I was a little disappointed in Trapeze. Maybe I should hold off judgment and just read the sequel, since the ending is what I had a problem with, and the reviews for that are better. While I enjoy Mawer’s writing, I thought the main character, Marian, was a little flat and I found myself asking what Mawer was getting at with some of her decisions. Considering that Mawer wrote one of my favorite books ever (The Fall), I may be holding him to a ridiculously high standard.
Moving on to shelf #25!
Arthur Miller. I had him up on a pedestal until I learned more about his personal life and how he treated his son Daniel. I used to teach The Crucible, and I used Miller as an example to discuss the idea of separating the art from the artist, which I have a hard time doing. When I find out an author has done reprehensible things or made dehumanizing comments, I’m unable to put that out of mind as I’m reading, and I’ll often remove the books from my shelves so I’m not forced to think about how disappointed and/or angry I am. I’m faced with this again since one of my favorite authors has been accused of sexual assault. I take comfort in that there are so many other authors out there, and if I have to move on, I have options. It’s a lot to process.
That said, I’ll probably read The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe or something by Toni Morrison, even though that will put me closer to reading everything she’s written.
Books I’ve read:
- Arthur Miller After the Fall
- Arthur Miller All My Sons
- Arthur Miller The Crucible
- Arthur Miller Death of a Salesman
- Arthur Miller On Politics and the Art of Acting
- Sue Miller Inventing the Abbots and Other Stories
- Sue Miller The Distinguished Guest
- Sue Miller For Love
- Sue Miller While I Was Gone
- Dantiel W. Moniz Milk Blood Heat
- Toni Morrison Beloved
- Toni Morrison The Bluest Eye
- Toni Morrison A Mercy
- Toni Morrison Song of Solomon
- Toni Morrison Tar Baby
- Toni Morrison The Source of Self-Regard