02 May 2008 Semi-Detached by Griff Rhys Jones
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4814791

As Griff Rhys Jones is just a year younger than me, I was looking forward to a read full of reminders of my own childhood. At first I was not disappointed with humorous tales of family life, I found myself laughing out loud!
Unfortunately I found it started to drag somewhat especially after he went to university. Being a contemporary I carried on to the end, otherwise I do not think I would have done.
My conclusion therefore is that unless you are going to be able to relate to any of his experiences, you will probably not find this worth reading.This is now marked as AVL on my bookshelf if any of you are interested?


28 April 2008
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5098599/thankyou/?journalid=10316364&referringmember=&releaseid=3102576

The fifth Picoult novel I have read and certainly not the best. It was first published in 1995 so I assume one of her early ones. I think that her writing has improved a lot since the, as this lacks the depth of her more recent novels.

Even back then she was already writing in what appears to have become her trademark style about very controversial subjects. In this one the protagonist Cassie is the victim of abuse at the hands of her beloved husband Alex. It takes her the four years that this story covers to actually be brave enough to confront her situation.
The novel starts with Cassie being rescued form a cemetery suffering from amnesia by Will, a half Sioux Red Indian working as a policeman. It turns out that she is the wife of Hollywood superstar Alex Rivers who takes her home to her wonderful mansion and helps her recall her life.
Will seems to have a Sioux instinct that her life is not as ‘Picture Perfect’ as it seems on the surface, promising to help her if she ever needs it in the future. Just as well as gradually memories of Alex’s repetitive abuse return.
At one time he tells her “If he could have found a way to turn the red rage into himself instead of toward her, he would have done it in a heartbeat”. Not true as not once during their marriage did he ever try to seek outside help. The problems within the relationship were always kept a secret, even after she finally left him; he lied about what was happening.
The contrasting lifestyle of Cassie and Alex compared with those of the Native American Indians make an interesting link expanding the story beyond straightforward abuse.


25 April 2008
That Certain Age Elizabeth Buchan
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4290091/
Unusual style in that there are two parallel stories running throughout the novel. Throughout I was trying to work out if there was going to be a link between Siena and Barbara, the two female protagonists.
They are two women living fifty years apart but both struggling to come to terms with having reached ‘That Certain Age’! In their different ways due to the very different life styles they are trying to find answers and compromises between their desires and love for their families.
There is a link but it is very tenuous and not made apparent until the very last pages of the novel.
Unless you have concentrated you may even miss that!
I must admit that I have read better novels by Elizabeth Buchan. It is still diverting enough to make it worthwhile reading, just for the contrasts between the life of a young 21st century woman and one in the fifties.


21 April 2008
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5880940/
An excellent debut from Australian author Kate Morton. I will certainly look out for any more of her work published in the UK.
Certainly one of my favourite reads out of the twenty or so books I have already read this year.

The protagonist Grace is an old lady of 98 and with flashbacks recalls the story of her life from age 14 as a servant for the Hartford family. The family home is Riverton Manor and within its four walls was a secret that Grace as a loyal servant to Hannah and Emmeline kept until she died.
Grace is such a realistic character that she draws you in to the story that she is narrating. She is certainly the sort of old lady that I would love to meet, if she was real and not just a character in a novel!
Having transported you to the early 20C and the world of grand houses and below stairs staff it is an
undemanding but captivating read which for me was very reminiscent of ‘Atonement’, ‘The Go-Between’ and ‘The Mitford Girls’.
Some of the plot is maybe a little predictable, but for me did not spoil the story at all.

The House at Riverton would make a wonderful film or TV drama.



