Rick Simonson

Seconding Charlotte (somewhat)
September 19, 2007

Sometime back when it was warm - August? - PW's own estimable Charlotte Abbott did one of those galley/advance reader's copy 'previews' she is prone to: this for the upcoming fall trade shows, with a focus on forthcoming titles for the winter months. This is always exciting (what titles by old familiars and new voices will there be?) and confusing (wait, when are these coming?).

The fall tradeshow season is now suddenly very upon us, meaning, in the Pacific Northwest this very moment. One who should be over Lake Washington and at PNBA right now, is still in Seattle, sorting socks, and dinking around on the computer. Needless to say, part of being there will be to look over, talk about, and selectively pick up some of these titles. A few that are due to be around in varying degrees have already their way into our hands.

While there are many books yet from the fall to be read (and this past summer, and spring ...), one particular novel has been read by these eyes and is highly recommended. I don't think it was on Charlotte's list - which had plenty of things I will be trolling for. Cindy Heidemann, our stalwart PGW rep started this, droppng off a bright orange galley of a forthcoming Grove novel, Swiss author/philosopher Pascal  Mercier's Night Train to Lisbon. Cindy is committed, passionate, and always has a sharp eye out for distinctive books - when she is especially keen on something, one pays heed. Then, talking with another colleague whose opinions I highly value mentioned hearing about this title some years ago from a German friend (its original language) - who raved on, especially knowing this person's reading inclinations and commendable taste. Now this person was excited, not being able to read German and not having tracked it down in other languages that might have been read, that here it was in English.

Due in January, the Grove Atlantic catalog says, this is a book of great intrigue on several fronts, this to say without giiving anything away. But sudden, impulsive midlife impulses, night journeys, train journeys, the reading of books, the attempt to decipher and discern life and life's meanings through those books, albeit via metaphor and richness of story (no didactic 1-2-3 presto story), and then some great intrigue as the central character starts unearthing a man's life story, starting with a book, then his finding people who were variously near and dear in his life. History, mystery, Portugal in the grip of dictatorship, betrayals and liasions -- all are woven through by the author in seamless, compelling fashion. More on this in time.

And enough of this for now ... the socks are figured out. It's day job time. Now, over the lake and to PNBA, which for the first time in fourteen years, is in Bellevue/Seattle. More than a few of us feel we're supposed to do some seasonal salmon-like migration and head for the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers (aka Portland) - which is finally getting a trade show break after last year's fall PNBA show, the Winter Institute, and this past spring's last (they say) spring show. We'll see ...

Posted by Rick Simonson on September 19, 2007 | Comments (0)