An Atlas of Extinct Countries

 By Gideon Defoe 

Europa     2022

250 pages     Satire

The Shortlist

The tagline for An Atlas of Extinct Countries is “The Remarkable (and Occasionally Ridiculous) Stories of 48 Nations that Fell off the Map.” This book is a trip! I received it from the publisher, and I had no preconceived notion of the book’s intent.  Then I read the Introduction. Defoe says, “Countries die. Sometimes it’s murder. Sometimes it’s an accident. Sometimes it’s because they were too ludicrous to exist in the first place.” He then announces, “These are the obituaries of the nations that fell off the map.”

Defoe describes the rules he gave himself when designating the countries he chose to include in the book, and he outlines these before he begins. Then he divides up the 48 countries into categories: Chancers & Crackpots, Mistakes & Micronations, Lies & Lost Kingdoms, and Puppets & Political  Footballs. Most people know about some of the countries, including Sarawak, Elba, and Bavaria. More interestingly, Defoe outlines several  countries that had a very short run, such as The Kingdom of Rough and Ready, now part of California, that only lasted two months when gold was discovered on the spot. Throughout the book, Defoe blames the demise of many of the countries  on England, such as in the story of New Caledonia, which was established by Scotland in 1698 and only lasted until 1700. England forbade Scotland from getting investors from England or the Netherlands, and so the colony never had enough investors to survive. Besides that, there were a lot of mosquitos.

Each of the extinct countries is given a few pages of satire regarding why the country emerged, who founded it, and why it fell apart. Kirkus Reviews calls them “historical sketches.” I loved the biting humor and sarcasm, particularly when the author is outlining countries that lasted for less than a year.

I have been reading An Atlas of Extinct Countries bit by bit for several weeks, and I wanted to let my readers know about it. It would be a great Father’s Day present for history buffs or dads who enjoy humor and sarcasm. Ooh, that would be my son-in-law. Check that Father’s Day present off my list!

Kissing the World Goodbye

 By Jennifer Clark

Unsolicited Press     2022

186 pages     Memoir

I must say two things at the outset of this look at Kissing the World Goodbye. First, Jennifer is my friend. Together, we created and edited an anthology called Immigration and Justice for Our Neighbor several years ago as a fund raiser for the Justice for Our Neighbor organization at our church. Then, I had no idea what I was getting into when I began reading her newest book. I knew that she was a thoughtful poet and a good cook, but I had no idea how funny, ironic, and sarcastic she could be when writing memoirs and essays. I have read her poetry, but this memoir is a scene all of its own! 

The  book is dedicated to Jennifer’s brother and sister, although they bear some of the brunt of Jennifer’s sarcasm, particularly her sister. Ironically, she notes that her sister didn’t want her real name in the book—no surprise there—so she is called Holly. There is some nostalgia present as Jennifer discusses her father’s career as a biologist and professor, and she mentions things that she learned from him, particularly about insects—his specialty. The essays also include thoughts about his dying and the family’s response to his illness and death.

Some of the essays are ridiculous but immersive at the same time. For example, I never even thought about Ernest Borgnine’s eyebrows, but after reading the essay about him, now I care. I had to Google him to see if he were still alive (died 2012) and to check to see if I remembered his eyebrows. Another essay concerns Jennifer’s first trip to Costco with her sister. The final sentence in the chapter: “Before today, I never knew I needed them.” That sums up Costco in a few words.

Nostalgic memories chased me when I was reading the essay about margarine. There was a time when margarine couldn’t be sold in midwestern states, like Wisconsin—and Minnesota, I might add. We get a political education about why margarine is an important food, but also why butter is “the product of a grudgeless cow.” I have to add my own recollections to all of Jennifer’s meanderings. As a little girl, margarine could not be sold in Minnesota, but you could get it in Iowa. My extremely frugal grandmother would buy cases of it when she was visiting relatives in Iowa and distribute it among family members. At that time, it was white and came in a one pound package with a little orange button of food coloring on the top of the plastic packaging. Grandma would pass the packages out to grandchildren, and we would have a contest to see who could do the best job getting the orange color mixed through the white goo. The winner got toast with margarine on top as the prize. How gross, now that I think about it!

