October 2018 OwlCrate

I got this month's OwlCrate, as I was intrigued by the subject, Lost in the Library, and by the promise of a Pride and Prejudice retelling.  

The crate contained two books, Pride by Ibi Zaboi (see my review here), and Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. 

Also included were a packet of tea and an infuser, book socks with "book nerd" on the soles, an original print of the Mirror of Erised, and a canvas clutch big enough to hold a book. 

While I liked the items in the crate, especially as they were not fandom-based except the Harry Potter print, I was disappointed with the books.  Pride I found impossible to finish, and Shadow of the Fox does not appeal to me at this time (though I may be in the mood for YA fantasy at a later date).  I also did not like the books in the last few OwlCrates I got last year, so I doubt I will order another; it seems our book tastes do not coincide any more.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Pride
Ibi Zoboi
2018
Did Not Finish

In this Pride and Prejudice retelling, Zuri and her four sisters live in a Brooklyn hood.  Zuri watches in disgust as the rich Darcy family refurbish the house across from her apartment block.  When they move in, Zuri's older sister Janae and the oldest Darcy brother take an instant liking to each other, to Zuri's consternation.  She and the other Darcy boy, Darius, find themselves thrown together, but she considers him snobbish and can't stand to be around him.

I really wanted to like this book, since it's a Pride and Prejudice remix.  Sadly, while the writing was mostly good and the nods to the original clever, Zuri has a chip on her shoulder the size of her hood which makes her completely unlikable, and the book an unpleasant read.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy 
Rachel Joyce
2014
4/5 stars

This, the companion book to the Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, is Queenie's side of their story.  She has a secret that she must share with Harold, to ease her mind before she dies. Writing a letter to Harold as she waits for his visit, Queenie discusses her relationship with Harold and his family, and various bits of her past, as well as slowly revealing the secret.   Queenie also introduces other residents of the hospice in touching vignettes.  Events that were not fully explained in Harold Fry are filled in excellently and believably.  The prose is generally beautiful, the characters surprisingly real, and, while it seems predictable and mundane at first, the secret develops into a complex plot. Though it lacks the charm of Joyce's first novel, Queenie Hennessy is moving, well-written, and engrossing; it will linger in the mind for days after reading. 

Note: this book must only be read after reading the Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen

The Last September
Elizabeth Bowen
1929
3/5 stars

Set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, the Last September is a novel of an upper class Irish family reacting to the unsettled times.  While shots are being fired in other areas, they are having tennis parties, teas, and dances with the British troops.  It is also a coming of age story, of a sort, as Lois, the young woman of the house, experiences what might be love for the first time.

This satirical novel of manners is has beautiful prose that is often poetic.  Unfortunately, the story is slow moving and sometimes unwieldy, making it a difficult read at times.  The characters, while well drawn, aren't easy to connect with, and the plot is not gripping.  When the ending comes, it comes too late to provide an emotional punch.  For a short novel, it took entirely too long to read, and does not come recommended.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce
2012
5/5 stars

"Everybody's the same but also unique."  Harold Fry

Harold Fry receives a letter from a former colleague, Queenie Hennissy, informing him that she is dying of cancer.  Overwhelmed by emotions, he decides that rather than write to her, he'll visit her in person, by walking the six hundred miles to her hospice.  He convinces himself that as long as he walks, Queenie will live.  Armed with nothing more than his wallet, a light coat, and yachting shoes, Harold sets out on a journey that will change his life.

This beautifully written novel is about second chances, hope, and self discovery.  Joyce writes a believable tale that is not overly sentimental, while still being emotional.  Harold, and his wife Maureen, are sympathetic characters that the reader will come to care about and cheer for as the novel progresses.  This is a complex story, that is never too lighthearted, nor too serious, but walks nicely in between.

This is a reread for me.