The Witch of Portobello

I've enjoyed The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho which is about the spiritual journey of a young woman, Athena. She is adopted by a Lebanese couple at an early age from an orphanage in Romania. As the situation in Lebanon deteriorates, the family moves to London where Athena grows up and is educated. Through contacts with other people, she gradually learns of the spiritual power within herself and uses that gift to help others. However, she faces opposition from conservative forces branding her a "witch". The story is told in the form of "interviews" with people who knew Athena, so the reader learns her story and there is a hint of mystery as to what may have happened to her. This is a book that makes you think about the value of your everyday life and the beauty that surrounds us in "ordinary" pursuits. We should take joy in doing those things, however mundane they may seem to be. 4/5

Panic

I've just finished Panic by Jeff Abbott. A young man, Evan Casher, has his world turned upside down when he finds his mother murdered. He is then sent on a fast-paced path to find out the truth about the murder and about himself in a world of spies and counter-spies, he must decide whom he can trust. This book was okay, but I wouldn't have read it if I'd realised it was about spies, counter-spies in CIA etc etc but it was fast-paced with a high body count, but a bit unbelievable in parts. 3 1/2/5.

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith is another in the delightful No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series as Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni dabbles in detective work. There are also mystery deaths at a hospital and thefts at a printing company. These are all characters we've come to know and love. 4/5

New books for September

It's my turn for Book Club this month, so I had the best fun buying the new books for the month. I'd collected several clippings over the last year of books that had excellent reviews and made up a "long list" of those I wanted to buy. Firstly, I headed for Big W, where they have the best prices, then to Myer where they have 35% off their top books. The rest I bought where I could. The following made it to my "short list". They are all novels except for Somme Mud. For more information on each book, click on the book title link.

Somme Mud by E.F.P. Lynch was written by the author when he returned from WWI in 20 school exercise books, now published for the first time. The book captures the horror of WWI from the perspective of an ordinary soldier. The editor, Will Davies, has written a follow up In the Footsteps of Private Lynch, telling of his life after he returned from the War. This is one of the "Books Alive 2008" books and came with a free book - see below.

Bombproof by Michael Robotham came free with the Books Alive promotion and published this year. Sami Macbeth has just been released from prison and when his train blows up, he's carrying a rucksak through London's West End, turning himself into the most wanted terrorist in the country.

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer is a charming story about the German occupation of the island told through letters from the island's "characters" to newspaper columnist, Juliet Ashton, in 1946. Juliet then visits the island to "meet them properly-- and unwittingly turns her life upside down." Sadly the author died earlier this year before her book was published so "what a shame it is that we won't have any more delights from this author's pen."

Radiance by Shaena Lambert is the story of 18-year old Hiroshima survivor, Keiko, who in 1952 is sent to the USA to have treatment for her radiation scars. This is "a mesmerising novel about guilt and intimacy."

The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer is set in 1950s San Francisco when Pearlie, a dutiful housewife cares for her husband and son. Her world changes when a stranger appears on her doorstep. The story "portrays three people trapped by the confines of their era, and the desperate measures they are prepared to take to escape it."

The Seance by John Harwood is a "gripping tale" set in Victorian England - "a world of apparitions, disappearances, unnatural phenomona, betrayal, blackmail and murder." In an effort to comfort her mother, grieving for a younger sibling, Constance Langton takes her to a seance, with tragic consequences. The story is "chilling, page-turning and unforgettable."

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is set in the Soviet Union of 1953. Officer Leo Demidov investigates the apparent murder of a boy, which the State is trying to cover up. At risk to himself and his family Demidov pursues his investigation of the "horrifying and gruesome killer."

Fractured by Karin Slaughter finds Abigail Campano returning home unexpectedly to find her teenage daughter dead, and the killer standing over her. "The struggle which follows changes Abigail's life forever."

Fire in the Blood by Irene Nemirovsky is another gem from this author who died so tragically in a Nazi concentration camp. The manuscript was discovered with her editors where it had been placed for safekeeping. The story is narrated by an old man as he recalls the passions of his early years.

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor has been likened to James Herriot's books as a young doctor begins his practice in an Irish village where there are plenty of "characters".

How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Sasa Stanisic is set in Bosnia of the 1990s when Serb soldiers force a young Bosnian refugee named Aleksandar Krsmanovic to flee with his family to Germany. As Aleksandar remembers the terrible times, he must try and make sense of it all to live a normal life.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff is set in late 19th century USA in a Mormon community where Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. This is the story of a family’s polygamous history, including how a young woman became a plural wife. The story is intertwined with a modern day murder mystery, as a young man, Jordan, who was thrown out of his family years earlier, fights to return to discover the truth about his father's death. "As Ann Eliza's narrative intertwines with that of Jordan's search, readers are pulled deeper into the the mysteries of love and faith."

