Frailty
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Reged: 19/11/2006
Posts: 2
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The Inheritance of Loss – Kiran Desai
Set in India during the Ghurka uprising , there is much to enjoy in this book. There are many telling phrases and descriptions such as the Gymkhana library, slowly mouldering away.
The extreme poverty and difficulties of those at the bottom of the social scale and the impossibility of change are a constant theme.
Most of the characters are unsympathetic, any redeeming features quickly over shadowed by another instance of selfishness or callousness. It isn’t one to read as a bit of escapism. Look out for the endearing depiction of the dog Mutt, an uncomplicated joy in so much gloom.
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sallyj
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Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
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Innocent Traitor – Alison Weir
This is the historical novel for those who don’t usually choose them. Using the present tense, it brings to life the story of the highly intelligent Lady Jane Grey. Her short life, cruel treatment and unfair manipulation is recounted vividly from several intermingled viewpoints.
We hear of the death of Henry VIII and witness that of his son, Edward. From then on Jane’s days are numbered and we share her prison in the Tower of London. Finally, her last moments are described by the executioner himself and I guarantee you will shed a tear.
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aggipanthus
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Reged: 05/04/2006
Posts: 179
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'Something Like Love' by Catherine Dunne (Pan Books £6.99)
Rose's husband Ben walked out on her and their childrren after twenty years of marriage, and eight years on decides to walk back in - or tries to. This is the story of how a woman once depressed, confused and a little scared, learnt to live as a single mother. She picked herself up, started what was to become a successful business, and found an inner strength to fight her husband, and find an even better life, and a better man. Amongst other things this is an object lesson in how to give your ex his comeuppance!
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ANGELA62
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Reged: 04/08/2006
Posts: 75
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THE CONSTANT GARDENER
By John le Carre
Tessa, the young lawyer cum aid worker, murdered in Nairobi with the African doctor purported to be her lover.
Justin,‘the deceived’? Justin was ‘the professional bachelor’, and had reached his ceiling in the Foreign Office, but surprised all by marrying the much younger Tessa. He is cleared of conspiracy and murder. He sets out on a long and arduous journey to unravel the mysteries of her work and to bring to justice the bent African government, the multinational pharmaceutical conglomerates that are killing innocent Africans used as guinea pigs to promote their ‘cure’ for tuberculosis.
What becomes of Justin? Read on...don’t watch the film.
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sallyj
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Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
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Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein
Try this if you’re a Patricia Cornwell fan.
Alexandra is a feisty Assistant District Attorney in New York, specialising in sex crimes. One evening she is called to view the body of an elegant woman which has been pulled from the water. She has been tied to a ladder and raped.
Cooper and her detective colleagues are plunged into the international art world of the dead woman. Their job is made harder by the fact that the victim’s marriage had broken down and she had two lovers. Or is the murder linked to a major art theft several years earlier?
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LindyLouMac
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Reged: 12/07/2007
Posts: 1
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One of my favourite reads so far this year and in my opinion even better than the author's excellent debut novel `Emotional Geology'.
With this second novel I feel that Linda Gillard has established herself as an author to be watched by those who enjoy contemporary literature.
The story of the Dunbar's and their complicated familial relationships will stay with me, long after I finished reading. It is a disturbing but compelling tale as one is drawn into the lives of the family members.
The jumping backwards and forwards in time of the narrative I at first found confusing and had me flicking back and forth checking points. However for me this style added considerably to the understanding, because of the complexity of the story. I am intrigued as to how Linda Gillard tackled the writing of these different sections? Anyway the technique works very well with Flora's narrative starting the novel with her own funeral and then continuing to be inserted throughout.
I admire the author for tackling such a difficult theme so sensitively without causing angst.
I feel that I could say more but not without spoiling the plot for those who have yet to read this.
I am now encouraging family, friends and others to read the work of this brilliant new author if they have not already discovered her themselves.
I had a very enjoyable few hours immersed in the life of the Dunbar's and am now looking forward to the publication of her third novel.
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nina1973
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Reged: 08/07/2007
Posts: 8
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I was reading some of the book reviews above and began thinking what book would I recommend over all others. And for me it has to be 'The five people you meet in heaven' by Mitch Albom. I chose to read this book 6 months after losing my mum, when I had many questions (mostly unanswerable), and was struggling to cope. The author has written this book in such a beautiful way, delicate at times then more hard hitting at others.
When the main character of the book tragically dies, he arrives in heaven to be greeted by five people that he has significantly or igsignificantly been involved with during his existence on earth. They are there to remind him of valuable lessons he has lived through before arriving at this point.
This book planted a seed in my mind which helped me to view heaven and my mum in a comforting way. This book is by no means trying to impose that heaven is that way, but for me at a time when I was very confused - it was just the tonic I needed.
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ongoingstudent
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Reged: 03/07/2007
Posts: 8
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This book will save your life by A M Homes
This intriguing book takes the reader on the weird mental, and literal, journey of Richard, a well-off American divorcee who has hit a mid-life crisis. As his senses begin to reawaken - sometimes in quite spectacular fashion - he starts to notice things about himself and his environment in sometimes bizarre ways. This reawakening leads to him collecting an assortment of entertaining characters on his journey.
This was a book that left me with a feeling of needing to keep in touch with reality, just in case it somehow passes me by. Sheer curiosity kept me turning the pages.
