I'm so happy!!
Because after quite some time, months even, I've finally been able to put a brand new book up on the top shelf of my bookcase.
It's my cheeky sense of humour that makes me refer to it as my top shelf, but the top shelf i'm referring to is the top shelf of my bookcase where I put all my favourite books - and has nothing, whatsoever, to do with the dodgy top shelf that I remember from the old newsagent days!
Anyway, these are the books that I cannot, ever, part with. Whose stories, and richness of characters, have kept me engrossed from the start.
Khaled Hosseini has two of his three books up there, along with my go to funny book, Shit My Dad Says, which I regularly buy for any of my friends that need cheering up. And then there's other beautifully told stories, like The Language of Flowers and Where The Crawdads Sing. More recently, I've added Shuggie Bain, but it definitely feels like there's been a hiatus of late...
There's been a few that have come close, and hit the next shelf down maybe - but none that have quite made the top shelf of beautifully crafted books with fully-engrossing characters and story.
Take the Christmas break for instance. Over my two week break between Christmas and New Year, I've read four books.
One by a well-known thriller writer, whose premise for her debut book was so clever that it was always going to be a ground breaker. Which probably makes it harder for her with every new book that comes along, because there will always be that comparison. So although her latest book was good, it didn't blow me away enough to make my top shelf. Then there was a book from an author who leans towards spirituality, which again was good, but didn't blow me away; and a third that was shortlisted for a prestigious book award and has been optioned by a production company - but honestly, for me, it didn't work! The premise needed to be explained and justified more, because as it was it just didn't make sense. So there was no 'tension' to the story, and I finally relented and gave up two thirds of the way through.
But then came book number four. Thick, weighty... and a pure joy to hold - and read!
Firekeeper's Daughter, which kept me rushing to pick it back up the minute I had a spare second to myself.
Even whilst cooking Christmas dinner, the second I had a break, all I wanted to do was sneak in one more chapter. Then, another and another and 'just one more'. I got to my boyfriend's house where I was staying for a few days, and pretty much announced the second I walked through the door that I needed to finish the last few chapters as I couldn't wait to find out the ending.
Which is when you know a book is really good.
When you don't want it to end, but when you have to keep reading it anyway - because you have to know what happens.
It's an amazing debut from Angeline Boulley, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians, whose aim was to create a character who claims her identity as an Ojibwe woman.
First of all, the premise is a strong one.
A young, 18-year-old girl, Daunis Fountaine... asked to investigate corruption within her own tribal community as part of an FBI investigation into Meth production and subsequent deaths linked to it. But by agreeing to help, it involves Daunis keeping secrets from her family, which for any teenager is hard, but even more so when you are part of a strong heritage like hers.
And if that isn't meaty enough, she ends up falling for Jamie, the handsome FBI investigator, posing as the newest member of her brother's hockey team.
I loved Daunis.
I loved how unique she was - strong, independent, but vulnerable all at the same time.
I loved the way she approached every gaping question with a cool, scientific head (a technique passed on to her by her recently deceased Uncle), whilst always remembering that behind each tragedy is a human life.
I loved the emotional battle between her and Jamie, as she fights to control her feelings for him.
I loved 'Auntie' - Daunis' strong, beautiful Auntie who reminds her every day of how important her heritage is to who she is as a person.
I loved the story behind her mum and dad, a doomed love affair from the start, with all its ramifications decades later, and the way Daunis protects and 'reads' the delicate emotions of her mum. Because, let's face it, as children it's all too easy to forget our parents have emotions, and lives before 'us'.
And, I loved the strength of the women of the tribe too - Auntie reminding Daunis before a date that her needs are at least equal - or of more importance - to that of any man she dates.
It felt like women, knowledge, and elders, were all there to be celebrated. Something I think as a Western society at least, we can all too easily forget.
But just as much as all of that, I loved Angeline's own story too.
How the idea for her novel came to her at high school, but how she didn't begin writing until she was 44 year old, and then took ten years to complete it - snatching any spare moment in time she could. Writing through her kid's hockey practice, work meetings, early morning writing sessions before work, and moments of intense pressure in her life, such as a move across country as well as a divorce.
But she made it!
At the age of 54.
Producing a beautiful debut that kept me gripped from the very second I started reading it, to the very second I stopped.
In the absence of any speech, or bright lights and red carpet, I have very quietly, welcomed her beautiful book onto the top shelf of my bookcase.
With absolute utter, pure delight!
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