Hemingway's Widow: The Life and Legacy of Mary Welsh Hemingway

Confession: this may be considered sacrilege in literary circles, but I've always liked books about Ernest Hemingway and his orbit more than books by him. Yet I suspect I'm not the only one. His life was so huge and colorful compared to that of most of us. At times his personal adventures seem larger than his literary creations. Fun fact: three of Hemingway's four wives were from St Louis (Hadley Richardson, war correspondent and novelist Martha Gellhorn, and Vogue fashion writer Pauline Pfeiffer.) His fourth and last wife was the exception; she was from Minnesota. Mary Welsh Hemingway - also a war correspondent - was as complex as he was - talented and highly accomplished, courageous, likeable and unlikeable, magnanimous and petty, enjoying the world's favorable spotlight throughout her life, and ruined in the end by alcohol. This book is an incredible accomplishment by a retired Canadian civil attorney and law school Dean who spent many years tracking down and reading thousands of letters and documents and interviewing as many friends, family members and publishing world associates of Mary and Ernest Hemingway as he could locate. His voluminous findings have been integrated into a sensitively rendered interpretation of the last years of Hemingway's storied life and what it cost his wife Mary to spend these years with him as his mental health deteriorated. It wasn't only the writer that charmed the world who ultimately lost his mind. Though not the specific focus of this book, intergenerational, multigenerational mental and emotional health issues in this family are tragically evident in its pages. Depression, substance abuse, and suicide - all are expressed in various ways and patterns up and down at least four Hemingway generations and likely more. Gender bending was another multigenerational issue in the author's family. Hemingway was curious but also ambivalent about gender fluidity and sexual identity. In childhood his mother frequently dressed him in girls' clothing - perhaps planting a seed that bedeviled him into adulthood. He experimented with themes of gender switching in his writing as well as in his marital relations. Yet once his sons were grown, he angrily rejected the transsexual identity of one of them. Maybe that was a latent manifestation of how he felt about the clothes he wore as a little boy. Even if in close up you don't entirely like these people - Ernest and Mary - and you are especially repelled by their thoughtless destruction of animals and magnificent sea life, your heart is broken by the time you finish the book. Broken simply by the overall sadness of it. The Hemingways lived large, yet despite the richness of opportunity and life experience and the worldly glamour and respect they enjoyed, so many members of this family - including Hemingway's widow - came to sad and lonely ends. Reviewed by Marianne W

Cocktails with George and Martha by Philip Gefter

 

"Never again. It is like having an elephant sit on your chest for two hours."

    - My mom, remembering seeing the 1966 film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 

"It is still the truest rendering of love in marriage that I know. Call me a romantic."

    - From the preface, Cocktails with George and Martha

Ever since we learned about the custom of exchanging roses and books for San Jordi's Day on April 23rd (thanks, Helen Oyeyemi!), my partner and I have been dedicated observers. This year I received Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I don't think this had anything to do with how many martinis I drink, but it could be related. 

I love Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and could watch it just about any night. Like the author Philip Gefter, I find it a story about love in marriage, albeit through a scathing, harrowing perspective. From the beginning, Albee's dialogue crackles and Taylor is electric herself as the acerbic Martha. Burton transforms himself into the brilliant, embittered George and they ricochet off each other through the course of a drunken, vicious afterparty. George Segal and Sandy Dennis are perfect as the unwitting guests who fall prey to George and Martha's games. 

It was fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes of the movie. Gefter starts with a biography of playwright Edward Albee and describes the controversy that boiled around his play. Up until then, most marriages portrayed on tv were fairly conflict-free with delineated gender roles. Serious arguments, if there were any, would be conducted behind a closed door (off-screen). The dynamics between George and Martha, not to mention their antics, were condemned by some critics as obscene. That said, it was a sensation and touched on something in the zeitgeist.

Gefter links Martha's frustration ("She's discontent") with Betty Friedan's "problem that has no name" from her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique. Women were increasingly "discontent" with their lot and Albee unleashed onto the world a character who expressed all her frustration, resentment, and disappointment with terrifying articulation. Though it arose out of a particular era, Virginia Woolf remains a vital and vicious portrait of a marriage. It is about a specific, dysfunctional marriage, but it's also, ultimately, about marriage in general, and how frightening it is to live a truly examined life, bereft of illusions. 

The making of Virginia Woolf is laden with absolutely fascinating characters: Albee and his almost supernatural intelligence and wit, successful at such a young age; the obscenely glamorous Elizabeth Taylor and powerhouse husband Richard Burton, whose fame (infamy?) as a couple drove so many of the choices that were made about the movie; careful, introspective, insecure, and ultimately daring producer Ernest Lehman; and finally, perhaps the real star of the book, auteur Mike Nichols, whose work on Virginia Woolf seems to say to create a masterpiece you may need to be uncompromising, manipulative, and alienating. 

