The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Erdrich is another go-to favorite of mine, and her magical, almost surreal writing celebrating her Native American heritage never disappoints. Erdrich elaborates on the unfortunate history of termination of Native American tribes; that is, the movement in Congress to renege on pacts with Native tribes and eliminate their sovereignty and rights to their land. (Indeed, perhaps the only disappointing thing in the book is the consistency with which the American government tried to eliminate Native Americans.) While the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa (of which Erdrich is a member) were not terminated, 113 tribes were, further displacing and impoverishing native peoples in honor of Manifest Destiny, or whatever the hell you want to call it. Regardless of its sad historical accuracy, the book’s rich character development and description of hard, but beautiful, reservation life, is enriching. Reader tip: read the afterward for more historical context and understanding Erdrich’s family’s role in fighting against the bill, which appeared before Congress in 1953/1954. 5 out of 5 bocks! 🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓
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A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison
A Walk Across the Sun 🌞 Thanks @aebehncke for the recommendation! Warning: this book is not for the faint of heart, nor is it a light read. However, I would argue it is extremely important. The fictional novel follows the stories of two young sisters as they are sold into sexual slavery and become part of a human trafficking ring. Perhaps the most disturbing part is that, while fictional, the novel is based in truth. The author’s afterward details the multi-billion dollar industry that is the darkest world of human trafficking, taking place in all corners of the earth and subjecting men, women, and children to depraved circumstances and deep trauma. As he writes, “There is no need to sensationalize modern slavery. It is horrifying enough as it is.” The author’s diligent research yet gentle hand makes the read more informative, not gratuitous; resources to get involved, donate, and volunteer are listed in the back.
Interestingly, I began reading the book thinking it was a female author; only after a night’s worth of reading did I notice the author was male, and a Cal Poly SLO grad, at that. It made me question my own assumptions: why did I think a woman would be more apt to write this? Why couldn’t a man also write this, even though men tended to be the perpetrators in the novel? I commend Corban for writing about two girls in a particularly dire situation, and reaching across the gender barrier to deliver a story with empathy, compassion, and truth. Yes, there is a happy ending to this story- there had to be, otherwise I would grieve eternally, and do for the other millions of souls out there in similar circumstances. 5 out of 5 bocks. @corbanaddison 🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓
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I am, I am, I am by Maggie O’Farrell
Lady joins me for this review of “I am, I am, I am” by Maggie O’Farrell ❤️ A @Literati Book Club book. Lady gives it 4 out of 5 bocks
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The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore
Me and Lady review “The Second Life of Mirielle West” by Amanda Skenandore. Super fascinating read about leprosy (now called Hansen’s Disease) and it’s social and cultural impact. Carville was a real town between 1894-1950s that forcibly quarantined those stricken with the disease. While the disease carries a lot of weight in the story, it’s really about second chances and the social implications of how we handle the sick and maligned in society. Will keep you reading. 4 out of 5 bocks!!🐓
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Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah’s
Lady and I review Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden ❄️ So lovely! Such an incredible story! I totally cried on the plane!! It’s unimaginable that these events *really did happen*. In the context of what is going on Ukraine right now, the novel is an ultimate tearjerker, and tells the story via the past lens of the siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg.) Also a wonderful book about the relationship between mothers and daughter- with a happy ending. (Thank God.) Four out of five “bocks” 🐓🐓🐓🐓
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The Idiot by Elif Batumen’s
Who is the idiot in the photo?! Possibly the crazy lady doing a book review with her chicken 🤪 Lady and I review Elif Batumen’s The Idiot - she just came out with its sequel, so it was time to read this first!! Witty, relatable, and sharp, Elif captures the agony and elation of youth and first love. Four out of five bocks!! 🐓
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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman’s
Lady and I review Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Ahh, what a treasure! If you’re not a robot you’ll find yourself rooting for the highly-flawed protagonist throughout the book, and cry for the last 30 pages. What an immense, heavy debut novel. For those adults with less-than-stellar childhoods and emotionally taxing mothers (read: me), some parts may hit uncomfortably close to home. Read anyway. What a thrill. 5 our of 5 bocks!!!
