THE RIVER IS WAITING; THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS; NATIVE SPEAKER

I decided to put a different twist on Not My Cup of Tea this month.  Instead of choosing a book that just didn’t meet my expectations, I selected three really great books that were so disturbing to me that I’d only recommend them with caution.

First is The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb. The novel is a masterpiece, with the author’s signature well-developed storyline. However, the entire premise and 460 pages are gut-wrenching. The protagonist backs his car up one morning, running over and killing his infant son. He goes to prison and much of the book deals not only with his incredible guilt and sorrow, but the grim, harsh realities of prison life.  Definitely the stuff of which my nightmares are made.

Second is The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. The book opens with our 19-year-old protagonist about to jump off a bridge to end his life.  He backs down when an 80-year-old woman with dementia convinces him not to jump.  He becomes her caretaker and tries to create a living for himself with her and by working in the fast-food industry, while fighting his drug addiction. Vuong’s novel is beautifully composed and definitely gritty, but extremely grim and depressing to read.

Last is Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee.  Published in 1995, I picked this up on Ann Patchett’s recommendation. Again, an incredibly powerful read, but very painful and bleak. The story follows the protagonist, a Korean American, who works as a spy and is assigned to investigate another Korean American whose star is on the rise in politics. Not only does he struggle with his own identity and where he fits in the world, but ultimately must resolve his feelings about the part he played in bringing down the politician. Native Speaker is a gorgeous, but heart-rending read.  (Liz)