Books Saturday, March 30, 2013 y WATERLOO REGION RECORD y D4 Books editor Jon Fear l [email protected] An intensely moral writer AT THE LIBRARY derstanding and made him unsympathetic. It Kent Haruf reminds us cost him a wayward employee and an es- that even good people tranged son. We also watch Dad’s devoted wife, Mary, sometimes do bad things and daughter, Lorraine, struggle with the inevitable loss of a husband and a father. He is a man who remains loved despite the mis- BENEDICTION takes he committed in the name of decency by Kent Haruf and honour. (Knopf, 258 pages, $30 hardcover, $13.99 Kindle) If only we were able to learn from our mistakes and had sufficient time to put right Robert Reid, Record staff that which goes so terribly wrong. But such is its inhabitants through sentimental, rose- the human predicament, according to Haruf. Heather Woodley is a collection en Haruf is to the high plains of Colora- coloured glasses. He does not whitewash, but There is an abundance of life in Benedic- development librarian with the Kdo what is to southwestern paints the town in its myriad hues, attractive tion to balance Dad’s impending demise. Region of Waterloo Library. Ontario or what is to and gaudy alike. Next door is an elderly widow and her She recommends: the Miramichi in New Brunswick. Haruf describes the lives of ordinary middle-aged daughter. They take in a young Haruf not only lives in his native Colora- people in an unaffected prose which, al- girl, not as charity, but as an act of profound THE SPACE BETWEEN US do, he imaginatively and creatively inhabits though pedestrian, is both graceful and generosity. The daughter’s story is touching- by Thrity Umrigar its climate and geography, history and cul- eloquent. Language artfully embodies and ly bittersweet. (Harper Perennial, 352 pages, ture. Landscape and language are symbiotic. reflects that which it describes. Then we have the new preacher whose $18.99 softcover, $11.99 Kindle) Benediction is Haruf ’s fifth novel (in- At the heart of Benediction is Dad Lewis, a tenuous bond to wife and son snaps because cluding Plainsong (1999) and Eventide (2004)) man staring death in the eye with courage his moral compass fails to help him negotiate This beautifully written novel set in Holt, a fictional Colorado town like and humour. We watch Dad in the final stag- the murky waters of political prejudice. follows the story of Bhima, a poor most small towns in the American midwest. es of terminal cancer as he looks back on his Haruf is an intensely moral writer. Rather domestic servant who lives in the It is quintessential without forfeiting any of life, struggling to make sense of what he did than point a judgmental finger at human slums of Mumbai and spends her its particularizing detail. right and what he did wrong. frailty and folly, he bears witness to its causes days cooking and cleaning for an Haruf writes of the residents of Holt with Haruf ensures that we feel Dad’s regrets and effects. upper-middle class family. the kind of empathetic understanding that as if they were our own. It makes for some Benediction reminds us that good people Bhima has led a difficult life comes from the inside — piercing in its in- heartbreaking reading, although we never sometimes do bad things. This doesn’t make riddled with tragedy and sorrow, sightfulness, but deeply sympathetic. These slip into despondency or despair. people bad, but in need of, and deserving of, but she is a strong woman and is are his people and he is meticulously careful As a young man, Dad was tough and un- blessing. Were we all so fortunate? bolstered by the support of Sera, to get it right. compromising, confident in his ways, even if the woman she serves. Although This doesn’t mean he views the town and circumstances sometimes evaded his un- Robert Reid is a Record arts reporter. this novel clearly illustrates the segregated class system of Bhi- ma’s Mumbai, it also exemplifies how our common human experi- ence can unite us across boundar- ies. YOUNG ADULT CRIME FICTION Bhima’s story is at once heart- breaking and uplifting and the author’s use of language made me Five writers and their gumshoes feel immersed in the Indian cul- ture. I would recommend this Alastair Rickard l Michael Connelly, a former newspaper reporter, book to anyone, but fans of Secret 20 years ago created an especially memorable char- Daughter (2010) by Shilpi Somaya The late French novelist Jean-Patrick Manchette acter named Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch, so named Gowda may find it especially ap- argued that the crime novel is the great moral liter- by his mother after the 15th-century Dutch painter. pealing. ature of our time. Bosch is a Los Angeles Police Department homi- Perhaps. I do know that one of the great plea- cide detective. In his virtues and faults, demeanour sures for a reader of fiction is to discover a novelist and attitudes, Bosch most reminds