Laura (lindsacl)'s Orange July 2012

My Orange mascot, Pumpkin, returns for Orange July!

Previous threads:
2012: January
2011: January | July

I really should have had one thread for 2012, but I can't bear the thought of tracking my "July" reading on a "January" thread. I've read all the winners, so I typically read shortlisted books, and in July I read the current year's winner. Here's what I'm planning for July:

Gillespie and I, by Jane Harris
Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller - 2012 WINNER!
The Accidental, by Ali Smith
Homestead, by Rosina Lippi
Grace Williams Says It Loud, by Emma Henderson

Gillespie and I ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

I could make this my shortest review ever, just by saying I loved this novel from start to finish, and if you haven't read it, you should. I don't want to tell you too much more about it, because its magic is in the storytelling.

But I'll give you a little teaser ...

Harriet Baxter is writing a memoir, specifically the story of her relationship with the artist Ned Gillespie and his family. Most of the novel is set in Glasgow from 1888-1890. Harriet met Ned quite by chance while visiting the first International Exhibition, in 1888. One thing led to another, and her relationships with Ned, his wife Annie, and their two young daughters grew. When tragedy struck the family, Harriet was right in the thick of it. But not necessarily in a good way.

Every so often the story is interrupted with a chapter narrated by Harriet in 1933, when she is 80 years old and living in London. These segments show us a different Harriet, perhaps the one she became after the tragedy, but more likely the Harriet she's been all her life.

Which made me wonder: what really happened in 1888? Then I would read on, looking for the "real Harriet" in her version of events, but still not completely sure who the "real Harriet" really was. Does that make sense? Of course not -- but that's the fun of reading Gillespie and I. There are so many twists, turns, and nuances that keep you guessing long after you've turned the last page. And I suspect there are as many interpretations of events as there are readers -- just get your hands on a copy and enjoy the magic.

Starting the month off with a bang!!

Boom! Whiz! Bang! =) Glad you liked Gillespie and I! Whatcha reading next?

Song of Achilles!! I'm excited!

Hope you like it! =)

Glad you enjoyed Gillespie and I, Laura. I did too, though it wasn't quite a 5 star read for me.

Looking forward to your thoughts on Song of Achilles.

The Song of Achilles ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

I knew this book would become one of my favorites almost immediately. In just a few pages, I was completely immersed in the story, and found myself picking up the book anytime I had a minute to spare. And it's unusual for a book to bring real, honest-to-goodness tears to my eyes, but this one most certainly did.

The Song of Achilles provides back story to one aspect of the Trojan War: the relationship between Achilles and his close friend, Patroclus. As author Madeline Miller wrote in her Reader's Guide,

I found myself particularly moved by his (Achilles') desperate grief over the loss of his companion Patroclus. Patroclus is no more than a minor character in the Iliad, yet Achilles mourns him with a shocking intensity, unlike anything else in the entire work. Why? Who is this man whose death could undo the mighty Achilles?

Achilles is a mythological figure, son of the goddess Thetis, a sea-nymph, and the mortal Peleus. At the age of 9, he hand-picks the exiled prince Patroclus as his constant companion. Patroclus gains status and privilege, and as the boys grow their relationship strengthens into love. Thetis is displeased and tries to separate them, but their love is too powerful. When armies are assembled to do battle with Troy, Patroclus is there at Achilles' side. Achilles has known for years that he will become the Greeks' greatest warrior; the siege of Troy is his chance to shine. But there are other prophecies that weigh heavily on Achilles and Patroclus, not to mention the reader.

Madeline Miller breathes such life and emotion into her characters. Thetis is frightening; King Agamemnon is arrogant and cold-hearted; Odysseus is crafty. Achilles is beautiful, and the love between him and Patroclus is simultaneously intense and sweet. It's heartbreaking to watch the prophecies be fulfilled, and yet Miller offers an ingenious denouement that is wholly satisfying.

This 2012 Orange Prize winner is my best book of the year so far.

Two 5-star reads, back to back! Woo hoo!

9: Isn't it great when that happens? A thumb for your inspiring review. How can I not read it now?!

On a roll Laura! I liked Gillespie and I the better of the two, but both were great reads. I'm impressed you've read all the winners. It should be easy to stay on top of that now.

