Hello February. So far this month has been productive in regards to reading and other pursuits. Lots of walking, cleaning out the house and ridding outselves of superfluous items and watching some of the Olympics.
Here's the midmonth roundup.
Read / Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty
Stella and Gerry have been married over 35 years so they know each others habits, have comfortable silences and their own little secrets.
The book starts with the minutiae of the evening as Stella is preparing them for their trip to Amsterdam the next day. When I say the minutiae of their activities I mean just that - it's all the little almost inconsequential details of turning down the heat, turning down the bedclothes, putting on lotion and being sure the toiletries bag is packed....like that.
The entire book is like this with normal conversations between the two. There are also flashbacks to the past where you learn about life changing events in their marriage, They are a Northern Irish couple living in the north when violence touches their lives. In their older years they live in Scotland, their son grown and living with his family in Canada.
I wrote a more detailed review on Goodreads HERE. Settings are Scotland but most of the book takes place in Amsterdam.
Crux by Gabriel Tallent
Two teens living in poverty; one with opportunties for college, the other written off. You'll notice when reading that Dan is described as a scholar and good looking. Tamma is described by her deformities (mind you, her father caused them) and how she is perceived to be stupid. She is not. She is a powerhouse of ambition and tenacity.
Neither one has scenes with friends other than each other. There is a loneliness for both of them, Tamma gives it the middle finger but Dan has depression he tamps down. Both are alive and happy when climbing or planning a climb. They trust each other implicitly.
Sharing with Joy for British Isles Friday with Irish author Bernard MacLaverty