Mistress of the Art of Death

I've enjoyed Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. The serial crimes are set in 12th century England shortly after Henry II had Thomas a Beckett killed. A fiendish murderer is abducting and killing children in Cambridge and Henry requests help from the King of Naples to find the murderer. A female doctor, Adelia Aguilar, is sent to England to use her knowledge of forensics to investigate the murders. She must conceal her true occupation for fear of being branded a witch and she encounters other prejudices. The Jews of the town have been blamed for the deaths and they have been persecuted. Finally the awful truth is revealed as Adelia discovers the murderer and also love. 4/5

Pomegranate Soup

I very much enjoyed Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran. It is set in a "quaint" Irish village in the mid-1980s, where three Iranian sisters who have escaped the turmoil of their country, start a cafe. They encounter some resistance and suspicion from some of the villagers. One man who sees himself as the "leader" of the village particularly resents their presence as he had his own plans for the shop they occupy. There are a number of "quirky" characters in the village, but the sisters settle in. At the same time we learn of their troubled past in Iran. A lovely book, which includes recipes. Many chapters are introduced with a recipe which then becomes part of that chapter. 4/5

Cold Relations

I've read Cold Relations by Gerald Hammond and liked it. Det Sgt Honey Laird investigates the disappearance of two dogs following a hunt and then a man who attended the hunt also disappears. Is there a connection? Honey pursues the investigation which later leads to find another connection, this time with an armed robbery. As she unravels all of these crimes to find where the connections are, the reader is treated to a story with good characterisation and tight dialogue. 4/5

Two For The Road

I very much enjoyed Two for the Road by Amanda Hampson. Cassie Munro returns to her home town, Bilkara, to see her ill father. She has lived in London for 10 years after "running away" with the man who was to become her husband, as she sought to escape from the terrible consequences of a tragic accident. Cassie's father has a towing business and she soon learns that this is a very competitive business. Cassie is forced to confront the truth about her husband as well as the effects of the accident that happened in her teens, as she establishes a new life for herself. There are some wonderful characters in this book, incuding Kingi, Cassie's Maori mentor and friend; Avril, the long-suffering daughter of a hypochondriac mother; and Josie, Cassie's mother. 4/5

August Book Club

We met at Liz's place for our book club this month. As I'd missed the last two meetings because I was overseas, it was good to catch up with everyone. Sandy, Leonie and Kathy were absent this time. Ulla had also recently returned from overseas as well. We talked about the joys of travel and the deflated feeling when returning home. It is such a terrific "high" to be exploring all those wonderful places. Liz is looking forward to travelling next month. Bev told us about the grim situation in Zimbabwe where her mother lives. Liz is doing some work, despite her retirement but she seems to be enjoying it much more now. She made us a delicious supper, including some brownies which were to die for!! It's my turn next month so I've now got the books - like a kid in a lolly shop.

Conflict of Interest

I quickly read Conflict of Interest by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg for our Crime Club meeting today. DA Joanne Kuhlmann becomes personally involved in a robbery case she is prosecuting when doubts emerge about the mental fitness of one of the defendants. She is also dealing with problems with her children who had been abducted by her husband and she hadn't seen them for 2 years. Now she is trying to rebuild the relationship with them. Meanwhile, the robbers turn on each other and two of them mysteriously disappear - have they been murdered? There are many "different" characters in this book, some of them entirely unconvincing, for example, Kuhlmann's 12 year old son. Most of the ladies at our meeting agreed that the book had the potential for a good story but the poor writing let it down. It certainly promoted some lively discussion.

Paula

My mother gave me a copy of Paula by Isabel Allende to read on my recent holiday to Europe. I was reluctant to read it as I had been to a talk by the author a few years ago when, among other things. she told us about the writing of Paula. It sounded much too sad a book to be reading. However, as I was given it, I felt compelled to read it and I did like it very much. It is a sad story of the slow dying of Paula following being in a coma, the consequences of porphyria. The book was a memoir dedicated to Paula (written after her death) telling her about Isabel's life and those of her other relatives and the military coup in Chile. It is a heart-wrending story for any mother to read, and it is told well so that the reader becomes quite fond of Isabel's family. The insight into the terrible coup was interesting to learn to more about as well. This is a story I'm now glad to have read. 4/5