Two Little Girls In Blue

I've read Two Little Girls In Blue by Mary Higgins Clark which was an enjoyable suspenseful read. Three year old twins, Kathy and Kelly are kidnapped for $8 million ransom which seems impossible for the parents to pay. The FBI investigates as we learn the kidnapping was organised by a mysterious man, the Pied Piper, whose real identity is not revealed till the end. With each harrowing chapter we wonder how the story will end as the lives of the girls are in constant jeopardy. The kidnappers are wonderful truly "awful" characters. This is a real "page-turner". 4/5

The Collectors

I've enjoyed reading The Collectors by David Baldacci which started out as two separate stories which later came together. Annabelle Conroy carried out a $40 million scam on a ruthless casino boss who had murdered her mother. This is a good story and Annabelle is a great character. The Camel Club men, Oliver, Caleb, Reuben and Milton are separately dealing with mysterious deaths in Washington including the death of Caleb's boss at the Library of Congress. After this murder, the two stories come together and the Club becomes involved in espionage and more murders as they investigate. Exciting conclusion to the murder stories but we're left hanging at the end as well, so must be a follow up book to tie up loose ends. I've discovered that book is Stone Cold. 4/5.

Kennedy's Brain

I've read Kennedy's Brain by Henning Mankell and I was quite disappointed by it. It was different to many of his other books and seemed to be about the author's crusade to do something about AIDS. Swedish archeologist,Louise Cantor, finds her son, Henrik, dead in his apartment. He appears to have suicided however Louise believes he was murdered and then investigates by re-tracing Henrik's movements through Europe and Africa. She discovers a hidden world of AIDS sufferers and those who exploit their suffering as she seeks the truth behind her son's death. The story is well-written and explores the subject of AIDS in Africa and the injustices of poverty there, proposing an international drug company conspiracy. However, I found the end frustrating as there is no resolution to the murders. The story also tells us that we cannot know everything about the people we love as Louise discovers Henrik's secrets. 3/5

The Mermaid Chair

I've read The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd which was a fairly good read, exploring the "mid life crisis" and whether we need to follow a new direction. Louise is restless in her marriage when she is called to attend her childhood home to see to her mother who has mysteriously self-mutilated. Louise tries to discover the reason and how it is connected to the death of her father some 33 years before. Louise meets and falls in love with a monk at the local abbey who is also going through a transition in his own life. The truth about her father's death is finally revealed as she must also deal with her own future. Quite a good story, but I found the romance a bit "Mills & Boon" (not that I've ever read any of those books). It looks at an issue that may confront many of us at some point in our lives - do we throw away our past for an uncertain future, or do we remain in our comfort zone. 3 1/2/5

April Book Club

We had a lovely time at Ulla's place on Monday night. She has just returned from a holiday in the South island of New Zealand. We were all there except Marilyn who is visiting South America. Sandy is excited about her daughter's upcoming wedding on a tropical Pacific island. We discussed the recent elections in Zimbabwe which is of personal concern to some of our ladies. We've all read some great books in the last month including Mistress of the Art of Death, The Camel Bookmobile, People of the Book, Grotesque and Remember Me. We have a terrific selection of new books as well. As usual, Ulla, put on a wonderful supper and we all enjoyed the evening.

On Chesil Beach

I quite enjoyed On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan as I have enjoyed all his books. A young married couple, Edward and Florence, are having dinner in their honeymoon suite near Chesil Beach. The time is early 1960s, before the "sexual revolution" and, as virgins, they are both uncertain and lacking confidence about what is expected of them as the evening progresses. Florence is particularly unhappy about her role as a submissive bride. There are flashbacks to their earlier lives, childhood, their meeting etc. which gives the reader an understanding of how they find themselves in this situation. Then "something happens" which alters them both forever. We are left to wonder at the true meaning of "love", how lack of understanding and communication can affect lives. What "might have been"? It is a story of its time, but even in our modern times, communication in love is still essential. 4/5