A Word About Awards

THE OVERSTORY by Richard Powers   Awards: Pulitzer Winner 2019   Nominations: Booker Finalist 2018, Carnegie Longlist 2019, Dayton Literary Peace Finalist 2019, Dublin Longlist 2020, PEN/Faulkner Finalist 2019, PEN/Jean Stein Finalist 2019   Date Read: June 30, 2023   The Overstory is almost a series of short stories that interweave, all outlining the relationship these characters have with nature, specifically trees. At first glance, a reader might think: what kind of profound relationship with trees could occupy over 500 pages of text? The answer is simple. Richard Powers. His “powers,” if you will, should never be underestimated.   Nicholas Hoel is an artist descended from a long line of Iowan farmers. Their property includes one remaining chestnut that has been photographed every month for about 20 years. Nicholas has inherited these photographs and his art is inspired by them. When he connects with Olivia, he has been living in near hibernation after losing his entire family to ca

THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST by Mohsin Hamid   Nominations: Booker Finalist 2007, Dublin Finalist 2009, James Tait Black Finalist 2007   Date Read: June 26, 2023   The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a rather brief exploration of the golden ticket of American opportunity through a conversation with Changez, our protagonist, and an unknown dining partner. Changez recalls his modest upbringing in Pakistan, perhaps considered poverty by American standards, privileged by Pakistani standards. He earns the ultimate prize – a scholarship to Princeton – and knows just what this opportunity can behold.   Changez works hard and gains academic success, as well as an interview at one of the most prestigious firms in the business world: Underwood Samson, a valuation firm. In attempting to distinguish himself from the other lucky souls to win a coveted interview, he says he has earned only As in his graduate classes. Unimpressed, the interviewer says everyone they interview has straight As. Changez real

PROPERTY by Valerie Martin   Award: Women’s Prize Winner 2003   Nomination: Dublin Longlist 2005   Date Read: June 19, 2023   In Property, Martin so deftly portrays how slavery poisons both the owned and the owner. From the perspective of Manon, the reader gets a glimpse into the privileged yet vacant life of a plantation owner’s wife. Manon is contemptuous of her husband Gaudet, a man who she initially thought truly desired her. With the arrival of Manon’s slave Sarah, she can see that Gaudet simply desires women.   Sarah was initially Manon’s mother’s slave and she was presented to Manon as a wedding present. Sarah was sent to the husband’s plantation ahead of Manon’s arrival, to prepare the property to receive the newlywed mistress. Upon Manon’s arrival, she could already see her husband’s desire for Sarah. And after two children follow, Manon no longer cared to uphold the charade of her marriage, loathing her husband’s visage, touch and business sense.   With an outbreak of cholera

FEVER DREAM by Samanta Schweblin   Nominations: Booker Finalist 2017, Dublin Longlist 2019   Date Read: June 16, 2023   This strange novella is incredibly captivating, the language mesmerizing. Just like its title suggests, the entire ordeal unfolds as if in a dream, narrated by David and Amanda, two people who are completely unrelated. David is the son of Carla, although Carla does not claim David as her true son. Amanda is a vacationer in their small town, traveling with her daughter Nina, the husband to arrive later in their holiday.   Everything seems to go wrong from the beginning. Carla introduces herself to these non-locals and almost immediately begins divulging a tale of poisoning and body transfer that makes Amanda’s skin crawl. It’s not difficult to see where this is heading, as David and Amanda continue their talk, David prompting Amanda to only focus on the necessary details because she doesn’t have much time. The reader almost immediately knows Amanda is dying.   The enti

THE VICEROYS by Federico De Roberto   Award: PEN/Translation Winner 1963   Date Read: June 14, 2023   The Viceroys reads like Kristin Lavransdatter meets Wolf Hall. A family of nobility and prestige suffers the ups-and-downs of their political and economic times, all while squabbling and back stabbing each other along the way. De Roberto’s epic novel opens with the death of the matriarch of the family, Donna Teresa Uzeda, who is responsible for the reclamation of the Uzeda’s fortune. When she had married into the family, only debts and empty coffers greeted her. Through her shrewd investments and thrift, she was able to restore the family to their previous riches.   From this death begins the first of many skirmishes over wills and inheritances. With every death in the family it seems the life that has been lost is nothing compared to the riches to be gained. I would hate to be so myopic towards wealth rather than the people who I’ve loved and lost. Then again, those that were lost in

THE BEAUTIFUL BUREAUCRAT by Helen Phillips   Nominations: Center For Fiction Longlist 2015, LA Times Finalist 2015   Date Read: June 3, 2023   From the outset of The Beautiful Bureaucrat, an eerie tone invades every scene and interaction. Having come from a nameless hinterland, Joseph and Josephine still have a newlywed vibe while struggling to make their way in a new city. Being from the country, they feel out of their depth in this urban environment where both are lucky to land jobs almost simultaneously.   As strange as it may be, Joseph and Josephine never discuss work. I don’t think they even know the names of the companies they work for, their titles, where their offices are located or what their jobs consist of. I love talking shop with my husband so that stook out rather stark to me. I did understand, however, just how happy they both were to finally be employed.   Their living situation goes from precarious to even more precarious with every miserable sublet. Not sleeping in t

THE AUTOGRAPH MAN by Zadie Smith   Nominations: Booker Longlist 2002, Dublin Longlist 2004, Women’s Prize Finalist 2003   Date Read: June 1, 2023   I have been so excited to read this novel and it being my first foray into Zadie Smith’s work, a double excitement. I was so disappointed. While I can see the draw for many readers and critics alike, this just wasn’t my cup of tea. The prologue was incredibly promising and I was drawn in by Smith’s witty insights, nuanced understanding of juvenile love/hate and a tolerant father hell-bent on having these boys enjoy the day, knowing this will be an indelible memory for them.   The remainder, however, when readers fast-forward to the late twenties in these boys’ lives, but most notably from Alex-Li’s point of view, I felt the entire remainder was tedious, wandering and (dare I say it?) pointless. Alex lost his father on that indelible day from his childhood and also met another boy, Joseph, who would have a profound impact on Alex’s life, mos