Review of the Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé

Title: The Library Thief

Author: Kuchenga Shenjé

Publication date: 2024

Format: Paperback, 392 pages

This review is hard for me. I picked this book up on holiday, and I'm really glad I did because I enjoyed reading it. However, though I genuinely like the book, I don't love it. This impacted my ability to write a more detailed review. But still, I chipped away at it, and here it is.

I'm not familiar with gothic genre literature, but I have read plenty of historical romance, where there are tons of black and mixed race characters, but their experiences are not explored, just used as part of the setting, and the setting itself is taken as a given, a history that everyone is assumed to know. The Library Thief takes a stereotypical trope of a young woman going to an isolated country home with a dangerous secret, and refreshes it by giving the characters more context from history. The back cover blurb starts with "Some secrets are too scandalous to conceal" and that applies to the multiple secrets in the story, but also the secrets that have fallen out or been excluded from conventional history.

It's clear from the start that you can't take things at face value. The mansion's first impression is "a grand house, the likes of which I had only really seen on biscuit tins in the windows of Manchester's new department stores" but after the heroine enters just a page later: "the door chuffed itself closed behind us with a low groan... It gave the sense of being sealed into the house somehow- not being able to see where one could escape." All the characters have secrets, and part of the enjoyment in reading is just finding out these secrets. 

What I loved

The book has a very specific setting- Lancashire, 1896, with trips to Liverpool. I've been on those train lines! Okay, part of why I liked the setting is just because of where I live, but I did think it was well described. Also, for years I have been trying to write a fantasy novel with a similar setting, so seeing it done so well is really useful for me.

Florence is a wonderful imperfect heroine. The story is from her perspective, and Shenjé presents her personality so well. She's smart and independent, and also ignorant and vulnerable; a mix of traits that makes the character feel like a real person. Her curiosity, not just about the central mystery but also about everything in her world, is endearing. Seeing her deal with the things around her, I built up a lot of love for the character. 

What I didn't get

While reading, I really wanted some sort of conventionally happy ending, like a romance would deliver. Perhaps that is a crucial difference between gothic and romance. The ending did really make me think about why I wanted that sort of happy ending, and how the less sappy ending could be seen as the happy one, the one the characters would see as better for them than a conventional happy ending. Certainly if Shenjé follows up with a sequel, following Florence's experiences in Jamaica, I would be totally down for it, no matter what genre or ending.

There is a point where a character just explains all the background mystery, and it feels like an exposition dump. I think it fits with the "some secrets are too scandalous to conceal" theme, but it felt a bit dry, or anti-climatic, when the mystery of Lady Penelope's death was explained. Perhaps it was just the register that character had.

Would I recommend

Yes. I really liked how Shenjé took a different perspective on the genre and made something fresh, but still within the genre. In the author's note, Shenjé clearly states that her novel "is intended to be an antidote to the intentional erasure of the Victorian colonial project." Fiction with historical settings does not have to perpetuate racism and homophobia. The Library Thief is not a preachy book. Even if you have no interest in exploring decolonizing ideas, this book is still going to be a good read. It shows, rather than tells, how genre fiction can broaden its perspective on the past, and still remain readable, engaging, and within the genres that so many readers love. And it is a real page turner, great for a holiday read.

I helped with the Herds

 ...in a very small way: I joined in two volunteer sessions making some of the puppets for the Herds. It was conveniently close and fun to do. I'm sceptical of the project making a difference to fighting climate change, but hopeful as well. And the puppets are so cool. Their eyes are especially good.

Not a review of We Do Not Part by Han Kang translated by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris

 I had read the KLN special features when Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature, but this is the first of her books that I've read. We love the Jeju island trope in K Dramas, and reading its history I had come across the 4.3 Massacre. So when P mentioned that this book was about that, it was obvious that this would be the one I would check out.

The writing, description and pacing, are so good- I loved it from the first two pages. It isn't historical fiction, the setting is present day Korea (2021 is when it was published). It has a ghost story vibe- like a haunting of the entire island, the nation, the world. Too much for me to unpack.

One small point I especially loved, is that the characters gain understanding about each other, but also remain mysterious to each other and to the reader. There's a Korean saying: “We may know the depths of the deepest waters, but not of the shallowest person.” (“열 길 물속은 알아도 한 길 사람 속은 모른다.” I think? Or that could be a cut and paste mistake) I felt like the books says that's true, but still it is possible to know each other a bit more, it's still worthwhile to understand each other a bit more.

