Give the gift of Reading, 2025:
In 1863, in regard to the substance of his novels, Anthony Trollope made the following observation to George Eliot:
‘I have attempted to confine myself to the commonest details of commonplace life among the most ordinary people, allowing myself no incident that would be even remarkable in everyday life.’
In hewing to this principle, Trollope succeeds time and again in revealing the innermost depths of his memorable characters. Stewart O’Nan performs the same effortless magic in his latest novel, Evensong. The setting is the suburbs of Pittsburgh, where a group of older woman have formed an organization dedicated to serving the needs of elderly residents of their community who need transportation and assistance with other needs in order to remain in their own homes. The organization has named itself The Humpty Dumpty Club.
The combination of compassion, anxiety and determination are part and parcel of the doings of the Club’s members. And it is in the depiction of these individuals as they go about their self-imposed tasks that the author succeeds brilliantly.
It is probably already evident from what I’ve written here: I LOVED THIS BOOK! Read it, then give it to someone you know who loves great writing and great storytelling. They will thank you.
Books to the Ceiling