TOP TEN TUESDAY | HIDDEN GEMS

Every once in a while an avid reader is lucky enough to pick up a lesser-known book and be completely blown away. When that happens there’s always one question that we mull over at great length: why isn’t anyone talking about this brilliant book? Here are a few of the ones I’ve come across over the years that have stood out for their ability to fly under the radar.

Fiction:

          

I read Black Dove, White Raven a few years ago now, but it is one that has stuck with me. For a Young Adult book, it was remarkably well-written, and the historical research that must have gone into it was impressive. Elizabeth Wein has gotten a lot of attention for her books Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire, which I have yet to read, but this one seems to have largely gone without attention. I’ve no idea why.

Emily St. John Mandel is best known for her novel Station Eleven. Last Night In Montreal was her debut and amazingly accomplished. It’s truly a marriage of literary and mystery, but so seamless as to defy primary categorization as either. It has haunted me since reading it nearly a year ago, and I expect it will continue to do so.

Another Canadian book (Mandel is from my neck of the woods), If I Fall, If I Die did get some hype when it first came out, but doesn’t seem to be well known outside of Canada. It should be. I found it endearing, full of truth and capturing perfectly the complexity of love and family. It pulled on all my heart-strings and also impressed me with its balance of suspense and important social issues. Highly recommended.

     

I am completely flummoxed as to why Hearts and Minds has not won all the awards, and why it isn’t a favourite of book reviewers. It seems to me that Amanda Craig’s work has the poise, balance and depth that should land it on the desk of every avid reader of contemporary literary fiction… and yet, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I would like to re-read this book as its focus on immigration and the vulnerability of those who do so illegally, as well as how a city can swallow anonymous newcomers without a trace, seems to be sadly back at the forefront of global concern. I highly recommend this book, along with her newest novel, The Lie of the Land.

I can’t for the life of me remember how I came across The Red Notebook. But it’s perfect for those who are fans of the film Amelie and also avid book lovers. It’s charming, quaint, and an altogether enjoyable escape. Wonderful for a quick read on a day when the world is just a little too grey.

Non-Fiction:

          

Helene Hanff’s book of letters, 84, Charing Cross Road, has reached cult status. And yet, I rarely hear its sibling Q’s Legacy discussed. I love 84, but I love Q’s Legacy more. In it we get to hear Hanff’s full range and depth, and I loved learning how she came to love reading so much, where her tastes came from, and explore her life. If you enjoyed 84, Charing Cross Road, read this.

Shirley Jackson is better known for her horror (which I have absolutely not read as I’m a complete wuss when it comes to that sort of thing), but Life Among the Savages is absolutely brilliant. In it she discusses family life. What it’s like being a mother to young children, the sometimes farcical nature of managing a household, and the frustrations and uncertainties that plague any conscientious parent. It’s hilarious, poignant and very relatable to any mom.

I love books about books and reading. Ex Libris stood out as being particularly insightful, both in terms of its author’s own reading life, and the foibles that accompany any avid reader (obsessions with odd corners of literary interest, such as Arctic exploration, for example). I loved it and saw so much of myself in its pages.

     

I love travel memoirs, and Along the Inca Road is one of my favourites. Admittedly it’s been a long time since I’ve read it, and it is rather fuzzy in memory, but I do remember being completely lost between its pages and not wanting to put it down to do anything else. I’ve never found a single other person who’s read it, outside of the one who gifted it to me, so if you have I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

Newjack is a brilliant piece of journalism. Conover, barred from interviewing prison guards and inmates, went all in and became a guard at Sing Sing, one of America’s most notorious prisons. is time as a guard allowed him free access to both guards and inmates, as well as a view into how the prison was run and the issues that are inherent in a for-profit prison-industrial system. He talks of the high rate of mental illness within prisons, of race, of poverty, of entire families who reunite behind bars, of recidivism and of the physical and mental strains of both living and working within a prison. He talks of the horrid conditions prisoners are kept in, of the social structure and complex rituals that must be navigated to survive. He talks of the toll it takes on guards and their families. It’s brilliant for anyone interested in prisons and the legal system, but also for anyone who admires high stakes journalism and irresistibly engaging writing.

That’s it for this week! I’d love to hear from anyone who has read any of these books, and also which books top your list of hidden gems!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.