Into the Light by Mark Oshiro

A book told with a non-linear style and a sprinkle of a split perspective, Mark Oshiro delivers a story about belonging, community, home, and trust. It heavily utilizes themes of religion, neglect, abuse, and rejection, using the foster care system as a tool to convey them.

Manny is a Latino boy who's been living on his own for a long time. He's learned the rules of how to survive alone on the streets, but everything changes when he sees a television news program of a dead body found in Idyllwild, the secluded community where his sister lives. Eli lives in this very same community, strictly abiding by its rules and doctrines, but recent changes, events, and doubts form a crack in the neatly built foundation of his life. As the two boys' lives collide, we learn lessons of what family and community really mean. 

I enjoyed this book very much because of the writing style, in addition to the non-linear story telling. There's always a sense of suspense and you really get a feeling for how deeply impacted the characters were (are) affected by the world around them. One thing I learned after reading this book though:

Love will always find you regardless of who you are or where you go.

Check it out if you're interested!

- Leo H.

Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery by Linda Murphy Marshall

This book tells a story about a rather emotionally haunted house in Kirkwood, Missouri.

"Abraham Lincoln's comment that a house divided against itself cannot stand rang true in our home" the author wrote. She explains this both architecturally and psychodynamically. The Civil War era house in an upper class neighborhood that she grew up in looks beautiful and graceful from the outside, but rooms and spaces are awkwardly laid out within. On each floor, some rooms were left unfinished and empty. The same could be said of her family.

This is Marshall's account of growing up in that unusual house, and of the effects of her highly accomplished parents' neglect of both the house and their children.

The author grew up to become a language translator stemming in part from her constant efforts as a child to understand her parents' frequently cryptic and sometimes cruel ways of responding to their children's needs for emotional nurturance, safety and sometimes even critical medical care.

Marshall's retrospective translations of life in that house and family show how people can appear to have every economic, social and educational advantage while living disconnected, emotionally starved lives. The kindest thing I can think to say of her socially prominent, Washington University educated parents (long deceased) is that they weren't into parenting. That's putting it mildly.

Kudos to this woman for overcoming much of the childhood cruelty and neglect she experienced in the house called Ivy Lodge.

Reviewed by Marianne W

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders

 

If you're in a reading slump, may I suggest George Saunders' A Swim in a Pond in the Rain? 

Adapted from his lectures to Syracuse MFA writing students, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain uses the writing of Tolstoy, Chekov, Gogol, and Turgenev to explore what makes short stories work and how reading can, possibly, make us better people.

Saunders begins by introducing these stories as resistance literature:

The resistance in the stories is quiet, at a slant, and comes from perhaps the most radical idea of all: that every human being is worthy of attention and that the origins of every good and evil capability of the universe may be found by observing a single, even very humble, person and the turnings of his or her mind. 

Throughout, we are asked to sympathize with characters seemingly very different from us, separated by time, nationality, sex, social stratum—but alike in deeper ways. A good author can connect us to these characters. The more you understand a character, the easier it is to extend grace towards her. If it works in fiction, can it also work with our passive-aggressive sister-in-law? One hopes. (That comment about the potato salad was really too much).

Each story is paired with two essays by Saunders full of his wit and insight. I wondered sometimes if I would have enjoyed the story on its own without his commentary. Always, I looked forward to reading what he had to say. Each story had something to teach us about writing and reading.

It was like learning how to read again. How generous Saunders was to share these essays with us! With a library card, we get to experience what it's like to be his students.

As a bonus, Saunders provides a few writing exercises. Even if you aren't a writer, I would encourage you to give them a try, if for no other reason than to deepen your appreciation for good writing. If you did, let us know what the experience was like by commenting below or stopping by the circ desk! 

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

    Chuck Tingle brings us a (very) different piece of art than what he’s made before. Handling themes of faith vs. intellect, religion vs science, and the ability to achieve a balance, this book brings us a suspenseful and chilling story of literally fighting your demons. 

    

    The book follows autistic high schooler and devout Christian, Rose Darling, as she suddenly begins to see strange figures following her. Rose’s day-to-day life and the mindset she has built around it are dictated by the doctrines and devotion that her neighborhood has towards religion. The book explores the idea that one can be devoted in different ways, and that one’s interests do not get in the way of one’s faith. 

  

    I enjoyed the book and it was pretty engaging. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be, but it did still have some pretty cool horror elements. The climax was really cool too, but I’ll let you experience that yourself!

Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda

 

To read Ojeda's Jawbone is to be drawn into a disorienting world where the line between clique and cult is perilously thin. 