18 April 2008
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3647699
During the last days of the Ching dynasty and the opium wars of the nineteenth century Orchid a young girl from an aristocratic but impoverished family auditions to become one of Emperor Hsien Feng’s concubines. She does this to escape marriage with an unsuitable cousin and rescue her family from poverty. She successfully gains a position not just as one of the Emperor’s three thousand concubines, but as wife number four. A prestigious position in the hierarchy, but one that still does not bring her close enough to Hsien Feng to attract his attentions. Orchid learns how to satisfy a man sexually just so that she can bribe her way into the royal bed!
Successfully giving birth to the Emperor’s only son does not however bring Orchid the happiness she hoped for. She continues to feel very dissatisfied with the restrictive life she is forced to live within the walls of the Forbidden City, surrounded by the other royal wives, concubines and enuchs within a web of conspiracies and jealousies. Hsein Feng dies at a very young age and Orchid along with another wife Nuharoo become Empress’s to support her son the young child Emperor Tung Chih.
Maybe the author has twisted the historical facts, but this is a novel and an enjoyable way to learn something about the history of China.
It gives us an interesting account of life in the royal court at the time, described in intricate detail, even the colour schemes of the décor! My only real disappointments were that the characters lacked depth and that the story ended when Orchid was only thirty. However what the characters lacked the very vivid descriptions of life style certainly made up for. Some I found rather disturbing such as the description of the indignities that Orchid underwent during her interview. Then very much later in the book (page 316) One-cough’s description of how to perform a successful beheading.

To summarise Ancheee Mins fictional novel based on historical facts about a strong independent young woman, who goes on to become a famous historical figure is fascinating.



15 April 2008 May Contain Nuts by John O'Farrell
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3843005The time when our children are totally dependent on us is actually such a short phase of our lives.At the time you think they will need you for ever, requiring us to make The time when our children are totally dependent on us is actually such a short phase of our lives.At the time you think they will need you for ever, requiring us to make every decision in their young lives. Beware of overanxious parenting as it hinders your enjoyment, as seen in this satirical novel, which works so well because it is based on home truths!Every second of the children’s lives is run to a strict timetable with constant activities. Sadly this reflects today’s society with many parents over obsessive behaviour with regards to their children’s future. Unfortunately this method of parenting leads to stressed children.Hilarious look at middle class pretension, however will reading this make those pushy parents think again? Sadly I doubt they will even read it! May Contain Nuts is a very readable novel that will amuse all those interested in middle class snobbery and paranoid parents. every decision in their young lives. Beware of overanxious parenting as it hinders your enjoyment, as seen in this satirical novel, which works so well because it is based on home truths!Every second of the children’s lives is run to a strict timetable with constant activities. Sadly this reflects today’s society with many parents over obsessive behaviour with regards to their children’s future. Unfortunately this method of parenting leads to stressed children.Hilarious look at middle class pretension, however will reading this make those pushy parents think again? Sadly I doubt they will even read it! May Contain Nuts is a very readable novel that will amuse all those interested in middle class snobbery and paranoid parents.


12 April 2008
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5624095/J_10208365
As the author David Mitchell was born in 1969 there is no doubt at all in my mind that this novel is strongly based on his own life experiences. It is no surprise therefore that as he and Jason were both thirteen in 1982 that he succeeds in portraying the protagonist Jason Taylor so well.
When I first started the book I was not at all sure it was going to appeal to me. My husband, having read and enjoyed it himself, fortunately encouraged me to preserve. I am glad he did so as I enjoyed it more and more as it progressed. Nostalgically it recalls in great detail life in the 1980’s in rural England. A time, I remember well when I was bringing up a young family.

Black Swan Green is the name of the village he lives in and the book centres on his life there over the period of a year. Jason is a bright sensitive boy, who writes poetry in secret and suffers with a stammer. Jason is desperate to fit in at school and be a popular student but his stammer makes him an easy target for the school bullies. It is a sometimes painful account of male adolescence as Jason struggles to come to terms with everything that is going on his life; his poetry, the bullies, his parent’s relationship, girls, the Falklands War and gypsies.

Definitely worth reading.


08 April 2008
Revenge of the Middle-aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan
Nothing particularly exciting or memorable about this novel but as Elizabeth Buchan is a writer of such a high standard it held my attention. It was an enjoyable and easy read.

47 year old Rose Lloyd is stunned when Nathan her husband of over twenty years tells her he has been having an affair and has decided to leave her for the other woman. Having not even suspected her husband it is a real shock to discover that the other woman is Minty her work colleague. It gets worse because she looses her job, her beloved cat dies and as a final blow Nathan decides that he wants the family home for himself and Minty to live in!

During reading the book the title did not seem quite relevant but once you reach the ending it becomes clear. Satisfactory revenge!



