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Best new paperbacks:
The BookPage monthly feature for reading groups
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March paperback releases offer good choices for reading groups
REVIEWS BY JULIE HALE
In her 23nd novel, Brookner tells the story of one woman's search for fulfillment during the liberal years of the 1970s. Raised by her widowed mother, Emma Roberts experienced a childhood of solitude in London. She developed a close bond with her mother that has remained unmatched throughout her 26 years. Emma's first real attempt at independence leads her to pursue a doctoral degree in classical garden design at a school in Paris. Her friends there include the daring Francoise, a free-spirited librarian, and Michael, an introverted writer. When Emma learns of her mother's death, she is forced to return to London. There, she meets Philip Hudson, a doctor with a quiet nature—a kindred spirit to whom she is drawn despite her grief. Yet Emma's shyness forces her to hang back and succumb to circumstance and, where Philip is concerned, she is unable to act. The reader can't help but root for Emma—a woman who lives within her own set limits, with a nature better-suited to the 19th century. Brookner's fiction has been compared to that of Edith Wharton and Henry James, and it's easy to see why, given the precision of her prose and her crystalline rendering of Emma's inner psychology. This luminous and quietly moving novel has all the makings of an old-fashioned classic.
By Anita Brookner Vintage, $13.95 224 pages ISBN 9781400095650
Mitchell, author of the acclaimed Cloud Atlas (2004), returns with a spare and lovely novel told from the perspective of a teenager. Jason Taylor resides in Black Swan Green, a quiet little village in Worcestershire, with his smart, socially successful sister and quarreling parents. The year is 1982. Margaret Thatcher is in office, the Cold War is winding down, and Duran Duran are all the rage. Thirteen-year-old Jason, as the reader soon learns, has a stammer, a characteristic that gives strange shape to his life, as he edits his own vocabulary in an effort to make speaking easier. On certain days, he avoids words beginning with N, while on others, he shies away from the letter S. Life with a perfect sister only makes his deficiencies more apparent—or so it seems to Jason. Mitchell's portrayal of Jason as an eccentric teen who is brilliant in his own right, full of clever insights and ingenious ideas, is a joy to read. As the novel unfolds, a cast of remarkable characters is introduced, including Dawn Madden, the voluptuous object of Jason's affection, and Madame Eva van Outryve de Crommelynck, a mysterious immigrant with her own incredible story. This beguiling novel offers plenty of humor and an unforgettable narrator in Jason, whose inner thoughts and emotions are convincingly presented by Mitchell.
By David Mitchell Random House, $13.95 304 pages ISBN 9780812974010
Named one of the 10 best books of 2006 by the New York Times, this powerful memoir marks the debut of a promising new author. Trussoni was raised in Wisconsin by her overbearing, emotional, occasionally violent father, Dan. A Vietnam veteran who served as a tunnel rat during the war, Dan is haunted by his experiences and a bit too fond of the bottle as a result. A patron of Roscoe's, a local beer joint, he brings Danielle along to the bar most evenings. She soon begins cutting class and stealing. Meanwhile, her siblings—a brother, Matt, and a sister, Kelly—are being raised by her mom. Trussoni recounts her eventful adolescence—years marked by family brawls, drug use and Dan's dark moods—with unflinching honesty and humor. She eventually travels to Vietnam in an attempt to share in her father's experience there, and the passages about her journey are moving and profound. Trussoni's gradual acceptance of her flawed father will resonate with readers. The difficulties Dan goes through as he tries to come to grips with his years in Vietnam make for heart-wrenching, all too timely reading. This is one hell of a coming-of-age tale, told by a gifted writer who isn't afraid of self-exploration and who is brave enough to lay bare her own imperfections as she tries to achieve closure with her troubled family.
By Danielle Trussoni Picador, $14 256 pages ISBN 9780312426569
Has your club recently read an excellent book that sparked good group discussion? If so, BookPage would like to hear about it. Contact us at reading@bookpage.com with a description of the book and the reasons for your recommendation. We'll pass the top choices along to our readers.
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