We got back last night after spending a few days in Atlanta, where we had a good visit with the family. I didn’t do too much – celebrated my niece’s birthday, did a bit of shopping, paid a visit to Atlanta’s landmark drive-in restaurant, The Varsity – so I got quite a bit of R&R (Reading and Relaxing) time in. Of course, I had more books than I ended up needing, but it’s always good to feel I have a bit of choice while I’m away from my bookshelves.

On the ride down, I finished reading Hidden Latitudes, the story of a couple who moor their damaged sailboat in the lagoon of a remote Pacific island that just happens to be where Amelia Earhart has been living for the past forty-odd years. The book alternates between the perspectives of the husband, Robin, and his wife, Lucy and the mysterious woman occupying the island (although never explicity named, and the author engimatically notes in the afterword that this character isn’t necessarily Earhart, it’s pretty obvious that’s who she is). Dealing with the nature of self and our connections to others, the story is at its most eloquent and haunting when the author is writing about the island (a living character in itself) and from Amelia’s perspective. Makes me want to grab I Was Amelia Earhart off my ‘to read’ shelf and see how it compares.

It didn’t take long to read Persepolis, but it was very interesting, funny and sad. I instantly loved the little girl, Marji, with her spunky personality. I really don’t know too much about Iran, particularly this time period, and so the book served as educational material for me. Like Afghanistan in The Kite Runner, it’s hard to believe the country was not always in such an uproar, that there was a time when people, particularly women, were living ‘normal’ lives. Now I’m keen to read the sequel.

I really enjoyed Eva Moves the Furniture, so much so that I was tempted to start re-reading it the moment I turned the last page. The cover, while quite appealing and in fact what first drew me to the book, has little to do with the book’s plot or setting, but evokes the somewhat dreamy quality of the book itself. It takes place in the time leading up to, during, and after World War II, in Scotland. Eva has been raised by her father and aunt but secretly has two ghostly ‘companions’ – a woman and young girl – who periodically appear throughout her life, interceding when they see fit, sometimes contrary to Eva’s wishes. Who these ghosts are, and Eva’s coming-to-terms with what makes her different, form the crux of this novel. Although I was left with some questions, I would highly recommend this book and it’s definitely led me to consider reading other books by this author.

Maus I and II were as horrific and impactful as I expected them to be. Spiegelman recounts the memories of his father, a Polish Jew, in the months leading up to the war, his imprisonment in Auschwitz, and eventual freedom. Jews were portrayed as mice, Nazis (and other Germans) as cats, the Polish as pigs (apparently some controversy in that), Americans as dogs, etc. It helped with the flow of the graphic element, as you could see at a glance who a character was without there having to be any overly long textual explanations or narrative. And in a strange way, having the people depicted in that manner, so different from other Holocaust books and films, brought an even greater sense of the horror of this time. If I had to pick one thing I took away from reading this memoir, it would be survival. What people did, how they managed to outwit and survive the Nazi regime, just astounds me. I can’t imagine being that resourceful or determined – but then, I can’t imagine a lot about that time. I’m just thankful I didn’t have to live it.

I started reading Anne Tyler’s A Patchwork Planet (a last minute grab on the way out the door last week) but only got about a third of the way through on the drive home. So far, it’s good – but not great – and I will probably finish it soon.

Oh, and on the way home, we stopped off at one of those outlet malls so I could check out the bookstore, one of those places that sells remaindered books. Well, they were closing the store and were having an inventory clearance sale. I managed to find a few that were on my wishlist, and more besides. My takings included Unravelling, Jenny and the Jaws of Life, In the Gloaming, Saints and Strangers, Sleep, Pale Sister and The Means of Escape. A gratifying end to a great weekend!