August 27, 2009
Li, Yiyun. The Vagrants. Set in the late 1970s, after the Cultural Revolution and during Beijing’s Democratic Wall Movement, this amazing novel tells the story of several women activists. Takes place in a small town called Muddy River and follows several different characters, their actions and reactions to the execution of a woman who spoke out against the government. Fascinating portrayal of that historical moment when no one knew which side – the dissenters or the government supporters – would win power and be safe. Beautifully written, great characters, and tight storytelling. A very strong recommend.
D’Erasmo, Stacey. The Sky Below. Lush, highly imaginative, soaring off into mythical at times, this new novel from D’Erasmo is completely different from anything she’s done before. I love when authors delve into new material and take risks, and she does lots of both in The Sky Below. The story is full of surprises that feel, at times, almost random, but then come together beautifully over the course of the novel.
Halaby, Laila. Once in a Promised Land. Really enjoyed this courageous, unusual contemporary (mixed with some folklore) novel. At first I was put off by the full-speed plot but then got sucked in because it wasn’t gratuitous action. These characters – originally from Jordan and now living in Tucson – get bashed about by the anti-Arab racism of post 9-11 America. Halaby does an amazing job of showing how the intense stress of trying to maintain their lives unravels them, bit by bit. The characters are complex and engaging, and the ending is not pretty. This would be a perfect book to read with Chris Bram’s Exiles in America.
