Ode to Reading - Fiction 2024 (July - September)

My overall fiction reading output declined radically in the third quarter. I did not abandon my commitment or experience an attack of laziness, but was focused on other activities requiring my time and brainpower. I prepared 4 lectures for my upcoming teaching gig at Loyola University Rome. Loyola also cosponsors a Human Rights seminar with the University of Warsaw and I served on the organising committee and was moderator and speaker- all labor intensive- fun and satisfying. I also embraced the wonderful world of podcasts and I regularly subscribe to 6-7 of the cutting edge programs. Active listening is another great way to learn, but there are only so many hours in a day and podcast time diminishes reading time. I am working on the appropriate balance and will report back. I did enjoy my forays into fiction- no duds!

1. The Precipice by Robert Harris.

I am a devoted follower of British author Robert Harris. He is serious fellow with legitimate real world credentials and experiences. He is a Cambridge grad and an award winning journalist at the London Times, the Telegraph and the BBC. He was close confidant of Tony Blair before they fell out over the Iraq War. The talented and controversial Roman Polanski is a close friend and several of Mr Harris' novels have made the big screen. He has authored several non fiction works on politics, but has spent the last several decades as a war writer dedicated to mastering the art of historical fiction. His novels are based on intense research and are expertly constructed. I enthusiastically recommend his Ancient Rome Trilogy- Imperium, Conspirata and Dictator. Those books portray the conspiracies and intrigues of the Roman Republic, the Civil War and the beginning of Empire thru the eyes of Roman Senator, Consul, author and orator, Marcus Cicero. His focus on Rome continues with Pompeii, built around the events of the Mt Vesuvius volcanic eruption in 70 AD. He weaves in true historical figures with detailed descriptions of the “how” and “why” of the catastrophe. The science- meteorology, mineralogy and geology is as good as any textbook treatment of the event. The Officer and a Spy is a fascinating account of the Dreyfus Affair in France. Munich is the story of the circumstances leading to the 1938 “appeasement” conference between Neville Chamberlin and Adolf Hitler. V2 tracks the frantic production of the super rocket by the Germans in the closing days of WWII and its impact on London. Conclave is now a hit movie and is a creative portrayal of the inherent drama of a hastily called Papal election after the sudden death of the Pope. The book strained credulity, as does the movie, but both are entertaining. Harris' historical range is broad as evidenced by the topics covered in his 15 novels.

The Precipice is his most recent work- released for publication in America in September 2024 and I downloaded it immediately. As always the prose is lean and tight and the narrative has page turning aspects. But, I found it quirky, a bit ODD, particularly when compared to his earlier books. Without giving the plot away, the main protagonists are H.H. Asquith, the Prime Minster of Great Britain from 1908 to 1916 and Venetia Stanley, a 26 year old London socialite and a close friend of Asquith’s daughter and son. She is a member of the Coterie, the cool gang partying in Edwardian London before the outbreak of WWI. The age gap is 35 years! Asquith is obsessed with Ms Stanley. He writes her a minimum of 3 letters a day and the relationship lasted years. Scholars estimate he generated 300,000 words of romantic musings to her. The letters survived and Mr Harris quotes extensively from them. Ms Stanley wrote back regularly, but Mr Asquith, in a wise use of discretion, burned the letters before he passed away in 1928. Harris uses artistic license in crafting her letters to Asquith. The relationship is definitely an “affair”, but Mr Harris spares us the intimate physical moments. On its own, the relationship doesn’t warrant a book- politicians and dilettantes are not inherently interesting. Context, my friends, context! Mr Asquith is penning these lovestruck letters at the height of great crises confronting his government. First, the debate over the final stage of Home Rule legislation for Ireland has brought the United Kingdom to the edge of a violent civil war. Second, the Cabinet is deliberating the entry of the country into WWI on the side of France and Russia. The Archduke of Austria-Hungary has been assassinated and the dominoes are falling quickly as Germany, France and Russia declare war. The British decision is not a done deal- many in the government would like to stay out of a war on continental Europe. Third, after Britain does enter the war, Asquith is now a wartime Prime Minster and the early fighting brings heavy casualties and much angst to Great Britain. Shockingly, Asquith spends more time sending poetry to Venetia than doing this job. He is distracted big time. He violates the strict States Secret law by sharing classified information- reports, telegrams, casualty figures, battle plans, diplomatic cables with Venetia on their dates. She saw basically everything that crossed his desk. He actually tossed the material out the car window after showing it to her and eventually an investigation proceeds on the source of the leaks. The inspector then discovers the full extent of the Asquith- Stanley relationship. Asquith proves to be a mediocre war leader and is replaced by Lloyd George in 1916. I will let you research the history. Venetia eventually marries an age appropriate aristocrat. Fun fact, Asquith is actress Helen Bonham Carter's great grandfather. The Brits are surprisingly complicated.

