My adoration for Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall series is quite well-documented, but I didn't get around to watching the BBC/Masterpiece Classic adaptation of the first two novels until this week. What finally inspired me was the fact that the changing weather reminded me of the experience of reading Bring Up the Bodies last fall, which got me deep into a Hilary Mantel mood. Since I couldn't justify starting any of her other books until at least reduce the size of the ridiculous stack of books next to my bed, I decided to cheat a bit and watch the tv miniseries instead. It's only six hours long, and only includes the action from the first two novels; I have no idea if BBC will produce a follow-up after the publication of the third (and supposedly final) novel in the series, but I would hope so. Based on the level of excitement expressed my grandparents, PBS devotees, 'Wolf Hall' was quite popular.
The Better Father's Day Gift Guide
Don't waste a day of celebrating your father with garbage books like Erik Larson and Doris Kearns Goodwin. That is perhaps unnecessarily harsh -- both are great writers -- but show a little creativity this Father's Day. Every other Father's Day gift guide I've seen lists the same old sports and non-fiction stuff, which is fine and predictable and lame. Here are the superior choices to celebrate your dad:
Missoula by Jon Krakauer -- This one is actually a trick because Krakauer is totally in the realm of Erik Larson and Doris Kearns Goodwin in terms of non-fiction bestsellers, but hey, dad's love Krakauer. Plus, this one has a bit of sports and a heaping dose of feminism, so it's the perfect thing.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood -- In my own dad's words "It's one of the best books I've read...AND it's by a woman!"
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald -- I've got a longer review of this coming up, but it's a really terrific book about grief and falconry, and is totally something your dad would like, if your dad is awesome.
The White Album by Joan Didion -- Baby-boomer dad's like books about their cultural "moment" which is why every list of dad books includes some kind of rock bio, but give your dad this instead. Didion's counter-culture essays are smarter and more nuanced than anything else out there.
Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace -- Another book of essays, although these are a lot more contemporary. Dads love books upon which movies are based (Seabiscuit, Unbreakable, all the Lincoln biographies), so buy your dad this funny, touching book and remind him about 'End of the Tour.'
The Son by Philipp Meyer -- If your dad is like my dad, or my father-in-law, he likes Westerns, even if he doesn't know it. More likely he just finds himself watching whatever is on AMC on a Saturday afternoon, and thus a lot of 'Lonesome Dove' type stuff. The Son is a really recent, really great novel, although I will admit the brutal violence was too much for me.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel -- If your dad dabbles in PBS programming, he probably caught at least an hour or two of the miniseries, so get him hooked on the original, which is better and less confusing; also, if he's like my grandpa, he can't figure out how to watch the rest of the episodes, so he needs to get caught up anyway.
Books on Books: 'How Fiction Works' by James Wood
I have already espoused my love of James Wood but I was recently re-invigorated by (as usual) the New Yorker OutLoud podcast; I had been saving two juicy James Wood episodes on Elena Ferrante and Hilary Mantel that I finally got around to listening to, and they were as good as ever. If you have even an inkling of interest in either of those two writers, I recommend listening, and even if you don't, I recommend James Wood's 'How Fiction Works' which is essential reading for anyone who reads (see what I did there?). Wood is the ultimate literary critic in that he can simultaneously establish his expertise while he very deftly teaches the reader and the non-expert how to see what he sees in an author's work, and he does so with his own distinctly brilliant prose. He has the authority to tell you how fiction works because he writes as well as he reads. I assure you this volume will not feel like homework, but will instead only serve to enhance your appreciation for the books you already enjoy.
The Gift of Books: On My Wishlist...
Books are one of my favorite gifts. Besides being plentiful, easy to purchase, and very easy to wrap, you can make the gift of books as thoughtful and creative as you like. I like to pick out a few different books that are all loosely related; my mom's birthday gift last year was Julia Child's memoir My Year in France along with a copy of her classic cookbook and a new non-fiction book, Provence, 1970 -- the theme was French cuisine but each of the books was distinct and would entertain differently.
I've put together a few different bookish gift guides, which I'll be posting over the next few weeks. Today's list is the books I am desperate to get my hands on. I've read a lot this year, obviously, but these are the ones I missed and hope to unwrap on Christmas morning (friends and family take note) :
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel -- A short story collection from someone better-known for her historical fiction. I'm deeply embedded in Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies, so much so that I rush home from work to settle in with the novel and cup of tea, but I have mounting anxiety about finishing it and then becoming depressed, so I need more Mantel in my life.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel -- Another one from my personal short list, this National Book Award finalist follows a theater troupe in a post-Apocalyptic future as they travel through a now largely-empty Great Lakes region. It sounds like everything I've ever wanted in a novel.
The Fever by Megan Abbot -- Teenage girls, vaccination anxiety, and a dark, twisting thriller. I haven't read Megan Abbott yet, but she's always on my list of authors to check out, and everything about this sounds intense and amazing.
Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique -- A family epic spanning generations in the Virgin Islands, which has rings of A High Wind in Jamaica, one of my all-time favorites
How to be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman -- An immersive course in Victorian daily life. I enjoy reading history, and I especially appreciate any historian who finds a really unique structure or frame for their research and who is a truly great writer.
