Monthly rundown vol. 26
dad fiction, Brit lit, and a lot of tomatoes
Hello, hello! How is everyone? What's been going on? We are deep into one day at a time mode at my house, even more than usual. The kids are dropping some activities and adding others, and Spring Break is peaking it's head around the corner (we are headed out on a family road trip to Big Bend National Park! I'm excited but not ready!). Current events are trying to overwhelm my brain space, but I am doing my best to keep all things in perspective and within some boundaries. I've also started writing a new book! It's in the embryo stage at the moment, and I think I might have to do a little more pre-plotting on this one than I usually prefer. We will see.
Now how about some book talk, hm?
Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian is the first book in a classic, beloved series (with one movie adaptation that I am adding to my movie queue). It’s 1800 in the Mediterranean, and British naval officer Jack Aubrey has finally been given his very first commission for command of a ship. He recruits a crew (including physician Stephen Maturin), outfits his ship Sophie, and sets out under various orders but really in search of adventure and “prizes”--i.e., captured enemy ships. I really enjoyed Master and Commander. Although written in 1970, the book feels like it was written in the late 18th, early 19th century when the story is set. O’Brian writes characters that come to life in just a few phrases, and deftly portrays the relationship dynamics between all the members of the Sophie’s crew and between Captain Aubrey and other colleagues and acquaintances. Master and Commander feels like a timeless, classic adventure tale. For me, the only thing that slowed me down was the VERY DETAILED descriptions involving the ships. You can tell O’Brian immersed himself in research, but there is so. much. boat. I plan to pick up book two at some point, but am hoping the action kicks off a little sooner than in the first book.
Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane
Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
I’m going to tackle these three together. This is a new to me author, and I am obsessed! These three books don’t fit neatly into a genre to me, so I’d call them contemporary relationship fiction with a side of romance and humor. The main characters in each book are dealing with pretty heavy life stuff: the unexpected and sudden death of a friend (Just Last Night), a messy breakup and past relationship abuse (Mad About You), and found family/friendship drama plus potential infidelity and the dissolution of a long term relationship (Between Us). They’re poignant, funny, and hopeful, reminiscent of books by Jojo Moyes and Beth O’Leary. (for what it's worth, my least favorite of the three was Between Us, and most favorite was Just Last Night).
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin. I’m still a fan! This was a good one, inspired by Shop Around the Corner (and You've Got Mail), with a lot of time spent addressing bigotry and discrimination).
The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson has moved up the list to be one of my favorite Sanderson novels. It’s got classic Sanderson world building, a flawed character, a redemptive story, and a fast-paced, adventure-full plot. This one is deep into the Sanderson “cosmere”, but I think could still be enjoyed on its own.
Ten Tomatoes that Changed the World by William Alexander. And here’s the outlier of the month! This absolutely fascinating book takes the reader from ancient Central America to the Mediterranean to the U.S., from the Aztec and Mayan cultures to the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and modern agribusiness. Love it or hate it, the tomato has had a fascinating life. (the audiobook for this one is excellent!).
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding. The movie came out last month, but the book released in 2013, and for whatever reason I never read it the first time around. Is it a great book? No. Is it fun and like visiting an old friend? One hundred percent. And can I just say: one of the best things about Bridget Jones is how OF HER TIME the books are. Fielding really grounds the books in their moment in time in a way that makes the books dated but not out-of-date. I think partly because they’re just so fun and funny, and partly because the characters are so vivid and full of life. We’ve all aged up with Bridget, haven’t we? She’s still herself, just in a different phase of life, with deeper hurts, different responsibilities, and two kids she loves. My biggest quibble is that the pacing is off–we don’t spend enough time really building up to the ending (even though I really love the ending. Or maybe especially because I loved the ending?), but it was still an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to watching the movie adaptation! (extra side note: the movie is getting great reviews, but the book got some VERY mixed reviews 10 years ago).
Thanks for reading! I'm curious: has anyone been to Big Bend National Park? Let me know in the comments!
DO press on with the Aubrey/Maturin series...they only get better!!! And I hear you about all the nautical jargon and explanations. I picked up A Sea of Words, which is a sort of dictionary of all the nautical, arcane, or otherwise unfamiliar words in the books. It covers the food, things like the Liberties of the Savoy, Parliament, many many things that vex and confuse O'Brian's readers. I have read them all 3 times and am on my 4th go-round!
Just found Mhairi McFarlane, too, and thoroughly enjoyed Mad About You! But to say Bridget Jones Mad: About the Boy isn't a great book might put a damper on our friendship. :-) Going to find Ayesha At Last as your book recs are (almost entirely) FIRE.