Complicated thoughts on a buzzy new release
Plus YA fairytale retellings, the best illustrated books of the year, and all about the HarperCollins strike
Hey, readers!
I am tired this week. Between the time change, the move, and some developmental leaps, Lou’s sleep has been off the rails. Add to that my own disorientation in our new house and frequent headaches for me when she has slept and I feel like a shell of a human this week. Still, it feels good to out of the holding pattern of living in a half-staged house and starting to get settled into our new place. I’m eager to get situated as soon as possible and start settling into a routine that doesn’t involve the daily unpacking of boxes and moving of furniture.
I’m also feeling a bit strange because while we’ve been so eager to move these last six months, this week I started feeling really sentimental about our old house. My husband and I bought it right after we got married. So many firsts have occurred there—most notably, of course, brining home Louise. And while we’ve all been driving each other crazy being constantly on top of each other, it feels a little weird having so many more square feet to spread out. I’m reminding myself that it’s not just possible, but normal to feel excited about something new and sorrow for something past at the same time, and trying to give all of us time to process this big change.
All the while, I’ve been listening to audiobooks nonstop and this week I finished one (almost two!) big buzzy books of the year. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book I’m reviewing today, because I feel alone in my reading of it.
This week in books.
This week I read…
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I’ve mentioned both on Instagram and in my Patreon Discord channel that it’s been a long time since I’ve felt so conflicted about a book than I am about Demon Copperhead. That feeling kicked in for me early in my reading experience and remained true until the end. Initially in writing this review, I typed that there was so much to love about this book, but the truth is there is really just one thing I loved about this book: the narrative voice. That voice, however, is so distinctive, so prominent, so engaging, and so winning, that if you love the voice (and it’s going to be hard not to!) you’re going to fall for this book. Kingsolver’s writing in the voice of Demon is utter perfection. He’s charming, lovable, earnest, and so desirous of care and belonging that readers will want to wrap him in a hug. At the same time, there’s nothing saccharine about this character. He’s funny and snarky, and although I’m not an expert in this, I think she really captured the mind of a teenage boy. For these reasons, I think this book is a feat, and I understand why so many readers and reviewers are raving about it. On the other hand, Kingsolver uses a style here that is one of my biggest pet peeves as a reader. She insists on over explaining her themes and doesn’t seem to trust her readers to draw their own conclusions. For that reason, this book—in spite of its excellent voice—feels like a story that started with a social issue she wanted to address rather than a story that organically explores issues through the plot and characters. There are occasional clunky moralizing sentences that made me groan mixed into her otherwise fantastic prose, and I know I would have arrived at the conclusions she was going for without them, making it all the more frustrating. While I think this type of writing is in line with the Dickensian prose that served as Kingsolver’s inspiration, it also feels very much in line with the other Kingsolver novels I’ve read and so I’m wondering if she may not be an author for me, in spite of her impeccable craft. I’m definitely in the minority in terms of my quibbles with this novel, and I still highly recommend it if you enjoy any fiction with a strong voice and unforgettable characters. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
Babel by R.F. Kuang. I’m so close to finishing this amazing book! I’d really hoped to review it today but I found myself wanting to linger in this world a little longer. I’m excited to share all my thoughts with you next week! Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo. This speculative retelling of The Great Gatsby is our Novel Pairings selection for November, and it is so good! I’m very hot and cold on retellings of classics, and I’m loving the way Vo has made this story her own while simultaneously including beautiful nods to Fitzgerald’s prose and critiques of his social commentary. If you’re interested in reading along with us this month, it’s not too late to join and attend our virtual book club at the end of November. Join the NP Classics Club | Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
If you are an international reader or just prefer UK covers, you can also order books through my Blackwell’s affiliate page!
Links I love.
HarperCollins workers are striking this week. Find out why and how to support them.
Atlantic writers recommend the best books to understand today’s political landscape.
Happy 100th birthday to the inimitable Kurt Vonnegut. Here’s how to celebrate.
I added many of the 10 best illustrated children’s books of 2022 to Louise’s holiday gift list.
Six YA fairytale retellings for your TBR.
Four Ukrainian authors on literature and justice.
I loved this interview with Flight author Lynn Steger Strong. And if you haven’t picked up Flight yet it’s a great short book to read over the holidays.
I used to have conversations about the question of surveillance with my students when we read 1984 and this article breaks it down in an interesting way and offers further reading on the topic.
End notes.
Three things making me happy this week:
Organizing our new space. This is both making me happy and making me stressed, but overall it’s nice to feel like everything will have a place in our new home. I’m not naturally organized, so I’m hoping I can keep this particular urge as long as possible.
New paint. Choosing paint colors is hard, but I really love what we decided to do in the new house. We painted the mantel/kitchen island in the main living room space as well as both my husband and my work spaces. It’s helped the house feel a little more like us even though we’re far from settled.
Precious baby steps. Louise has been taking more steps and looking more confident on her feet lately. It’s really fun to see her practicing and developing a new skill—especially a big milestone like this one!
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Happy reading!
Sara
I so understand your conflicted feelings with your move, having moved homes/states 11 times. It's exciting, exhausting and emotional, especially when leaving memories of your children behind! It does settle down and new memories will be made :)