Either/Or by Elif Batuman
Another brilliant read by my new favorite Elif Batuman, whose brain I find very compelling. She writes what I often think (in dark moments, to myself); nothing escapes her sharp wit and humor. She is incredibly cerebral, and makes references to pop culture and art and Russian authors and travel, among many other things. Yes, her two novels are a riff of Kierkegaard’s Either/Or (and her previous, The Idiot, a play on Dostoevsky’s The Idiot.) I find her search for the aesthetic life (which I am striving for) versus the ethical life (which I am currently in) to be fascinating. Don’t know what I am talking about? Begin to read her fascinating body of work. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. A brilliant 5 out of 5 bocks.
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The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
I loved this sweet, thoughtful, heartfelt story about the invisible string that connects us all. And how true it is! A friend recommended this book after learning that Rosie was having trouble sleeping after our dear dog passed away (and of course, the two would snuggle in her bed, so Sandwich’s absence was felt deeply by Rosie especially at night.) Realizing that we are all connected no matter where we are- whether just in the other room, or in another city, or in doggie heaven- helped soothe my little one in that challenging time. I think it would be a lovely read for kids just for fun, too.
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Feasting Wild: In Search of the Last Untamed Food by Gina Rae La Cerva
La Cerva spans the globe in search of the last truly “wild” foods in an increasingly developed and urbanized world. While I am tend to be interested in food writing, this was a book I was unable to finish- and I usually finish everything. The work reads as a tragedy: a documentation of violence and abuse and extinction that humans have imposed upon the animal world. There is no kingdom that escapes: the sea, the air, the forest all meet the devastating consequences of humankind’s folly. I found the material deeply upsetting, and unsettling. While La Cerva seems to hit her stride in the middle of the book- the precise point I put it down for good- the material was too unsettling to continue. Finally, at the chapter that explored the sale of live bonobos at a bushmeat market, I had had enough. (Bonobos share over 98% of our DNA.) I had lain awake enough nights after reading to realize this was no longer a healthy or peaceful way to end my day.
To be clear, I am a pescatarian, largely with vegan tendencies. We eat low on the food chain in our home: little to no dairy, local caught fish on occasion, local cheese as a splurge. We raise chickens for our eggs. I love, value, and cherish animals and their innocence, their live-in-the-moment joy. Reading this book and its litany of devastation on the animal kingdom was something I simply could not do anymore. My brain and body already feel overtaxed from the last two years and the ensuing political, social, and environmental dramas. Perhaps this is why I have been drawn to the rollicking, easy reads of Kristin Hannah lately. Regardless, be warned that whether you consume meat with aplomb or are a plant eater for ethical reasons, you may find the book disturbing.
La Cerva does an excellent job of omitting judgement from her writing, which I commend her for. The legacies of animal slaughter are not, after all, unique to developing nations. While reading about bushmeat may be upsetting, let us remember that westerners, too, slaughter hundreds of millions of animals annually for their meat consumption. While we treat dogs with deference, we bludgeon livestock and poultry. Other countries would note our hypocrisy. Any judgment on others is a judgment on ourselves. Her tone is understanding, empathic; she explores the context of these choices through a historical and critical lens.
I also found interesting the psychological allowances we give ourselves to justify the killing of another living creature. I have said the same aphorisms myself, and to read them in this context gave them new light, and lunacy. Bushmeat or wild animals are “closer to God”; you need to know “where your food comes from”; domestic animals are not as tasty/good quality/high value/well raised as wild meats. When read regarding the near extinction of some of these lauded species, the words ring hollow, and ridiculous.
My last large critique would be the quality of La Cerva’s writing, which seems deeply embedded in its own seriousness and whose primary goal is not being quite reader-friendly. Are we here to understand, or empathize, or be voyeurs of these wild experiences? It never became clear to me, nor did I care to ultimately find out.
Click here to watch a full review.