I managed to renew Ali Smith's there but for the, so I hope to get it read this July.

I'm spoiled by these 5-star reads now, they are so rare for me. I hope I can come down from the stratosphere and enjoy a few 3.5-4.5 star books!

The Accidental ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

Eve and Michael Smart, and their children Magnus and Astrid, rent a house in Norfolk for the summer, hoping to escape the stress of everyday London life. One day a young woman named Amber appears on their doorstep, and everyone is so caught up in their own cares, each assumes she is known to one of the others. Astrid thinks she's a friend of Eve's; Eve thinks she's one of Michael's university students, etc. Amber stays for dinner, and spends the night, albeit in her car. Time passes and before you know it, Amber is firmly entrenched in their lives. She's a dubious role model and mentor to 12-year-old Amber, the object of 17-year-old Magnus' passion, and the one woman Michael wants but can't manage to seduce. Amber also becomes privy to several deep family secrets, some shared with her directly and others obtained through her powers of reason.

It's all very strange, because she's not particularly likeable. You'd think one of the parents would kick her out, but every member of the family is so locked inside their own head that no one understands the effect she's having on them collectively. As Amber inserts herself into the family, she shares remarkably little about herself, and yet manages to get everyone else to let their guard down. Each family member has the chance to tell their version of the story, taking turns as narrator, which enables the reader to get just as deep into each person's psyche as Amber does. Ali Smith used very different writing styles and techniques for each character, underscoring the differences between family members. On the other hand, Amber's chapters are decidedly sparse, so as readers our understanding of her is just as limited as the family's.

I was initially intrigued by Smith's quirky writing, but eventually tired of it. The story seemed about equal parts positive and creepy. Only when the family returns to London does the full impact of Amber's visit become clear, and the whole thing struck me as quite creepy indeed. And while this book gave me some interesting thoughts to ponder, I was left wishing some of the family relationships and related themes were further developed.

I don't remember much about The Accidental, but I do remember feeling the same way you did: wishing for more development with the family relationships. And it was creepy. LOL!

Excellent review of The Accidental!

Jill, great minds think alike, eh?
Thanks Tina!

Nice review of The Accidental, Laura. Your review of it was mixed, but I'm more eager to read it than I previously was.

>18 kidzdoc:: that's funny, Darryl ... over on my 75 books thread, I think I managed to scare a few people away from it!

I finished my last book for Orange July last night: Homestead. A short book; deceptively deep. Thanks to Jill for the recommendation! Review forthcoming but not before Friday.

Homestead ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog

There's a surprising amount of depth and meaning in this slim novel, that builds slowly and quietly through each of its 12 chapters. The story is set in a remote region of the Austrian alps, and told in the voices of women from 1909 to 1977, who managed life, love, and family on their rural homestead.

Life was hard: subsistence farming, few "modern conveniences," limited educational opportunities, and a clear but restrictive definition of a woman's role. Most women made do and were happy; some worked hard to escape. In the opening chapter, Anna, a young mother, receives a mysterious postcard which appears to be from a long lost lover. The post-mistress makes sure everyone knows about it, causing much gossip. Anna imagines the writer and his lifestyle and composes an elaborate reply, which she later abbreviated to a simple acknowledgement and apology, because his card has been misdirected. As this unfolds, the reader is also introduced to Anna's husband and children, characters who will figure prominently in later chapters.

In a rural area such as this, everyone seems to be related to everyone else. Thankfully Rosina Lippi included clan charts showing the genealogy of each homestead. While careful study of these while reading reveals small spoilers, I found them invaluable to keep track of generations and relationships.

Every one of these women was amazing, in their capacity for physical labor, and their commitment to families and to one another. Each chapter reveals details about those who came before, some of which were closely guarded family secrets. This provided the depth I mentioned before, and usually sent me off to re-read earlier chapters, taking new facts into account. When I reached the end, I felt like I had an incredibly rich tapestry in my hands, and I stood back to admire Lippi's achievement.

And that was my last book for Orange July ... it was great fun!

So, so, so glad you liked Homestead. Such an incredible book! =)

Lovely review of Homestead -- it sounds a bit like the Sweding Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson