Recently Read: 4 Books for Fiction Lovers
As a lover of the written world, I have accumulated a number of books. There is no one genre that I typically gravitate towards, I just like anything that is well written and offers a compelling and absorbing tale. Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors whose books take up a large portion of real estate in my bookshelf. Her novels beautifully capture the intricacy of human relationships, each one surrounding a thought provoking moral issue. Having exhausted everything in her collection, I now prefer a balance of genres and subject matters. I’ve put together a selection of my favourite books that I have recently read over the past year. Here are some of my recommendations for what to read next.
The Neapolitan Novels – Elena Ferrante
I almost devoured these books, one after the other, and therefore have counted them as one. The first in the series, My Brilliant Friend, is the one most often touted as a bestseller, but there are three subsequent books: The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay and The Story of the Lost Child. Written in Italian, they were translated into English by New Yorker editor Ann Goldstein. The story follows two friends growing up in the 1950’s in a working-class neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples. The tale begins in childhood, and ends in old age. At its heart are two central characters who are equally well crafted and compelling. Their paths diverge, as protagonist Elena continues her education and becomes a writer, while Lila remains in the neighbourhood. Elena’s narrating is in a sense a psychological analysis as she attempts to decode her friend Lila, a headstrong and street-smart woman, who ultimately disappears without a trace at the age of 66. There is almost a magnetic attraction between the two women – they are polar opposites and their relationship is at times volatile, yet the two friends remain close. The series offers an elegantly written story that captures the complex relationship of female friendship, and offers an addictive read.
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel García Márquez
On a mission to read more classics, I stumbled across this from Spanish author Gabriel García Márquez. The novel, published in 1967, won the author a Nobel prize and a review on the back cover says that “it should be required reading for the entire human race,” so naturally I was intrigued. It tells the story of the mythical town of Macondo and the family who founded it, the Buendías. Readers get to know six generations of the Buendías, through wars, scandalous love affairs and a period of rain that lasts for nearly five years straight. The males are named either José Arcadio or Aureliano and interestingly, many of them share the same traits. The theme of solitude prevails here – the family members range from outgoing to solitary beings who prefer to shut themselves in their rooms. The story is imaginative, amusing and brings colourful and engaging characters to life.
The Paris Wife – Paula McLain
This is the love story of Ernest and Hadley Hemingway as told by the latter, his first wife. The story is slightly fictionalized, but it is based on real characters and events. Toronto even plays a small role in the book, as the couple lived in the city for a short period of time when Ernest worked for the Toronto Star. The story largely takes place in Paris, during the early days of Ernest’s writing career. Hadley, neither glamorous nor worldly, finds herself in the middle of a successful circle, surrounded by notable literary figures such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein. I like historical fiction, particularly those set in Jazz Age Paris. Demonstrating impressive research, McLain evokes nostalgia for that time and place – parties and cafes in Paris, the running of the bulls in Pamplona. It is also a great love story – one that is as extraordinary as it is heart wrenching.
The Light Between Oceans – M.L. Steadman
This one is a tearjerker. Tom Sherbourne works as a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, a remote island off the coast of Australia, where he lives with his wife Isabel. After Isabel suffers multiple miscarriages, the couple is devastated. When a boat washes up on shore with a dead man and a living baby, the couple make the decision to keep the child and raise it as their own. An eventual encounter with the child’s birth mother creates a moral dilemma. Beautifully written and very emotional, this story is about when good people make questionable choices. Author Steadman, who is from Australia, offers a gorgeous description of the landscape. It is now a motion picture starring Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender, and received mixed reviews. I haven’t seen the movie – I’m slightly worried that it will ruin the image I’ve constructed. Because after all, isn’t the book always better?
These are just a few of the books that I have recently read and loved. I highly recommend these amazing works of fiction to those who appreciate quality writing, captivating storylines and exploring a variety of different topics and writing styles.