02 April 2008
Little Face by Sophie Hannah
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5880974Sophie Hannah’s wish was to produce a ‘gripping novel’ and I certainly feel she succeeded. This psychological thriller provided me with some compulsive reading, once started I found it difficult to put down. Thrillers are not my favourite genre but this one is very cleverly written and unusually kept me guessing, right to the very end.
Alice Fancourt goes out for the first time since giving birth, only for a couple of hours leaving her husband David looking after their two week old daughter Florence. But when Alice returns and walks into the nursery, her terrifying ordeal begins; for Alice insists the baby in the cot is a stranger she's never seen before.With an increasingly hostile and menacing David swearing she must either be mad or lying, she tries to make the police believe her. The story continues as we are told how the next nineteen days unfold through the two narrators, Alice the baby’s mother and Simon Waterhouse one of the detectives working on the case. As well as switching narrators the chapters switch back and forth between past and present, meaning that sometimes you already know what is going to happen but from the other narrators perspective, an interesting contrivance. Every character is so well portrayed that you really get to empathize with them, in particular, David and Vivienne Fancourt who are so annoying and nasty beyond belief.
The only other work by this author that I have read is ‘Cordial and Corrosive’ which is very different to this one, her first psychological thriller. A talented young writer with some interesting ideas and I will be looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.I would be happy to do a ray or whatever if any of you would like to read this one?


30 March 2008 Divided Loyalties by Patricia Scanlan
I knew this was just a chick lit novel when I purchased it but I thought at nearly 700 pages it would be just right for when I fancied a light read. I was looking forward to a good easy read about a family and its ‘Divided Loyalties’, well I was disappointed. This was the first book and I suspect the last that I have read by this author.
Three Irish siblings with contrasting lifestyles and problems. No real story line as such, apart from following the family ups and downs over four years. Their father Noel was my least favourite character and I hated the way the author portrayed him as an old man at 65. Ok he was 69 when the story ended but I just feel that this is not considered old these days and therefore his behaviour annoyed me immensely.
The other very annoying thing about this novel for me was the author’s use of grammar. She used ‘bring’ where I would have used ‘take’ and ‘in’ where I would have used ‘at’! Is this maybe an Irish foible?
I did surprisingly finish this book as I just kept hoping it would improve but disappointingly it never did.

2 comments

28 March 2008
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5880955A Jolly Murder Mystery is the subtitle of this latest enjoyable novel from Kate Atkinson. This is so much more than a crime novel and in my opinion it is wrong to see it as belonging to this genre.
The author is an expert at weaving complicated tales and ‘One Good Turn’ is no exception. Taking place over just four days the action is fast and furious. At first I found it difficult to keep track of both the characters and the situations as they were introduced. The fairly large cast of characters and the incidents described initially appear to be unrelated but a gradual disclosure of information shows that they are all linked. Coincidence upon coincidence, incident upon incident which all seem to stack together like the Russian Stacking Dolls that keep appearing, along with the witty style of writing should keep you guessing.
To some readers it may seem that these coincidences are highly improbable! Let’s remember though that this is a novel for our entertainment that sets out to amuse. I think very successfully.
The plots and twists along the way all come together in an ending that certainly took me by surprise!I have now marked this title as AVL until I decide how it should travel. Do let me know if you are interested in reading this one, sooner rather than later, before it moves on.




17 March 2008 Cordial and Corrosive by Sophie Hannah
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4336726
A humorous mystery story about how far people will actually go to get what they want in life. Kate sets out to solve the mystery surrounding her husband’s latest job application. Sebastian has been short listed for a position that she felt he deserved! She decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate why he was not the first choice. Possibly even persuade the other candidates to turn down the position, so that it will be offered to him after all.
Kate discovers that all is not as it seems and discovers that the mystery surrounding this situation is full of some extremely strange events and very mixed emotions.
This was an introduction to Sophie Hannah’s work for me and I will definitely be looking out for her more recent novels.

