The Last Dickens

Title: The Last Dickens
Author: Mathew Pearl
Publisher: Random House


Title: 魔术王事件
Author: 二階堂黎人
Publisher: 小知堂

This a curious case. Two novels - one in English, the other in Japanese. Two writersacross the seas.

But one idea on their mind - the last Charles Dickens novel - The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Both publish around the same time.

Is this what is known as serendipity?

Winner of the National Book Award

Title: Winner of the Naional Book Award
Author: Jincy Willett
Publisher: Picador

Frankly, I ain't too excited by this book. But I love the gems of wisdom that speak personal truth to me, since the main protagonist exhibits traits that I share to some extent. Especially when it comes to what reading meant to her :

"Reading was not an escape for me. It was an aspect of direct experience...in no way a refuge from it (the real world) or a refuge from it. Anymore than sleeping is a subsitute for waking..."

It is as its subtitle suggests: a novel of fame, honor, and really bad weather. So this is recommended for anyone seeking the first two and trying to avoid the third.