The Monthly Line: July 2023
Hello dear readers,
I hope you're well! July was a meaty reading month.
We've got a recent prize winner, some salacious short stories and a netball legend. Let's dive in.
One. Adulthood rites by Octavia E. Butler
Butler is always a step ahead. While most sci fi writers are content to write about how humans would interact with aliens, Butler deals with that and then moves on to how humans would react once they started inter-breeding with aliens. The story follows on from Dawn which I read in May, which told the story of Lilith, the human chosen by the aliens to be the bridge between them and humanity. She has now had children, half-alien ones, and this story follows one of them as he/she/it tries to figure out who they are. It's mind-bending and arresting and thought-provoking in equal measure.
How I read it: on my holidays!
Two. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The winner of this year's Women's Prize, this re-telling of David Copperfield, set in the Appalachian mountains in the midst of the opioid crisis, is a truly incredible novel. It's so absorbing, and although the story is heartbreaking at times, it never loses its hope. I could have spent another 300 pages with Demon - the titular hero - whose life we follow during the course of the story. Also the perfect companion read to An Empire of Pain, the non-fiction account of the opioid crisis that I read a month or so ago.
How I read it: also on holiday in France, while everyone else was playing D&D
Three. Those who leave and those who stay by Elena Ferrante
Number three in this addictive quartet of novels following Elena and Lila, two friends (or not) growing up in post-war Naples. It continues to feel like you're inside the mind of Elena, as she narrates the tiny details and the big moments that make up her life, as well as the force that pulls her inexorably towards Lila, against her better judgement. I've already got the next one out of the library ready to go.
How I read it: in the park with a napping baby
Four. Single carefree mellow by Katherine Heiny
This is a collection of short stories from one of my favourite writers, who I love for her ability to observe the small details that make up a life. I liked some of these stories, but Heiny does rely a lot on the narrative short-cut of her characters having an affair, which to be honest got a bit tedious by the 3rd or 4th time! I get that it injects some instant drama into a story, but it also starts to feel a bit same-y after a few.
How I read it: a bedtime book, a few stories a night
Five. Leap by Geva Mentor
This autobiography takes you through the life story of one of England's most successful netball players. Mentor was one of the first English players to play in Australia where the league is professional and you can actually make a living. This book was published in 2018, just after she was part of the England team to win an historic gold at the Commonwealth games, beating Australia in the final. It's an enjoyable read, with some intriguing drama going on behind the scenes with England Netball, though I would say you probably need a vested interest in the sport to get the most out of it. The style is pretty pedestrian, it's ghostwritten, from interviews I think, so it has an easy to read, chatty style. Incredibly Mentor just played in this year's world cup, meaning she has now been playing international netball for 23 years!
How I read it: an easy to read commuting book
Six. An absolutely remarkable thing by Hank Green
More aliens! But also an interesting reflection on the impact of fame on a person. April is a normal person, going about her life, until one day she is wandering through New York at 3am and comes across what she thinks is a sculpture. She makes a video about it. Spoiler alert, it's actually ~something~ alien. She becomes instantly famous, and decides to maximise on that notoriety. What follows is a rollercoaster ride through the psychological effect of fame, as well as a fun story about aliens. The author Hank Green is an internet famous person, as in I don't think that many people 'on the street' will have heard of him, but he is one of the most followed people on YouTube, with a hugely successful channel that he runs with his brother John Green, who is also a hugely successful author. So he knows a lot about fame! Sometimes it reads like him figuring out what fame means and what effect it has had on him personally, with April's narrative being an allegory of his own story. I enjoyed it though, and it's a topic that I think bears investigating.
How I read it: I got hooked so I carried it round with me for a few days
Book of the month: a hard-fought month but for me it's Demon Copperhead, a great story, captivatingly told.
Thanks for reading this edition of Line by Caroline. If you enjoyed it, please do share it with a friend who you think might like it too.