03 March 2008
Book Review
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5121107
I started out thinking I was going to enjoy this as the character of Lady Arabella Cunningham-Smythe is a tremendously funny and feisty lady. Determined to commit suicide, but only on a Tuesday so that she can join her husband in the after life, it seemed more of a black comedy than a thriller. Arabella has a precocious granddaughter Naomi, the artificially inseminated child of Arabella’s lesbian daughter Verity and partner M’buta. The plot started to disintegrate for me almost immediately the kidnap took place. I just cannot believe that people behave in such a situation as these characters did. Especially Verity and M’buta who were far more concerned about other things going on in their lives; than the fact that their daughter had disappeared. Their behaviour I felt did not fit in with the story line somehow either.
Without saying anything to spoil it for those who may enjoy this, it did not take me long to work out the connections and by the time Arabella went off to her weekend retreat I knew generally how it was going to end!
Disappointingly weak and if it had not been for my personal wish to read all of Transita’s publications I doubt I would have ever read this let alone finished it.
I do not enjoy writing a bad review, as writing a novel is not an easy task, but one that is easy to criticise. So preferring to end on a good note I must mention that Blood Precious is a great title and I loved Naomi’s use of the phrase.

01 March 2008
Book Review
The Travelling Hornplayer by Barbara Trapido
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4606000

The protagonists of this novel are Ellen, Jonathan and Stella whose lives and those of family friends and lovers become intertwined by coincidence upon coincidence. It is a wonderfully complex and comic tragedy with unexpected twists. Peopled with a cast of eccentric and lively characters that you will love or hate, possibly even change your opinion of. The story holds ones attention throughout and all comes together in an extraordinary ending!


25 February 2008
Book Review

Tuesday Night at the Kasbah by Patricia Kitchenhttp://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4954303
Within its genre there is no doubt that this book is an amusing light and quick read. Unfortunately the last two books I have read preceding this one were very powerful novels, leaving me with lots to think about.
In comparison therefore I found this a very shallow story line, though amusing. I also doubt that I would have chosen to read this had it not been for a personal challenge to myself to read Transita’s entire catalogue of books.

Six women, Judy, Fiona, Shauna, Maggie, Cathy and Naz; not one of whom is happy with her life.
All searching for fulfilment of some kind they all join the same evening class and as the new girls become a ‘group’. The class is for ‘belly –dancing’ and I have to say this held no appeal for me at all, so the endless descriptions of the costumes were tedious.
Apart from the well crafted characters in this novel I found it all rather farcical. A tangled web of affairs and relationships

25 February 2008
Book Review
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5168858Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
A very descriptive memoir style fictional account about the role of women in C19 Chinese Society; where friendships among the women were of great importance. Until comparatively recently Chinese women led a very controlled life. They were made to feel worthless for having been born female in the first place, with their only use in society to give birth to sons.

This is a beautiful story of the strong friendship between Lily and Snow Flower. As little girls of six these two became ‘laotong’ that is young girls that are matched by such things as date of birth and social standing to become soul mates for life. These relationships were considered as important as their eventual marriages would be.
The story follows the complex friendship from the beginning of ‘laotong’ pairing to the end of their lives. Together Lily and Snow Flower share the joys and sorrows of their lives; from foot-binding, arranged marriages, wedding feasts, birth of children and other festivals within the larger picture of disease, famine and war. Lily is now 80 years old and relating the story of her relationship with Snow-Flower and how they developed a lifelong bond through secret ‘nu shu’(a written coded language created by women for women exclusively) messages to each other over the years. In telling her story she feels she is seeking atonement for mistakes she made, which for forty years have worried her.

The process of foot-binding I have always found disturbing, but the account in this book is the most vivid I have ever read. Apparently perfect feet are 7cm in length! This practice is known to have still been carried out in rural China within the region that Tongku is located in until as recently as the early 1950’s.

I recommend this highly not just as a beautiful story but because it is one that will impact you deeply and teach you much about the role of women in the history of Chinese culture.


