Susan’s Book Talk: Mister Pip

I’ve mentioned before that I run my book club. It’s not always easy, especially since Holocaust literature and memoirs are so hot right now (visit my friends Anna and Serena, who are hosting a WWII reading challenge, if this is your sort of thing. Or go right to the challenge’s home page).

One of the neatest things about my book club is that I have a few women who are on our e-mail list simply to keep abreast of what we’re reading. They make suggestions for books from time to time and every now and then, the weather and their lives permitting, they’ll drop in on a meeting. They’re important and vital to the group, even though they aren’t always in attendance.

If you think I’m being diplomatic here, let me tell you this story. It’s a good one.

I ran into one of these e-mail members a few months back. She handed me a small book that she’d bought. She said she didn’t want it back, but she wanted to give it to me because it made her think of me.

Now that I’ve read it, I’m still not sure why.

The book in question is called Mister Pip. It was written by Lloyd Jones, who I’d never heard of before this, but who apparently has a long resume of books and accolades. This, I can understand.

It took me awhile to pick it up, and once I did, it wasn’t immediate love. In fact, I almost gave up on it. I’m glad I didn’t.

This was a touching book. It was also complex, layered, and skillfully written. I loved the character of Matilda and I loved Mr. Watts. I didn’t love Matilda’s mom so much, but I love the way she was constructed: wise, complex, petty, angry, giving — and more.

The story is interesting: we’re on an unnamed island near New Zealand. The island has been shattered by rebels and fighting; most people — including Matilda’s father — have fled. The women and children who remain do their best to live, and they largely succeed. When the island’s only white man is asked to give the children some schooling, in an attempt to give their lives something normal, Mr. Watts opens their eyes to the wonderful world of Dickens.

Maybe my friend thought of me because of the Dickens connection. After all, she views me as a literary person. I doubt she knows that I’ve never actually finished the one Dickens novel I tried to read, back in elementary school…

Like I said, I don’t know. Maybe she was simply smart enough to recognize a true hidden gem of a book.

I’m glad she did. You guys know how I love hidden treasures like this one turned out to be. I’m deliberately not saying a lot more about the plot; it’s best read for yourself.

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Want to see some other stuff I’ve read? Head on over to Front Street Reviews and check out my thoughts on Bahama Burnout, the new Mick Sever novel from Don Bruns, and my strong response to Dark Side of the Morgue, the newest Spike Berenger mystery from Raymond Benson.