Lean pickings for November paperbacks, unsurprisingly as publishers are caught up in shiny new books for the Christmas market. There is one I’ve had my eye on for some time, though – Wioletta Greg’s Swallowing Mercury which I noticed popping up quite a lot on Twitter during #WITMonth back in August. It’s about Wiola who lives in a small village with her taxidermist father, seamstress mother and a black cat. Without having read it, I suspect the publisher’s slightly opaque blurb will be more useful than any summary I can come up with: ‘Wiola lives in a Poland that is both very recent and lost in time. Swallowing Mercury is about the ordinary passing of years filled with extraordinary days. In vivid prose filled with texture, colour and sound, it describes the adult world encroaching on the child’s. From childhood to adolescence, Wiola dances to the strange music of her own imagination.’ Sounds a little fey, I know, but engaging enough to warrant further investigation for me, and Greg’s a poet which augurs well for her writing.
I’m afraid I gave up Garth Risk Hallberg’s City on Fire. It had a catnip New York ‘70s setting but its chunkster size defeated me. It’s possible I’ll have better luck with A Field Guide to the North American Family, Hallberg’s debut, published in the UK for the first time, which is a mere 144 pages long. It’s about two privileged families, neighbours who live on Long Island. ‘They lead charmed lives: good jobs in the city, weekends by the pool, cheerleading practice after school and backyard barbecues in the summer. But within these lives lie hundreds of little deceptions. Told through a mix of photographs and words, this is a dazzlingly inventive depiction of two families falling apart and coming together and the thousand different truths of the American Dream’ according to the blurb which does sound very appealing but then so did City on Fire…
I’ve not yet read Joy Williams’ short stories but I gather that they are very well thought of by those who know what they’re talking about. The Visiting Privilege weighs in at just over 500 pages and spans forty years of writing. ‘Bleak but funny, real but surreal, domestic but dangerous, familiar but enigmatic, Joy Williams’ stories fray away the fabric at the edge of ordinary experience to reveal the loneliness at the heart of human life’ say the publisher, raising my hopes for something like Lucia Berlin’s excellent A Manual for Cleaning Women. Great jacket, too.
That’s it for November paperbacks. A click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis and if you’d like to catch up with the month’s new titles they’re here.
I’m keen on all of these! Swallowing Mercury was on the Man Booker International longlist and I remember reading some reviews at that time. I did eventually make it through City on Fire earlier this year after a very long slog, so a short work from Hallberg while we wait for a new book sounds like a treat. I’ve read a few of Joy Williams’ short stories in an anthology. I think they tend to be very brief (flash fiction) and incisive.
I remember admiring your stamina with the Halberg. You’re made of stronger stuff than me! ‘Brief and incisive’ sounds just the ticket.
I’m extremely keen to read Swallowing Mercury. The Hallberg was a DNF for me too.
I suspect it was for a lot of us, Annabel. I recall seeing lots of love on Twitter for Swallowing Mercury, not always a reliable indicator but it was from people whose opinion I trust so I hope we’re in for a treat.
Unusually, but fortunately for my purse, none of them screamed ‘read me’ at me.
Not a stand out month but at least your bank account won’t be depleted!
Lots of chunksters there, perfect for the darkening nights. It’s a shame the publishers give up on November, I’m not sure why Christmas has to over-shadow everything but it certainly does.
I suspect they’re all worn out after preparing all those big titles for publication then touring the country publicising them. That said, I’m completely with you on Christmas and its all-enveloping shadow.
Oohh the Field Guide to the North American Family sounds amazing!
I’m hoping for better luck than I had with City on Fire. The blurb’s certainly tempting.
I have read Swallowing Mercury. I bought Manual for Cleaning women long ago. But I have not read it yet. I must get to it soon
Did you enjoy it , Resh? I loved Manual for Cleaning Women, instrumental in converting me to short stories and great for dipping into.
My reactions were mixed for Swallowing Mercury. I enjoyed some portions and some were just mediocre for me. I admit this might be because vignetted narration seldom works for me. I am even more eager about Manual for Cleaning Women now
Ah, I quite like that style -Jenny Offill did it well in Dept. of Speculation. I hope you enjoy the Berlin when you get to it.
I’d forgotten about Swallowing Mercury – thanks for reminding me! It does look good.
You’re welcome!
Having just enjoyed William Boyd’s short stories so much I’m quite keen to see what The Visiting Privilege has to offer.
Sounds good, doesn’t it. And that cover makes it all the more enticing.
I love the sound of The Visiting Privilege and I still need to read A Manual for Cleaning Women!
The Berlin collection is excellent. I’d love to think that Williams can match her writing.