Euphoria

Based on events in the life of revolutionary anthropologist Margaret Mead, Lily King's latest novel, Euphoria, is so far my favorite book of 2015 and I believe it will remain in at least the top ten.

You may be thinking "Margaret Mead? Really? Anthropology?  I'll take a pass, thank you."  No! Stop! While an anthropological expedition into New Guinea in the 1930s provides the backdrop for this story, it is not the the focal point by any means.

Think less "anthropology" and more "menage a trois" and you are much more on point concerning this fictionalized (but inspired by Mead and her real-life husband) story of the charismatic married anthropologists Fen and Nell Stone and their volatile relationship with Andrew Bankson, an English anthropologist who has been working solo in the jungles of New Guinea. Bankson has reached a low point in his mental, emotional, and professional life as he becomes increasingly frustrated with his work involving a particularly recalcitrant tribe of New Guinea natives.

Enter the renowned, controversial Nell and her cynical, morally-shaky husband Fen into the same New Guinea jungle and stand back as both professional and personal fireworks ensue.  Nell has at that point published a highly-regarded study in the world of anthropology and Fen, still struggling to find a focus for his work, has become jealous and bitter concerning Nell's acclaimed work.  As their marriage falls apart, Bankson becomes increasingly entangled in their unhappy web.  While passions erupt and boundaries are crossed, the style of the novel is quite reined in and proper (as proper as a love triangle can be!)

As the story plays out, the background of the scientists' endeavors to embed themselves in the native villages and gain an understanding of the vastly unknown culture of tribes that were quickly becoming extinct is extremely well-done and thought-provoking.  The intellectual discussion amongst the three main characters is just as provoking as their infatuation with one another.  The title is referred to in a conversation Nell is having with Bankson regarding gaining an understanding of a native culture in which they are so desperately trying to gain a foothold:

It's a delusion-you've only been there eight weeks-and it's followed by the complete despair of ever understanding anything. But at that moment the place feels entirely yours. It's the briefest, purest euphoria.

And, given what you now know about this story, you would be correct in guessing other types of "euphoria" occasionally appear as well.  And you thought anthropology was boring!!

My rating ***

Last Night at the Blue Angel

"Mother is a singer. I live in her dark margin."
What a terrific opening line! I loved it! And you know what? I loved the rest of the novel just as much.  It's pretty exciting to find a novel I have no qualms about recommending; it's well-written with totally engaging characters and a strong story arc.  It's definitely headed somewhere, and this reader was quite happy to follow the yellow brick road.

Rebecca Rotert sets her debut novel in Chicago in the 60s, amidst the somewhat seedy but intriguing world of jazz clubs.  The story is told from the perspective of ten-year-old Sophia, the slightly precocious but highly likable daughter of Naomi, a struggling jazz singer.  Naomi's strong point is her voice; her weak point, well, she has a few and parenting is one of them.  Naomi's struggles with motherhood and her dependence on others to help care for Sophia are a major thread throughout the story:

Mother's feelings are the curb I walk, trying to keep my balance, and I get tired of being careful, and mad at her at the same time. But then she tales my hand and smiles at me...and suddenly I'm on solid footing again...our life is perfect. 

While there is absolutely no doubting Naomi's love for her daughter and Sophia's adoration of her mother,  it's a chaotic relationship complicated by Naomi's frequently confusing romantic choices involving both men and women.  And yet, the people surrounding Naomi and Sophia love them and step in to fill the parenting gaps whenever needed (which is fairly often).  Sophia has a particularly strong relationship with one of her mother's most reliable beaus, vastly under appreciated by Naomi but adored by Sophia. He's a good guy; one can't help but root for him, but is he just a little TOO steady for Naomi who prefers her lovers with a dash of danger?

Through flashbacks, we come to a better understanding of Naomi's issues; the backstory on Sophia's father is well done and as he moves back into Sophia's life the reader may not know whether or not to wish for his re-entry into their lives: life is complicated. Lots of gray in this story and that always makes things more interesting, doesn't it?

I was really pulled into this story, enjoying the eccentric cast of supporting characters and the roles they played in Sophia's and Naomi's lives, as well.

Very engaging, with a Chicago connection, to boot!

My rating: ***

And Onto "Daughters"...

Last time I posted,  I commented on three novels I had recently read that focused on sons and I mentioned that I had three novels focusing on daughters lined up and ready to enjoy.  My thoughts on these novels, all of which I enjoyed:

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Fikry is a bookseller; he owns and operates a small bookstore on Alice Island (a small island near the Hamptons).  His first wife, the love of his life, has died and he is completely beside himself with grief.  Through a complicated chain of events, a baby girl is abandoned in his bookshop and he ends up (reluctantly) adopting her.  His growing love for Maya and his evolution into a most excellent father, as well as finding a new love, make up the main aspects of the story.