19 February 2008
Book Review
Atonement by Ian McEwanhttp://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4579587/J_9922052An intricate, intense and wonderfully written character driven novel set in three main locations. Firstly we are treated to a wonderful description of country house living just prior to WWII, then Robbie’s wartime experiences in France and those of Cecilia and Briony as nurses in London.The underlying theme is about writing and the pleasure and pain it can give to both author and reader by the subtle use of words to deceive ourselves and others.It certainly gave me a few hours of pleasurable reading. The suspense built all the way through as we follow Briony Tallis, her sister Cecilia and family friend Robbie Turner as the story takes one from 1934 to the end of the twentieth century.Not just their lives, but those of others were changed for ever on that hot summer afternoon in 1934. Briony at thirteen is precocious but still did not understand things that she should never have witnessed anyway; misconstruing these events led her to spend the rest of her life trying to seek atonement for her wrong doings that fateful day. Briony’s character develops from that of a spoilt youngest child to an adult regretting her mistakes. Fortunately Cecilia and Robbie’s love is not dimmed by the cruelty of Briony’s actions and although circumstances separate them they remain in touch with each other.I should have read this 7 years ago and wish that I had not taken so long to get round to reading it. It is only the fourth book I have read by this author and it is certainly my favourite and the best in my opinion. So far that is as I shall definitely read more of his work in the future, especially looking forward to his most recent one, On Chesil Beach.As I also prefer to read the book first, I can now also look forward to seeing the film.

12 February 2008
Book Review
If any of you have still not read this I am going to do a Bookray which you are welcome to join.http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4582265My Sister's Keeper by Jodi PicoultA heartbreaking story; moral, ethical and medical dilemmas facing a family with a terminally ill child. Sara and Brian Fitzgerald, son Jesse and daughter Kate seemed the perfect happy family; until at age two Kate is diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia.Sara and Brian decided to conceive a child genetically programmed to be a future donor for Kate. Of course her parents were full of good intentions when they conceived Anna, believing she would add to their family's happiness while literally keeping her sister alive.Anna has always known since she was old enough to understand that she was brought into this world for the benefit of her sister's well being.A huge responsibility that weighs heavily on her shoulders, one that she can no longer endure and leads her to sue her own parents.Traditionally one expects parents to make decisions for a child that are in the child's best interest. However this does not appear to be the case for Anna, as she now questions the choices her parents have made.The big question is it ethically right for Anna Fitzgerald's body to have been used without her consent, to donate repeatedly for thirteen years to her sister.Was it legal, immoral, cruel, foolish, crazy, yes all those things, but it felt right to the parents. Let's remember as parents you always put your children first and want to do what's best for them. However you love all your children so how an earth do you decide, when something that helps one child, may just harm another.If this novel does not tug at your heart strings, then I do not know what will.

07 February 2008
A Thousand Days in Tuscany
In search of a new life Fernando cuts all his ties with his birthplace Venice and takes his wife Marlena to live in Tuscany. She is not keen to leave the Venice she loves but understands her husbands desire to leave the demons that trouble him behind. Will this new beginning work for them or will his melancholy follow them.
They settle in the small village of San Casciano dei Bagni near the borders of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio meet. Life is still ruled here as it has been for centuries by the seasons and the foods available around them. They become very close to two locals Barlozzo and Floriana and through them learn of the rhythms of life and love in a Tuscan village. As the story of these two couples unfolds it puts life into perspective for the four of them.

It appealed to me because of my own love of Italy and all things Italian, some of the episodes were oh so familiar; particularly as I know the region Marlena is writing about and have sampled similar dishes to those she includes recipes for at the end of each chapter.
However unless you are a dedicated Italiaphile I feel you may find this is just another Life in Tuscany book. Very similar to the many others available and does not particularly stand out from the crowd apart from some of Marlena de Blasi’s poetic prose.

H.R.H. by Danielle Steel Read in February 2008

Over the years I have read around twenty of Danielle Steel’s novels. A small proportion in fact considering she has written over 70! Not an author that I am a huge fan of, but having said that her books are always a satisfying quick and easy read. Often rather slushy though in a happy ever after way.
H.R.H is no exception. The heroine is Princess Christianna of Liechtenstein who finds that the role in life she was born to an intolerable burden. Honor, duty sacrifice and courage mean she battles to come to terms with the conflicts her life imposes on her.
She knows that one day she will have no choice but to take on the responsibilities expected of her. So determined to have some freedom before she does so, persuades her father to let her volunteer for the Red Cross in East Africa. From her protected life in a palace she travels to Eritrea and experiences the chaos of a country suffering from the devastations of terrorism and disease and on the brink of war with Ethiopia. Here as part of a team in an international relief camp, she discovers freedom from her royal duties and a passion for the work. This was only ever going to be a temporary respite though and as violence approaches she has to once again return to her real world torn between duty and love.