me (among the who has created a continuing character whose life many continuing characters in and activities are interesting, a writer who regular- crime/detective fiction) of Nighthawk’s ly produces a new chapter in the character’s life and author Ian Rankin’s wonderful- Bookmarks one who writes well. ly sour John Rebus, the non- l Thursday, April 4: 4:30 p.m. at goal is to fly Five U.S. novelists with continuing characters team-playing Edinburgh detec- Room STJ3013, St. Jerome’s Universi- are among those I have followed for years. Most of tive inspector who recently has ty, Waterloo. The Reading Series at to the Arctic their books are still readily available in softcover: been brought back from retire- St. Jerome’s presents poet Adam ment by Rankin in a great nov- Dickinson. Free. All welcome. l Robert Crais had his first Elvis Cole novel, The el, Standing in Another Man’s Monkey’s Raincoat, published in 1987. Cole is a NIGHTHAWK! Grave (2012). l Saturday, April 6: Noon to 2 p.m. at smart-mouthed Los Angeles private detective who by Jamie Bastedo Try the Bosch novel The Chapters Kitchener. Book signing with gets involved in a variety of well-plotted stories, (Red Deer Press, 204 pages, Narrows (2004). It marks an Virginia Johnston-Dodds of Cam- along with his lethal, monosyllabic partner, the $12.95 softcover) important stage in Bosch’s life, bridge, author of A Cathedral of Ce- ex-cop Joe Pike. both professional and personal. The first novel in dars, a memoir of her childhood. There have been 14 novels involving Cole. They Cindy Matthews the series was The Black Echo (1992). The most re- are always entertaining reading, but they are not l cent is The Black Box (2012), which is well up to Con- Looking ahead: An Evening With written in a fashion that reminds me of, say, Elmore Author Jamie Bastedo lives in nelly’s customary high standard. Robert Sawyer, 7 p.m. on April 30 at Leonard, the American master of the crime fiction Yellowknife and is a prolific writ- The Bosch novels move chronologically and the Kitchener Public Library’s Country genre. The Monkey’s Raincoat is a good representa- er of fiction for young people. His lately have been intersecting with other Connelly Hills Community Library. Sawyer will tive of the Cole series. The latest is Taken (2012), latest book is a fantasy novel about novels about a lawyer named Mickey Haller. The read from his new novel, Red Planet which is as entertaining a Crais novel as ever. Wisp, a migrating nighthawk with first Haller book was The Lincoln Lawyer (2005). Blues. Register now at www.kpl.com poor navigational skills. l Lawrence Block has been writing interesting or 519-743-0271, ext. 255. l James Lee Burke has been writing successful Wisp is exhibiting the usual stories for decades. He has been a prolific novelist, novels for a long time and some critics regard him behaviour of adolescence: rebel- but a few years ago indicated that he would no lon- as the best American “mystery/crime” writer work- lion, stubbornness and impulsive- ger write fiction. Not quite, apparently. ing today. In my view, that title still belongs to El- ness. After his father dies in a fire, Block is the author of five series, one of which more Leonard, but Burke is indeed prolific and an he is held in a bird colony in South features a stamp-collecting hit man named Keller, Bestsellers accomplished writer. America, along with his sister, who is deadly when on the job, His best known continuing character is a Louisi- Based on sales reported by more than 260 Willo, and their mother. But Wisp but is otherwise a fairly be- ana Cajun police detective named Dave Robicheau, independent Canadian booksellers for the escapes and sets off to cross two nign personality. The latest who has a seriously dysfunctional former police week ending March 23. Bracketed figures continents in search of the Arctic. Keller novel, the fifth, is Hit partner named Clete Purcel. indicate number of weeks on list. Eventually, Willo tags along, Me (2011), an absorbing tale in The Robicheau novels began with The Neon Rain which slows him down. The two of which the tone is less dark (1987) and there have been 18 more in the series so Hardcover fiction them meet Gonzo, a comical raven than one might expect. far. The most recent was Creole Belle (2012) and it is from Panama. Spanish phrases Block’s most successful very good. 1 (4) The Storyteller abound and in some cases transla- continuing character is Mat- Jodi Picoult l tions would have been helpful. thew Scudder, an alcoholic Joseph Wambaugh is perhaps the most success- 2 (29) Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn Nighthawk! has short chapters, ex-cop who left the New York ful American ex-cop to become a police/crime nov- 3 (89) A Dance with Dragons each of which leave the reader force after accidentally kill- elist — and there have been many of them since he George R.R. Martin yearning for the next adventure. ing