I was surprised to see another novel from Bernard Schlink quite so soon after his impressive The Granddaughter. The Late Life sees seventy-six-year-old Martin happily married with a six-year-old son, faced with a dire prognosis. With only a short time left to live, he thinks about his legacy, his love for his family and what he can achieve before he dies, hoping to do what’s right despite the surprises and challenges thrown his way. ‘The Late Life is a story of navigating family, guilt, love and loss from Bernhard Schlink, one of the most masterful novelists of our age’ according to the blurb. Very keen to read this one.
I read very few of what might be called Christmas books but this one’s by Sarah Moss. The Winter Guest is set in a hotel on the Irish west coast on a snowy Christmas Eve where two strangers share a meal and raise a toast. Both Janice and Gerry have stories to tell and confessions to make. ‘As the blizzard howls, the night will take an unexpected turn, and their conversation will have consequences far beyond the candlelit table’ promises the blurb of a novella which sounds worth making an exception for.
That’s it for October’s 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. Paperbacks soon…
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Bernard Schlink? I’m in. But actually, all of these look tasty.
Me, too. He’s one of those translated authors who offers us a great insight into his country.
He does. Painless social observation.
Callum… sounds really interesting. And I do like a couple of Christmas books around December so the Moss is tempting!
I didn’t expect much from Callum… but I loved it. The Moss sounds up your street, then!
The Moss sounds intriguing, I can resist the rest – just!
Ha! Maybe I can tempt you with my review of Callum…
I’m tempted by the Schlink, (though you’ve also reminded me that I have had The Reader for ages and not read it yet). The Yorkston appeals too so I shall look forward to your thoughts on that.
I’m a keen Schlink fan so very much looking forward to that one, and the Yorkston is a treat!
I can do Christmas novels if they have something of an edge, preferably dark! So I’ll keep an eye out for Sara Moss’ The Winter Guest. Fosse? No denying he’s a great writer but I find him just a teeny bit intimidating despite reading and enjoying another of his brief works (Aliss By The Fire). I think I may still give his Vaim trilogy a try, although like you I need to begin with the first installment. Think there’s a mini-trend for late life themes in recent works? I’ve just gotten a copy of Emma Cline’s Switzy (guess we’ll soon find out whether it makes the Booker short list), which seems to deal with the same sort of issues as Schlink’s The Late Life.
Knowing Moss’s writing, there may well be a dark edge to this one. I’m with you on Fosse. I’m not at all sure about tackling Septology but the Vaim series sounds a little more accessible. Really enjoyed Switzy, one of only two from my Booker wishlist to make it.
Oh I love James Yorkston! I didn’t realise that he had written a novel. Can’t wait to hear what you think.
I think he’s written several for small presses. I really enjoyed this one.
Can’t wait for the new Schlink!
I thought The Granddaughter was so good, such an insight into modern Germany. Looking forward to this one and pleasantly surprised to see it so soon.
Interesting that Jon Fosse writes also in this genre
It does sound more accessible than Septology, or, at least, shorter.
The Bernard Schlink is the only one calling to me from this batch
That’s high on my list.
I enjoyed Schlink’s The Reader and The Granddaughter. I have read a few of Moss’s books, most recently Ripeness which I really enjoyed.
I think The Granddaughter would be my top choice from this selection. I loved Ripeness. It summoned up Italy so beautifully.
I am just back from South Italy. I read a couple of Ferrante books before I visited Naples and Sorrento. Both were very good. It was very hot there compared to the damp 18 degrees we came back to yesterday! I read Tayari Jones’s Kin on the beach. A good beach read.
Commiserations on the weather. We definitely need the rain here but I’m never going to enjoy it! I have a copy of Kin to look forward to.
After reading Sarah Moss’ memoir earlier this year and enjoying it hugely, I’m now curious to try one of her novels. This might be a good way in. Jon Fosse is definitely on my list of ought-to reads. Like you, I’ll probably begin with something older and more road-tested on readers!
I’m a Sarah Moss fan so will be reading this one. I think it’s quite slight but I like the premise. I may well give the Vaim trilogy a try!
I didn’t know that Vaim was going to be a trilogy – thanks for the heads up!
I’m intrigued by the sound of this second one but should probably read Vaim first.
Ditto 🙂