Water for Elephants

I thoroughly enjoyed Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The story is set in a circus in 1930s America but first we are introduced to 93 year old Jacob Jankowski in a nursing home. Jacob looks back to his time in the circus and the hard times that they were in that period. There is a love interest and the story moves along at a good pace. This is a terrific story - highly recommended 5/5.

Dying Was the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me

This collection of stories Dying Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me by Dr William E. Hablitzel is quite inspirational. Dr Hablitzel tells about some of the patients he's had over the years and the lessons he's learned from them. It is an uplifting book, with some sadness but not as lugubrious as the title suggests. The person to whom the title relates was a "go-getter" who did too much, until he dropped dead with a heart attack. He was clinically dead for 10 mins and fully recovered to reassess his life's goals. This is a lovely book. 4/5

Good to a Fault

I enjoyed Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott. She won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2009, Canada and the Caribbean. Clara Purdy has a car accident and blames herself so takes in to her home the family in the other car, who are homeless. They are all taken to hospital and they find that the mother, Lorraine, has cancer. The father takes off, leaving Clara responsible for the three children and their grandmother. It is an interesting scenario and there are many complications arising from this. There is a romantic interest as well. The situation continues for about a year and the future depends on whether Lorraine recovers and then what happens to Clara and the children. Recommended. 4/5

The Time We Have Taken

I did not like The Time We Have Taken by Steven Carroll. It focused on several "related" characters as their lives were explored in early 1960s Melbourne area. The community decides to celebrate the area's centenary. I found the story tedious and didn't care about the characters. I very rarely give up on a book, but I came close with this one. 2/5

Reading in Bed

This story Reading in Bed by Sue Gee is a "light and fluffy" or "peaches and cream" story. Two female friends who met during University have known each other for 30 years and have been through a lot together. One is recently widowed and is dealing with that. The other is dealing with health problems and her husband's infidelity. A good story to "read in bed." 3/5

The Fig Tree

I enjoyed this lovely book The Fig Tree by Arnold Zable as it is about family history and migration. The author has a new born son, Alexander, and as he grows, he explores his own history and that of his wife for the sake of his son. We learn a wonderful history of his family and that of the countries from which they came and what they endured to survive. The author travels with his wife and then four year old son to some of the places where Alexander's grandparents lived. There are still distant relatives to meet and they discover more about those who left. Very readable and interesting. 4/5

The Gift

This parable story The Gift by Cecelia Ahern teaches us to value time. This "gift" is given to Lou Suffern who never has enough time, likes to be in two places at once and it takes this gift for him to realise the value of time. He strives to achieve well at his workplace at the expense of his family. Makes you think. 3/5

Wildflower

This biography Wildflower by Mark Seal tells of the life and death of Joan Root. Together with her then husband Alan Root, she made magnificent wildlife films and following her divorce she became a champion of the African wildlife, particularly in the area where she lived on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Kenya. The destruction of the lake which followed the expansion of hot houses for growing roses was her last main cause. The area became a dangerous place as poachers on the lake and the land struggled to exist. Corruption was also rife. Joan was gunned down in her bedroom in 2006 and her murderers were never brought to justice. Hers was a very interesting life, a story well told. Next time you buy roses, wonder where they came from. 4/5

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest

I thoroughly enjoyed the much awaited The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson, the third of his brilliant "Millennium Trilogy". The wonderful character Lisbeth Salander is in a "tricky situation" (can't say too much in case you haven't read book two). She is accused of three murders and her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist fights to prove her innocence. This is excellent writing of the "can't put it down" variety, a book you want to finish but can't bear it when the story is over. We want more from this great writer but sadly that cannot be. Very highly recommended (but read the books in order). 5/5