Book Reviews December 2007- February 2008

1.
Toppling Miss April by Adrienne Dines

This was so different from Adrienne Dines other titles that I have read, the Jigsaw Maker and Soft Voices Whispering, both of which I enjoyed more than this one.
In fact if I had read this first I would have been disappointed in this author, new to me. Reading it third I was happily able to accept it for what it was. Fun, a complete farce in fact!
Crossed wires predominate throughout, with the larger than life characters misconstruing just about everything. It is also wickedly funny as long as you are not prudish. I am not and found myself sniggering many times even though I am not a great fan of farce.


2.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards.
A well written story covering a somewhat disturbing subject in a sensitive manner. If you want to learn more about how Downs Syndromes sufferers are not really that different from the rest of us, read this. They are innocent and loving victims and unlike the rest of us see the world generally through rose coloured glasses.

A poignant story that drew me in very quickly. Dr David Henry’s wife Norah goes into labour on the night of a severe snowstorm. The snowstorm results in circumstances that result in David having to deliver the twins himself. The firstborn is a healthy son, Paul but the unexpected second child is a girl, Phoebe, with obvious signs of Downs Syndrome.
Taking place in 1964 when attitudes towards those with Downs Syndrome were very different, the reaction of David Henry as a doctor would have been considered normal. However the decision he makes that night betrays his wife in the most shocking way possible. One impulsive disastrous decision haunts his life and others around him for the next twenty-five years.
Well worth reading, a brilliant start to 2008 as my first book read this year. One I will still be thinking about many months after reading.


3.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Although I have enjoyed the Harry Potter books, I am actually glad that the series is now complete. It feels like that I have been reading about his adventures for ever. In fact it is ten years since the first one was published! One school year per book has made this series rather a long plod. I wonder how many youngsters who first read Harry Potter in their early teens have actually enjoyed his adventures in the same way as they read this last volume as a twenty something adult.

A sigh of relief as all the plots are resolved, no mean feat over a series of seven books. The author seems to have resolved everything satisfactorily, though with rather an excessive number of deaths in my opinion. Also not sure I really needed an insight into Harry’s future, was this to make sure there are no sequels by her or any other authors in years to come.

Overall I am pleased that I have read the books even though they were originally aimed at children and young adults. They have certainly been a topic of conversation over the years with my daughters, nephews and nieces.


4.
The Gardener by Prue Leith

Charlotte Warren, known as Lotte, divorced mother of three, architect, garden historian and horticulturist is the protagonist of The Gardener.

The novel follows Lott’s growing passion and obsession with Maddon Park after she takes the post of Head Gardener there. Working for the millionaire Brody Keegan and his spoilt young model wife Amber, she finds herself on an emotional rollercoaster. Brody is ignorant but passionate about the gardens; Amber however is so uninterested that she thinks ‘Who needs a vegetable garden with Waitrose six miles away.’

The history of Maddon Park and gardens makes this novel more than just another love story and I found the historical gardens aspect fascinating. I love gardens and gardening and always enjoy visiting places similar to Maddon Park.
I did feel at one point though that maybe Prue Leith was struggling to keep to the plot and tie everything together. For example about two thirds of the way through there is an episode concerning Annie, Lotte’s eldest, a motorbike and a helicopter! I have been unable to understand the relevance of this episode and wonder if it was just padding, or did I miss the point?

I would certainly recommend this to any gardening enthusiast as that aspect is well written and interesting, though the love story intertwined is rather predictable. A good mixture of gardening and romance.5.
The Whaleboat House by Mark Mills

A murder mystery set in Long Island in the late 1940’s with plenty of excellent historical and background information about the area. This I think was the reason for me that the mystery was a little slow to get going and at one time I nearly gave up. Get beyond this slow start and it is well worth reading as everything that came before begins to make sense!
Lillian Wallace youngest daughter of a wealthy New York family who have a summer home in East Hampton is found dead in mysterious circumstances.
Her death is declared an accident but two local men have their own good reasons to believe otherwise. Conrad Labarde, local fisherman who discovered the body and Tom Hollis, deputy police chief, individually unravel the mysteries behind Lillian’s death. Complex twists and turns lead to the conclusion, thanks to the collaboration of these two men.

