Goodness did I fail spectacularly at Cathy’s 20 Books of Summer. My intentions were good, my choices were excellent, and, for a while, I read one book after the other until I realized my pile had one major flaw – there were no crime novels. And once I strayed from the path, it was hard getting back to it. That said, I read seven and a half of the books on my pile before going off course.
Olivier Adam’s Passer l’hiver is a collection of short stories that hasn’t been translated which is too bad. They were outstanding. Melancholy, poignant and so evocative. They show people at their loneliest but mange not to be depressing.
Hilary Mantel’s Learning to Talk is another short story collection and my first introduction to Hilary Mantel. I liked it very much. Especially the first story in the book which reminded me a little of Joyce’s Araby.
Jenny Erpenbeck‘s Kairos. What to say about this? The writing is impressive. If it hadn’t been so great, I wouldn’t have finished it. It’s actually interesting that before this got The International Booker, it wasn’t praised much in Germany. Maybe because of the very toxic nature of the relationship of the two main characters? Or simply because the depiction of the former DDR is anything but convincing.
Willa Cather‘s A Lost Lady. Now this is a novel that will make my best of the year. I liked it so much.
Elizabeth Taylor’s The Wedding Group. I have read a lot of Elizabeth Taylor’s novels and didn’t think I’d ever read one that I didn’t find convincing. Unfortunately, The Wedding Group is not her best. There are things to admire here but overall, it felt disjointed.
Kaye Gibbons‘ Charms for the Easy Life. This is a historical novel, set after WWII. It’s very well written and entertaining but not a favourite.
Kate Zambreno‘s The Light Room is a memoir and I liked it a great deal. She describes the year after her second child is born, which is right at the beginning of Corona. The title The Light Room is an allusion to the Japanese novel Territory of Light, which I’ve read earlier this year. They both have a lot to say about motherhood.
Patricia Lockwood‘ Nobody is Talking About This was praised by so many people, but I found it annoying. It’s uncanny how well she describes Twitter or X but for some reason, it wasn’t for me.
I’m not too bothered that I didn’t manage to finish reading my pile, I’m more annoyed that I didn’t review them. Or any other of the books I read and really enjoyed this summer like Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty which has been on my shelves since 2005. Definitely another novel that will make my Top 10 this year.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
Hi Caroline, great to see a post from you after so long. Of these books, Learning to Talk interests me because I haven’t read Mantel at all. Incidentally, will you be hosting German Literary Month this November?
Thank you so much. She’s a wonderful writer judging from these stories. I’m glad you’re asking. We will be announcing GLM on Thursday.
I really liked A Lost Lady too, Cather’s writing is so evocative.
I want to read Kairos so I’m really interested in what you say about the DDR not being convincingly portrayed.
I love Elizabeth Taylor but I’ve not read The Wedding Group – I’ll bear in mind your comments when I get to it!
The depiction of the DDR isn’t the worst. It’s the character Hans. He’s so disgusting and gets away with everything.
I found the DDR part very meager. You get that they weren’t free to move but not much else. The best bit is when the wall falls at the end but that’s very short.
Somehow forgot to write half of my reply.
Isn’t A Lost Lady just great? The Wedding Group is such a mixed bag. There were a few things I found so unconvincing. But it’s still an Elizabeth Taylor so not a waste of time. I’d be interested to see what you think if it and Kairos.
Wonderful post, Caroline! You’ve read some wonderful books! Discovered Elizabeth Taylor through your reviews and loved her Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. I want to read Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty. His prose is so beautiful. I started the book years back, when it won the Booker Prize but couldn’t continue because I got distracted by something else. It is sad that he hasn’t written much. But just saw that a new book of his is coming out soon, which is wonderful news. Can’t wait to get it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 😊
Thank you, Vishy. Alan Hollinhurst’s writing is sublime. I don’t reread much but could see myself rereading this. It was so beautiful. I had no idea he has a new one out. Thanks for telling me. 😊
Glad you loved Alan Hollinghurst’s prose 😊 Hoping to read his books properly soon.
I can’t stick to a list, so although I always read more than 20 books over the summer, I never take part officially. And interested in what you say about the Taylor – I *have* read it (I’ve read all of hers) and while I did like it a lot, I think I agree it’s not amongst her best.
Exactly. That was the problem. I might have read more than twenty but just could not stick to the list. I can do thematic reading but I need to be able to choose what I’m drawn to.
I found The Wedding Group unconvincing as a whole but enjoyed certain parts.
Like you and Karen, I find it very hard to stick to a fixed list (even of my own making) as it makes me feel as though I’m trying to complete a chore. That’s why I prefer a more flexible event as it’s easier to pick something that fits my mood at the time (as well as the event’s theme).
That’s so interesting about Kairos and the depiction of the former DDR not feeling convincing. I thought the writing was excellent – but, as you say, the toxic relationship also makes it an emotionally challenging read. I can’t recall if you’ve read Siblings by Brigitte Reimann? If you have, I’d be interested to hear what you think of her portrayal of the East.
Yes, I need the possibility to choose or it doesn’t work.
I’ve read almost everything Brigitte Reimann has written, including letters and diaries. I love her. Her writing is flawed in places but she’s the one to turn to if you want to know what the DDR was like from the POV of someone who believed in the DDR. Monika Maron and Christa Wolf are excellent too. I wouldn’t have minded the toxic relationship so much if she had realized what an abusive narcissistic pig he was.