bigger manages to spiral even further downward, as the more he attempts to cover his tracks, the more mistakes he makes, and the more destruction he causes. Even so, Bigger maintains that he can plan and scheme his way out of it, that he can outsmart everyone, and that he can hold onto the power and freedom that he now feels, for possibly the first time in his life. But with everything that has already happened, the story is only beginning.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction book set in Chicago during a time when Jim Crow laws were heavily and enthusiastically enforced. In the author's explanation of how he came up with the character of Bigger Thomas, he explains the he was not based on any one person, but on several examples of a type of person the author had encountered throughout his life. Bigger is unhappy with his life, his place in society, what it means to a black man, and that most everything he wants out of life will remain out of reach because of white people who are determined to keep it that way. He justifies the terrible way he treats his friends, his family, members of the community, and eventually his actions when attempting to save himself from discovery after killing Mary. Told in three sections, labeled 'Fear,' 'Flight,' and 'Fate,' the events of the story take place over the course of mere days, with most of the action occurring upfront, and an explanation of how someone like Bigger could exist coming near the end. Citing feelings of hopelessness, the character of Bigger is given a depth that readers have puzzled over since the book's publication in 1940.

My Verdict: 'Complicated' is certainly the word to describe almost every aspect of this book. The word applies to the character of Bigger, the main plot, the author's approach, and certainly readers' reception of the story, both then and now. While the acts that Bigger commits throughout the book are only ever condoned by him, an explanation is provided for how such a person could exist and why he would do what he does. But whether the reader or critic wants to accept that explanation is up to them. As for me, I get what the book is saying (I think), but I am not entirely sure it is successful in what it is trying to do. Make no mistake, Bigger is a terrible person. Yes, he has been dealt a terrible hand in life, and oppression mixed with hopelessness can lead to people doing terrible things. Unfortunately, Bigger is someone who makes a huge mistake, and has also knowingly committed (and enjoyed) terrible acts before that. He is a difficult character to approach with grace and understanding, so yeah, it's complicated.

Favorite Moment: There are brief moments when Bigger admits, if only to himself, that he is afraid. It is this fear the fuels almost everything he does. 

Favorite Character: I am not sure if she is my favorite really, but the character I feel for the most is Bigger's mother. 

Recommended Reading: Both Dear Justyce by Nic Stone and Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi would be great books for follow-up. 

Science Fiction: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

After having recently read The Martian by Andy Weir, I decided I would also try his latest book, Project Hail Mary. For me, what made The Martian so enjoyable was the humor, mixed in with the science, as well as an always tense, though fascinating space adventure. I could only hope that Project Hail Mary would be more of the same.

The Situation: Waking up from a deep sleep can be a disorienting process. But Ryland Grace is not waking up from a normal night's sleep. He has been in a deep coma for a very long time, and now, he is not even sure where he is, or who he is. From initial observations, it (slowly) becomes clear that he is in a spacecraft of some kind, and he is not alone. Two others are with him, but it seems their bodies did not survive the trip. It is clear that Ryland was well taken care of during his journey, and it looks like he has the ship's automated medical robots to thank for that, though that does not solve the issue of his memory, and what he is supposed to be doing. It will certainly take some time for Ryland to fully remember who he is and his mission. Coming to terms with the fact that he is millions of miles from home is only the beginning, and things get interesting when he spots another spacecraft. 

The Problem: Earth is in trouble. It seems the sun is getting dimmer, and if the situation continues for much longer, a mass extinction event is imminent. Before he became one of the crew mates on the  Hail Mary, Ryland was a middle school science teacher and loved his job. He knew his students thought of him as the "cool teacher," and he relished that. However, once news got out about what was happening to the sun, his life changed forever. Sought out because of a paper he wrote in college, Ryland soon becomes one of the key people in the planet's attempt at saving itself. But now he is far from home, with only fuzzy memories of what has happened and what he is supposed to do, and two dead bodies whose names he cannot immediately remember. Fortunately, he is incredibly good at science, and the ship seems to have everything he needs. Still, the clock is ticking, and Earth is counting on him.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction book set in a time that could easily be present day. When scientists realize that the sun is getting dimmer, therefore slowly making Earth colder, the nations of the world band together to find a solution, and Project Hail Mary is it. There is plenty of science, as well as space travel, politics, and a picture of what it takes to put together a space project of this magnitude when time is extremely limited. Laws and policies have to be ignored, the issue of funding is no longer discussed, and tough decisions are made, and this is all before the actual project even begins. Ryland Grace is a school teacher who happens to know a lot about his field, and that is enough for him to be put on the fast track to becoming an astronaut. And probably what is most interesting about the problem that could lead to a cold Earth is how it would happen quicker if it were not for global warming, though it is still not enough to save the planet.

My Verdict: I think those that enjoyed The Martian will enjoy this book as well. Sure, it is another lone survivor far from home attempting to do the impossible. Though this time he is not immediately sure of what is happening, and he does not have the potential benefit of being on solid ground. It is another exploration of what humans are capable of when they have no other choice. Problems are looked into, solutions are formed, and risks sometimes have to be taken. Sure, mistakes are often made, and the whole process starts all over again. But what amazes me the most is that with Weir, 'impossible' does not immediately equate to 'hopeless,' and it often should. The situations are fully acknowledged, as well as how difficult they are, but the characters keep going and the story always moves forward in a believable way. And making Ryland a middle school science teacher instead of a highly trained astronaut adds a wonderful layer of relatability. 

Favorite Moment: It is a little bit morbid, but there was something about the scene where Ryland acknowledges his dead crew members and gives them a proper 'burial.' 

Favorite Character: Ryland is by himself a solid amount of this book, so it is easy to pick him. I want to also mention someone else, but I feel like even putting in their name would act as a spoiler. 

Recommended Reading: Naturally, I recommend The Martian, but also The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez.