Not Even the Dead (2023) by Juan Gomez Barcena

 Book Review

Not Even the Dead (2023)

by Juan Gomez Barcena

   I checked Not Even the Dead out from the library (digital version) because of this lede from the New York Times book review:

             We’ll never know what the late Cormac McCarthy might have thought of Juan Gómez Bárcena’s “Not Even the Dead,” but I wager that the novel would have appealed to him, and also to Roberto Bolaño and Joseph Conrad, if for no reason other than their egos. Each of them would have seen strong evidence of their influence on Bárcena, whose previous work — a story collection and a prizewinning novel, “The Sky Over Lima” — has already established him as a leading writer in Spain. His latest book, splendidly translated by Katie Whittemore, only adds to his standing, thanks to its successful blend of ambitious literary dynamism with contemporary social and political commentary.  (New York Times)

   I'm not sure any human on earth could read Not Even the Dead and not have McCarthy and Bolaño at the top of their mind.  Conrad, yeah, sure, but def McCarthy and Bolano.  The McCarthy comparison is interesting because I've yet to come across a Spanish language writer who was anything but ornate and verbos.  Right now I'm thinking of Bolano, of course, but also Javier Marias- who wrote spy novels that read like Proust.   

  There is lots going on in Not Even the Dead, that same New York Times review calls it a "transhistorical" epic- which I didn't even notice at the time, but now realize is important to understanding the book.   I was hoping, I suppose, for less Bolano and more McCarthy, but the book moves in the opposite direction- the first 100 pages are McCarthy plus, and the last two hundred are Bolano minus- that's just my opinion.  Still worth reading if you are a reader of the McCarthy/Bolano/Conrad school of adventure literature.

Agatha of Little Neon (2021) by Claire Luchette

 1001 Novels: A Library of America

Agatha of Little Neon (2021)

by Claire Luchette

Woonsocket, Rhode Island

Rhode Island: 1/9

   Welcome to the party Rhode Island! This is the last state in New England that I haven't actually visited. Lord knows I've tried to convince Amy at least to drive over the border once but I've been so far unsuccessful.  Meanwhile she goes there every other year to "work" at the Newport Folk Festival.  Newport looks nice, the rest of Rhode Island... it's basically the southern equivalent of the New Hampshire seacoast region- they even have their own Portsmouth in a similar location.  Unlike New Hampshire there is no "rest" of Rhode Island.  

   Nine books is in line with the rest of the smaller states of New England- looking ahead there is at least one book I'm unlikely to actually read in full (She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb), one s****** genre mystery (Murder at Crossways by Alyssa Maxwell), a coming-of-age novel by a Hollywood a-hole (Outside Providence by Peter Farrelly) and also this book, Agatha of Little Neon, a debut novel by Claire Luchette (whose pronouns are they/them- or she/them).  

   Like other readers, I found Agatha of Little Neon very enjoyable- I should say here I listened to the Audiobook version because it was available on the Libby Library app- most of the book takes place in Woonsocket, a small town in Northern Rhode Island.  Agatha is a Religious Sister- if you don't know the difference between Nuns and Religious Sisters, Nuns are cloistered- removed from the world- whereas Religious Sisters can do stuff- work- even though they both dress alike.   

  At the beginning of the book Agatha and her three co-horts are being relocated from their parish outside Buffalo New York to Little Neon- a recovery facility located in Rhode Island.   Once they get there they engage with the lives of the half-way house residents and Agatha gets a gig teaching geometry at the local Catholic high school.  If it sounds low stakes, it is, but it's also a compelling opportunity to read fiction about two groups: Religious Sisters and half-way house residents, who you don't often hear about in literary fiction.

  I've lived and worked for years in Golden Hill in San Diego and there are several halfway houses in the area- they've been there for decades at this point- and I often see the residents going about their business and thought that each of them has a story to tell, also that telling their story might help them gain insight. 

1001 Novels A Library of America: New Hampshire

 1001 Novels: A Library of America:

 New Hampshire

1. Affliction (1989) by Russell Banks

2. Unlikely Animals (2022) by Annie Hartnett

3. Peyton Place (1956) by Grace Metalious

4. A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989) by John Irving

5.  The Dearly Departed (2001) by Elinor Lipman

6. Baby Love by (1980) Joyce Maynard

7. A Separate Peace (1959) by John Knowles

8.  Leah, New Hampshire:  The Collected Stories of Thomas Williams (1992) by Thomas Williams

9. Lake People (2013) by Abi Maxwell

10. Live Free Or Die (1990) by Ernest Hebert

11. Fortune's Rock (2001) by Anita Shreve 

12. Before and After (1992) by Rosellen Brown

13. Salem Falls (2001) by Jodi Picoult

   I've been to New Hampshire maybe 15-20 times at this point, always to the Seacoast/Portsmouth/Dover area, with one trip across the south of the state to Vermont.  That territory covers only 2 of the 13 books from New Hampshire in the 1001 Novels: A Library of America list.  The greatest number of books are in the central part of the state, surrounding Lake Winniepesaukee and its environs.  This is an area that resembles inland Maine, with summer recreation/tourism and winter depression/social disorder from drinking and general depression.  This is front and center in Affliction, The Dearly Departed, Leah, New Hampshire, Lake People and Before and After.  There is very little industrial activity in any of these books and all the characters, in all the books, are either dour locals or spritely out-of-towners. 

   Annie Hartnett is the only writer on the list who could be considered a young or emerging literary talent and she is only one of two writers representing New Hampshire who had their book published after 2001.    Nothing from the 19th century and nothing from before 1959 in the 20th century.

   New Hampshire is, based on the examples of these titles, a fairly dour, depressing place that people mostly want to escape.  Those who have not escaped have either never considered it or consider themselves bound to the region for reasons related to family ties. 

The Dearly Departed (2001) by Elinor Lipman

 1001 Novels: A Library of America

The Dearly Departed (2001) 

by Elinor Lipman

King George, New Hampshire (Rumney, New Hampshire)

New Hampshire: 13/13

    OK! Last New Hampshire book from the 1001 Novels: A Library of America project by Susan Straight.  Lipman has been publishing novels consistently since 1990.  Looking at her Amazon profile, she looks like a modest seller and she's never won an award.  She is consistently reviewed in the New York Times book review and unlike Jodi Picoult, she does seem to fit within the controversial parameters of "chick lit," and to fall within the time frame when that term was popular.  

  The Dearly Departed has some familiar elements:  A wayward would-be success returning home, tale between her (always her) proverbial legs as she learns lessons about life and love.  Here, the issue is the sudden death of her single mother at the hands of carbon monoxide poisoning.  She is found with her lover, his son turns out to be her brother, she goes on a date with the town cop.  Very low stakes fiction here, certainly not literature if Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult isn't literature. 

  Very glad to be finished with New Hampshire.