The Apartment - Greg Baxter

The Apartment

is a quiet, graceful novel, that draws one in. This is Greg Baxter's debut novel and it is a strong showing. I normally don't enjoy stories that are built around the events of one day. But through substantive looks into the past, and reflections on the meaning of it, this one worked well. An unnamed 40ish American veteran spends a day looking for an apartment in an unnamed European city. He is helped by a local woman who he has befriended. Their short relationship is somehow trusting, with clear boundaries, & yet gently evolving. The real story, however, is the slow revelation of the man's life, which is woven into the events of this day. We learn of his parents & childhood, as well as his many years on submarines and then tours in Iraq with the Navy, and also as a contractor. This history is imparted briefly and unobtrusively. The man reflects on the meaning of these years and seems to aspire to a simpler life in which he can be more honest with himself. Baxter also webs in discussions of playing the violin, the development of perspective in painting, playing billiards, and Mozart vs. Bach. Somehow these conversations fit seamlessly into the story. Baxter's writing is spare and elegant, and I found myself gripped by the prose as if this were a mystery or thriller. It certainly is not a thriller. But, Baxter perhaps deals with the mysteries of how we define ourselves and live with ourselves. I look forward to his next novel.

 

Burning Down George Orwell's House - Andrew Ervin

Burning Down George Orwell’s House is a novel of big ideas and lots of fun. This seems to be a rare combination today. Many current novels are either painfully self-conscious, or romps of destructive characters careening through life. So, hats off to Andrew Ervin who has created a well balanced read in his debut hovel. Ray Welter, a young advertising exec, burns out with pangs of guilt over his successful campaign that effectively used social media. A George Orwell fan, Ray connects the dots and believes that the current intrusive iteration of social media has placed us squarely in 1984. With his marriage falling apart, he heads for the remote Scottish island of Jura to live in George Orwell’s cabin & ponder his life until his money runs out. He doesn’t get a warm welcome from the locals who are intent on preserving their history and culture from the likes of him. Enter many colorful characters. Did I mention that Ray likes Scotch whiskey a little too much? If you are a Scotch aficionado, you could read this book just for the reflections on single malts.  His old boss is recruiting him hard for a new firm, as Ray signs his divorce papers. Ray does return home to Chicago, and opts for a simpler life, although he’s still finding himself. Well, so am I.