November’s Featured Author
It’s high time I introduced this month’s featured author. Unfortunately, there’s not much in English about her on the web so I have no links for you other than the reading group guide linked below.
I discovered Marianne Fredricksson by accident at Half-Price Books in the clearance section. Finding unexpected treasures like this is hands down the best thing about having a self-imposed limit of not more than $2 for any book not research related (for homeschooling). Anyway, the cover of Simon’s Family is unbelievably cheesy (check out the link) but I got it because the subtitle was “a novel of mother’s and sons” and also because Simon is the #1 name on my boy’s list. (Brett has a different #1 but I’m working on him.) For a buck, I figured it was worth the risk. I never would have bought it had I seen it full-price because sometimes with a cover this godawful, it’s hard to remember the old adage about not judging a book by it.
Well, clearly this book was meant to drop into my hands because not only is it about mothers and sons, it’s also about adoption and Judaism and it was thought-provoking, moving, and an absolutely great read. I’ve since read one of her other novels and am on a hunt for the third one translated into English (interlibrary loan won’t do it; I must own it). Her style reminds me of an impressive art house chick flicks such as Antonia’s Line only in book form and less silly. And she also reminds me a little of Milan Kundera.
Well, I can’t speak to the author or the book, but I can tell you the name Simon is wonderful! If you do use Simon, you will be amazed at how many people tell you, “Oh, I love that name!” But not that many kids actually have the name (here in the US, at any rate). So he’ll probably be the only Simon is his class…
You’ve just reminded me that I lent my copy of Simon’s Family to someone months ago and it’s never been returned. I have no idea who has got it either. Oh I hate that.
I loved Hanna’s Daughters too, it’s a great book!