Less well known but still one to look forward to, Lisa Moore’s Giller Prize shortlisted Caught follows prison escapee David Slaney who embarks on a road trip in 1978 hoping to find a new life, encountering friends, foes, undercover cops not to mention all the weather that Canada can throw at him along the way. I very much enjoyed February, Moore’s sensitive novel about the consequences of the sinking of the Ocean Ranger oil rig in 1982, so I’m looking forward to this one.
My third choice, and another Canadian one, is MiriamToews’ All My Puny Sorrows. Although I was a little underwhelmed by her much-lauded debut, A Complicated Kindness, I very much enjoyed Irma Voth so have hopes for this one which explores the painful dilemma faced by Yoli whose beloved, apparently happy and successful sister has attempted suicide. Is it time to let Elf go? Reviewers described Toews’ writing as exquisite and heart-wrenching.
Earlier this year I read Darragh McKeon’s All That is Solid Melts into Air which felt quite timely set, as it is, in Ukraine. Ten years in the writing, it’s about the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant which resulted in radioactive contamination on a horrific scale made all the more disastrous by the authorities’ attempted cover up. McKeon’s elegantly expressed novel explores the tragedy through the experiences of a doctor, his ex-wife and her child prodigy nephew. Colm Tóibín described it as ‘daring, ambitious, epic, moving’ and I won’t argue with that.
Last, but by no means least for me, is Antoine Laurain’s The Red Notebook. Laurain’s The
That’s the first half of April’s affordable treats. A click on the titles not linked to a review will take you to Waterstones website for a more detailed synopsis, and if you want to check out my April hardback choices here they are. My second post on April paperbacks to look out for will be up in a week or so.
Many thanks for the kind mention and link, Susan. I hope ‘How to be both’ does well as a paperback – it deserves a wide readership. Having enjoyed Laurain’s previous one, I’m looking forward to The Red Notebook – sounds like another winner.
I enjoyed your review very much, Jacqui. Fingers crossed for the Laurain.
As ever, so many toothsome and intriguing choices! I know I’ve been saying it for weeks and weeks now, but I AM going to read How To Be Both very, very soon. I remember seeing The President’s Hat when it was out but never took any notice for reasons that are now unclear. I will look out for the new novel!
Should you ever feel the need of cheering up, Victoria, make sure you have a copy of The President’s Hat to hand. It’s perfect feel-good fare. Very much looking forward to How to Be Both
I want to read all of these! Hadn’t heard of Caught before but sounds intriguing.
February was a very fine novel – Lisa Moore doesn’t seem to get much attention here although I think she’s well known in her native Canada.
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