Nonfiction Feast

Now that I’m on mat leave, and reading up a storm before baby comes, I’m trying to renew my vow to read more nonfiction. That’s not to say I don’t think reading fiction is very, very valuable: I think we learn a lot from reading fiction, and it makes us more empathetic people. In fact, there was a recent study (can’t find it to link to right now) suggesting that folks who read a lot of fiction have better social skills. But I do feel that I need to be more knowledgeable about what’s happening in the world. McHotty puts me to shame in this department: he reads the Economist and Macleans cover to cover each week, as well as browsing the newspaper online daily. I do try, but I always get distracted by the latest novel.

I have read three excellent nonfiction books recently. This week I devoured Dexter Filkins’ The Forever War. I bought this book for McHotty, but being a fan of fictional war stories (The Wars and Three Day Road are two of my favourites) I thought I should give this a try. Filkins is a foreign correspondent for the New York Times, and the book bears witness the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s, the aftermath of the attack on New York on September 11th, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Eloquent and fierce, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Another book McHotty raved about, and I found fascinating too is Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers. This book has been on the bestseller list forever, and now I know why. What is an Outlier? Someone who is extraordinarily accomplished. We usually attribute success to factors like IQ and hard work, but it isn’t that simple. While a high IQ is of some importance, it’s not everything (you just need to smart enough, not the smartest). You do need to work hard (it takes about 10,000 hours of doing something to be best in your field) but there’s more to it than that. Things like upbringing, cultural factors and dumb luck play a large role too. This is a book I never would have chosen on my own, and I’m glad it found its way to my pile.

Speaking of bestsellers, another great read (and not something I would usually pick up) is Jeff Rubin’s Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller. Rubin’s thesis is that despite the current recession oil will never be cheap again, and the global economy is going to change. The age of globalization is coming to an end, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing—we’ll be shopping locally, revitalizing our neighbourhoods; manufacturing jobs will return to empty factories, revitalizing entire communities. I’ve seen Rubin speak in person, and he’s dynamic, smart and has very interesting things to say: all the ingredients to write a book about the economy that is accessible and readable as well as thought provoking.

Now, do you have any nonfiction recommendations for me?

February

I’m on a great roll with picking up books that can hold my attention enough to read them in just a few sittings. That is the best way to read a book, I think—it really changes the experience for me if it takes me a long time to finish something. I think that’s why I love short stories so much. You usually get to experience the story the way the author intends. It’s funny, we’re much more aware of this when it comes to movies, but we don’t think about pace as much in terms of books.

My latest one-day conquest is Lisa Moore’s February, a real gem. The book centres around a true event in 1982, when the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a Valentine's Day storm. All eighty-four men aboard died. February is the fictional story of Helen O'Mara, widow of one of the drowned men. The narrative jumps back and forth from the present-day to the days surrounding the tragedy in 1982, with occasion forays to the early days of Helen and Cal’s relationship, and the years between. Helen and Cal were very deeply in love, and the loss of that love is abrupt and paralyzing. Left to raise four children on her own, Helen is haunted by the fact that Cal’s death could have been prevented had the men received the necessary training. The structure of the book and the emphasis on time shows time does not heal all wounds; but, eventually, it allows one to move forward, incrementally, scars and all.

Trouble

I’m at the point in the pregnancy where I have absolutely no energy, and am spending many an hour reading in my new zero-gravity chair (the only place I’m comfy right now!)

Kate Christensen’s Trouble was a completely engrossing way to spend a day. In Trouble, forty-something Manhattanite Josie has an epiphany when she spots her own sexy reflection across the room as she flirts with a stranger at a cocktail party: she has endured her passionless marriage long enough and must end it immediately. She sets the separation in motion the very next day. Meanwhile, she’s asked to spend some time in Mexico City with her best pal Raquel, an aging rock star who is getting slaughtered in the tabloids after sleeping with a celebrity half her age. It turns out the young actor has a pregnant girlfriend, and Raquel is being vilified as an evil cougar on the gossip blogs she obsessively checks every day. Josie’s husband doesn’t want to fight for his marriage, and her indifferent 13-year-old daughter calmly accepts the news of the separation, so Josie hops on a plane to support her pal (and party it up a little).

The women do party it up, and unsurprisingly, Josie meets a man. The book introduces many interesting themes: aging, sexual awakening, the mother-daughter relationship, female friendship, class divisions, the power of online media. Unfortunately, it falls short of its potential, and doesn’t satisfactorily explore any of these themes. Yet Troubleis still an absorbing, evocative book to pass a lazy hazy day.

Let the Great World Spin

I picked up this book not knowing anything about it other than the fact that Ragdoll loved it, and she has fantastic taste. As usual, she’s right--Colum McCann’s Let the Great World Spin is a marvellous read.

The story is set in New York City in 1974. The World Trade Centre has recently been constructed, and a high wire artist dances between the towers to the astonishment of those below (a real-life feat by Phillipe Petit). The artist is the connection between the diverse characters in this intricate, interweaving narrative, including: Corrigan, an Irish monk who tenderly cares for the prostitutes in his Bronx neighbourhood; Claire, the Park Avenue judge’s wife, and member of a support group for mothers grieving sons lost in Vietnam; Tillie, the thirty-eight-year-old Grandmother who walks the streets with her daughter; Lara, an artist trying live clean after years of decadence, only to be sidelined by tragedy.

Masterfully, the stories connect (without relying too heavily on coincidence) post 9/11 in 2006. Despite their disparity, the cast has in common faith, resilience, and the appreciation of beauty, in whatever form it can be found. With McCann’s wondrous prose, his ability to capture the spirit of a city and his accomplished characterizations of its eclectic inhabitants, I would comp Let the Great World Spin to In the Skin of a Lion. Definitely one of my favourite books of the year, McCann has spun a great yarn.

Happy Father's Day, McHotty

Three years ago I wrote a tribute to McHotty. I talked about what a wonderful father he is: how loving, patient, hardworking, and kind. Oh, and hot. After three years (which haven’t always been easy) nothing has changed (with the exception of some grey hairs). McHotty, you are the best husband and father two lucky ladies could have. This boy that’s coming in a few weeks is a lucky boy indeed.

Happy Father’s Day, honey. We love you. Julie and Cakes.

The Milky-Smelling Fog

It’s all so surreal, but I’m starting maternity leave in two weeks! I’m really having a hard time letting go this time. I feel left out. Right now we’re having the initial planning meetings for the Spring 2010 lists and I don’t have to go. I’m not invited to a meeting tomorrow with two authors I really wanted to meet, because I won’t be here when their book is published. I’m feeling rather forlorn.

As I prepare to let go of work for nine months (McHotty is still planning to take the last three) I’m trying to find something to fill the gap. Yes, I know a newborn is a lot of work, but they do sleep a lot. I’m terrified of falling into (to quote Alice Munro) “a milky-smelling fog”. You know what I mean?

One of the things I plan to do is step up blogging again (for real this time!) I want to write a lot more, but I also want to engage with the community again (I’ve been so negligent lately). So if you’ve been reading, and I haven’t been by in a while, please let me know. I’m also looking for new blogs to read. Please comment with suggestions: I’d like to read some new parent blogs, as well as blogs on books, publishing, and social media.

I’m also spending more time on Twitter, and tend to chat more about books and publishing there. You can follow me here. I got myself an iPod touch for Mother’s Day, so I can tweet away during the long hours of breastfeeding. Did I tell you how much I love my iPod Touch? I don’t have the words.

P.S. It just dawned on me that I missed my 3-year blogiversary in May! Time to freshen things up here, I think.