Black Water Rising

I very much enjoyed Black Water Rising by Attica Locke, a debut author. It is set in Houston, Texas in 1981. A young black lawyer, Jay Porter, witnesses a killing and then becomes entangled with the people involved with that killing. As Jay investigates, he discovers there is a far larger crime with a lot at stake. Jay and his wife's lives are threatened as he refuses to walk away from it. This is a gripping tale, with reminders of the differences in everyday life that have occurred since that time. 41/2/5

Wanting

This is a very good story Wanting by Richard Flanagan, though a bit depressing. Set in 19th century in Tasmania and in England, two stories with a small connection. Lady Franklin, the wife of Tasmanian Governor Sir John Franklin, takes in a beautiful little Aboriginal girl, Mathinna. Lady Franklin denies herself the pleasure of loving her (she has no children of her own) and eventually returns to England leaving Mathinna behind. The other story set years later has Charles Dickens writing a play to counter the accusation Sir John Franklin's crew resorted to cannibalism after their ship was stuck in ice in the Arctic, and before they died. Dickens plays a character in the play and falls in love with an actress, though tries to hide it. The author says the book is "a meditation on desire" and its potency in human affairs. Recommended. 4/5

The Wives of Henry Oades

I enjoyed The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran which is based on a true story set in late 19th century. Henry Oades and his family move to New Zealand. Henry's family is abducted by Maori and are presumed dead. Years later Henry moves to California and eventually remarries, then his "first" family arrives causing major complications. The author weaves a plausible story of how the two families come together, particularly the two wives. An interesting scenario which makes the reader wonder how they would react if faced with a similar situation. A great effort from first time author. 4/5

Await Your Reply

This intriguing and clever story Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon was very good. There are three story threads which appear to be unconnected as the some characters have multiple identities. The story begins with a shocking scene and the reader is led on a long path with the different characters until the final revelation. The plots are cleverly drawn together. 4/5

Thereby Hangs A Tail

Thereby Hangs A Tail by Spencer Quinn is a detective story which is different. The story is told in the first person by Chet, the dog belonging to private detective Bernie Little. Chet and Bernie are assigned to investigate the disappearance of a "show dog" and her owner. Chet has many adventures along the way before finally helping Bernie solve the crime. 3/5

The Hand That First Held Mine

The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell was an intriguing story set in London in two time periods. In the present time a young couple, Ted and Elina, take their new baby home which triggers Ted having flashbacks to his own childhood, which he is having trouble understanding. The other story set in the 1960s is about the life and loves of Lexie Sinclair. The two threads run concurrently with each chapter switching from one to the other and appear to have no connection at first but the reader is gradually given clues to the connection which is then finally resolved. A terrific story. 4/5

Remembering Me

I quite enjoyed Remembering Me by Diane Chamberlain. It was first published in 1999 and this is the 2010 edition. It is a mysterious and intriguing story which has at its heart, the maltreatment of the mentally ill in the 1960s. Laura Brandon's father begs her on his death bed to look after an elderly woman in a nursing home. She has no clue as to the connection this woman has with her father. Then Laura's husband commits suicide, severely traumatising Laura's five year old daughter who was in the house at the time. Laura visits the old woman, Sarah, and becomes caught up in the story of her life as a psychiatric nurse in the 1960s and the maltreatment of patients in the hospital where she worked. The mystery of Sarah's relationship with Laura's father and others is finally revealed and surprises those involved - far fetched? Maybe, but a good story, real page-turner! 4/5

The House Across the Road

This soapy saga The House Across the Road by Ann Whitehead was set in a rural Australian town, starting in the mid 1960s. The story covers two generations. Teenager Abbie has a relationship with an older man and the consequences are not always happy ones. Abbie has a difficult time with her mother-in-law and also with the man she marries. This carries on to the next generation to affect her daughter Claire. Not recommended - unless you like this sort of thing. 3/5

The Italian Wedding

I very much enjoyed The Italian Wedding by Nicky Pellegrino. The love story of two generations of a family. The father, Beppi, came from Italy to London with his English wife many years ago. Now his daughters have their own romantic lives and at the same dealing with a feud their father has had with a man who was once his childhood friend. A very "nice" book. 4/5

August Book Club

I hosted book club this month and had a good time. I did the baking myself and with Terry's help got it all organised. All the ladies came, bar one who was away visiting her Mum. We enjoyed each other's company, had some champagne, nibbles and later tea and coffee with my baking efforts. Unfortunately, the only "fly in the ointment" was that only two of the books I'd bought arrived in time, the others were ordered from overseas and haven't got here yet - very disappointing, but I'll look forward to getting them soon, I hope.