August Gondiwindi returns home after ten years of wandering, when her grandfather dies. She finds her home about to taken by a mining company, and she is overwhelmed by the stories of her country. It’s a story of the horrors of the past, their lingering legacy, and of hope for the future; of language, belonging, and truth. I found it slow, and also moving, beautiful, and powerful.
Month: March 2020
The strangers we know by Pip Drysdale
This was an entertaining thriller that kept the momentum going throughout the story. Told in a conversational tone by the main character Charlie (which included great asides) it grabbed me from the start and drew me into the story. It also made the story personable – leaving me wondering all the time if I could except Charlie’s version of what happens as the truth?
The best kind of beautiful by Frances Whiting
Florence Saint Claire is a former child star from a famous, musical family. These days, she works for a horticultural group based in a library (?!), alongside Albert Flowers, who seems to have his social life sorted, unlike Florence. It’s about overcoming fears, fitting in, connecting, and kindness. A sweet, gentle, quirky read, for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Blackberry & wild rose by Sonia Velton
I have mixed feelings with this historical read. The story grabbed me from the beginning, I then went to disliking Esther and her actions, to then be riveted by the trial and then not like the ending. I enjoyed the setting and the descriptions of the silk industry. Esther did not know much of the world outside of her home, but that all changes when she brings Sara home from a brothel. The story is told alternatively by these two women. There are secrets, betrayal, uneasy relationships and the lowly position women held in a male dominated industry and society.
The last wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
I watched the first season of the television series, and was surprised to find many of the the episodes were based on stories in this book. It is hard to know where to start with an older series that has books published out of chronological order, but I went with this book of short stories. It’s high fantasy, full of monsters, magic, fighting, and yearning. There is a plenty of dry humour, endearing relationships, deeper thoughts about life, and it is less gory and bawdy than the television adaptation.
Calypso by David Sedaris
I don’t laugh out loud often when reading, but I do when I read David Sedaris. His essays aren’t all light, there’s a great deal that is dark or sad, weird, or even gross, but he is so refreshingly candid and warm that I raced through them all.
The weeknight cookbook by Justine Schofield
Justine’s recipes are very tempting and the sub title says it all – “create 100+ delicious new meals using pantry staples”. All the recipes can be attempted by anyone as the recipes are clear, use everyday ingredients and even include a shopping list. The photography is excellent as well.
Machines like me by Ian McEwan
Machines Like Me is science fiction; not only is it about robots, but it is an alternate history, set in a Britain of the 1980s where they had lost the Falklands War, Alan Turing was still alive, and technology moved ahead more quickly. An aimless London man spends an inheritance on one of the first synthetic humans, which has unintended consequences. As with a lot of science fiction, it says a lot about the world as it is; Brexit, and artificial intelligence, and also a great deal about what it is to be human, moral, emotional, rational beings. Though the main character was dull, the twists and conundrums were fascinating.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Uprooted is a high fantasy tale, with lots of references to Polish folklore. I’m glad I listened to the audio, as I wouldn’t have known how to pronounce the many names and spells. In the kingdom of Polnya, a darkly enchanted wood threatens those who live near it, and a reclusive wizard protects the people. For payment, he takes a girl from the villages, every ten years. The world is vividly drawn, there are epic, magical battles, significant girl power, and some romance (of the type where people who are never nice to each other fall in love).
The canary keeper by Clare Carson
A great historical mystery read set in London and Orkney in the 1850s. Birdie unwittingly becomes a suspect in a murder and to clear her name she travels to Orkney to investigate. Clare brings to life the locations beautifully, both in the descriptions of the locations and society. How is the dead man connected to Birdie? Is any of her family involved? Atmospheric with lots of history, mystery, and a touch of magic and romance – once involved with the story I just had to keep reading to discover the ending.
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