Monogamy, by Sue Miller: This novel felt very old-school in some ways – a study of the broad sweep of a marriage over time. Some of it felt…self-indulgent? Insular? I’m not sure. The focus isn’t that far from Claire Lombardo’s novels (The Most Fun We Ever Had, which I loved, and Same As It Ever Was, which I liked), but didn’t quite take me in the way those did.
Joan is Okay, by Weike Wang: I loved Joan’s voice so much. This was hilarious and delightful. I also enjoyed that COVID was a threat on the horizon and an eventual character, but not the main event.
Tilt, by Emma Pattee: A fast read with a great premise – a woman who is 38 weeks pregnant experiences a major earthquake in a Portland IKEA. It was very effective in presenting the speed with which society could break down, and the writing was strong; I found the back-and-forth between past and present took me out of the action, though, and the protagonist’s relationship with her mother was more interesting than her relationship with her husband.
Endling, by Maria Reva: What a joy even when exploring grave topics! The title is perfect and the book is fantastic. Each of the major characters is crafted so well, and the titration of zaniness (kidnapping bachelors! saving snails! accidentally starring in propaganda!) to seriousness (the Russian invasion of Ukraine, family relationships, extinction). I could have done without the inserted auto-fiction, but ultimately, I didn’t care. I’m so glad this was longlisted for the Booker.
A Children’s Bible, by Lydia Millet: This is a gut punch whose impact sneaks up quietly. Brutal but captivating. My one caveat is that there are so many characters it’s hard to keep track of them – for the adults, or at least the amorphous mass of “parents,” this makes sense, but for the younger characters it detracts.
