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Weekly Words about New Books in
Independent Bookstores
September 13, 2015
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Remarkable Quartet of Novels About Two Women's Friendship
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The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante. Those of you who know and love the Neapolitan series that began with My Brilliant Friend might already be reading the fourth and final installment that has just been  released. For the rest of you, now may be the time to discover these stories about the complex, decades-long friendship between two women - novels about which one reviewer said fans tear through them "like 9-year-olds reading by flashlight under the bedcovers." Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo meet as children in post-WW II Naples, and the series follows their lives through the years, revealing the evolving bond that brings them close at times and drives them apart at others.
Interestingly, despite the success of the books, Ferrante remains an unknown author - literally. Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym for an Italian writer who has purposefully avoided the spotlight. In a letter to her publisher upon the publication of her first book, the author wrote, "I believe that books, once they are written, have no need of their authors. If [books] have something to say, they will sooner or later find readers; if not, they won't."
Naturally, as the Neapolitan novels have become hits, speculation about Ferrante's identity, and even gender, has increased. The good news for readers is that it doesn't matter - and reviewers agree. This descri ption from the Australian daily newspaper The Age is as good as any: "One of the most astounding - and mysterious - contemporary Italian novelists available in translation, Elena Ferrante unfolds the tumultuous inner lives of women in her thrillingly menacing stories of lost love, negligent mothers and unfulfilled desires."
One word of advice for anyone new to the series - start at the beginning. Ferrante's narrative is best enjoyed sequentially - My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of the Lost Child. They are all in paperback and feature wonderful covers.
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Timely George Stars Determined Trans
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George by Alex Gino. This middle-grade book about a transgender girl is both timely and touching, and the author, who has been involved with queer and trans activism for 20 years, writes with realism and poignancy. The book will und
 oubtedly generate some pushback from some parents of third and fourth graders, which is unfortunate, but
George is a worthy and important addition to the small but increasing body of transgender literature for children. Here's a description of the story:
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be "Charlotte's Web." George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy.
With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte - but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
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COMMENTS, FEEDBACK
I always love hearing from folks, so please feel free to let me know what you're reading, make a comment, or ask a question.
Email me
anytime.
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WHERE TO FIND
AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Many of you already have a favorite local bookstore, but for those of you without such a relationship,
this link
will take you to a list of Northern California
indie bookstores
by region.
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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
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My name is Hut Landon. I'm a former bookstore owner who now runs the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) in San Francisco.
My goal with this newsletter is to keep readers up to date about new books hitting the shelves, share what booksellers are recommending in their stores, and pass on occasional news about the book world.
I'm not into long, wordy reviews or literary criticism; I'd like HUT'S PLACE to be a quick, fun read for book buyers. If you have any friends who you think might like receiving this column each week, simply click on "Forward this email" below and enter their email address. There is also a box in which to add a short message.
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