Ojeda's use of language and structure is unusual and resists momentum. I often found myself needing to reread sentences. Before it even begins it is bold, indulgent, excessive: there are ten (ten!) epigraphs ranging from Lacan to Mary Shelley. The first page is a jumble of references, impressions, and thoughts that evokes the character Fernanda's confused mindset: She's regained consciousness in a strange place to find the new teacher at her parochial girls school has kidnapped her.

Then we meet, through Fernanda's memories, her best friend Annelise and her followers, other wealthy, bored high schoolers. Annelise introduces them to a flashy "drag-queen god of her own invention," as the back of the book puts it, as well as an abandoned half-completed building where this god is invoked through increasingly dangerous dares and disturbing story-telling inspired by their favorite creepypastas. 

This is a book I already want to reread. While the setting is Ecuador and the girls reference viral videos and Lana Del Rey, there is something both timeless and placeless about the story itself. It's about the confusing time between childhood and adulthood, complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, burgeoning sexuality, but most of all, how totally scary high school girls are. 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera writes a melancholic story about two boys who find out how to live on the day they die. The beauty of growth through true connection is something elegantly shown, as both Mateo and Rufus show each other what they’ve always felt they’ve lacked, drawing out each other’s true nature through simply spending their last day together.

The story is set in a dystopia that is almost identical to the world we live in except for one key difference: Death-Cast, a service that calls people from 12AM to 2AM to let people know they will die within the next 24 hours. Created to ensure that everyone lives out their last day how they choose to, it is now a societal norm. Anyone can receive a call, and everyone will receive one at some point, regardless of how sheltered, or reckless, you’ve been living your life. This is what happens to both Mateo and Rufus. After meeting on an app, the two set off to figure out how to live their last day the way they want.

The story follows a multiple perspective narrative style, showing the perspectives of not just Mateo and Rufus, but many of the other side characters. Each new perspective immediately tells you whether or not the person will die that day, and they all play a role in the outcome of the events, building tension for us readers, and even catching us off guard with what is revealed. Furthermore, each perspective is time-stamped, showing at what point throughout the day that it happened.

If you’re looking for a book that will push you to tears over star-crossed lovers, give this book a read. If you like it, check out the prequel The First to Die at the End! Feel free to share your thoughts on both! I’ll leave you with this:

What would you do if you knew you’d die within 24 hours?

- Leo H.

The Ruins by Scott Smith

 

The Ruins is a fast-paced thriller I've returned to several times since first reading it a number of years ago. It's a horrifying story that hooks you with its character depictions. 

Two young American couples are (mostly) enjoying a vacation in Mexico, where they venture with a couple other tourists to the site of an archaeological dig. They are warned by a local that the place they're headed is no good, but do you think they listen? If they did, there wouldn't be much of a story! I won't go into detail, but once there they find themselves trapped and in peril.

The twists keep on coming with this one, but what I love so much about it is the insight we get into the minds of the four main characters. The perspective moves from one to the other and you really get a sense of who these people are and what motivates them. Their reactions to the increasingly dire situation make sense.

The sympathy he builds between the reader and the characters makes it all the easier to imagine yourself in their place which really opens the doorway to horror. What the young people are facing is ever decreasing hope and the realization that they may not survive their vacation. It makes you wonder, if in their place, who would you be? 

Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr.

Keith F Miller Jr. brings us a story of two boys finding love and safe haven with one another as they get caught in the crossfire of the drama within their communities and families. As they journey through teen angst, confusion, and trauma, they not only come to find each other, but a deeper understanding of themselves and what they are capable of.

The story follows Jay and Leroy, two teenage black boys who live on opposing sides of town, a town that is heavily affected by gang life. The gangs currently exist in harmony thanks to the efforts of the Black Diamonds, an underground organization created to protect the people within the town. However, when a mysterious enemy threatens the peace, the two families become intricately connected with the violence, dragging Jay and Leroy in along with them. 

Throughout the book, the narration splits perspectives between the two boys. Jay’s perspective is written in more of a standard narrative style, while Leroy’s uses much more African American vernacular. The book is filled with beautiful references to black culture and community, and shows how amazing it can be to grow up at the intersection of blackness and queerness.

Miller uses elegant figurative language to envelop you in the story world and put you in the shoes of the boys, with the story reading almost like poetry. As we experience each moment with them, the style tugs at our heart strings until we’re almost brought to tears; and the climax itself is just as satisfying, as you see the culmination of both boys’ efforts to heal and unite. The story ends implying there is a second book, so if you like this one, there’s likely to be a sequel coming soon.

If you’re looking for a dramatic, yet heartfelt story involving queer black teens, this is the book for you. Please feel free to check it out, and if you read it, I’m always happy to hear what you have to say!

