Literary Brooding

Tell Me Everything (Amgash, #5) Elizabeth Strout 352 pages, Hardcover, Expected publication September 10, 2024 Tell Me Everything: Well, I am telling you this, there are no words that I can find that will ever adequately describe the beauty, the joy, in losing yourself in this extraordinary novel about people who are broken in their own unique ways.  The story centres around Bob Burgess who is the intersection, the linchpin of everyone in the story. It is a burden Bob carries with good grace but at times his weariness is very evident. No matter how heavy the personal toll, Bob Burgess is always there helping people. Crossing through Bob’s world is Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, Margaret Burgess, Jim Burgess, and Pam Carlson. Yes, they are all here and it a master class in writing how seamlessly these interactions occur.  There are several narratives that are key in this story. You have Bob Burgess undertaking his activities in the community by helping those in need and his representati

Circe  Madeline Miller 347 pages, Kindle Edition, published April 10, 2018  Circe is the daughter of Helios and though a god, she discovers that she is nothing more than a pawn in the game of both gods and men. Banished to an island for possessing the knowledge of witchcraft Circe hones her skills. Initially she is happy with her isolation but soon the world comes to her, and Circe finds herself having to navigate both worlds. In time Circe begins to question whether she wants to remain as an immortal or become human. Circe from birth is a maligned character, she wants to understand, to be accepted but is tossed aside by a mother wanting to establish a powerbase and a father who wants to maintain and expand his powerbase. Circe is friendless and at times clueless, she becomes an easy mark for the family to deride and manipulate. It is that manipulation that has Circe punished by Zeus and exiled to an island. It is here that Circe is able to develop into her true self. Miller’s writing

Annihilation Jeff VanderMeer 209 pages, Kindle Edition, published February 4, 2014 Four women, a biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor, enter Area X to explore a land that has been abandoned by civilization. There are many mysteries in this land and there are many mysteries as to why this land has been explored by 11 other expeditions. The story centres on the biologist who has come on the expedition with her own mysteries. This is a strange novel, set in a world where you are never sure what is real or imagined. You are never sure who is the villain or who is good. You take the journey through the eyes of the biologist, who reveals her past, her motivations, and her determination to know. Without giving anything away, I found her relationship with her husband was not a strong enough bond to propel her forward, especially at the end. While I enjoyed the read, at the end I had more questions than answers and it was not compelling enough for me to read the next in

The Ministry of Time  Kaliane Bradley 341 pages, paperback published May 7, 2024 Somewhere in the future a woman, known as the 'Bridge' acts as guardian for people who have been propelled from the past into the future. The Bridge is tasked with looking after Commander Graham Gore, who was pulled out of a doomed expedition to the Artic led by Sir John Franklin. The Bridge has to acclimatise Gore to this new world and as they both learn from each other; they also begin to wonder just what is the motive for bringing people from the past to the future?  You are reliant on the narrator, the person I have named as Bridge, for they are not named in the book. She is somewhat naive and never really challenges what is happening around her. She is loyal to her friends, and her family background is complex. Bridge is a well-developed character. As is Gore, who is a real historical character. The interaction between the two is humorous as they both try to understand each other.  The other s

 A bunch of quick reads came my way and here they are.  A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) Becky Chambers 147 pages • first pub 2021 When a book has a dedication that simply states ‘for anybody who could us a break’ the hopes of being transported to a much nicer place are therefore rather high. The good thing is you will not be disappointed. Sibling Dex is tired and lost, their life has no real meaning, so they undertake a career change becoming a tea monk. Dex listens to people tell their stories, mixes a brew that will allow them to find some solace. For a while everything is on track but again those nagging doubts and feelings of wanting something more from life creep in. So, on a whim they decide to literally go off the beaten track and they meet Mosscap, a robot. Now robots had decided some time ago to self-isolate from the human race. Having been absent from the lives of humans, the robots have decided they should check in and ask ‘What do people need?’ This simple