Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with Recipes): A Novel

Written by Lorna Landvik

Narrated by Lorna Landvik

When Haze Evans first appeared in the small-town newspaper, she earned fans by writing a story about her bachelor uncle who brought a Queen of the Rodeo to Thanksgiving dinner. Now, fifty years later, when the beloved columnist suffers a massive stroke and falls into a coma, publisher Susan McGrath fills the void (temporarily, she hopes) with Haze's past columns, along with the occasional reprinted responses from readers. Most letters were favorable, although Haze did have her trolls; one Joseph Snell in particular dubbed her "liberal" ideas the "chronicles of a radical hag."

Framed by news stories of half a century and annotated with the town's chorus of voices, Haze's story unfolds, as do those of others touched by the Granite Creek Gazette.

With her customary warmth and wit, Lorna Landvik summons a lifetime at once lost and recovered, a complicated past that speaks with knowing eloquence to a confused present. Her topical but timeless Chronicles of a Radical Hag reminds us-sometimes with a subtle touch, sometimes with gobsmacking humor-of the power of words and of silence, as well as the wonder of finding in each other what we never even knew we were missing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781515942085

Lorna Landvik

Lorna Landvik is the author of twelve other novels, including the bestselling Patty Jane’s House of Curl, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, and Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with Recipes). Also an actor and playwright, Lorna has performed on numerous stages. A recent DNA test determined she’s 95 percent Norwegian and 5 percent wild.

Reviews for Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with Recipes)

[medwards429 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

First off thank you to Bookish First for choosing me as a winner of this book in exchange for an honest review, as well as University of Minnesota Press for sending it to me.

This book, from the first impression I was allowed to read, looked interesting. Haze Evans is in her 80’s and has been a columnist for the past 50 years with the newspaper. She suffers a stroke and Susan (the publisher and a single mom struggling with her marriage) comes up with the idea to re-publish some of Haze’s work (some with “goodwill” recipes), hoping it will only be temporary until Haze recovers and can come back. The idea turns out to be a success.

In her day, Haze had some “trolls”, once such man deemed her liberal ideas as the “chronicles of a radical hag”, thus giving the book its title. It also becomes a running joke halfway through the book and on to the end when Haze’s fate is revealed.

Susan’s 14 year old son Sam is tasked with going through the articles, which he actually comes to enjoy. But, while reading the articles, parts of Haze’s secret past come to the surface – and part of that past has a connection to Susan.

Along the way, and once again with Haze’s wisdom – those in the town of Granite Greek start learning more about her and themselves.

While this novel held some promise – it went downhill fast for me before I was halfway into the novel. The writing was also disjointed – it was hard to place where/when I was in the story and how it related. I also felt there were far too many characters to keep up with and what their purpose/connection to the story or Haze was.

Another thing that slightly distracted me was the grammar. The story was told in third person as there was no one narrating it, but the verbs and descriptions were in first person (narrator-type).

Examples: “And, he is, holding under his arm a wooden box, which he sets on the iron-mesh patio tabletop” and “In downward dog, Susan’s view of Olivia Shelby is framed by her slightly bent knees”. That was another issue while reading. Who was the actual narrator of the story? Who was telling the story?

The BIGGEST issue was the not-so-subtle inclusion of “POLITICS” along with hot, divisive issues.

I get that politics are a way of life and for newspaper columnists I’m sure that is double. As one reviewer stated on another site – it’s like the writer infused her thoughts and political views as Haze and there was no attempt to disguise her views or her feelings.

Speaking honestly – I felt this novel was more of a one-sided, politically driven essay disguising itself as a non-fiction story. I would’ve liked that aspect revealed immediately or a warning somewhere in the novel’s description. There were too many agendas/statements in each chapter, which I am not going to spoil.

While I am an avid reader, and was an advanced reader as a child (I won several library contests), I struggled with trying to find the “point/plot” of this novel.

I read to escape politics, violence, and divisiveness on TV and social media. Unless the book is a “true-crime” or biography type novel; fictional stories; especially ones described as having “gob-smacking humor”, should either warn the reader or eliminate the element. That is where the book lost my attention. It seemed like every issue from recent years was crammed into the novel to supplement it, including a painful (and horrific) incident from 2017 that happened in my hometown.

One major incident that was skipped was 9/11 (2001). That was one I would’ve been interested to read about despite my own personal reactions. It had a profound impact on our country and society and I would think that Haze would’ve had something to say about it. Yet, there was nothing. It was completely excluded from the book.

With that said – if you enjoy “chronicles of a radical hag”, political views, agenda-driven stories, and recipes – this book is for you.

If you’re looking for a light-hearted, escapist, non-political read – I’d likely steer clear or borrow it from a library first to test the waters.

