Twist and Tilt
No, “Twist and Tilt” is not a new song nor is it a new dance. The two words are titles of new, critcally acclaimed books that are worth considering, even if they aren’t the type of book you typically read.
Twist, by Irish author Colum McCann, is an adventure book and a thriller. It is set mostly at sea where journalist Anthony Fennell is searching for a story that is buried in an undersea cable. In fact, there are days and days at sea. McCann writes complicated stories so, underneath the dark journey, the reader detects a dark and dire warning. Marcel Theroux, reviewer for The Guardian, writes, “The book is full of wonder at the scale and beauty of the natural world-and anger at humanity’s capacity to wreck it.”
Tilt by Emma Pattee is another adventure story. This time our protagonist Annie is on a journey to get back home after a massive earthquake shakes Portland, Oregon while Annie is shopping at Ikea. Oh, and Annie is 37 weeks pregnant. Will she get back home? Will the baby be OK? She constantly speaks to the baby who she calls ‘Bean’. If you are ready for a book that is a bit different, this one’s for you. ‘All Things Considered’ described the story as “utterly gripping.” And, if you read it, you may not be so scared of being caught in an earthquake.
