The Books I Read in April
Here’s a brief, spoiler-free summary of the books I read in April and what I thought about them
I read three books in April: Kate Atkinson’s Started Early, Took my Dog; Fredrick Backman’s A Man Called Ove; and Mary H.K. Choi’s Emergency Contact.
Here’s a brief summary of what I thought about each of these books.
Kate Atkinson — Started Early, Took my Dog
This book is, nominally, a mystery story. It involves multiple perspectives, shifts in time, and several smaller plots woven into the larger one. However, I found that the main draw of this story wasn’t the suspense of uncovering its grand narrative, but spending time with the characters themselves and their individual motivations. Nearly all of them are well-written, which (in my opinion) makes up for a few deficiencies in the plot itself.
As a whole, I enjoyed reading Started Early, Took my Dog. I think it succeeds on the back of the writing and characters, nearly all of whom are relatable in some way. I don’t think this is a perfect book by any means, but it was well worth spending a few hours with and I look forward to reading more of Atkinson’s extensive catalog.
Fredrick Backman — A Man Called Ove
I’ve written before about Backman’s most famous work — Beartown — so it was enjoyable to read what is arguably his most popular book before he started writing about rural hockey clubs. This is the story of a lonely old man, one who struggles to find his place in the modern world, but still loves the people around him in his own, unique way. As the story progresses, readers learn more about his life, an interesting way to develop a character that we initially meet in old age.
Backman is one of the best writers I’ve ever read, and his work here is nothing short of incredible. Ove is at times heartbreaking, hilariously funny, and always both deeply interesting and moving. The prose flows quickly — it’s so easy to read that Backman’s skill in crafting moving words and phrases can almost go unnoticed. I could say a lot more about this book, but (in short) it’s a phenomenal read that I’d recommend to anyone.
Mary H.K. Choi — Emergency Contact
This book falls outside my normal wheelhouse: it’s a romance between a college freshman and a twenty-something, told largely through text message transcripts. These two people both go through severe emotional pain through the course of the novel, and they both gradually open up to each other as it progresses. Much like Ove, it’s at times heartbreaking and hilarious, though perhaps not quite to the extremes that Backman hits.
Ultimately, Emergency Contact succeeds because both of its central characters are so relatable. The writing — whether it’s text messages or more traditional prose — is also fantastic. Choi’s prose is quick and precise, and the pacing from beginning to end feels perfect. Whether you’re a fan of romance novels or just want to check out a good book, I highly recommend this one.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.