I totally recommend this book. Totally. Read it in English, Korean and/or French. Even though I can only read English, this story would be worth reading in any language.

Not a review of Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino translated by William Weaver

 This is another classic that is highly regarded by many fantasy writers, which is how I found out about it, but Calvino's work would probably be shelved with world literature rather than fantasy. Invisible Cities isn't really a novel so much as a series of imaginative vignettes loosely strung together, each describing a city. (I like how that phrase could mean many different cities, one per description, or one city described many different ways.) It feels like a literary exercise, or game. But I never figured out how the game is played. Still, the text has a lot to delight in, like: "hanging canals whose cascades move the paddles of mills" (Cities and Signs 5); or "confess what you are smuggling: moods, states of grace, elegies" (end of chapter 6).

But, I'm bothered by how the cities are all named with women's names. It made me wonder if there was a draft where Casanova was the narrator rather than Marco Polo. But then one city is called Hypatia, not that I could connect that vignette to what I know of Hypatia (which isn't much, to be honest). Other names were more common, but I don't know if those names are linked with specific women in Italian culture, or Parisian culture. Again, I feel like I just didn't understand what Calvino was doing. The book would read differently if the cities were Tom, Dick and Harry, or Mnrrjy, Uswrcn , and Jtszgx; so why did Calvino chose women's names? 

I might try another of Calvino's books in translation, and that might lead me back to Invisible Cities. But at the moment, I just don't love it enough to study it.

Went to Brighton

It was nice. Liked the beach. Liked the fudge. But I still don't like to travel.

Review of Eternal Summer: a novel by Franziska Gänsler, translated by Imogen Taylor

Title: Eternal Summer (original title in German: Ewig Sommer)

Author: Franziska Gänsler

Translator (from German to English): Imogen Taylor

Date of publication (in English): 2025

Format: paperback, 162 pages

Subjects: LCGFT: Climate fiction; also, though the book doesn't have it in the subjects listing, its main character is navigating the world as a lesbian, so I would call it queer fiction (but I don't really know how these classifications work)

From the back cover: "When Iris took over the family hotel from her grandfather, Bad Heim was still a popular spa town. But now fierce forest fires rage in the area, spewing smoke into the air. The summers are dry and hot and never seem to end. Guests have become a rare sight. But suddenly, a young mother shows up with her small daughter as asks for a room. Something doesn't seem right about her. Does she need help? Or does she pose a threat?"

 This is not a fun read, it is all a bit grim. To me, it felt like an exploration of helplessness, maybe not quite hopelessness. But absolutely gripping. Rather than classifying this book as a tragedy, I dug out my copy of the Understory, which starts with a snippet from the Rasavahini about the flavours of literature. I'm only going from that snippet, but I thought of classifiying it as karuņa: the taste of which is pity and compassion.

What I loved:

The characters! So believably human. All the characters are struggling, all of them make mistakes. I feel like I could easily be like the grandfather and list out each bad decision that leads to each worsening of the situation. But Gänsler (and Taylor) present the characters as so human, so that it is even easier to empathise with them, so I feel like crying rather than condemning. And the book also presents the condemnation as useless; though it doesn't present compassion as especially useful, it is definitely the better option.

The text draws comparisons between Iris's childhood memories and the situation of the mother and daughter who arrive at her hotel. Gänsler researched abuse and how it affects people, and does a very good job presenting it in the story. The text links Iris's mom's experience and the way Iris thinks and behaves. 

The characters cover a wide age group, from child to elderly, and they are all individuals rather than generic representatives of their age group. They have interactions with each other, not just with the main character, so it feels like a full community, faced with issues that effect everyone, not simply to do with people of working age, youth, elderly or whatever slice of humanity you care to make. 

What I didn't get:

There's quite a bit of what I would label as poor parenting, or poor pseudo-parenting. I'm not a parent myself, but even I felt shocked by some of it. Was it just to move the plot along? It did make me think of how parents are pressured to raise their children perfectly, as if that will make up for the rest of society not caring about their kids. If it takes a village to raise a child, what happens when the village isn't a safe place for children? This isn't the sort of book that offers answers (easy or otherwise), but I feel challenged by it, like I should be considering this topic.

