Quite a mixed bunch for this second batch of June goodies. I’ll start off with what is probably my most commercial choice as we edge towards summer reading: Laura Barnett’s enticing sounding The Versions of Us which explores that old Sliding Doors idea of the role chance plays in our lives. It unfolds three different versions of the possible lives led by Eva and Jim who meet in Cambridge in 1958, aged nineteen. Each version hinges on a pivotal moment, a snap decision or random event. I like the sound of this very much – if handled deftly it could well be an excellent summer read.
Will Cohu’s Nothing But Grass doesn’t sound like the cheeriest of reads but it has the elements of an absorbing novel. Set in a small village riven with dark secrets – always the best kind – it begins with the murder of one workmate by another seemingly for no other reason than a fit of irritation. It’s a ‘portrait of a tarnished Albion’, apparently, with a strong vein of dark humour running through it. Cohu is the author of The Wolf Pit, an exploration of his rural childhood. This is his first novel – let’s hope it’s not autobiographical, too.
Sophie McManus‘ The Unfortunates sounds like the kind of absorbing summer read you can sink into and forget about everything else. It’s about the wealthy Somners who face a difficult future, both financial and otherwise, as the matriarch of the family wastes away from a rare disease and her son goes to the bad. It’s described as ‘a rollicking wide-ranging story – of pharmaceutical drug trials and Wall Street corruption; of pride and prejudice, of paranoia and office politics, of inheritance, influence, class, power.’ I’m looking forward to some comeuppance, in fiction, at least, if not in real life.
Tod Wodicka’s The Household Spirit sounds like a bit of light relief after that. Howie and Emily have been neighbours in upstate New York since Emily was born. Each is very different from the other: Emily is outgoing and irreverent while the desperately shy Howie has been a recluse since his wife and daughter moved out. He’s a little worried about Emily who seems to have taken to gardening at night. What to do? Lifelong neighbours they may be but they’ve never exchanged a word. It’s described as a ‘poignant, big-hearted, and often humorous novel’ which might mean horribly sentimental but the premise is intriguing enough to give it a try.
Gerbrand Bakker’s an author I’ve been meaning to get around to for some time. June, his appropriately named new novel, is set over the course of one hot summer’s day in 1969 when all are gathered to greet Queen Juliana apart from Anna Kaan and her little daughter, Hanne, who arrive just as the Queen is about to leave. The queen graciously acknowledges them both – a golden day, then, but later Hanne is knocked down by a speeding baker’s van. The novel explores the effects of tragedy on both the family and its community.
Finally, Jean-Paul Didierlaurent’s The Reader on the 6.27 has been described as ‘Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore meets Amelie’ which could either mean that it’s wonderful or overly whimsical tosh but I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Guylain hates his job at a book pulping factory, consoling himself every day with reading aloud the pages he’s saved from the pulping machine on the 6.27 train. When he discovers the diary of a young woman who seems as lonely as he is, he begins to fall in love. See what I mean about the possibility of whimsical tosh? We’ll see. It’s published under the usually reliable Mantle imprint so I’m willing to give it a try.
That’s it for June. If you missed part one you can catch up here, and a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis at Waterstones website should you be interested.
I am looking forward to The Unfortunates too !
another Fr translation is appearing in June …Mersault : The Investigation . As you know I often feel frustrated that the Fr books that get translated are all ‘quirky’ and not the serious stuff. This is a ‘re telling’ of The Outsider but from the Arab point of view by an Algerian writer ( Kamel Daoud) and it’s excellent !
Lovely – thanks for the tip, Helen. I’ll add the Mersault to my list.
All new to me!
I’m looking forward to the new edition Penguin Classic of Elizabeth Von Arnim’s The Enchanted April that is also coming out in June, alongside Brenda Bowen’s contemporary reimagining Enchanted August.
I read Elizabeth and her German Garden a couple of years ago and so many people recommended The Enchanted April, it’s great to have an excuse to add it to the pre-summer reading list!
I loved The Enchanted April – perfect summer reading. I’ve been sent a copy of Enchanted August but not taken a proper look at it which, clearly, I should have! Thanks, Claire.
Yes, it must have merit, the author Brenda Bowen has written the new introduction to the Penguins Classic edition of The Enchanted April.
I shall pay it some serious attention!
Love the cover of The Unfortunates!
Wonderful, isn’t it? I wouldn’t usually go for that ‘split screen’ effect but it works so well here. Let’s hope the contents live up to it.
I’d quite happily read any of this selection although I’m most keen on The Versions of Us as I never tire of the idea that life could be different based on a single decision and I haven’t read one for quite some time. Thanks for sharing (and adding to my wishlist)
You’re welcome, Cleo. These are always enjoyable – if expensive – posts to write! I’m planning to read The Versions of Us next week.
I can highly recommend The Versions of Us. It’s impressively structured and elegantly written. It resembles One Day and Life After Life in some ways, but I preferred it to both of those.
Coincidentally, I finished it yesterday! A very clever first novel – as you say, she carries that structure of very well. Looking forward to what she does next.
I am excited to see that Bakker’s June is being released (I think it was his first novel – he only writes when he wants to). I see that here in Canada the paper release is not until the end of July but the ebook will be out in June. Thanks for bring it to my attention!
You’re welcome, and I’m glad that you won’t have to wait long. I’ve just checked him out on Wikipedia. His publishing history is a tad confusing but June appears to be his second adult novel. He’s a gardener by trade, apparently, and says that gardening and writing work very well together as occupations. What did we do before the internet!
I’m trying to steer away from temptation at the moment, but Gerbrand Bakker’s June caught my eye, too. I’ve a feeling he wrote it after The Twin, so it does sound like his second novel. I loved his last one, The Detour – the main protagonist, Emilie, got right under my skin. Looking forward to hearing what you make of June.
This will be my first Bakker – so many people whose opinion I trust have raved about him that it seems quite an omission. According to Mr B himself who chipped in a comment on a Twitter exchange ‘in a way June was my first novel’ – he then bowed out so I’m not sure what to make of that!