Literary fiction is defined as fiction that has literary merit, or more "serious" themes. Although there can be some overlap, literary fiction typically does not fit into other genres such as romance, mystery, horror, science fiction, fantasy etc. This type of novel makes up the bulk of my reading usually. (Except lately I have really been into psychological thrillers and police procedurals)!
Heft by Liz Moore was simply excellent. I enjoyed the audible version, which had an exceptional narrator. This is the story of Arthur, a former professor, who weighs 550 pounds and has not left his apartment in Brooklyn for ten years. A few miles away, a 17 year old boy named Kel is balancing getting through a school he doesn't really fit into and achieving his dream of getting a baseball scholarship. The link between these two unlikely characters is Kel's mother Charlene, who used to be one of Arthur's students. Arthur and Kel's stories intersect at some point in the novel, and they both find love, family, and an end to loneliness in a very unexpected way. I adored the character of Arthur, who had such a distinct voice and personality. I hope some of you might try this book and enjoy it as much as I did. This was a five star read for me.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is a book that stuck with me a long time after I read it. The story is about a couple, Roy and Celeste, who seem like they have it all. He is a rising young executive and she is launching a promising career as an artist. Out of the blue, Roy is falsely accused of a crime and is sentenced to a long term in prison. Celeste finds comfort and friendship in her childhood friend Andre and experiences that the love she once had for Roy is fading over the years. After some years go by, Roy is released from prison and exonerated from the crime he was accused of. The novel is told from the points of view of each of the three main characters, and is done magnificently. You truly feel as if you are inside the head of each character as they take a turn to tell their story. You feel their pain and totally sympathize with them. Then the next character tells it from their point of view and you suddenly see things in a completly different way. This book was so well done. Another five stars for me. Oprah liked it too and has it as a book club selection.
I know there are lots of Kristin Hannah fans out there. Her last book was The Nightingale, and was a best seller for months. The Great Alone is a very different book from her previous one, and I have to say I would give this one four and a half stars. The story is set in Alaska in the 70s, and is about a family who has an almost survivalist lifestyle in the wilderness. The dad Ernst, is a Vietnam vet, who suffers mentally from what he experienced in POW camp. He and his wife Cora have a passionate, but stormy relationship. The 13 year old daughter Leni just wants to settle down somewhere and have a normal life. Instead, the dad takes them out into the wilderness in Alaska where they live practically off the grid. The darkness and danger of the harsh Alaskan winter begins to seem less threatening than the turmoil this family is experiencing inside their home. The father's mental state deteriorates and the story becomes one of survival on several different levels. Quite a gripping page turner. I stayed up almost all night with this one!
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir is the story of Essie, the 17 year old daughter of an evangelical preacher, a star in her family's hugely popular reality tv show, and a girl with a big problem. The problem being that she is pregnant. The show's producers are in an uproar trying to figure out how to deal with this unexpected development, and nobody seems to care what Essie's wishes might be. Who is the father of the unborn child? Should they marry Essie off to someone they think might improve the show's ratings? Should she have an abortion? Essie finds her own way to manipulate the plot and get some troubling questions resolved about her own family. I wasn't so sure I would enjoy this book, but ended up being quite caught up in the story. The book definitely takes a shot at the phoniness of reality tv shows (and to some extent at the hypocrisy of some tv evangelists). Four stars.
As a kid, I was a huge fan of mythology and still have my dogeared copy of Bullfinch's Mythology on my bookshelf. When Circe by Madeline Miller came out I knew I had to read it. For those of you not familiar with the tale, Circe was the daughter of Titans, an ancient god like race that existed along side of the gods we associate with Greek mythology. Circe is unusual and not particularly well liked. When her powers as a witch are revealed, Zeus feels threatened by her and exiles her to a remote island to live alone. It turns out a lot of famous characters in Greek mythology turn up on her island, and throughout the story we will meet Daedalus and his son Icarus, Medea, the Minotaur, and Odysseus. Circe comes to love mortals and has to decide once and for all if she will ally herself with them or the gods she came from. Great storytelling and a very strong female character. Five stars for great writing.