- Leo H.

Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

With the release of Rule of Wolves a few months ago, and the TV adaptation on Netflix, I'm jumping back into Leigh Bardugo's excellent Grishaverse with a re-read of the original trilogy and duologies. First up is Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising!

The Shadow and Bone trilogy focuses on Alina Starkov and introduces the world of Ravka and the Grisha. Grisha are people with special abilities, and most of them can be sorted into three groups - Corporalki, Etherealki, and Materialki. Corporalki can manipulate the body; Etherealki can manipulate wind, water, and fire; and Materialki can manipulate matter, like glass and metal. In Ravka, Grisha are respected members of the nation's Second Army, led by a man simply known as the Darkling. The Darkling is a little different than your average Grisha - he has the ability to manipulate darkness, bringing forth shadows and shade, even on the brightest of days. The Second Army has always been led by a Darkling, including the one known as the Black Heretic, whose lust for power created the Shadow Fold, a great swath of darkness filled with monsters that cuts Ravka off from its ports, forcing the country into near-constant war with its neighbors to the north and south.

When we first meet Alina, she and her regiment are headed for the Shadow Fold in an attempt to cross over to West Ravka and bring back supplies. Life in the Ravkan army is okay, though Alina has been feeling out of sorts, especially since her best friend (and secret crush) Mal Oretsev, has done well in the army, making friends and proving his worth. Everything changes though when their attempted crossing is beset by volcra, the monsters that live in the Shadow Fold, and Mal is attacked. As Alina tries to keep him from being carried off, there is a bright burst of light. Alina is a Sun Summoner, and is Ravka's best hope at destroying the Shadow Fold - well, once she learns how to use her power. Soon, she is whisked away to the Little Palace, where all Grisha learn how to use their abilities and live in comfort. Her days are now filled with training, learning Grisha theory, and the Darkling (oh, the Darkling). But the Darkling's intentions aren't exactly noble, as Alina comes to learn. As the story unfolds over the three books, she finds herself pulled in different directions, and representing different things to different people. Whether they think she is a living saint, an orphaned girl, or a Grisha general - at the end of the day, she is just a girl with a power that can transform the world.

I'm a huge fan of this series and this world. While this trilogy does fit fairly neatly into the "chosen one with special powers who must save the world" arm of fantasy, Bardugo does a great job of characterizing Alina and her struggle to define herself, especially when so many people want her to be something that doesn't feel true to her. I also like the eastern European and Russian touches to Ravka - at the time the series was first published, that set it apart a bit from all of the other YA fantasies coming out. And, in true YA style, there is also just enough pining and romance to give a break from some of the heavier aspects of the story. So, if you like YA, trilogies, fast-paced stories, or if you watched the Netflix show and just want to know what the books are like, check these out!

To Drink Coffee With a Ghost by Amanda Lovelace

Lovelace unravels the memory of a toxic relationship between mother and daughter, body shaming, and the haunting shadows of the dead walking behind us. All the poems about this theme are quite bittersweet since her mother is a person she loved, but in part she also hated.

I could relate to some of her deep poems. Amanda delivers her poetry in a way that brings comfort to their readers who are looking for a mirror to see themselves in while also taking readers on a journey through a piece of Amanda’s life that’s utterly unique. Her raw and ethereal writing never fails to inspire me and make me want to hug those around me and thank them for the love they have to offer. I went through many emotions all good and bad, but it has taught me a lot and made me know that I am not the only one going through those things. This poem book is great for people who need an outlet to know they are not alone, and to people who have a love for great poetry.

I also wanted to share my 3 favorite poems from this book:

For the first time, I will allow myself to believe that the best can and will happen to me, instead of the worst. - life doesn't have to be a horror show

Hold tightly do you take the time and energy to understand the intricacies of your Magic. -What's truly important. 

But you belong to nobody except yourself. -your own future.

This book contains explicit language and mature themes.

Review written by Genevieve C.

The 13th Floor : A Ghost Story by Sid Fleischman

This story takes place with an orphan named Buddy Stebbins who makes his way to an abandoned building. While exploring the place he reaches the 13th floor and then gets transported to a leaky pirate ship in a roaring storm, 300 years in the past. As the ship lands, he washes up in New England where he finds a ten year old ancestor Abigail in witchcraft mania. She’s caught up in a lot of controversy and is about to be hanged to death. There is a new surprise in nearly every page in the book and I love a good ghost story.

This book stood out to me because it involved a lot of ancestry and fantasy. It’s like falling into a deep dream and dreaming 1,000 different dreams. As if you’re being put on another world.

This book is recommended for those who love fantasy books and are interested in time travel. The book is very descriptive with the story and it was interesting to hear about New England 300 years in the past.

Review written by Devon W.