[jypsylynn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with recipes) features a beautiful cover that immediately caught my attention. It's not exactly what I was expecting but in a good way. A long time newspaper columnist for a local hometown paper suffers a stroke. She is eighty years old, so imagine how many columns she has written. In her absence, the paper decides to rerun some of her old columns. I love this premise because my local paper reruns old articles, and they ran one of me from 1996 when I was a pageant queen. It's such a bittersweet thing to see now. It's interesting and entertaining to see the reactions of the people in town. What if a column painted someone in a bad light? What if a present day terrible person was painted in a good light? Do people ever really change? The story shows how, regardless of past feelings, the community still stands strong. It's eye opening and informative for some, maybe embarrising for others. Still, the past is done, and the future holds promise. History in these columns proves that people are fundamentally survivors. It's a warm hearted read that is both sad yet inspiring. A joy to read! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While reading this delightful coming-of-age/dealing-with-(advanced)-aging book set in Granite Creek, Minnesota, I laughed, cried, and baked. Mostly I laughed.Haze Evans is 81 when the story begins in the summer of 2016, and still writing regular columns for the Granite Creek Gazette. She suffers a massive stroke however, and is hospitalized in a coma. Haze’s columns - about life, the universe, and everything - have been very popular over the 52 years she wrote them, and reader reaction has always been considerable. Susan McGrath, the newspaper’s publisher, decides to re-run some of Haze’s old columns and responses while Haze is (hopefully) recovering.The title, “Chronicles of a Radical Hag,” refers to a slur made by one of Haze’s regular detractors, Harlan Dodd, who is a neighbor of Susan's. Harlan has been disgusted over the years with Haze’s liberal outlook, especially with respect to her championing of women’s rights. He wants her to stick to writing about “more appropriate issues” for women, like how to bake. Haze complies in a clever and amusing way. Harlan will have cause to reevaluate his life when the columns are re-run. Thus, with columns interspersed in the narrative, we get to know Haze and the people in her orbit, including those who are selecting the columns for publication. This group is made up of Susan; her 14-year-old son Sam who is helping out at the paper during the summer; and Caroline, Susan’s assistant. All three of them are also struggling with complications of relationships (or in Sam’s case, a wanna-be relationship). Unexpectedly, Haze’s wisdom distilled through her columns helps all of them.It is Sam’s story that comes to dominate. Sam goes through a metamorphosis spurred by “getting to know” Haze, and the effect on him also acts as a catalyst for changes in others. An Epilogue one year later ties up the threads of the story.Evaluation: I thought this story was adorable and so uplifting - a true pleasure to read!

[kathl33n-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

DNF @ 78 pgs. I have tried twice to push myself into this and and am finding I just can't. I love the premise of the book - republishing the small town newspaper articles of a very old woman's career, but I seem to be missing the point. While I have found each article relatively interesting I am having a hard time time finding a thread that holds the whole thing together and without that thread I am left feeling a bit confused as I am reading. I am certain there are some great messages in there for lots of readers, just not for me. Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy to read in exchange for my honest option.

[nancyadair-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lorna Landvik has created a character beloved and influential who we only know through the reactions of the people whose lives she touches. Chronicles of a Radical Hag (With Recipes) tells Haze's story through the columns she wrote for a Minnesota small town newspaper, her readers' responses, through the memories people hold of her, and most interesting, how her columns reach out and speak to a generation of teenagers.Haze was unabashedly herself in her columns. She wrote in a speaking voice, musing on her life and the people she meets and on national and world news. She garnered letters from people who enjoyed her work and from people who called her a "radical hag." Haze embraced it all, happy to just get people thinking. And when a reader suggested she would better use the column to share recipes, she began to throw in a recipe now and then.When Haze is felled by a stroke the newspaper publisher, Susan, begins to republish her early columns dating back to 1964. For some readers, they are a nostalgic trip into the past. Susan's teenage son Sam has been assigned the job of reading the columns and summarizing them, with suggestions on which to rerun.It is Sam and his generation who are surprisingly touched by Haze. She becomes real to Sam. He learns from her musings on life, love, social change, and political crisis. He sees the elderly around him in a different light. And when he discovers Haze's hidden papers he learns a secret that will alter perceptions about Haze, the past, and the present.Subplots follow women who struggle with broken marriages, heartbroken widows, acceptance and inclusion, disappointment and redemption.Landvik's book is a pleasure to read, alternately funny and poignant. And, the recipes will propel you to the kitchen!I received a free book from the publisher through Bookish First.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first half of CHRONICLES stood out as one of those rare modern novels that you just want to go on reading forever. Then, thud, a predictable 3 year adulterous affair which the otherwise admirable Radical Hag Haze Evans actually tries to justify. This major lapse shows a stunning lack of character, not just for common morality, but because, if it had been revealed in her community, she would have destroyed her reputation and career as a journalist.And for good reason...she pretends that her dead husband would have approved her sleeping with her married boss! She feels that they deserve to have this forbidden love despite all the betrayals of family, friends, and readers! A public revelation would have destroyed her boss Bill McGrath's kind and generous wife, Eleanor, and maybe her suspicion of it helped to cause her cancer.Did this journalist want this affair to become known after her death? Likely yes, since she left the evidence in her office where any cleaning person or friend could find it.The mystery of why this highly intelligent woman would do this is never explained.The book's great strength, along with a moving plot of provocative and fearless political columns and welcome humor, is that we care so deeply about the rest of the characters and the values expressed.