The season of late August to early November is the hot time for novel publishing. Here is a sneak peak at a few titles that I have read in advance of their publication. I rate these three novels as Good, Better, and Best, in the order I present them.
Good: Juliet by Anne Fortier
Anne Fortier’s debut novel Juliet is a wildly inventive story set in a romantic and colorful place, the real world location of the Italian medieval hill town of Siena. I have been there, and can attest to the fact that it is a colorful and romantic spot.
Julie Jacobs is a twenty-something ugly duckling American subsisting on odd jobs and feuding with her twin sister, when she receives the news that her Aunt has died and that her only inheritance is the truth of her origins. Julie is stunned to find out that her true name is Giulietta Tolomei, and that she is a direct descendant of the family that produced the original Giulietta- the real life beauty of the 1340s who served as the model for Shakespeare’s Juliet. The ugly duckling decides to become a swan, and flies to Siena to at least trace her family roots, and perhaps to gain a fortune. Julie, or Giulietta, has to develop some inner resources, as it becomes clear that there are secrets that others do not wish revealed. Romance enters the tale in the form of a certain Captain Santini, a handsome guy who appears to be related to a family that rivaled the Tolomei family long ago. Santini is easy on the eye, but can he be trusted?
The narrative here takes the form of alternating chapters, one part with ancient Giulietta, the other with new Giulietta. There is a lot going on; we have a historical novel, a romance, a murder mystery, and a Da Vinci Code- style puzzle tale. There are family feuds, plot twists, and a locale that becomes almost as important to the story as the lead characters. If this sounds a lot like a Dan Brown novel, well, there are strong resemblances. Fortier is nearly as good at this as Brown, and adds a hint of romance that Brown was never really able to bring to life. For me it was compulsively readable. I will offer only one criticism: in the end, the modern Romeo and Juliet story is not quite as compelling and believable as the one set in the 1300s. This novel was published August 24.
Better: Ape House by Sara Gruen
Sara Gruen is the author who came from nowhere and took the publishing world by storm with Water for Elephants. Sara’s new book is entitled Ape House.
Water for Elephants was an offbeat tale of a traveling circus in the Great Depresssion, with really bad guys. and amazing but true historical tidbits. “Ape House” by contrast is a contemporary story that involves animal rights, a set of characters dealing with the complexities of modern society, and the meaning of the word “humanity.” At the heart of this odd tale are a couple of the human characters who doggedly struggle to rescue a family of bonobo apes from abuse and exploitation. Oddly enough, the bonobo apes in the story sometimes seem more “human” (in the good sense of the word) than we do. Human characters in the story by contrast exhibit all the familiar negatives of human nature: jealousy, greed, deceit, power hunger, betrayal. Further expanding the irony, the bonobos are used in a reality TV show that injects the topic of sex into the story.
Despite focusing on ideas and moral issues, this novel has strong characters and even some notes of humor. Do not expect the colorful escapist historical adventure of Water for Elephants- because there is some painful stuff here despite the humor. Gruen has crafted a thought provoking look at the moral challenges of living today, and it is well worth reading. Ape House hits the shelves on September 7.
Best: The Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass
Julia Glass won the National Book Award in 2002 for her first novel, Three Junes. Her novels have literary merit, and her latest is no exception. In reading The Widower’s Tale, we can expect no car chases or murders. Glass limits herself to modern life in the United States, with a focus on the wonders of the human heart, and nothing more is needed.
The tale begins with the character of Percy Darling, a seventy year old retired librarian, who lives alone in an old New England farmhouse on a pond, with plenty of time on his hands. Percy’s two daughters are grown, though not problem free, and he has survived the great tragedy of his life, his wife’s accidental drowning thirty years ago. We move out from Percy, like ripples from a rock tossed into a pond, encountering his family and friends. Every character is painted in realistic colors.
Percy’s life grows in many new directions, as he falls in love only to fear that his new lady may not survive breast cancer. His much loved grandson stumbles into involvement with a Green organization that drifts into acts of eco-terrorism. We also meet Ira, a gay man who teaches preschool in a renovated barn on the Darling property, and Celestino, an immigrant laborer who becomes friends with Percy but who hides a troubled past. In time, we realize that the thread connecting everyone (besides their relationship to Percy) is the experience of a Second Chance at life, following a tragedy- something that is almost universal in human life, but rarely handled as well as Glass handles it. In the twilight of his lifetime, will Percy serve himself, live for others, or find a way to do both?
In the end, we get as much from this story as we put into it. Glass’s beautiful writing creates a tale that is quite readable for something so deep; highly recommended. Publish date September 7.
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