The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher is a collection of ten short stories by award-winning author, Hilary Mantel. Ironic observations and wry humor mark most of these stories which, for the most part, depict life in twentieth century England.  Adultery, sudden death, lingering death, class differences, the cruelty of children, cruelty to children and resentment against ruthless politicians are some of the subjects of these stories. They often lead the reader along gentle plot lines until the conclusions take unexpected darker twists. These stories are best approached cold, without a hint of what may happen, so the less said here the better. 

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Empire by Martin Hyers and William Mebane

Martin Hyers and William Mebane traveled across the United States from 2004 to 2007, taking photographs of Americana. They photographed homes, schools, museums, zoos and businesses and the contents of these places. The result is a photographic record of the good, the bad and the ugly of American culture (plus everything in between). And if you have a bit of the Peeping Tom in you, this is the book for you. There are many exterior photographs of modest houses, apartment buildings, shops and automobiles. Interior shots include furniture, family photographs, books, computers and printers, toys, games, wallpaper, carpeting, food, hobbies and collections. Perhaps this sounds mundane but the photographer’s eye and the layout of the book make Empire by Martin Hyers and William Mebane an entertaining and informative record of modern American cultural history.

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Wolf In White Van by John Darnielle

The first novel by the lead singer of the band The Mountain Goats is a strange and wonderful thing.  Clocking in at a scant 207 pages, Darnielle takes us into the mind of a man who, years earlier, had attempted to commit suicide.  The novel moves in reverse and we learn much about Sean Philips the young man from his reflections as an adult.  As teenage Sean lays recovering in the hospital, the idea for a role-playing game begins to take shape in his head.  In the game, Trace Italian, players must choose based on provided “moves” how best to attempt to make it through a post-apocalyptic world into the safety of the Trace fortress itself.  Players mail in their “moves” or decisions and Sean mails back their next options.  His relationships with the players is professional but a few become heavily invested in the game.  Sean gets to know two teen players, Lance and Carrie who play Trace Italian as a team.  Tragedy strikes and somehow Sean has charges brought against him. Sean has never met the players in person, so how can he be responsible for anything that happened to them?  The result is a book that winds in and out and back upon itself as bits of Sean’s teenage self are glimpsed in these new teens. 

Darnielle is a great writer.  Reading a novel told by an unreliable narrator can often be a frustrating task, but Darnielle makes it quite enjoyable.  This is a book that has many layers and since it is short, can easily be read again for more nuance and texture.

Check out a copy of John Darnielle’s Wolf In White Van from the library today!

The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane

An elderly woman, Ruth Field, lives alone in a remote area of Australia. Despite suffering from back pain, she is self-sufficient and content with her life. However she regularly dreams that there is a tiger in her house. Only when she discusses this with her son during their occasional phone calls does she realize it was only a dream. One day a woman named Frida arrives at her door. Frida says she has been sent by a government agency to help Ruth. Ruth allows her in and Frida, taking charge of the cooking and cleaning chores, does make Ruth’s life much easier. But is Frida actually a government health care worker? Sometimes she appears to be bullying Ruth or taking advantage of her. Is she really? Ruth is obviously suffering from dementia, or at the least confusion, and cannot always trust her memory of Frida’s mistreatment. Neither can the reader.  The Night Guest is an unusual novel of suspense and Fiona McFarlane expertly uses domestic events to create a sense of uneasiness.

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Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

Over the course of a year, Professor of Creative Writing, Jay Fitger, is asked to write numerous Letters of Recommendation for students and fellow faculty members. Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher is an acerbically funny novel told exclusively through these letters. Being a creative writing professor, Fitger can write skillfully and passionately about the qualities and accomplishments of his students and former students, whether they are applying for scholarships, fellowships, internships, or jobs as nannies, grocery clerks or RV park attendants. Conversely, he can also use his writing skills to cleverly damn, with faint praise, fellow, undeserving (in his mind) faculty members seeking promotions or new positions. Disgruntled with the modern world, he inevitably strays off point in these letters to complain about the state of higher education, the lack of respect for the English Department (as compared to the Economics Department), remodeling projects on campus, the difficulty of using modern technology and the unhappy state of his private life. Although he appears to be a relentless curmudgeon, Professor Fitger is actually a man who simply cares too much. As one colleague explained: “Fitger behaves like more of an ass than he actually is.”

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The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell is not easy reading. It is nearly six hundred pages long and spans 159 years, 1984 to 2043. If you choose to accept the challenge this book presents, you will be rewarded with excellent writing, good stories, interesting characters and a wide plot line with a clear divide between good and evil. Holly Sykes is the constant that unites the six novellas that comprise this book. In 1984 she is a rebellious, boy-crazy fifteen-year-old running away from home. Over the years and chapters, she loses a brother to kidnapping, mingles with the rich and privileged, works at an Alpine ski resort, has a child, marries a war correspondent, is widowed, tours world-wide with her bestselling book, becomes involved in a supernatural battle between the forces of good and evil, and ends up trying to survive in a world ravaged by climate change. Holly was born with paranormal abilities she didn't understand.  Although she rejects anything supernatural, mysterious individuals insert themselves into her life at various times.  She becomes unavoidably entangled in the final battle between the Horologists (good) and the Anchorites (evil). After the battle, the world continues on its self-destructive path. However, the outcome of the battle will eventually affect Holly and her descendants.  

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Texts From Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg

This reviewer isn’t even sure where to begin with this book.  Imagine your favorite classic authors and famous book characters had access to cell phones.  Add in some goofy modern day language and text-speak and you have Texts From Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg.  The result is a book that will have you snorting and LOLing from the very first page.  Here is an example in the form of a short exchange between Jo and Meg from Little Women:

"MEG

MEG

MEG WHAT’S ALL THIS

WHATS ALL THIS I’M HEARING 

ABOUT YOUR GETTING MARRIED

tell me it’s a wretched lie

Jo I don’t know how many more times 

we have to have this conversation

I’ll have it a THOUSAND TIMES if I must

But yes

I’m still marrying John tomorrow

OH GREAT TRIPLE-HORNED GOD

Just like I was planning to yesterday

This is unbearable

And also last month

Answer me this, then

Who exactly do you think is going to play Mercy when 

we put on my version of The Pilgrim’s Progress this summer?

I wrote that part for YOU

Wrote it beautifully in fact

I don’t know darling

She gets a cracking scene with the villain Rodrigo where 

he tries to poison her and she screams and faints and everything

I don’t remember anyone named Rodrigo 

in The Pilgrim’s Progress

THAT’S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE MEG

I’m very sorry

This production will be ruined

Why don’t you ask Amy?

I’m not even going to dignify that with a response"

[end scene]

Ortberg takes you through the text convos of such classics as Rebecca, Hamlet, Les Miserables, Great Expectations and many more.  You’ll even get to see what Edgar Allen Poe was thinking while he wrote The Raven!

In all seriousness, this book is absolutely delightful and with the holiday season fast approaching, would make a wonderful gift for any classic literature lovers in your life. 

Check out a copy of Texts From Jane Eyre from the library today!