This comes hot on the heels of my notes about what I read at the cottage, so expect some duplication!

FICTION

The Feast, Margaret Kennedy I started listening to a podcast called “Backlisted” and even though I was listening to episodes about books I had already read, somehow NEW books kept sneaking on to my ‘to read’ list. This is one of those and I’m very glad it did. Post-war Britain, sly satire, a collapsing hotel, some unpleasant characters that somehow you end up liking. It was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

Fellowship Point, Alice Elliott Dark I ended up liking this rather more than I expected. The prose was lovely and the main characters were old ladies, which seems to be right up my alley these days. I even teared up a bit at the end.

When the Whales Leave, Yuri Rythkheu. Another one from “Backlisted”. It’s a short, strange, and beautiful book based on the stories of the indigenous people of the Russian Arctic, but reflecting humanity’s seemingly universal impulse to dominance and destruction.

Where the Axe is Buried, Ray Nayler Futuristic Russia figures in Nayler’s new novel of politics, oppression, and rebellion. It might technically be SF, but the lessons are sadly timely.

Treacle Walker, Alan Garner I had read this one earlier but was inspired by yet another “Backlisted” to listen to it in audio format and I think I got much more from it that way. It was too easy to let my eye slide over the dense and rich language without really appreciating it. I definitely recommend the audio book, which is only a couple of hours long.

NON-FICTION

Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History, Moudhy Al-Rashid. I heard the author interviewed on the excellent “Tides of History” podcast so had been looking forward to her book. It covered territory I’d read about in some other history books, but provided a rich picture of the people we see in the ancient cuneiform records. I especially appreciated her deeply personal take on how their lives connect to hers.

Inventing the Renaissance, Ada Palmer I listened to this as an audiobook (all 30 hours of it) but it worked quite well that way. It was a fascinating look at how the ‘Renaissance’ was perceived/created/recreated in the period and afterwards, with a focus on Machiavelli and Florence. I especially enjoyed her nicknames for the various popes, including ‘Battle Pope 1’, ‘King Log’, ‘Battle Pope 2’, and ‘Pope No Fun’. I would love to take her class and do the ‘let’s reenact the papal election of 1492’ exercise. Serious scholarship, but accessibly presented.

The Haves and the Have-Yachts, Evan Osnos. My choice for ‘best title of the year’. The essays explore the world of the super-rich and their yachts, New Zealand apocalypse bunkers, and personal concerts.

Managing Expectations, Minnie Driver. You have to love a memoir that starts with the author throwing her school uniform out the window of the car while screaming that she’s being kidnapped. Driver vividly explores some key incidents in her life, from her eccentric childhood through raves in English fields to sneaking back to her burned out Malibu house in defiance of police orders. She’s funny and fearless.

Love Goes to Buildings on Fire, Will Hermes A detailed exploration of New York’s music scenes in the mid-70s. The city was broke but rent was cheap, so everything was possible and Hermes chronicles the explosion of creativity: punk, salsa, hip hop, experimental jazz, minimalism, and dance. Long and detailed. Be prepared to spend a lot of time adding things to your playlists!