You get the drift. I recommend the book, although it is more fanciful and light-hearted than a usual Harris tome. Harris is seemingly non judgmental on Asquith’s behaviour. He seems amused by the extreme eccentricity of this narrative. He is more generous to Ms Stanley. She matures, trains as a nurse and serves heroically at a London hospital treating the seriously wounded. Asquith even visits her at the hospital- so much for keeping the relationship under wraps. She shakes off the limitations of her class. The Edwardians were similar to the 1920’s Hampton’s set of F Scott Fitzgerald. They were careless people. Good read, but not movie material in my judgement. I would like to ask Mr Harris why he was attracted to this topic.

2. Bel Canto by Ann Padgett

I did a deep dive into Ann Padgett’s novels earlier this year and have already affirmed my appreciation for her talents. Great characters, uniques settings, dynamic human interactions all wound into fascinating narratives on the endless variability and diversity inherent in this entire experiment of living. Lyrical prose and very user friendly and comforting because kindness and decency radiate from her writing.

Bel Canto is one of her early works and positive reviews created a buzz. She used it as a springboard to a great career as fiction author. I enjoyed this novel as well. The style is fluid and evocative and I see no sign of the growing pains frequently associated with young writers. The rhythm is established early and remains constant throughout the story. It is ambitious. Big themes- love, wealth, power, poverty, relationships and the power of the arts. The entire book is set in the palatial residence of the Vice President of an unnamed South American country. The occasion is a birthday party for a rich and powerful Japanese industrialist. His name is Mr Hosakawa and he is an admirable figure- a moral centre- throughout the book. He has little interest in South America, but has accepted the invitation because a world renowned opera soprano and diva, Roxanne Cos is the featured entertainment. The wily South Americans hope to convince Mr Hosakawa to build his next factory in their humble country and they know Mr Hosakawa adores Ms Cos- he is mesmerised by her and plays her opera recordings in his office all day- every day. The bait works and the party proceeds with a diverse group of international guests, the French, the Russians and representatives from all the embassies in country. The President of the republic is scheduled to make an appearance as well. The festivities take an ugly turn when guerrillas (terrorists if you insist) invade the house and take everyone hostage. The plan is to kidnap the President and spirit him away immediately and set the stage for a serious prisoner exchange. The plan goes awry because the President is a "no show” because the party conflicts with his favourite soap opera. The guerrillas have no Plan B. They release the children and female guests (with the exception of Roxanne), lockdown the residence and begin a never ending negotiation with the government- an impasse which lasts months.

These closed circumstances create an artificial society and eventually a mini civilisation. At first, tension, fear, hostility and distrust, but the forced proximity and mutual dependence establish signs of constructive interaction between the guerrillas and the hostages. Odd alliances are created and people must abandon their customary roles. The Vice President becomes an expert Master of Ceremonies, displaying talent for household management previously unknown. Language is a barrier, but music is unifying global language and it becomes a huge bridge builder. Roxanne is the glue and she agrees to sing one of her favourite arias each afternoon. One of the hostages plays a mean piano. The guerrillas, including their clueless “generals” are entranced. One of the young guerrillas imitates her in private and is then discovered by Roxanne. She believes he has talent and under her tutelage, a totally different future becomes a possibility. The lone female guerrilla takes language lessons from Mr Hosakawa’s translator and they fall in love and consummate their relationship in a hidden closet. The gruff and unrefined Russian gets his courage up, demands a meeting with Roxanne, and declares his eternal love for her. Mr Hosakawa and Roxanne fall in love and with the aid of one of the guerrillas spend their nights together. A womanising Frenchman now spends the entire day dreaming of his wife. There are countless acts of grace. The guerrillas become human and relatable and outdoor soccer games proceed in earnest. Ms Padgett defaults to hope and acts of life affirming kindness. You feel pretty good as the relationships become more natural and relaxed.

There are weaknesses in the book that don’t undermine its core strengths . The conclusion of the standoff is predictable and Ms Padgett subtly gives it away rather early in the book. It is obvious this unlikely community will survive this ordeal. Reality always wins over fantasies. There are also too many characters, some who float in and out without much background or purpose. They are loose ends and a more aggressive editor would have been useful. Finally, the ending is a surprise. Basically, a feel good epilogue which doesn’t matchup with the events of the first 400 pages. The final moments in the house happen quickly and without fanfare and create a rather empty feeling because you had bonded with the characters. Ms Padgett cheated here, but I confess a more nuanced conclusion doesn’t come to mind for me either.

Bel Canto - a good read!