Catherine Coles
Coles Notes
Believe it or not, we are already over halfway through 2018. So far it has been a fantastic year for book releases. Though highly-anticipated releases from established authors such as Liane Moriarty, Louise Penny and Esi Edugyan remain on the horizon, 2018 has already produced enough great books to keep any reader busy for the rest of the year. According to me and my personal preferences, the following are the five “best” 2018 releases I’ve read…so far.
Calypso by David Sedaris
David Sedaris is the best and Calypso is the best of David Sedaris. Suffice it to say, I loved this book. These personal essays are SO funny, often weird, and even a bit melancholy here and there. If you appreciate a dark, offbeat sense of humor, read this and then run out and read everything else Sedaris has ever written – I’d suggest trying it in audio format!
The Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein
This is one fascinating book! It is the true story of Sandra Pankhurst, a trans woman who has seemingly lived through it all. Currently, she is a savvy businesswoman who runs a company specializing in “trauma cleaning”; that is, cleaning up after suicides, disasters, hoarding situations — all the stuff that no one else will touch.
Stories from the trauma cleaning business are interspersed with stories from Sandra’s life, including her childhood abuse, fraught past relationships, sex-reassignment surgery, her stint as a prostitute in the Australian Outback, her attempt to run for political office – it’s almost unbelievable how many experiences (mostly traumatic) she has packed into her 60-or-so years! Sandra also has a history of drug abuse — and has gaps in her memory as a result — so, interestingly enough, she’s not the most reliable source for her own life story. This is something which Krasnostein frequently notes. It’s just all very compelling — definitely worth a read!
Tin Man by Sarah Winman
Tin Man is a bittersweet little book that runs the gamut of human emotions. Starting in the 1960s, it follows the relationship between two boys, childhood friends turned lovers. Later, in the 1990s, they are no longer in touch but neither has ever quite moved on. That sums it up — it’s a simple story, beautifully written. It has a certain quality (ethereal, nostalgic, artsy) that is reminiscent of Call Me by Your Name.
Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
In the vein of Jojo Moyes, this novel has the potential to be a huge hit. It follows a woman, Sarah, who has a life-changing week with a man she believes could be the one…but then he seems to drop off the face of the planet.
No texts, no calls, no activity on social media. Did something terrible happen to him or was the connection all in Sarah’s head? I thought I had it all figured out, but was definitely outfoxed!
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
There are so many (read: too many!) modern retellings of Pride & Prejudice – but how about one with Muslim characters and that is set in Toronto? Ayesha at Last is a sweet summer read that tells a tried and true story, but with an interesting cultural twist. It’s such a page turner, but it also boasts a likeable heroine, lots of foodie descriptions, and plenty of Canadiana.
I think this will have a lot of YA-crossover appeal, but anyone interested in an adorable, chaste romance featuring characters who are not your run of the mill, will also enjoy this.
These five titles can be borrowed from your branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries. Reserve them at your local branch or online at www.countylibrary.ca.