Mixed in with this odd assortment of essays, we find an unusual  assortment of recipes. I haven’t tried any yet, because I have to buy some of the ingredients—on my next trip to Costco, I might add. I was especially intrigued by the spoon-bending noodles and the crock pot macaroni and cheese. Oh, and I am definitely going to try the “Best Kung Pao Chicken Recipe Ever.”

Through it all, Jennifer’s words speak so truly and lovingly about life and death, but especially about the bonds of family. She says, “Call it a keen aptitude for forgiveness or a defective short-term memory gene; our family is not one to hold grudges. It’s one of our best qualities.” I know Jennifer; I know some of her family. She speaks the truth, even if some of  her truths cause you to scratch your head.

Dear readers, you will love this book as much as I did. I loved the random thoughts, the recipes, the humor, and the pathos. Here is Jennifer’s website.

Malibu Rising

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Ballantine     2021

369 pages     Fiction

How do the children of the famous prosper in the shadow of their famous parent? This is the question that Taylor Jenkins Reid seeks to answer in her latest book, Malibu Rising. Mick Riva is a rising singer when he meets and marries, June Costas. June and her parents operate a fish shack on the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, California. Soon, Mick becomes the pop singing star he dreamed about, but he has no idea of how to be a parent. Four children are born to the union, but Mick leaves his family for fame, fortune, and other women.

June never quite recovers from the loss, and after her death the four children, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit, are left to fend for themselves. Nina, then a 17-year-old, becomes the parent and restaurant owner, assuming all her mother’s responsibilities. The three other children rally around Nina and grow in confidence, secure in their love for each other. Each pursues a career based around the surf that is below the cliff where they live. Nina becomes a surfing cover model, Jay and Kit champion surfers, and Hud a photographer, recording their every move.

The major narration revolves around the day of the Riva’s annual Malibu beach party, Aug. 27, 1983. Several interspersed chapters tell the story of what has led the family to this moment. The reader soon identifies with these finely drawn characters, loving them, worrying about them, and despairing about what might happen to them. The party, itself, occupies a large portion of the novel, but by the time the party is totally out of control, the reader is so invested that we frantically read on, totally hoping for the best.

Although there is a lot of the narrative that is what might be expected in a celebrity-driven novel, I was most impressed with the character development and the authenticity of their emotions. This is particularly true regarding Nina. Here is an example: “Nina, her entire life, had been programmed to accept. Accept that your father left. Accept that your mother is gone. Accept that you must take care of your siblings. Accept that the world wants to lust after you. Accept, accept accept. For so long, Nina had believed it was her greatest strength—that she could withstand, that she could endure, that she would accept it all and keep going.” I think I related so well to Nina, particularly because of her strength and the way in which she lives her life according to what she feels she should be doing. One reviewer acknowledges that Reid writes well about the rich and famous, and in Malibu Rising she “cultivates real empathy for her characters, who are the tender heart that beats at the novel’s core and are its greatest achievement.”

This is not a perfect novel. The actual life-changing party takes up a large portion of the novel—perhaps too much of the novel. There are many people roaming around Nina’s house and property, famous people and groupies. An awful lot of craziness occurs. Yet, the family endures and remains true to each other and end up strong and proud. The New York Times reviewer concludes “We leave the party knowing that we don’t have to worry about the Rivas.”  (BTW, I stole the great illustration from the NYTimes review.)

Taylor Jenkins Reid has written several novels about the rich and famous. Interestingly, Mick Riva is one of Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Daisy Jones and the Six is a novel about a 1970s rock band. Her newest book is Carrie Soto is Back, and Carrie Soto is one of the characters in Malibu Rising. Here is her website.