Literary Scene: Three New Novels from Well-Known Writers

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | November 2021

Silverview

(Viking, October 2021)
by John Le Carré

Though we lost the great writer John Le Carré this past December, he left his children with a couple of final manuscripts. Silverview is the last full-length novel, and it was published in October during the week of what would’ve been Le Carré’s 90th birthday. 

The story is compelling. Julian Lawndsley has left his London banking job and now runs a bookshop in a small seaside town in eastern England. Julian bumps into an eccentric customer multiple times and comes to learn that this man—Edward Avon—had been recruited into the Service. But something feels off. Julian decides to dig deeper and, of course, finds layer after layer of mystery and intrigue that’s right in line with Le Carré’s best stories over his long, heralded career. 

Le Carré knew this was the end of his writing life, so it’s no surprise that he’s making more social commentary here than we find in his earlier books. But it’s not heavy handed or poorly done. Le Carré was a master writer, and this story will be sure to please his fans or earn him some new ones who will find a treasure trove of past work to explore.

Ryan’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5
www.johnlecarre.com

Crossroads

(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, October 2021)
by Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen’s sixth novel, Crossroads, tells the story of the Hildebrandt family. Set in 1971 in the fictional Chicago suburb of New Prospect, this book introduces us to Russ Hildebrandt, an associate pastor whose marriage is in deep trouble. But his wife and three adult children have their own problems, too, and like him, are seeking their own changes as well (thus the title, which just so happens to also be the name of the church’s youth group). 

One thing is clear—this family has many long-standing issues, and even more secrets. Add that to the Vietnam War and hippie movement raging around them, and you’ve got more than enough to fuel an ambitious family drama.

A word of warning—the book is a whopping 600 pages. Yet don’t let that deter you. Even though Franzen has quite a few digressions and even gives minor characters their moment in the sun, the story moves well and has plenty of warm, funny moments despite being populated by so many utterly flawed, hurt people. 

The second half of the story, titled “Easter,” leaves the setting of the suburbs and reveals Russ’ boyhood story. While you might end up disliking Russ, we really get to see how Russ became the fallen figure he is at the start of this story.

Franzen is always interested in the theater of the domestic, and Crossroads clearly explores the theme of religion.Russ is a pastor, after all. And two of the key scenes in the book—a man washing his enemy’s feet, and a vision within a chapel—have unmistakable religious overtones. 

Readers who enjoy spending time with the Hildebrandts with be pleased to know that Franzen plans to create two more books that feature the family in subsequent decades. In sum, though, Crossroads is a fine start to what promises to be a noteworthy domestic trilogy.

Ryan’s Rating: 4.25 out of 5
www.jonathanfranzen.com

A Carnival of Snackery

(Little, Brown and Company, October 2021)
by David Sedaris

There’s no doubt about it—David Sedaris is both a first-rate writer and top-level humorist. While A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries (2003-2020) purports to be diary entries, the writing doesn’t have the feel of a diary entry. Diaries have a private, intimate texture that largely comes from them not being written for public consumption. These entries read like things you’d hear in one of Sedaris’ live shows. But let’s be clear—it’s highly entertaining and readable.

What becomes evident from the start is the strange life that David Sedaris lives. He zings around the world like a rock star—from the US to Dubai to Tokyo and elsewhere. And he still continues his odd habit of walking around, picking up trash by hand (the local Horsham County Council even named a garbage truck after him, calling it Pig Pen Sedaris).

Sedaris covers the type of topics you’d imagine—spitting in the street, the weirdness of language, people fighting in the streets, and dirty jokes told at book signings. If you liked the first volume of his diaries, this one will please as well, and prove a bit more revealing in terms of Sedaris the person, who seems like exactly the sort of person you’d want to have over for every single dinner party.

Ryan’s Rating: 4 out of 5
www.davidsedarisbooks.com