This week, our First Impressions readers discuss Lisa Hsiao Chen's debut novel Activities of Daily Living, about the ways art and life intersect for a woman caring for her stepfather as his health deteriorates from Alzheimer's.
In Editor's Choice, we review The Great Passion by James Runcie, a historical novel about a boy coming of age in the household of Johann Sebastian Bach as the composer crafts his masterwork, the St. Matthew Passion.
We invite you to browse through our Music and the Arts category, where you'll find the books we've reviewed that explore themes related to music, art and artists.
You'll also find a discount code you can use to get an annual subscription to BookBrowse for just $2.50 per month. Better still, if you subscribe by this Saturday you'll be able to request a book from this month's free book offer (due to publisher restrictions, books are only available to U.S. residents).
With best wishes,
Davina Morgan-Witts
BookBrowse Publisher
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Each month we give away books to BookBrowse members who live in the U.S. to read and review. Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every 3-4 months. Here are their opinions on one recently released title. |
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Activities of Daily Living
by Lisa Hsiao Chen
"I didn't know what to expect from this book, other than reading rave reviews. And I have to agree, this book is wonderful. Rarely do I find myself wanting to reread passages to fully absorb what the author is saying. Anyone who has experienced caring for an elderly or sick loved one will find themselves nodding or shaking their heads in concert with Alice, the main character, as she contends with caring for her dying stepfather and contemplating the meaning of 'time.'" - Melissa C. (Saint Johns, FL)
"Chen’s prose is crisp and vivid. Although a knowledge of the art world would be helpful, it is not necessary to enjoy the book. She poses questions that writers, artists and book clubs will enjoy discussing and will continue to ponder long after the discussion ends. I found myself playing with the words that we use to describe time. We save time, kill time, spend time and buy time. We bide time, waste time and share time. In the end, of course, like Alice and her stepfather, all we have is one lifetime and the projects and relationships that give it meaning." - Lizmarie
"In Activities of Daily Living, Lisa Hsiao Chen expertly weaves together two storylines: The Father, in which main character Alice is caring for her aging stepfather, and The Artist, in which Alice is creating a project that studies the works of performance artist Teching Hsieh. Both storylines examine time, how it is used, viewed and passed. Chen deftly uses Alice's project to inform readers about true-to-life events and people in the art world, while easily bringing us back to the moving story of a man succumbing to dementia. This amazing book is a mediation on the importance of art and what we do with the passing of time." - Lucy S. (Ann Arbor, MI)
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The Great Passion
by James Runcie
Reviewed by Kim Kovacs
Runcie juxtaposes two stories. The first is a rather routine coming-of-age tale with few surprises. Stefan's bright red hair makes him a target for bullying by his fellow students, which is exacerbated by their jealousy of his talent. Over the course of the novel he learns how to stand up for himself and he develops the confidence to allow his talents to shine. Although somewhat predictable, it's nevertheless an entertaining narrative, thanks to the author's brilliant depiction of his main character. Stefan seems completely real, and readers can't help but root for his success in love and music.
The secondary plot, which I found more interesting, is the portrait Runcie paints of Bach. He cleverly inserts Stefan into the composer's household, where he's permitted to stay while refining his craft. The young man becomes a "fly on the wall," so to speak, able to observe Bach as he interacts with his family and other musicians. The resulting depiction is remarkable; while at his core Runcie's Bach is a kind and caring person, he's not immune to fits of anger over a part poorly sung, envy over the success of a peer, sarcasm in response to his performer's complaints, or obsession over bringing his musical ideas to fruition. ... continued
Visit BookBrowse for more, including our full review and Beyond the Book article, "The Evolution of the Pipe Organ."
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For Members: Available to Request Now |
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Members! This month's First Impressions and Book Club books are now available. Request at bookbrowse.com/arc before end of Saturday, April 16.
Books are provided to U.S. resident members free of charge with the understanding that they'll do their best to either write a short review or take part in an online discussion forum (depending on whether the book is assigned for First Impressions or the Book Club.)
Join BookBrowse, or renew a lapsed membership by the end of this Saturday (16th) and not only will you save 25%, you'll also have the opportunity to request the book of your choice from these six titles, and you will receive it!
Books are only available to BookBrowse members resident in the U.S. This is in part due to the cost and logistics of shipping outside the U.S. but also because the U.S. publishers who provide books for our First Impressions and Book Club offers usually do not hold rights to markets outside the U.S. and thus are prohibited from actively marketing to those outside the U.S., which includes providing books for review.
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Last Chance to Save 25%
If you are not currently a BookBrowse member, now's the time to subscribe. Use coupon code SPRING22 to save 25% and pay less than $2.50 per month for an annual subscription. Code is valid until end of day Saturday, giving you just enough time to sign up at a discounted rate and take advantage of the free book offer above.
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Category Focus: Music and the Arts |
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This week, we're highlighting our thematic book category Music and the Arts. Visit the category to browse books with themes related to music, art and artists, such as:
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Second Place by Rachel Cusk
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Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell
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A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
...and many more!
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Book Club: Current and Upcoming Discussions |
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BookBrowse's forums-based discussions are open to all, so please join us!
Click the button or image to see past, current and upcoming discussions. You can also sign up to receive a one-time notification when a particular discussion opens.
Among others, we're currently discussing Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan and Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge. Our discussion of Shadows of Berlin by David R. Gillham will open April 30.
Copies of two books for upcoming discussion, Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout and Carolina Moonset by Matt Goldman, are available for free to U.S. resident members who request before April 16.
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Solve our Wordplay puzzle to reveal a well-known expression, and be entered to win the book of your choice or a 6-month membership to BookBrowse!
"S A S Wins T R"
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The answer to the last Wordplay: S No E, H N E, S N E
"See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil"
In English, this expression is generally used in reference to those who choose to turn a blind eye to wrongdoings; but its original meaning, rooted in Confucianism, is to teach prudence and the importance of avoiding evil.
It is believed that Buddhist monks brought the expression from India to Japan by way of China around the 8th century. In Japan, it is typically depicted by three monkeys -- one covering its eyes, the next covering its ears and the third its mouth -- because of the pun on zaru (an archaic suffix used to negate a verb) which sounds very similar to the Japanese word for monkey...
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Jack Higgins, author of The Eagle Has Landed, dies aged 92
- ‘Unparalleled in intensity’ – 1,500 book bans in US school districts
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- Oprah Winfrey named 2022 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion
- For Colin Kaepernick, writing is another form of activism
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With so many new books published every month, it's difficult to find the standouts, the ones which are really worth your time. This is why hundreds of thousands of readers rely on BookBrowse to do the hard work of sifting though the multitude of titles to find the most promising new books, with a focus on books that entertain, engage and enlighten. |
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BookBrowse Highlights is one of our four free newsletters. We also offer Publishing This Week every Sunday, and Book Club News and Librarian News monthly.
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