The name 'Iris' is used in the original German text. I read it with its English pronunciation, and think of it as an old fashioned name, but it seems to be gaining in popularity in Europe (the story is set in the near future, its seasonal fires starting already). I'm wondering about the symbology of the name. In Europe, the name is traced to the messenger goddess of the ancient Greek pantheon and is associated with rainbows (I found that on wikipedia- I think ancient myths are interesting but I didn't have that bit in my background knowledge). However, Iris flowers are used in summer ikebana, evoking cool river banks. The inn has a Japanese style garden, built by the grandfather because Iris's mom loved all things Japanese. I don't think this is intentionally in the book, but it does feel like the story might be full of allusions or deeper meanings seeping in. I do wonder what I have missed, or what I have understood without realising. 

Would I recommend:

Maybe. Eternal Summer is an example of "cli-fi" which is a term I feel I should know, but that felt new to me when I saw it it the review on the Asymptote blog. I am very scared and depressed by the climate catastrophe, to the point where it keeps me up at night. I try to do my bit, to live lightly, but I don't think individual action is enough, and elected politicians don't seem to care about the issue. I've seen criticism of "cli-fi" for encouraging a feeling of hopelessness rather than motivating people to make positive changes (but I haven't looked deeply into why that is- evidently you should encourage climate actions as accomplishable). I desperately want people to be motivated to fight climate change.

Also, so much smoking and drinking! Not a good public health message! I was sort of surprised by how much this bothered me.

I do recommend it to anyone wanting to read more literary works, or works translated into English. The writing is easy to understand. Gänsler said she imagines a story as if she was watching a film, and then describes it, and Taylor said Gänsler writes beautifully clearly, so understanding the text isn't challenging. The plot is presented much like a thriller or mystery, so that is easy to follow. Though the setting is definitely in Germany, the book doesn't require any specific geographical knowledge beyond knowing it is an area with four seasons. Maybe because of these easy to understand elements, the subtle character building really shines. The text follows how Iris sees things, and her take on the other characters develops how you see both them and her. Taylor said the novel keeps everything subtle, and doesn't judge. It does feel like it builds compassion for people.

Also, though the book doesn't end with a happily ever after, I felt like Iris is in a slightly better position mentally, as if she understands herself better, that she's able to feel emotions rather than seeking a numbing safety. There's hints that she can still connect to Dori, hints that she may be able to reconnect with Paula, and we know Baby will never give up on her. So, at the end, things are grim, but not quite hopeless.

Even though I loved this book, for me it isn't a keeper. I'm hoping Gänsler's next book is translated into English so I can get a copy of that, but this one is going onto my 'to donate' pile. I really hope someone else picks it up and enjoys it.

Vague ideas about what I'm doing here

 I'm easily influenced, and I'm not a finisher/completer personality. Reading several book blogs led to me thinking I'd like to try that, sharing my love of reading. But, why? It's hard to write, even about things I love. And I have no expertise in analysing or reviewing literature. And no hope of developing that sort of expertise. I'm also reluctant to try becoming a book blogger, because I read slowly and my reading comprehension can be hit and miss. I'm also reluctant to praise an author, in case they are a bad person, or have hater tendencies. 

On the other hand, I do want to get better at writing, a skill widely acknowledged to improve with practice. Writing blog posts, no matter the topic, would exercise my writing skills. And despite not being a successful blogger, I'm reluctant to abandon this blog completely. Is it a waste of my time and the world's resources? I don't know.

In my first blog post, I said I wanted to be more productive, and to keep track of my craft projects. These days, I don't really want to do that. My love of crafting has waned- maybe it will wax again, and I'm still making things, but I just don't have any passion for it, no passion to share. Also, since I'm not regularly commuting, I don't have that regular time to fill. Being more productive, making more things, also conflicts with my goal of not hoarding. When I think of something to make, my hoarding nature wants to keep hold of the tools and materials to make it, or even something like it, which isn't good for me, isn't helping me be happy.

I've had some ideas about what to do with my blog, but, just maybe, what I really want to explore is what helps me be happy. Not sure exactly how to do that. Feel like it isn't the success = more money concept, but it might not be posting only about positive things. It feels counter-intuitive to blog this, but I also think sharing might not be a source of happiness- it makes me feel like I'm competing for attention. What would I want to do and share with absolutely no one?