What have I been reading since last we spoke? Well, John Moore's The Waters under the Earth was utterly absorbing, and when I finished it I handed it to Mr. C. who rattled through it in no time at all and enjoyed it every bit as much as I did. Yes, it's long (and would be chopped quite a bit were it submitted to an editor these days, I think), but its portrait of a family in changing times - it's set in the early 1950s - is a sensitively vivid one which offers welcome detail rather than a broad brush. Moore is wonderful on the natural world, too, - see this snippet, for example - and on the march of 'progress' which threatens to impoverish rather than enrich the whole, and he's good on shifting societal attitudes and mores, and the opening up of possible futures for people whose options had before been confined. A new reality intrudes on the settled world of the main character Ferdo and his beloved ancient oak woods, harsh truths must now be confronted rather than denied. I'll leave it there and let you discover for yourself, as I hope you will, its intricacies and many charms.
Next came Sean Ashton's The Way to Work, a cleverly surreal novel set on a commuter train. In its early stages it reminded me of Susanna Clarke's Piranesi in its Escher-like depiction of a never-ending chain of carriages with weird rules and systems and no apparent means of alighting, but then, if you'll pardon the pun, it went off the rails a bit and left me a touch travel-sick; another reader may of course settle very comfortably to the more disorienting elements of the story.
Now I'm on to Abraham Verghese's new novel The Covenant of Water which is a whopper at over 700 pages, but almost half way through I can say that for my taste not a word is superfluous and I can't wait to read on.
What have you been reading recently? Anything you would particularly recommend?
As I am able to read fiction again a random choice from my local public library was Antiquities by Cynthia Ozick. I will read to the end before giving you an opinion, but so far (about 50%) so good.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 01 June 2023 at 07:34 PM
Thank you, DP, and I'm glad you're back to fiction. I read Cynthia Ozick's Foreign Bodies a few years ago and (on checking back) see I described it as "commanding". Do give us your opinion on Antiquities when you've finished it.
Posted by: Cornflower | 01 June 2023 at 07:47 PM
My stepmom and I traded books on a visit two weeks ago: she gave me Covenant of Water and I gave her Emily Mandel's Glass Hotel. It was an uneven swap, page-wise, but I LOVED CoW and it read very quickly; I had also really enjoyed Glass Hotel, so it was a win/win overall!
Posted by: Rebecca | 02 June 2023 at 11:09 PM
The John Moore book is the one I’d love to read. Quite a prolific author too.
Posted by: Mystica | 03 June 2023 at 06:07 AM
That's great, Rebecca! I am so enjoying CoW: completely swept up in it! (I'm yet to read any Emily Mandel).
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 June 2023 at 09:44 AM
I finished Antquities a few days ago and I loved the unreliable narrator and the double meaning of the title which refers to artefacts from a Petrie archaeological dig in Egypt, and to the aging inhabitants of the school which has become a de facto retirement home. Unreliable in two ways, he is old and breaks off from his narrative to another topic from time time time as if he has forgotten what he is talking about (his memoirs) and unreliable (or possibly deluded, inventive, devious who knows) as the reader begins to wonder whether the object of his schoolboy infatuation, the improbably named Ben-Zion Elefantin, is real or not. The casual antisemitism of the boarding school that they were both outsiders in is handled sensitively and is very much an essential part of the story. An unsettling read and highly recommended.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 03 June 2023 at 03:47 PM
Excellent - thank you, DP.
Posted by: Cornflower | 03 June 2023 at 06:43 PM
Mystica, the John Moore was really excellent, and I'd love to read more of his work; as you may know, Slightly Foxed publish his Brentham Trilogy which appeals very much.
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 June 2023 at 10:28 AM
I'm not familiar with John Moore but I like those sprawling novels that would be ruthlessly edited today!
I am a huge fan of Jane Casey's crime novels and, fortunately, her publishing schedule seems to coincide with my (hard to buy for) sister's birthday. I read it first, wrapped it at midnight on Wednesday, presented it on Thursday, and she has already raved about it.
Posted by: Constance | 10 June 2023 at 01:01 PM
That's great, Constance! I'm not familiar with Jane Casey so I'm off to look her up. Thank you.
Posted by: Cornflower | 10 June 2023 at 05:40 PM