Laura (lindsacl)'s Orange 2013

Women's Prize, Orange Prize -- this painting by an unknown woman artist has both!

Previous threads:
2012: January | July
2011: January | July

In 2013 I'll continue working my way through the shortlists. I'm not trying to read every single one, and I rely pretty heavily on this group for recommendations. In July, I'll also read the 2013 winner.

Books planned for January:

A Child's Book of True Crime, by Chloe Hooper
No Bones, by Anna Burns
Ice Road, by Gillian Slovo

Laura, I love the artwork you have chosen for your thread. The lovely Oranges are represented, the young lady looks so innocent and yet sensual at the same time, as so many of our Orange listed books turn out to be. An amazing choice.
And I like the list of books you have planned for January. Though the reviews are rather varied the stories do sound interesting, especially the Slovo one. I will be watching to see what you think of them.

I also love the artwork Laura :-) You've got quite a few books I haven't heard of before so I'll be interested in your reviews.

Lovely artwork, Laura! I've not heard of any of your picks - I'll be interested in what you have to say about your Orange reads!

Hello Belva, Heather, and Deb. I guess my picks are a little obscure. They are nominees from 2004 and 2002. For some reason I wasn't tempted by the 2012 short list and have already read most of the 2011 shortlist except for Grace Williams Says it Loud, which my library doesn't have and it's not even readily available on Amazon!

Stopping in to drop a star! I'll be following along with your reading! I really would like to read Grace Williams Says it Loud... but I didn't know I might have a hard time finding it!

#6 I like obscure picks though - it's like finding undiscovered treasure :-)

Oh dear, I have to admit failure here. I had good intentions (see message #2), and even own one of the three books I planned to read. But every time I looked at it, I said, "nah..." and I couldn't get excited about the other two, either. Meanwhile I got "distracted" by a couple of other books, including Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood which I'm reading now.

I think part of the problem with the books I chose is that they date back to 2002 or so, and the general theme is no longer new and fresh. I think I've reached a point with the short list where I need to be choosy. I never intended to read them all and it stands to reason some may not be that appealing.

In July I'll definitely read the 2013 winner. Maybe I'll read more of the 2013 nominees too. Hope everyone is enjoying their January reading. Sorry for my epic fail!

Epic fail?! Oh noooooooo......

(that's okay, I've been there and know how it goes).

The Year of the Flood is an excellent book to read instead of an Orange book. I wonder why it was not nominated for the Orange in its year? I haven't read Oryx and Crake yet, and now the third in that trilogy is being released, MaddAdam, or something like that.

I didn't even realize that Oryx and Crake was part of a trilogy. Hmmm..

>10 Nickelini:: thanks for the empathy Joyce!

>11 raidergirl3:, 12: YES! Learning about the trilogy sent my Orange reading over the cliff. The third book is called MaddAddam, and is scheduled for August release. I bought The Year of the Flood about a year ago, about the time I read Oryx and Crake, and then I let it sit on my shelves all this time. Although I have books that have set on the shelves much longer ...

I don't know why this book wasn't nominated, but O&C was short listed. Maybe the judges thought it was too similar (which it is).

I am very excited for Maddaddam!

Now this is exciting news!

Wondering what you are planning to read in Orange July? It's almost upon us.

Hi Belva! I really failed in January, but I'm going to try again in July:
- May we be Forgiven: this is next up on my TBR
- One by One in the Darkness: this came highly recommended by someone, once -- possibly Dee (Soupdragon).
- Where'd you Go, Bernadette?: I thought my daughter would enjoy this so I nudged her to buy it so we could both read it. :)

Laura, One by One in the Darkness was a five star read for me. I loved it. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is a really fun read. Not prize worthy but a very interesting & fun read.
I am going to attempt May We Be Forgiven as well. I think we talked about this on another thread. I hope it is better than I think it is going to be. You probably can't go wrong with whichever one you choose.
:-)

My first Orange Prize/Women's Prize book for July...

May we be Forigven ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Source: My local library

In the first 15 pages of May we be Forgiven, the Silver family falls completely apart. George Silver, a television executive, is involved in a car accident with fatalities, which he may have caused. His older brother Harold, a professor, sleeps with George's wife and then witnesses a horrific act of violence. Harry is a mess, and yet is the only one who can pick up the pieces in the wake of such trauma. He is appointed guardian for George's children, Nate and Ashley, but it's a good thing they are at boarding school because Harry has some pretty serious issues to work through. He engages in a variety of self-destructive behaviors, while trying to keep up appearances as a successful academic. But as his personal life unravels, the children's needs take on greater importance, and together the family begins their long healing process.

This book drew me in at the start with its high-action opening, and immediate sympathy for a family struck by tragedy. And for a while, it was hard to put down. But about halfway through, the family's path to recovery became less believable. Harry became involved with two different women, both under circumstances that would not normally result in healthy relationships. The children sometimes behaved in ways that seemed more advanced than a typical 11- or 12-year-old. And then Harry staged an elaborate trip for Nate's Bar Mitzvah, which was crucial to their healing process, but really over the top. At this point my attention began to wane -- I generally prefer more realistic plots. But on the other hand, I think much of this story is metaphorical, and the fantastic situations are carefully crafted to illustrate a point.

A few days after finishing this book, I'm still thinking about the Silver family and the way Homes told this story. And I guess that says something.