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maidofkent
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Reged: 14/07/2007
Posts: 2
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There are whispers of the Brontes all the way down the shadowy corridors of this novel, surprisingly Setterfield's first. Gothic, oppressive, disturbing, it is beautifully written, and completely gripping. The heroine is suitably solitary and questioning, the main protagonist, Vida Winter, decidedly peculiar, telling a story that twists, repels and misleads wonderfully. But the strength for me of this book is that the author understands, how good books catch at one's vitals, and how bereft one feels when one is finished. As an encouragement for total immersion, I have not found a better. Start reading and you will find it hard to stop, and when you have to, you will mind. What better reason to begin?
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paulagalvin
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Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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I have just finished reading "The Glass Room" by kathryn Holmquist.It really is page-turning,taps into the zeitgeist,turns on all the right taps,knobs and buttons and is basically a redemptive tale.A great book to take on holiday, sip it as you would a sweet and possibly cloying cocktail!!!!!!!!!!!
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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I am reading the most truly wonderful book i have read in years!!!!!!!!!!I heard the author speak at the "Dublin Writers`festival" about a month ago and I was so moved by her reading of it and the book itself,that I simply had to go out and buy it."It" being "The post-birthday party" by Lionel Shriver.
it is simply a sumptuous read;intelligent,without being off-puttingly intellectual,beautifully written and so acutely aware of what makes women and to a lesser degree men tick.you find yourself nodding in agreement to all the internal monologues.
The novel tells the tale of Irina Mc Govern,a childrens`book illustrator,who takes out her "husbands" friend for dinner and afterwards,is tempted to kiss him.
but does she?it is on this seemingly frivolous whim ,that the entire novel is based.It follows two distictly separate storylines;one in which she does and one in which she does`nt,each one is utterly plausible,each one beautifully written so it is all up to you the reader to see which choice was best.
i found it an utterly beguiling read;she beautifully catches the cadences of ordinary speech,the petty pointless bickering of long-established relationships,the constant yearning for "another" (even when things are perfect)
lionel Shriver is funny.There are some fantastic one-liners in her book and you really will laugh out loud,or quietly chuckle.i really loved"one of the luxuries of which the underpriveleged were deprived in the United kingdom was consonants"
I think she is a superb writer and if you have ever wondered "What if"...........this is the perfect book for you!
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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It is called the post birthday world ,not party-sorry!
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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P.F.Galvin
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waterbaby
member
Reged: 23/08/2006
Posts: 42
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The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Every word demands to be read.
During a snowstorm David, a doctor, delivers his son followed by an unexpected twin who has Downs Syndrome. Deep and angry memories of his childhood lead David to tell his wife the second baby died and ask his nurse to take the child to an institution.
The consequences of this decision have a huge life-changing impact on so many lives. The worry of being found out (David), an unfulfilled marriage (wife) feelings of inadequacy (son) and ... read to find out.
Read slowly and enjoy the beautiful use of language describing secrets, tangled lives, sadness and love.
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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"Back When we were grown-ups"by Anne Tyler tells the tale of Rebecca,who has dutifully performed the tasks required of her as a mother and wife and discovers that in this process,she has somehow lost herself.
She simply disappears one day and re-invents herself.This is a beautifully-wrought,deeply affecting tale ,told with Tylers`typically understated wisdom and knowledge of humankind.
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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A Wedding in December" by Anita Shreve brings together seven former classmates for the wedding of two of their number.Throughout the course of two days,passions are rekindled,old animosities inflamed and some interesting secrets explored and divulged.It is a beautifully narrated tale,exquisitely perceptive and elegant.
Shreve manages always to be sentimental and poignant without mawkishness.I think she is a superb story-teller.
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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Colm Toibins "the master" is truly magnificent;it tells the tale of Henry James and is written in his exquisite style.
it is beautifully written and perfectly envisions the James as he might have been,it is perfectly mannered,polished and poignant as it depicts a man who had everything yet failed to achieve what he would have liked most;intimacy.
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Sealover
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell
In Hong Kong it's Chinese New Year and Jake goes through an horrific experience which has major repercussions on his life. Trying to escape his claustrophobic existence and in search of his roots, he heads for Scotland. When he reaches his destination he meets Stella, who has also abandoned her everyday life to return to a place which only her sister, Nina, knows the significance of. A beautiful, romantic tale with a surprising twist at the end. If you have something important to do, don't start this book - you won't be able to put it down!
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Sealover
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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How can two tiny Korean babies, adopted by very different Baltimore families, have such a profound effect on the lives of those who have chosen them? Fans of Anne Tyler's stylish writing will love this book and those who have never experienced her are in for a treat. Jin-Ho joins the Donaldson's, a close-knit family not afraid of expressing their feelings. Sami and Ziba Yazdan, both of Iranian origin, become the parents of tiny Susan. The story of these two disparate families, who stay in contact over the years, is both touching and funny. A great read.
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paulagalvin
member
Reged: 20/07/2007
Posts: 170
Loc: leixlip
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"The Way I Found Her" by Rose Tremain is an utterly beguiling read;it is exquisitely written,beautifully evocative of a certain time and place.The place is Paris and Lewis,our hero of fourteen years travels there with his mother,Alice who is translating the medieval romances of Valentina,a glorious exotic.Lewis falls in love with her and the labyrinthal story that follows involves secret trysts,intruiging characters and a slowly-unravelling and ultimately tragic denouememt.It is told through the eyes of Lewis,a highly intelligent and complex boy and therein lies part of its huge appeal.Readers,I loved it!
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