As we get deeper into my top 5 books read in 2019, it’s no surprise that we get a bunch of great novels. #’s 3 & 4 surely span the range of books that I like, one a topical, thriller about issues of the day, and the other, a funny family story with a great premise. One is a follow-up to a beautiful debut novel that I adored, the other is a new author for me.
#4 – The Editor by Steven Rowley – Steven Rowley’s follow-up novel to his sweet and powerful Lily and the Octopus, takes on a more historic angle, albeit, recent history. James is a gay, would-be author, with some family secrets, whose manuscript has been picked up and his first meeting with his new editor changes his life forever. It’s Mrs. Jackie Kennedy Onassis who loves his book and has been assigned to edit it, a tale of a mother/son struggle that clearly resonates with the legend. James, already a bit high-strung, can barely focus on making coherent thoughts, let alone discussion when he meets his famous editor, but gradually the two fall into a companionable working relationship, and Jackie urges James to resolve the tension between him and his real mother in hopes a better ending will emerge from his novel. This urging leads to some dramatic revelations that power the central section of the book… James’ search for truth and meaning of his family situation.
Rowley is a terrific writer. His dialog, both inner and outer, is witty and entertaining. He creates, in this fictional Mrs. Onassis, a character that I truly believe might mirror that actual woman beautifully, in a way that is both plausible and hopeful. When the book focuses on James and Jackie, it’s truly wonderful. I could have read a trilogy on the two of them working on James’ book.
James family saga was also compelling, but also had its ups and downs. I wanted to rush through parts of it to get to the Jackie parts of the book, which I felt shouldn’t have been the case. James relationship with his boyfriend, Daniel, was also a little scant, and could have been deepened to make their eventual struggles have more impact.
All in all, however, it’s a wonderful second work, and the final quarter of the book really drew me back in strongly, making the overall experience a delightful one.
#3 – American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – With thrilling realism, and heartbreaking empathy, Jeanine Cummins details the horrific journey of a mother and her son fleeing from their lives as migrants from Acapulco desperately trying to find salvation in el norte. Along the way they will meet people with the capacity for great cruelty, and others for immense kindness.
I’m not usually one for thrillers or plot-heavy novels. I am drawn to characters that are richly drawn and complex. Cummins certainly has that in spades. It would have been easy to make this a cause novel, one that shows the harrowing trials people face, condemns the system that forces them to take reckless action, and skimp on the deep examination of character that draw us in. Fortunately, Cummins is smart and talented enough to do it all. This compelling story of love and freedom is emotionally satisfying and filled with enough adrenaline for any reader. Highly recommended.