I believe this is Mark Mills’s first novel though he is already an established script writer. Murder mysteries are not my favourite genre but I will certainly add this author to the list of thriller writers that I do enjoy. In fact The Savage Garden is already on my bookshelf, waiting to be read.


6.
Watershed by Maggie Makepeace

Pamela Wood and Lavinia Henderson have lived together for ten years, since Pamela decided that Vinny should be one of her ‘causes’ and invited her to become her companion.
They introduce themselves to Jonathan Crankshaw a young man recently moved into the area. He is renting a remote and rather spartan property, so that he can concentrate on writing a book about water about which he is obsessed. Unfortunately for Jonathan he becomes Pamela’s latest cause! He is a young man who through no fault of his own has no empathy or imagination and his obsession with water is due to the fact that he needs to understand the workings of the physical world around him. Pamela is unable to cope with the fact that Jonathan because of his Asperger’s syndrome is unable to empathise but she continues to try and control his life. Vinny as Pamela’s long suffering companion is much more sympathetic and as the two of them are drawn together Jonathan actually helps her make some difficult decisions about her own life.
Storms fire and floods cause some personal watersheds to be reached.
The author brings the story alive with her descriptions and details of the wildlife, landscape and flood defences of the Somerset levels.
For me the most interesting character and I felt the protagonist of the story was Jonathan as I think the author has produced a well written and sensitive explanation of life for someone with Asperger’s syndrome. I do not feel this is a spoiler to the novel as knowledge of Jonathan’s condition will I feel attract more readers, especially recommended to those who are interested in learning more about this form of high functioning autism.



7.
Thinking of You by Jill Mansell

Another pleasant romp from Jill Mansell, who I think is one of the original and better modern day writers of ‘chick- lit’. I have been reading her novels since 1998 and she always writes in an amusing and up to date way. Hardly ‘brain fodder’ but nonetheless a good choice for those times when you feel like reading something light and frothy.
The main character in this one is ‘empty nester’ Ginny Holland trying to build a new life for herself now daughter Jem has gone off to university.
As always in her books there is a good mix of characters whose personalities emerge throughout the story with good development of the characters and their interesting relationships!



8.
Miss Webster and Chief by Patricia Duncker

Elizabeth Webster the protagonist of this novel is a retired, single and extremely dogmatic lady. She is afflicted by an unknown illness which is a life changing experience for her. Many months later after recovering and travelling to North Africa for a holiday an unknown young man unexpectedly becomes part of life. Elizabeth and the young man Cherif are well portrayed characters and the story of this unlikely friendship is both sad and funny. However I felt this compassionate tale was somewhat stilted in parts with potential for much more development, had the author chosen to do so.


9.
In the Company of the Courtesan. by Sarah Dunant


A compelling historical novel weaved around the sins of pleasure and the pleasure of sins! Set in 16C Italy the main characters are Fiammetta Bianchini, a Courtesan and her dwarf manservant Bucino Teodoldi. The story narrated by Bucino starts with them having to flee from their home in Rome after the city comes under siege. Fiammetta was originally from Venice, so it here that they decide to take refuge and rebuild their business. Together they make a good team, Fiammetta knows of no other life than the entertainment of gentleman, whilst Bucino takes care of the business side of things. To recover from the ravages suffered in Rome to Fiammetta’s health and beauty it is necessary for them to call on the services of La Draga. La Draga, Elena Crusichi was a healer, though in those times such a person was often considered a witch.
It was fascinating to read about 16C Italy, with some wonderful descriptions especially of Venice and the various personalities that Fiammetta and Bucino come into contact with. La Draga becomes predictably a very important contact, gaining sympathy from Fiammetta she wheedles her way into their life.
The author has successfully blended fact and fiction with her passion for this particular period of history to tell a story that has some surprise twists along the way. I did guess the outcome, ending but personally felt it was a successful way of bringing the novel to a close.