Book Corner: Craving Lightness
There’s something about a good, heavy, thought-provoking read. You know the ones. They’re well-written. You have to google words as you go because the authors are that prolific. They put words to stories far different from your own, giving you a window into another aspect of the human experience. Or, sometimes, they put words to aspects of your story you had never before conceptualized. You find yourself in the pages, and you feel less alone as you turn each one.
But there’s also something about a light read. One that doesn’t rob your emotional capacity, or doesn’t feel too heavy to read before bed, but still manages to hit those meaningful themes with tenderness and care. One that makes you laugh, whether through the dialogue or the character quirks. I think it might actually be a more literary feat to write a light read that still manages to be complex and, this year, I’ve been on a hunt for books that get this balance just right.
Here are a handful of my favourite light-but-not-fluffy reads I’ve devoured this year. Happy reading!
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
For those who want a murder mystery but with laughter.
Vera Wong is a lonely tea-shop owner. Her days are typical: she does tai-chi, she snoops online, she makes tea for her one solitary customer, and she texts her son unwarranted feedback about dating and other various life choices. This changes when, one day, a dead body is found in her shop. The police rule out foul play, but Vera isn’t so sure. She takes it upon herself to solve what she believes to be a murder, and takes the reader on a delightful journey along the way. Sutanto does an excellent job of writing a flawed character with outrageous quirks that you can’t help but love.
This may be a story about murder, but it is also a story about loneliness, friendship, and growth.
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
For those who want a feminine James Bond meets old age meets adventure story.
Imagine this: you’ve been part of a secret assassination organization for the majority of your life. After decades of adventurous and dangerous missions, you are entering retirement alongside three friends and coworkers. The four of you have been gifted an all-expenses paid cruise by the organization to celebrate your years of service, the least they can do, really. It doesn’t take you long to realize, though, you’re the the next assassination on their books. Filled with adventure, mystery, and intrigue, and seasoned with humour, Killers of a Certain Age is an enjoyable read.
This may be a story about assassins, but it is also a story about friendship, loss, life transitions, and womanhood.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
For those who want a story about grief and the unexpected.
A.J. Fikry is a bookseller. He is becoming a bit of a grumpy one, to be honest. Things have grown increasingly lacklustre since the death of his pregnant wife, his steadily decreasing book sales, and his recently stolen rare collection of Edgar Allan Poe poetry. Things change, however, when a package is left abandoned in his shop. At first, A.J. isn’t so sure of it. However, over time, this package seems to revive him. What was lacklustre starts to glow again. Zevin tackles topics like grief, loss, and abandonment with character quirks that lighten the story in delightful ways.
This may be a story about loss, but it is also a story about life and choosing to love again.
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
For those who want a story about intergenerational friendship.
Iona Iverson takes the tube, daily. As do Piers, and Martha, and Emmie, and Sanjay, and Jake, and David. They have watched each other in the way you watch the people you encounter regularly but do not know - with vague interest, and plenty of judgments about who these people are. Everything changes when Piers chokes in transit, and these seven characters become intertwined in ways they never expected. Pooley does an amazing job layering each character with complexity, slowly showing the reader why they are the way they are. The book tackles themes of ageism, homophobia, divorce, emotional abuse, and revenge porn, all with a dose of humour and quirkiness that makes you fall in love with characters you thought you hated.
This may be a story about public transit, but it is also a story about the healing power of friendship.