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters -- I keep hearing amazing things about Waters, and I keep reading recommendations of her books by other authors and critics whom I really adore and admire, so I know I'm going to fall hard for her novels. Luckily there are many, with this being the latest. It is something of a historical romance in Britain between the wars, so also a good read as I binge on Downton Abbey, in preparation for the next season in January.
#ReadWomen2014: Hilary Mantel
I have already advocated for Hilary Mantel's most popular and very critically acclaimed novel Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies. And as if you needed another reason to check them out, the BBC is adapting them with Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, and there is a stage adaptation on Broadway, so you need to read them before they reach total pop culture saturation. Plus volume three in the Thomas Cromwell trilogy is expected to be published in 2015.
When you've completed that task, dive into the rest of the Hilary Mantel oeuvre, which includes her incredible collection of short stories The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, published earlier this year. She has plenty of other novels and short story collections to check out, as well as a one-volume memoir, but of greatest interest to me is her historical fiction account of the Reign of Terror, A Place of Greater Safety. Everything I've read of heard about it makes it sound like something I would love, and if Wolf Hall is any indication, Mantel has a pretty firm grasp on historical fiction.
What I'm Reading: 'Bring Up the Bodies' by Hilary Mantel
As much as I eventually enjoyed Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, I initially struggled to get into it, and so I didn't want to wait too long after finishing it before starting in with the sequel Bring Up the Bodies. In many ways I've found it easier and more enjoyable, likely because I've already put the work into the first volume; it's also a slimmer novel and so much of the world has already been "built," so it's very easy to immediately immerse yourself in the unfolding story. The fact that I already know everything that's going to happen in no way impedes the drama of it, and I'll use this opportunity yet again to encourage everyone to persevere through this series, which is so rich and rewarding.
What I'm Reading: 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel
I have somehow serendipitously found myself reading an immersive, un-put-down-able book over a long holiday weekend. It is particularly lucky because I have attempted to read Wolf Hall, the first volume in Hilary Mantel's historical fiction trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell, at least once before, to no avail. I don't think I made it past page 20. And not because the writing wasn't good or the story wasn't excellent -- it won the Man Booker prize-- but because I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to dig into it.
Read moreThis Week in Books: Upcoming 2014 titles, Southern reads, and a 'Wild' trailer
The Millions has a thorough preview of upcoming book releases for 2014, and the list is ridiculous. What I especially noticed was how many authors were defying their normal genres and expectations-- a children's book re-telling by Lydia Davis, a very straightforward narrative novel by Murakami, and short story collections from Hilary Mantel and Margaret Atwood. There is so much on the list to get excited about. I'll be waist-deep in essay collections from Amy Pohler, Roxane Gay and Lena Dunham
I found this lovely discussion on favorite Southern novels by Southern independent bookstore staffers, and thought it was a nice follow-up to my Flannery O'Connor/ Carson McCullers binges.
It's pretty lucky that the official trailer for 'Wild' (based on the book by Cheryl Strayed), came out this week, a few days after I posted about how much I loved it. The adaptation looks excellent, and I think Reese Witherspoon is a great choice for the role, but I'm still going to strongly advocate reading the book. Normally I'm not a big stickler about literary adaptations, but the book is so great and very bookish, that I think some of its magic will naturally get lost in the translation. I bought my mom a copy of this book last year, so this might have to be a mother-daughter trip to the movies.
Shelf Hues: Red, White, and Blue
This Week in Books: Possible Screen Adaptations of 'The Flamethrowers' and 'Wolf Hall' Series
In adaptation news, Jame Campion is currently working on a deal to adapt Rachel Kushner's The Flamethrowers, one of 2013 biggest novels, and one I really enjoyed last summer. I can't really think of a better director to take the helm on this project, especially after I gulped down Campion's 'Top of the Lake' in a matter of days. The Flamethrowers was unique in that I kept thinking as I read it, "I cannot wait for the movie of this to come out." Now they need to announce the casting of Elizabeth Moss as the protagonist, and all will be right in the world.
Another adaptation I am greatly anticipating is the BBC production of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall series. The cast was recently announced, and includes 'Homeland' star Damian Lewis as famous ginger Henry VIII. Mark Rylance will play Thomas Cromwell, and seems well-suited in that he has already played Hamlet, Richard II, Thomas Boleyn, and Henry V.
This week novelist Adele Waldman appeared on HuffPost Live to discuss her debut novel The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P (which I will admit I haven't gotten around to yet). I haven't decided yet if this interview makes me want to read it more or less, but it has been one of the most widely recommended books of the past year.
In promotion of her most recent short story collection Bark, Lorrie Moore visited Los Angeles Public Library's ALOUD to do a reading and answer some questions. There is a nice write-up by Los Angeles Magazine, and ALOUD will be making a podcast available soon.
You love Zadie Smith, don't you? Who doesn't. And you've probably seen a bit of Roxane Gay lately, as she's everywhere promoting her new book An Untamed State (I need this book). How about Roxane Gay's thoughts on Smith's NW? Enjoy!
Editor's Note: This Week In Books is a weekly roundup of the goings on about the world of literary fiction.