Fiction

Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir. “France, England. Good old raucous Royals.  Ok, I love good romps of royals in historical fiction and normally love Alison Weir's books. This one didn't do it for me (too dry), but big Alison Weir fans may really love it. It got very good reviews.” (This reader preferred The Children of Henry VIII by Weir, saying it was “wildly more interesting and entertaining.”)

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. “Eleanor is a young woman who is surviving life completely alone and with no joy, spontaneity or friends.   She has a routine, one outfit, one meal, and she does not vary a thing for years. A chance encounter with an elderly man on the street forces her to let people in, and she slowly learns how to live in society and to accept and give help.  We gradually learn the back-story that led to Eleanor’s lonely existence as the novel progresses and she heals.” “Incredible book about a woman living with a tragic past. Huge twist near the end. Was riveting and sad and compelling and heart wrenching.”

The Elephant's Journeyby Jose Saramago. “This whimsical novel tells the real-life story of how, in 1551, an elephant was sent as a gift from the King of Portugal to the Habsburg Archduke. The story is told from the viewpoint of the mahout, or elephant driver, and deals in wise, witty and digressive style with the obstacles and encounters of the journey from Lisbon and over the Alps to Vienna, during which the four-ton Solomon becomes a character of considerable pathos. The novel's unorthodox punctuation is a little annoying – accurate, subtle punctuation is surely part of the craft of writing – but does add to the cool, distanced tone of the narration. A playful, intellectual, very European novel, at times it feels reminiscent of Kafka in his lighter moments.”

Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld. “Known for her novels, Prep and American Wife, Curtis Sittenfeld’s new book Eligible puts a modern-day twist on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  This version tells the story of the Cincinnati Benet family and the parents’ quest to marry off their five daughters.  Two daughters living in New York come home when the father has a health scare. Two new-in-town doctors become perfect candidates for the Benet daughters.  The book is clever and funny -- even includes a dating reality show participant.  It is a quick read and easy to follow.”  “A perfect summer read (and a welcome break after finishing Infinite Jest)... humorous and insightful window into the Bennet family."  "The plot is a familiar one with modern twists.   Before moving to Cincinnati, Chip Bingley was the star bachelor of a reality tv show called Eligible in which 25 women compete for a marriage proposal. It is a good, comfortable read- perfect for the beach or a long plane ride.” “Wonderfully tender and hilariously funny, Eligible tackles gender, class, courtship, and family as Curtis Sittenfeld reaffirms herself as one of the most dazzling authors writing today.” “She really knocked it out of the park.  If you liked Sittenfeld's Prep - her first novel - or Jane Austen, you will enjoy it.” [Ed: As an Austen lover, i have been wary because of some of the reviews online. I pressed one reviewer who added the following: "Like it or not, Eligible provides an accurate, albeit slightly conflated (e.g., her sister’s marriage to a transgender Cross Fit instructor) look at what is happening in the world today.  I decided to laugh and appreciate the author’s ability to hit on nearly every trend, norm and societal issue through the different characters and situations." She recommended P&P lovers just have fun and think, "I see what you did there Sittenfeld."  Those who haven't read P&P read this first as the accessible version then read the original.]

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. "A great mother-daughter read!" Amazon’s description: "Ella Minnow Pea is a girl living happily on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal pangram,* 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.' Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family, and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. As the letters progressively drop from the statue they also disappear from the novel. The result is both a hilarious and moving story of one girl’s fight for freedom of expression, as well as a linguistic tour de force sure to delight word lovers everywhere.

English Passengersby Matthew Kneale. I LOVED this book!  Description:  "In 1857 when Captain Illiam Quillian Kewley and his band of rum smugglers from the Isle of Man have most of their contraband confiscated by British Customs, they are forced to put their ship up for charter. The only takers are two eccentric Englishmen who want to embark for the other side of the globe. The Reverend Geoffrey Wilson believes the Garden of Eden was on the island of Tasmania. His traveling partner, Dr. Thomas Potter, unbeknownst to Wilson, is developing a sinister thesis about the races of men... Meanwhile, an aboriginal in Tasmania named Peevay recounts his people’s struggles against the invading British, a story that begins in 1824, moves into the present with approach of the English passengers in 1857, and extends into the future in 1870. These characters and many others come together in a storm of voices that vividly bring a past age to life."

Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper. “This is adorable much like The Storied Life of A.J. Fikery and The Rosie Project. The author has a unique writing style that grabbed me immediately and I didn't put the book down until I finished. It has some magical realism and is a sweet, poignant story about an 83 year old woman who has never seen the ocean and walks across Canada to get there. Along the way, we learn about her life and loves and meet a talking coyote who becomes my favorite character. It's partly set during WWII and is lovely and heart-warming!”

Euphoria by Lily King. “This is a fictionalized account of anthropologists Margaret Mead, her current husband as well as her future husband on a field trip in the 1930s to the Sepik River in New Guinea to study the tribes and their customs.  It’s a truly riveting and steamy read, both about the tribes and the relationships between the three scientists and their interpretation on all that they learn in this groundbreaking exploration of other cultures.”

Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo. “Fans of Russo’s Nobody’s Fool will love this sequel (decades later) which picks up on the life of Sully, a charming but mess of a guy in a small upstate New York town (also kind of down on its luck) whose life has always been full of trouble– it’s still a mess but there is a lot of beauty and love, and memorable”.

Everything by Kevin Canty.  Another title from our 2013 list that was sent in by a member of a Barnard alumnae book club.  "In taut, exquisite prose, Kevin Canty explores the largest themes of life—work, love, death, destruction, rebirth—in the middle of the everyday. On the fifth of July, RL and June go down to the river with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red to commemorate Taylor’s fiftieth and last birthday. Taylor was RL’s boyhood friend and June’s husband, but after eleven years, June, a childless hospice worker, finally declares she’s 'nobody’s widow anymore.' Anxious for a new beginning, June considers selling her beloved house. RL, a divorced empty-nester, faces a major change, too, when he agrees to lodge his college girlfriend, Betsy, while she undergoes chemotherapy. Caught between Betsy’s anguish and June’s hope, the cynical RL is brought face-to-face with his own sense of futility, and the longing to experience the kind of love that 'knocks you down.' Set in Montana, reflecting the beauty of its landscape and the independence of its people, this is a shimmering novel about unexpected redemption by a writer of deep empathy and prodigious talents."