Interesting review Laura. I always find your reviews enlightening & helpful. I was planning to read this one for Orange July as well, but am just not feeling the call yet. Perhaps before month's end. Meantime I am reading A Glass of Blessings which I somehow missed in May and then will see what Orange I will read next.
Enjoy your summer reads. :-)

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? ()
My Review
Source: my daughter's shelves

Bernadette Fox was once an award-winning architect, and now lives in Seattle with her husband Elgin Branch and their daughter, Bee. Bernadette gave up her work when Elgin took a position with Microsoft; he is widely recognized as a genius. Bernadette has become a recluse, leaving her house only when absolutely necessary and relying on an India-based "personal assistant" to handle most of her administrative responsibilities. She has an antagonistic relationship with other school parents, who she refers to as "gnats." Bee started life with a serious heart condition and is now a precocious eight-grader at a second-tier private school. To celebrate Bee's upcoming graduation, the family plans a trip to Antarctica over the Christmas holiday. But as the date approaches, Bernadette disappears, and a more complex story emerges.

The story is told through a series of emails, letters, and other documents. Bernadette initially comes across as just quirky, but deeper issues are soon revealed that challenge the family's overall stability. The "gnats" also prove to be more complex characters than they seem, showing there is always more than one side to any story. The central conflict and its resolution bordered on the preposterous at times, but the light writing style was misleading. Beneath the surface is a novel with surprising emotional impact.

Awesome description and review of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?. I'm just going to erase mine and steer people to yours.

>22 Nickelini: *blush*
Actually Joyce, your review was an enticement to read it -- I'd been on the fence before that!

Oh, a little mutual admiration society happening here then. Sweet.

I like it!

Great reviews of May We Be Forgiven and Where'd You Go Bernadette. I feel so iffy about reading both, even more after reading your reactions to them. I think other Oranges will be getting my attention for now.

Ah ... But I just read a GREAT one from the back list! Hope to post a review soon ... Will keep you in suspense for now :)

Laura, you're killing me!~!

Ta da ... here it is!

One by One in the Darkness ()
Reviewed on LibraryThing & on my blog
Source: On my shelves

I am so grateful for the Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize), for introducing me to Deirdre Madden. I read her 2009 shortlisted novel, Molly Fox's Birthday, two years ago, and then discovered she'd been nominated once before, in 1997, for One by One in the Darkness. It took ages for me to find this book -- my library didn't have it, and it was outrageously expensive through online retailers. Finally, Paperbackswap granted my wish. And I couldn't be happier; this quiet, unassuming novel is a gem.

The story is set in 1994, just before the IRA ceasefire. Three sisters converge on their family home for a week. Middle sister Cate arrives on her annual visit, weeks earlier than usual, citing work as an excuse. Oldest sister Helen visits almost every weekend, and immediately spots inconsistencies in Cate's story. Sally, the youngest, is a teacher in the village and lives at home with her mother. Not surprisingly, it turns out Cate has reasons for visiting early which create some conflict in the family.

The relationships between the sisters and their mother are fleshed out through flashbacks to their childhood:

For the pattern of their lives was as predictable as the seasons. The regular round of necessity was broken by celebrations and feasts: Christmas, Easter, family birthdays. The scope of their lives was tiny but it was profound, and to them, it was immense. The physical bounds of their world were confined to little more than a few fields and houses, but they knew these places with the deep, unconscious knowledge that a bird or a fox might have for its habitat. The idea of home was something they lived so completely that they would be been at a loss to define it. But they would have known to be inadequate such phrases as 'It's where you're from,' 'It's the place you live,' 'It's where your family are.'

Sadly, this predictable, peaceful pattern was shattered in 1968-69 as civil rights protests became increasingly violent. Living in a rural village, events seemed remote for a while. But eventually they, too, were affected by senseless, tragic acts.

I loved the juxtaposition of past and present, which delivered a richly detailed story in just 180 pages. This was the first time I had read such a personal account of this period in Irish history. I felt like I knew these people. Their history was new to me, but their contemporary struggles were not. And the ending took my breath away, revealing details only alluded to before, while leaving so much open to interpretation.

>29 lauralkeet::
I am so happy that you loved this one Laura. I have read the same two that you have. They were both 5 star reads for me. I so love her writing.
Very good review! Had to give you a thumb.
Going back to my reviews, on Molly Fox's Birthday I simply gave my thoughts & feeling and the book & acquiesed to your perfect review of it. Good job on both!

Lovely review of One by One in the Darkness! Like you, I've had difficulty finding a copy of this book. Fortunately Faber & Faber re-released it this year.....so I hope to be able to purchase and read it soon.

>31 Her_Royal_Orangeness:: oh that's good news!

Excellent review of One by One in the Darkness. Heading to give it a thumbs up now!

Heavens, Laura! Your thread has been dormant longer than mine was. I think you and I are the only ones here this month, so I appreciate finding your voice.
I really liked Diedre Madden's *Molly Fox*, and you make me want to hunt up a copy of *One by One*. Thanks!

>34 LizzieD: Wow Peggy, this is a blast from my LT past!

I'm not sure why I stopped keeping a personal thread in this group. My records show that I read the Orange/Baileys/Women's Prize winners through 2016, and often dipped into the shortlist as well. Did we stop doing the January & July thing? Or did I just move on to reading other things?

Either way, this is a prize I still enjoy following, and I look to the longlist/shortlist/winners for reading inspiration.

I find it a bit odd that we both have slowed our reading of Oranges. I have read some of the recent winners, but I have tended to like them less than others on the list and generally, some long list entrants above the short list. I'm glad that the prize keeps going; it is my inspiration for good, new women's fiction.
I don't remember who started this thread, but I'll look in a minute. Keeping a thread going does generally call for some constant prodding, I think. Anyway, HelenLiz just came by to speak to me, so that makes three of us here.

ETA: Oh yes, Jill started this. I see her more often on fb than here.