The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Sometimes I really enjoy starting a book without having any idea what it’s about, and ‘The God of the Woods’ turned out to be exactly that kind of experience. Told across two timelines, 1961 and 1975, the story inches forward, with each chapter offering a bit more clarity. Yet also less, because not every narrator is reliable. The family dynamics are deeply unsettling and everyone felt suspicious to me. The ending was completely different from what I expected. Liz Moore paints a vivid picture of the summer camp and the surrounding woods, I could see it all clearly in my head. Great storytelling.
Last summer in the City by Gianfranco Calligarich: Arianna and Leo meet in springtime Rome sometime in the 1960s. Both have come to the city to achieve something, yet they drift through it with friends and plenty of alcohol. They have plans, but everything else always seems more important. When they do sit down to work, they lose interest sooner rather than later. In a strange way, they reminded me of Gen Z and their dependence on their phones. They do have fun together, until one day they don’t anymore. Love is never mentioned, and when it finally makes an appearance, it is already too late. This is a beautiful novel and one that deserves enough space and time to be fully enjoyed. It is a slow read.
Maestro: A Love Story by Auden Dar: The love story between Chad and Aurelia begins when they are just thirteen, meeting for the first time at a music school in New York City. Starting out as friends, their relationship eventually evolves into something more, with music always being the most important force, apart from each other. Naturally, there are multiple obstacles on the road to their happily ever after. What put me off, however, was the long-winded storytelling. There were so many obstacles along the way, most of them of their own making, that it became a bit too much. I was relieved when I finally finished the book.
Die Hummerfrauen by Beatrix Gerstberger: This book was recommended by a friend whose judgment I trust, which made it all the more unsettling when the language initially felt off-putting. The style was unlike anything I had read recently and not just because the book is in German. The lobster women of Maine come from three different generations: Mina, the youngest; Julie, in the middle; and Ann, the oldest. Life brings them together and they form their own kind of family, while still giving each other room to grow. I loved the analogy at the end: we can all learn something from a lobster, which sheds its exoskeleton every few years once it has outgrown it. Life is constant change and learning, and in between we are all a little vulnerable. A beautiful book.
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