'Oleanders and Books' by Vincent van Gogh; oil on canvas
This past year is the year the blog and I finally settled down comfortably together and my only plan for next year is for that to continue. After a summer break the posts started going up whenever they were ready rather than trying to follow a schedule, and if a book I was reading coincided with a reading event, I was happy to join in, but didn't deliberately design my reading to take part in events, which is what works best for me.
The blog got a new header, detail from a Berthe Morisot painting, and the sidebar has also comfortably settled down into something I'm happy with. 'Art Eyecatchers' has been added, which features a few works of art to enjoy. They change around weekly and to see a larger image of a piece just click on it. The 'Book Design Eyecatchers' changes over whenever I accumulate a few I like and those can also be clicked on for larger images. I've been pretty diligent about updating the 'New Additions to TBR' list, which has new and upcoming books that are joining my wildly out-of-control wishlist.
Another new sidebar addition is the link to my Mastodon account and I only wish I had moved over there in April when I first set up an account. It's been a far better social media experience for me with its emphasis on engagement, control over what is in my timeline instead of a corporate algorithm deciding that, and the common courtesy that usually prevails. I'm finding all sorts of interesting people to interact with and new interests to follow. I was very relieved to delete my Twitter account at the end of October.
And finally, here are brief descriptions of the books I read during the year that have especially resonated with me and continue to do so. The selection is only from the books I've blogged about and are listed from earliest to most recently read. They're linked back to the full post.
The Moor's Account - Laila Lalami This book takes place during the days of European exploration of the Americas and what makes it stand out is the voice and viewpoint it's told from. The narrator is based on a historical figure who was mentioned in one line in an official account written at the time. The Narváez expedition set out from Spain and one of the captains brought along a slave. Lalami fleshes out the character of Mustafa into a keen observer and honest chronicler of the events of the journey who is determined to reclaim his freedom after being one of the very few survivors of the disastrous expedition.
The Books of Jacob - Olga Tokarczuk (trans. by Jennifer Croft) It seemed as though I waited years for this book to be available here, and it was read slowly and then blogged about in three 'Reading Diary' posts. The central figure in the book is Jacob Frank, a historical person, a complicated individual who seemingly came out of nowhere, explored, and then embraced ideas from different religions. It's unclear what his goal was, did he want to develop another sect of Judaism or unite different religions under his leadership? What is clear is his hunger for power over others. Later, there are questions about what he saw himself as, his beliefs, and certain practices he and his followers took part in. Philosophical questions are raised, Polish history is probed, and the stories of a whole raft of fascinating characters are told. This is a book I'm still digesting and will return to, one reading can't really do it justice.
Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3
Iza's Ballad - Magda Szabó (trans. by George Szirtes) A quietly devastating and beautiful novel from a favorite author. Although the relationship between Ettie and her daughter Iza is at the forefront of the novel, two additional characters add even more depth as the connections between the stories of the four play out. In spite of the best of intentions from both Ettie and Iza, deep misunderstandings occur and hurt is inadvertently inflicted. The misunderstandings are rooted in the differences between the generations because of the great changes that took place in communist Hungary during those years, especially between the rural countryside and Budapest. Iza's Ballad was the last Szabó book I had left to read, so I'm especially happy that there's another book to look forward to, next year NYRB is publishing The Fawn at the end of March.
The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman - Andrzej Szczypiorski (trans. by Klara Glowczewska) This book takes place in the early 1940s and is a story of Poland during those terrible years and a group of Warsaw residents who were connected in some way, from the tailor Apolinary Kujawski who took on an unexpected role, to Henryczek Fichtelbaum, a young Jewish man who kicked against the walls closing in around him. Like Tokarczuk's book, this one looks closely at Polish history and how people saw themselves and their place in the world. What sets this book apart for me is how vividly alive it is at a time of extreme conditions and its portrayal of the sometimes unexpected connections between people.
The Island of Missing Trees - Elif Shafak The story of a family with their roots in Cyprus now living in London as they try to cope with the trauma of losing a member. Coming from different sides of Turkish-Greek dividing line in Cyprus, Kostas and Defne want their daughter Ada to be a British child, not burdened with their history, but Ada is realizing she needs to know about their lives in Cyprus, and is helped by an unexpected visitor. The novel is told through three timelines and different viewpoints in Cyprus and London. Shafak writes so well about immigrant life and is fascinated by the natural world, and that enthusiasm is shared with the reader.
Punishment of a Hunter - Yulia Yakovleva (trans. by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp) A stunning novel set in Leningrad in 1930-31 about a criminal investigator with integrity who must carry out his work under a corrupt, authoritarian regime. The crimes that take place are not only those typically investigated by law enforcement, but those carried out by the authorities against their own people. Detective Vasily Zaitsev treads a dangerously fine line when trying to do his job, which might bring about his own destruction. The lives of ordinary people feels very tangible as does the persuasive mistrust and fear in the grey, beaten-down city. Just enough tantalizing hints are left open in preparation for the second appearance of the enigmatic Zaitsev and his colleagues. This is the first book in a projected trilogy.
The Dream Maker - Jean-Christophe Rufin (trans. by Alison Anderson) The historical figure at the center of this novel has some things in common with Hilary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell, but the author introduces the reader to the person first before making clear what his historical role was. What is striking about this book is at the time it takes place France was between two ages, and Jacques Cœur had the foresight to see what the country might become as it moved towards the Renaissance. Rufin does a superb job of portraying a changing world, very different settings, and characters, both historical and fictional.
I have a sneaking suspicion Manuel Rivas's The Last Days of Terranova, which I posted about a few days ago will also join this list of memorable books.
May the coming year bring you shelves full of wonderful books--my best wishes for a very Happy New Year!
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