Do you enjoy literary fiction? What have you read recently?
21 responses to “Mid Year Book Reviews: Literary Fiction”
Thank you so much for these reviews! I just finished “What Remains” by Caroline Radziwell. I enjoyed it very much. It is a memoir. I can definitely recommend it.
Thank you so much for these reviews! I just finished “What Remains” by Caroline Radziwell. I enjoyed it very much. It is a memoir. I can definitely recommend it.
Thank you so much for these reviews! I just finished “What Remains” by Caroline Radziwell. I enjoyed it very much. It is a memoir. I can definitely recommend it.
Thanks for your book reviews. It seems so few people read anymore for enjoyment—which I cannot fathom! I have read both Circe and The Great Alone, and enjoyed them both.
For me, reading is like breathing. I NEED it in my day!
Thanks for your book reviews. It seems so few people read anymore for enjoyment—which I cannot fathom! I have read both Circe and The Great Alone, and enjoyed them both.
For me, reading is like breathing. I NEED it in my day!
Thanks for your book reviews. It seems so few people read anymore for enjoyment—which I cannot fathom! I have read both Circe and The Great Alone, and enjoyed them both.
For me, reading is like breathing. I NEED it in my day!
Currently I’m reading Rhys Bowen Royal Spyness books a second time I really love them! Thanks for the review you did a while ago.
Currently I’m reading Rhys Bowen Royal Spyness books a second time I really love them! Thanks for the review you did a while ago.
Currently I’m reading Rhys Bowen Royal Spyness books a second time I really love them! Thanks for the review you did a while ago.
I always look forward to your book reviews, and all these have tremendous promise! My book club will soon be determining our reading for the next year, so I’m taking all these titles along for consideration. 🙂
I always look forward to your book reviews, and all these have tremendous promise! My book club will soon be determining our reading for the next year, so I’m taking all these titles along for consideration. 🙂
I always look forward to your book reviews, and all these have tremendous promise! My book club will soon be determining our reading for the next year, so I’m taking all these titles along for consideration. 🙂
Thanks for the suggestions! I’m always looking for good books to get from the library. I love to read, too.
I’ve recently enjoyed the Margaret Truman mysteries that are set on Washington, DC.
Hugs!
Thanks for the suggestions! I’m always looking for good books to get from the library. I love to read, too.
I’ve recently enjoyed the Margaret Truman mysteries that are set on Washington, DC.
Hugs!
Thanks for the suggestions! I’m always looking for good books to get from the library. I love to read, too.
I’ve recently enjoyed the Margaret Truman mysteries that are set on Washington, DC.
Hugs!
Love your book reviews. I listen to books all the time when driving and sewing. My husband and I riode his motorcycle across country and I listened to books to keep me awake!
Are you guys ok? Not sure what part of CA you are in but see there are fires throughout the state.
Love your book reviews. I listen to books all the time when driving and sewing. My husband and I riode his motorcycle across country and I listened to books to keep me awake!
Are you guys ok? Not sure what part of CA you are in but see there are fires throughout the state.
Love your book reviews. I listen to books all the time when driving and sewing. My husband and I riode his motorcycle across country and I listened to books to keep me awake!
Are you guys ok? Not sure what part of CA you are in but see there are fires throughout the state.
Oh, am not sure what category this book will be in since my copy arrived just today. I read a review of it on a UK blog and was captivated by the review and the book title: “Bookworm, A Memoir of Childhood Reading” by Lucy Mangan. It’s available on Amazon.
Hugs!
Oh, am not sure what category this book will be in since my copy arrived just today. I read a review of it on a UK blog and was captivated by the review and the book title: “Bookworm, A Memoir of Childhood Reading” by Lucy Mangan. It’s available on Amazon.
Hugs!
Oh, am not sure what category this book will be in since my copy arrived just today. I read a review of it on a UK blog and was captivated by the review and the book title: “Bookworm, A Memoir of Childhood Reading” by Lucy Mangan. It’s available on Amazon.
Hugs!