Ever since my youth I have found immense pleasure and delight with the random and coincidental unveiling of some new literary treasure. My passion is in novels, and when I find an author I like, I would read everything they ever produced. Alexander Kent...read one novel, read them all. Tolkien and Stephen King.
Cormac McCarthy.
Larry McMurtry.
Henning Mankell. I could go on an on.
I take great pleasure in the discovery of something new in my literary diet. I love novels that take me to some new place, or to some new point of view. I like being placed in new shoes and new situations. A writer who is adept in taking me comfortably to parts unknown is cherished.
And I love it when something is discovered walking though library or bookstore shelves and some trick of the eye flashes something completely different and fresh. It is a feeling similar to 'love at first site'....that moment of recognition of some beautiful new thing, a virgin novel entering my consciousness.
An literary moment as I describe took place just last week. I had finished "The Last Ship" and I was looking for an audio book that had a similar apocalyptic plot. I found several lists in GoodReads and other similar places...I would take rough ideas I found and then search through
OverDrive at my library for one of those titles suggested. Unfortunate, none were available. I put a couple on hold. But I needed something NOW....it is very painful for me to travel those hour long drives to work, or 2 hour flights to Dallas....without one or two audio books to sustain my powerful lust.
During my search, I came across an interesting title....but found that Overdrive had no audio copies available. However, OverDrive did provide me a list of 'You Might Also Like' suggestions. Desperate, I browsed through those suggestions. The really odd thing, is almost all the suggestions they provided really had nothing whatsoever to do with what I was end of the world type scenarios.
Knowing I needed something for the next days commute, I decided on two of these random suggestions hoping at least one would pay off. I also knew that onc of the holds I had placed may come through before too long, therefore I figured I was in pretty good shape.
Well, let me tell you friend...I found myself in much better shape than I could ever have imagined. Both turned out to be treasures. I had struck literary gold, and the gods of RANDOM had blessed me greatly.
The First Novel I read was
"Tell The Wolves I'm Home", by Carol Rifka Brunt. This was narrated very well by
Amy Rubinate. Set in the early 80's, dealing adeptly with both AIDS and homosexual themes, this was a well crafted story about a young teen girl coming of age and having to deal with the AIDS related death of her beloved Uncle, and later again with the death of his lover Toby. The novel also handled the young hero's own troubled relationship with her family, with her sister n particular. Her uncle was a famous but reclusive artist, and the book explores his past and legacy. If I can think of any weakness to this novel, it may have been that I felt a bit the odd voyeur into this young teen's life. That feeling may have arisen from the fact that I d may have wandered a bit into YW literature this time around. I have wandered into these 'shelves' before, much due to the fact that I had three daughters myself, it was not unknown for me to read some of their stuff from time to time. Still, the author treated me allowing me to visit perspectives and settings that were foreign to me, and my visit was enlightening, warm, and comfortable. If I had wandered into YW land, so be it. Two thumbs up.
The second 'find' was fantastic!
"The Talented Ribkins" by Ladee Hubard. This book was wonderfully narrated by Kevin Kenerly. A quick check in OverDrive revealed no additional books by this Author available. Drat. But I was able to find a Audio Book narrated by Kenerly on OverDrive and I have already checked it out. That will be for my commute tomorrow.
I loved this book. The Author roughed me up a bit and squeezed me into the shoes of a post middle aged Civil Rights 'Freedom Fighter' with just a touch of odd SUPERPOWERS. I can't think of anywhere I would have rather been than driving through the African American neighborhoods of North Western Florida with this gifted author behind the wheel. I won't give away the plot too much here, but I highly recommend this Audio Book. The thought occurring to me right now is that this book is a screen play just waiting to happen...are you listening out there Denzil? There are some wonderful characters filling these chapters just begging to be played by an all star, all black cast. I'd pay to see that. More of hint than a spoiler; look for a reference to Luke Cage about 3/4 of the way through. Lots of really great detail work by this author, I felt that I was being educated into black culture and civil rights history.
Two thumps up, I suggest you check this one out.
Now, if you happen to do as I do and read both back to back...I'd love to discuss with you the common ground between these two seemingly disparate novels. There are several I noticed. Comments encouraged.
Cheers, nca
