Book-review post!

And more book reviews! Today’s mix includes The Comedy Memoir, The Moral Dilemma As Posed By Jodi Picoult, and two super YA reads.

David Mitchell – Back Story

Oh, David Mitchell. (I have a thing for David Mitchells. The novelist is also rather attractive. And clever. But I have a fondness for comedians…) Anyway. This is a memoir and also a terrible pun; Mitchell tells us about his back pain (less appealing and ‘tormented genius’ than psychiatric issues, he notes) and walking around London, alongside recollections of his childhood and his developing acting and comedy career. While the kiddie bits were rather nice, for me it really kicked off when he gets to Cambridge and discusses and analyses really getting started off in comedy with the Footlights. There are some great observations and thoughts on how comedy (both TV and live) works in Britain, alongside some very nerdy historical references. And the second-last chapter, which is about Victoria Coren, his now-wife (who is also brilliant and funny and awe-inspiring), is genuinely moving without being a gossipy tell-all bit. I really enjoyed reading this.

Amy McNamara – Lovely, Dark and Deep

This is gorgeous! Wren is still haunted by the accident that killed her very-recently-ex-boyfriend, and instead of heading off to college as planned, she retreats to her artist father’s home in the woods of Maine. She is sad and troubled and it takes a while before she starts connecting to the world again – made more difficult by the fact that one of these connections is to Cal, who’s struggling with his own demons and his recently-diagnosed MS. This is beautifully written and thoughtful and I am so very glad YA has a space for books like these.

Jodi Picoult – The Storyteller

I love Jodi Picoult, and I hate wolves, so her book last year is the only one of hers I haven’t read. So this new one carried an extra dose of excitement, and as is my way, I sped through it. The story focuses on Sage, a baker who hides from the world after a car crash and her mother’s death, and what happens when an old man she meets at her grief support group reveals his dark secret – he was in the SS as a young man. And as per Jodi Picoult regulations, there’s an ethical dilemma – he’s asked her, as a Jew (albeit a non-practising one), to kill him. Is this revenge or justice? (Cue ominous music.) The bulk of the story actually focuses on Sage’s grandmother and her experiences during World War II, and it’s really well done. (Picoult also tackles historical stuff in her novel Second Glance, and does a superb job.) And there is a twist, of course – and I am delighted to say that after, oh, twenty or so of her books, I guessed this one within the first couple of hundred pages. (I would feel smart but if you’ve read it, and seen a particular episode of a particular TV series which doesn’t quite do this but does something similar, you’ll probably have guessed it too. Is that vague enough for you all?) Well worth reading.

Brent Hartinger – The Elephant of Surprise

Russel and his friends are back again in the fourth book in the Geography Club series (the first has been made into a movie, by the by). Once again we have his conversational tone taking us through the latest adventure of himself and best friends Gunnar and Min. The trio encounter a group of ‘freegans’ (but the storyline manages to avoid being either overly-preachy or overly-judgemental of this) and also have to deal with various romantic dilemmas. Things have grown stale between Russel and Otto, but there’s a cute new guy around who seems to be interested in him… and what exactly is going on with Kevin? Meanwhile, Min’s convinced her girlfriend Leah is keeping something from her… This is a fast-paced read and a very enjoyable catch-up with a lot of familiar characters – really enjoyed it. And as ever, the books win many bonus points for their focus on gay and bisexual teen characters.