Looking for something to read?
Dear book-seeking reader,
I have discovered an unexpected joy in being a published author — I get to meet other authors and find out about their books! During these past few months, this has led me to some wonderful novels I want to share with you.
The Detour is the newest novel by Alaskan novelist Andromeda Romano-Lax. I first saw Andromeda at a public reading years ago in Anchorage where she was sharing a passage from her debut novel, The Spanish Bow. I was mesmerized by her description of the cello and music in general. Interestingly, Andromeda’s first two novels are not set in her home state of Alaska, but instead in historical Europe. During an on-stage talk between the two of us a few weeks ago, she says she might still have an Alaskan novel up her sleeve. In the meantime, read The Detour. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between Hitler and art, individuals and the social forces that shape history. But it is told through the intimate, sometimes comic, sometimes tragic, perspective of one man — Ernst Vogler.
When two authors have novels released around the same time, they begin to bump into each other on the book trail. Fortunate for me, this has happened to me with Julianna Baggott. Her most recent novel Pure was released in February around the same time as The Snow Child. I first met her in Oregon at a bookselling conference, and then again in New Orleans for a similar event where we signed books next to each other. Between the two events, I devoured her novel. Pure is the first in a post-apocolyptic trilogy. It tells the story of Pressia, a young girl who is surviving in a strange, twisted, destroyed future Earth. The story is page-turning and surprising; the images haunting.
I don’t know if I would have picked up J. Courtney Sullivan’s newest novel Maine on my own. The cover looks like a beach read, which isn’t my usual choice. But then at Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver, we were a part of the same author event. When Courtney stood at the microphone and read a few pages from the book, I was stirred to laughter, shock, and recognition. I decided right then to read the novel, and I’m glad I did. Maine tells of three generations of Kellehers women tied to a cottage in Maine. It is about the love and strife that comes between mothers and daughters, and the urge to shape ourselves even as we cannot deny the influence of our families.
Happy reading!
Eowyn
9 Comments
I loved The Detour! What a wonderfully written book. Congratulations on all your success!
Hi Eowyn,
I wasn’t expecting to see my own book on this list — thanks for mentioning it! But while I’m here, let me mention that I recently ordered Pure as a gift for my daughter’s friend, and heard that she disappeared into her room, reading it, as soon as the book arrived. (And these kids are now at an age when fewer books can do that.) Great sign! I look forward to reading it as well.
Eowyn, thanks for the tips. I do consider the books you recommend. That’s how I decided to order Raven’s Gift, which I read and loved. I’ve been interested in post-apocolyptic literature so Pure sounds like a good read. Maine also sounds delightful. And I’ve recently finished The Detour by Andromeda Romano-Lax. What an absolutely wonderful novel. I loved it!
I read Pure before it was edited and could not put it down.
I loved Maine.
I’ve just finished your book and was recommending it on my Facebook page when I was only halfway into it. It is now one of my all-time favorites. When I finished today, I wept.
I surely wish I could reach you some other way than in front of everyone to ask a couple of questions without divulging spoilers.
I have a niece who is friends with your sister-in-law in IN.
I have a daughter in Fairbanks, who like Mabel, is in love with the state. She came up to go to UAF 20 years ago and she’s still there. She coached the women’s basketball team at UAF for 10 years.
Please email me.
Hi Ewoyn,
Many thanks for the book suggestions. I had already heard good things about ‘pure’
best wishes Sarah
Always wonderful to hear about something new to read. I purchased Raven’s Gift and really enjoyed it.
There’s a fun story about the cover shot for Maine (unfortunately I can’t find a link to the article I read). I believe it goes like this: 2 people were discussing where the shot was taken, both betting on one place or the other. So one of them contacted the photographer and asked. He wrote back with a charming tale of how it was a random shot while on vacation several years ago and that the woman in the photograph is now his wife and mother of his children. Neat, eh?
Thanks for the list. I read The Spanish Bow when it first came out and loved it. Have to check out The Detour. Also, in case you haven’t seen it, Eowyn Ivey and The Snow Child is now listed on the Barnes & Noble Spring 2012 “Discover Great New Writers Selections.” Congratulations. Here’s a link to the page:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/discover-great-new-writers/379003379
I read When You Kant Let Go and I must say, it is a great read. So much better than His Momma called Him Yeshua