a child during a shootout. Scudder is now, by his appeared on the scene four decades ago. 4 (8) Speaking from Among the For young readers who like to own choice, an unlicensed private detective who He hit it big with The Blue Knight (1971) which Bones - Alan Bradley learn about birds and geography, does “favours,” for which he accepts “gifts.” He has was written while he was still a Los Angeles cop, 5 (3) The Demonologist this book offers references to aged and evolved through 17 novels, not frozen in then followed it to great success with The New Cen- Andrew Pyper places such as the Andes Moun- time as some lead characters are. turions (1972). In recent years he has written several 6 (9) Tenth of December: Stories - tains, Mexico’s Popocatépetl vol- First-time readers should start with the first novels featuring beat cops working out of the Holly- George Saunders cano, , the tar- Scudder novel The Sins of the Fathers (1976). The wood Station in Los Angeles. 7 (11) A Memory of Light - Robert sands and the Arctic tundra. By most recent novel, A Drop of the Hard Stuff (2011), is Wambaugh obviously spends much time talking Jordan and Brandon Sanderson the end, you will have a greater a flashback to Scudder’s earlier life. Along the way to cops and listening to their stories, both humorous 8 (34) The Unlikely Pilgrimage understanding of bird migration there have also been short stories featuring Scud- and dark. His most recent novel, which has some of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce in general and of nighthawk birds der, 10 of which (along with a new story) were col- overlap with the Hollywood Station series, is Har- 9 (21) 419 - Will Ferguson in particular. lected in The Night And The Music: the Matthew bor Nocturne (2012). It is enjoyable, but not quite up 10 (5) The Dinner - Herman Koch While Nighthawk! is a work of Scudder Stories (2011). If these last two volumes turn to the standard of his previous works in the series. fiction, Bastedo’s background in out to be the final appearance of Mathew Scudder, Successful crime series novelists have loyal read- Hardcover non-fiction biology and his work as an Arctic they provide him with a fine send-off. ers who can scarcely wait for the next novel to ap- 1 (19) The Inconvenient Indian: naturalist and outdoor educator Another of Block’s continuing characters is pear. I do wonder, given their ages, how long Burke A Curious Account of Native are evident in the narrative. The Bernie Rhodenbarr, a professional burglar. Like (born in 1936), Block (born in 1938) and Wambaugh People in North America book includes an interview with Scudder (and like Block himself), Rhodenbarr lives (born in 1937) will continue writing. Thomas King the author, who has won the Mi- and “works” in New York. Still, if they were to stop writing tomorrow, it 2 (22) I Could Pee on This chael Smith Award for Science These novels are not as dark as those featuring seems likely that readers would continue to discov- and Other Poems By Cats Promotion, presented by the Natu- Scudder. Try the first Rhodenbarr novel Burglars er and enjoy their books for many years to come. Francesco Marciuliano ral Sciences and Engineering Can’t Be Choosers (1977). The most recent was Bur- 3 (3) Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Research Council of Canada. glars on The Prowl (2004). The Scudder novels are Giants Hooked Us superior to the Rhodenbarr series, but the latter are Alastair Rickard of Elmira is a former editor and retired insurance Michael Moss executive who blogs at www.RickardsRead.com Cindy Matthews is a Bruce County writer. enjoyable reading. 4 (3) Ascent of Women Sally Armstrong 5 (2) Wave - Sonali Deraniyagala 6 (3) The Big Shift - Darrell J. Bricker and John Ibbitson CHILDREN 7 (11) The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from FOLLOW YOUR MONEY: Kevin Sylvester and Michael Hlin- farmer earns 10 cents profit. Yikes! Traditional Societies? WHO GETS IT, WHO SPENDS IT, ka, both of Toronto, offer an eye-open- Youngsters can also follow the Jared Diamond WHERE DOES IT GO? ing look at the route it follows when route money takes when they buy a 8 (20) Into the Abyss by Kevin Sylvester and Michael Hlinka used to buy everything from raw baseball hat, designer jeans, a movie, Carol Shaben (Annick Press, $14.95 softcover) materials and salaries, to transporta- shoes, gasoline and cellphones. Also 9 (39) Darth Vader and Son tion, packaging and advertising. explained are banks and credit cards, Jeffrey Brown Brenda Hoerle, Record staff Take bacon. If a package sells for and why things go on sale. Recom- 10 (42) Wild: From Lost to Found $3, the farmer gets $1, which in turn mended for ages nine to 12. on the Pacific Crest Trail We give very little thought to mon- must help pay for the pigs, their feed Cheryl Strayed ey once it leaves our wallets. and other farm costs. In the end, the [email protected] @TBM Bookmanager