The first part of September’s preview began with Kate Atkinsons’s Shrines of Gaiety, an unmissable novel for me, and I’m almost as keen to read A. M. Homes’ The Unfolding, a state of the American nation novel by the sound of it. Stunned by the result of the 2008 election, The Big Guy decides to take action, setting up a group of like-minded men who want to reclaim their version of America. Things at home are not so straightforward: his wife appears to be unravelling and the revelation of long buried family secrets is in the offing. ‘Dark, funny and prescient, The Unfolding explores the implosion of the dream and how we arrived in today’s divided world’ say the publishers, temptingly. Eagerly anticipating this one.
I wasn’t quite as impressed with Andrew Sean Greer’s Less as I’d expected, surprised when in won the Pulitzer Prize, but I suspect I’ll try again with its sequel, Less is Lost, having enjoyed other novels by Greer. It sees moderately successful novelist Arthur Less running away from his problems once again, setting off on a series of literary gigs which take him all over the country, encountering a host of colourful characters and trying on different versions of himself. ‘With all of the irrepressible wit and musicality that made Less a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning, must-read breakout book, Less Is Lost is a profound and joyous novel about the enigma of life in America, the riddle of love, and the stories we tell along the way’ say the publishers confidently.
Beginning in 1963, Sam Kenyon’s I Am Not Raymond Wallace sees the eponymous Raymond on a three-month bursary with The New York Times, sent on an undercover assignment which will take him into a world where he can finally be himself, and where he meets Joey. Forty years later, Raymond’s son, Joe, is in Paris where he becomes acquainted with his father’s lover. ‘I Am not Raymond Wallace is a multi-stranded story of queer redemption spanning multiple generations, told with precision-tooled prose, sharply-imagined settings and compassionately-observed characterisation’ according to the blurb. Multiple generations and redemption are right up my alley.
Danny Ramadan’s The Foghorn Echoes sounds a bit of a tough read not to mention a heartrending one. Hussam and Wassim are teenagers living in Syria fleeing America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003 when a surprise discovery rocks their families. Hussam promises to protect Wassim but a decade later, with Syria in turmoil, Wassim is homeless and Hussam has fled to Canada. ‘Split between war-torn Damascus and unforgiving Vancouver, The Foghorn Echoes is a tragic love story about coping with shared traumatic experience and devastating separation’ says the blurb.
I’ve not got around to watching Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things based on a novel by Iain Reid whose work I’ve not read, either, but their association decided me to keep an eye out for Reid’s We Spread. That and the possibility of an art theme. An ageing artist is being looked after in a care home in accordance with arrangements her late partner made years ago unbeknownst to her. Surrounded by stimulating conversation and beautiful countryside, Penny starts to make a recovery but is beginning to wonder if she’s part of an experiment. ‘At once compassionate and uncanny, told in spare, hypnotic prose, Iain Reid’s genre-defying third novel explores questions of conformity, art, productivity, relationships, and what, ultimately, it means to grow old’ says the publishers promisingly.
September’s second short story collection, Ling Ma’s Bliss Montage, comprises eight pieces exploring a multitude of themes in what sounds like an idiosyncratic manner. ‘From a woman who lives in a house with all of her ex-boyfriends, to a toxic friendship built around a drug that makes you invisible, to an ancient ritual that might heal you of anything if you bury yourself alive, these and other scenarios reveal that the outlandish and the everyday are shockingly, deceptively, heartbreakingly similar’ says the blurb whetting my appetite for something a little out of the ordinary.
That’s it for the second instalment of Septembers new fiction. As ever, a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis should you want to know more, and if you’d like to catch up with part one it’s here.
I was lukewarm on Less also, so I will skip the sequel. It’s been an age since I read anything by Homes, though, and I’d be interested in trying her again. The new Ian McEwan didn’t make your preview then!
Ah, that was the title you were referring to last week! It’s been a long time since I was a McEwan fan hence his exclusion. I’ll be reviewing the Homes nearer its pub date.
I rather loved Less, so would happily read the sequel. The Sam Kenyon sounds rather similar to Philippe Bessons Lie With Me in a way. I’ve recently acquired Ma’s book Severance after loving the TV series, so shall try that soon I hope.
I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with Severance. Claire Fuller was singing it’s praises on Twitter this morning.
A tempting selection from which The Foghorn Echoes has become my notional front-runner.
I like the sound of that one, too.
I read We Spread last week. At first I was slightly disappointed (I’ve loved his other two books) but then I couldn’t get it out of my head and I realised just how nuanced and thoughtful a book it is. Quite different from his previous novels. I liked Less a lot, so will definitely look out for the sequel.
That’s very encouraging, Cathy. Definitely an author for me to investigate by the sound of it.
Interesting selection as ever, Susan. I wasn’t mad about Less either, but some of the members of my book group loved it, so I shall mention the follow-up to them. The short story collection sounds really intriguing, so I’m curious to hear what you think of it.
I suspect Less is Lost will be more of the same! Claire Fuller picked up on the Ma having loved her novel, Severance, so hopes are high for Bliss Montage.
I think I’m most tempted by Raymond Wallace of these. I do like a redemption story!
Me, too. I’ve since read it and although it’s not an easy read in some respects there’s lots of hope which is always welcome.
good choices but I’ll resist this time
Well done!
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