I found the style and wit of the novel very engaging: each section begins with an excerpt from a well-known story that A. J. feels connects to his life.  Throughout the novel, lots of references are made to popular and some not-so-popular works of fiction.  I connected with many of A. J.'s opinions and that made the book particularly enjoyable for me as a reader.

A couple of my favorite references:

Infinite Jest is an endurance contest. You manage to get through it and you have no choice but to say you liked it.  Otherwise, you have to deal with the fact that you just wasted weeks of of your life. 

In referring to a new novel by Maeve Binchy:

How many times can I read about a woman married too young to a bad, handsome man in a stifling Irish town?  

But perhaps this is one of my favorite quotes, written as A. J. is watching Maya at a family party:

At first, he thinks this is happiness, but then he determines it's love.  F*ing love, he thinks. What a bother. It's completely gotten in the way of his plan to drink himself to death, to drive his business to ruin. The most annoying thing about it is that once a person gives a shit about one thing, he finds he has to start giving a shit about everything. 

As I mentioned earlier, A.J. and his adopted daughter Maya form a bond that grows beautifully throughout the story.  It's not always a perfect relationship, but a true one, with the ups and downs that all parents and children experience.  While not a "great" novel, certainly an enjoyable one that made me care about the characters and keep turning the pages!

My rating: **1/2

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

The Branch-Fox Family: Elgin Branch (the dad, a genius Microsoft engineer); Bernadette Fox (the mom, a world famous architect who hit the high mark very early in her career, crashed and burned and has become an eccentric hermit); and Bee ( eighth-grade daughter of genius parents that she adores).  Bee and her folks have recently relocated to Seattle for Elgin's new job with MS; they have purchased an incredibly dilapidated abandoned girls' school that Bernadette has plans to renovate.

Unfortunately Bernadette finds herself with an acute case of "analysis paralysis" when it comes to the renovation:

Leaks had become holes in the roof; windows with small cracks had become cardboard and duct tape panels.  Once a week the gardener weed-whacked under the rugs. Our home was literally returning to the Earth.

In addition to being the scourge of the solidly middle-class neighborhood, Bernadette staunchly refuses to interact with neighbors, Elgin's co-workers, and some very persistent PTA moms. All of this resulting most unfairly in the ostracism of Bee.  Bee, by the way, is an incredibly mature, extremely supportive daughter who, while not knowing any of the reasons for her mom's social/career anxieties, loves and stand ever faithfully by her side.  Why? Because Bernadette Fox is an outstanding mom. Bee comes first and heaven help anyone who messes with Bee.  Nothing, she frequently thinks, will ever come between she and Bee.  Until one day it does, and Bernadette disappears.

With her dad having thrown in the towel where it applies to Bernadette, it falls to Bee to find her mom.  Has she really abandoned them or has she fallen into the ocean and drowned (a distinct possibility)?

Bee begins gathering all the evidence she can lay her hands on to piece together the puzzle of her mom's disappearance; email, invoices, hospital bills, etc.  These pieces of evidence form the narrative structure of the novel and the constantly shifting perspective, while annoying some readers, kept me interested.  Along with Bee, we discover Bernadette's fascinating backstory and are reminded of the fact that people come in all shades of gray: everyone has a bit of villain and everyone has a bit of hero.

My rating:  **1/2




Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

One of my favorite reads of 2014, this is a story of love lost and gained and lost and gained, mothers and daughters, jealousies and secrets, all told through the eyes of June, our fourteen year old narrator.

June has an especially important, loving relationship with her Uncle Finn, an artist of some renown who hasn't shared his art with the world for many years.  When Finn unexpectedly becomes ill and dies, June is devastated.  Simultaneously, she begins to feel a deep rift between she and her older sister whom she once adored.  The cause of the rift? June's sister, Greta, has become deeply jealous of  the special bond between June and Finn.  With Finn gone, Greta still harbors strongly negative feelings towards June, which only grow when a mysterious stranger appears with a special gift for June from Finn.

Toby, the stranger, turns out to have been Finn's life-partner which has been kept a secret from the sisters.  Their mom has long-known about Finn and Toby's deep love for one another and has deliberately kept Toby and all knowledge of Toby from the girls.  As June begins a friendship with Toby and learns a great deal about her beloved uncle and his relationship with Toby, with his sister (June and Greta's mom), with his art and the art world, she develops a new understanding of the world around her.

While it's sometimes a pain-filled journey, there are moments and memories of happiness as well.  The girls are gifted with a painting created by Finn with them as the subject and they re-learn to communicate with each other through this painting.  Their mother, who can sometimes seems rather distant and cold, has secrets of her own to share with her daughters as she attempts to rebuild her relationship with them.

The story has many layers, as does the title: Tell the Wolves I'm Home.  Who are the wolves? Where is home?

My rating: ***