Debbie's Reviews > Weather

And now for something completely different…

Strange little novel that had me in the palm of its hand. There’s not really a plot, but sometimes, who needs one? Plot lovers, please don’t be scared off. It’s full of insights that are accessible and fascinating, and there is a story thread, I promise.

You probably want to know, what’s the thread? The thread is Librarian Lizzie’s life as a wife, mother, professional letter writer, and helper of her brother, who is trying to stay clean. Amid all of this, we’re a fly on the wall of her head, hearing her musings. Her head goes everywhere—from thinking about normal activities in her family to bemoaning the scary shape of our planet. There are random thoughts and facts, observations on life, even a few jokes. It sort of seemed like a well-thought-out journal. Lizzie is concerned, but she doesn’t go off the deep end—that would be a whole different book. Instead, her mind is just plain lively, her thoughts irresistible.

The language is simple but the things she talks about are complex. She doesn’t go all academic on us, though, to my complete happiness. It’s a little headier than I like, but strangely I didn’t mind—probably because she isn’t hoity-toity. What she does is very skillful, yet it seems effortless.

Offill manages to infuse it all with the anxiety, frustration, and sadness surrounding big issues, like climate change and current politics. She also throws in an odd fact here and there, things you wish you’d remember if you ever get to be on Jeopardy.

Here’s a fun fact (I fact-checked this, lol, and it is indeed true):

“There is a species of moth in Madagascar that drinks the tears of sleeping birds.”

Here’s a bit of wisdom:

“My friend who works in hospice says don’t tell dying people they won’t be around for the beach trip, apples in fall, etc. No more do that than knock a crutch out from under a person with a broken leg.”

And here is some hilarity:

“…the government has restrictions about what you can name your kid. Sex Fruit and Fat Boy are forbidden. Violence and Number 16 Bus Shelter are okay...I’m going to name the baby Fat Sex Bus, he tells me.”

I’ve been meaning to read an earlier book by Offill, Dept. of Speculation, which has lots of positive reviews. I didn’t rush to read it, though, because it sounded like it was just a bunch of snippets. I figured it would an author who spit out philosophies and gazed at belly buttons—no thanks. I usually don’t like reality snippets mixed up in my make-believe. Now, I’ve moved this one way up in my queue. If it’s anything like Weather, I’ll be in pig heaven.

I just loved this book to death. If she writes another book (man, I hope she does), I’ll be the first in line. My only complaint is that the book is so short. Fast readers can probably even read this one in one sitting.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Edelweiss for the advance copy.