Badger's Moon

I enjoyed Badger's Moon by Peter Tremayne which is another in the series of Sister Fidelma mysteries set in 7th century Ireland. I particularly enjoy the author's Historical Note which explains some of the background history of Ireland at that time. It was a more progressive nation than many others at the time. Women were treated well and could study, as Sister Fidelma did and she rose to a high rank as a judge. Catholicism was relatively new and celibacy and marriage were still allowed in Ireland. In this book Sister Fidelma and her husband leave their infant son to solve the mysterious deaths of three young women in another area. The crimes are made more complicated by a further murder and the finding of gold in the area. Sister Fidelma is a strong character and she eventually works through the complex case to find the answer. 4/5

State of Wonder

I've read State of Wonder by Ann Patchett which is set in the Amazonian jungle. An eccentric scientist, Annick, working for a big drug company is developing a drug to prolong female fertility. Another scientist, Anders, from the company is sent down to check on her progress as Annick hasn't communicated with the company for a long time. The company later receives a lettergram from Annick saying that Anders has died. So another employee, Marina, is sent down to find out more about Anders' death and the progress of the drug development. It is a fairly slow story and didn't grip me. There are moments of "adventure" but I think the scenario painted is improbable, but of course it is a story. 31/2/5

Restitution

I enjoyed Restitution by Eliza Graham which is a novel about the life of a woman who lived through WWII as a teenager. Alexandra (in 2002) meets her son, Michael, whom she adopted out during the War. She tells him her story as they travel to Poland together where Alexandra's Prussian family lived until the War. The story jumps back and forth in time as the reader learns about Alexandra's parents, her friends and her own story of how she escaped the Nazis and then the Russian occupation. As with any War story, there is much loss, suffering and regret. And there is love. 4/5

Faces in the Clouds

I quite enjoyed this poignant story Faces in the Clouds by Matt Nable. Twin boys, Stephen and Lawrence, are born to an "army couple". Lawrence is intellectually disabled (likely from the birth experience). The boys grow up with Stephen at times resenting Lawrence being involved with his young social life, though they are always very close. The story follows them growing to adulthood with many changes to their lives along the way. Stephen often longs to "escape" Lawrence, but then feels guilty about doing so. It is a well-written, sometimes sad story. 4/5

Book of Lost Threads

I thoroughly enjoyed Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans (a brilliant first novel). The story centers on a number of characters in the small Australian fictional town of Opportunity. All the characters are connected to the main character Finn, who as a young man then known as Michael, was paid to be a sperm donor for a lesbian couple, Linsey and Amy. Many years later the daughter of that union, Moss, lands on Finn's doorstep to get to know him after learning his identity. All these wonderful characters have a secret or are "damaged" in some way and the different threads of their individual stories are finally tied together at the end. They are so well drawn that the reader really comes to know them and feel for them. Lily's story of her tea cosies is a delight. Highly recommended. 5/5

Far To Go

I enjoyed Far To Go by Alison Pick, a fictional story of a wealthy Czech Jewish family in 1938/39 as they deal with the Nazi invasion. The story is mainly centered on the Kindertransport which took Jewish children to Britain. Most of the story is told in the third person as the reader learns about the lives of the Bauer family and their nanny, Marta. We see the turmoil their lives are thrown in to and their powerlessness over their own lives. They are able to get their son, Pepik, on the Kindertransport. Part of the story is narrated in the first person and it is some time before we realise the identity of this person. It all comes together at the end as we learn the connection this narrator has with the other characters in this poignant story. 41/2/5

It Takes A Village

This story, It Takes A Village by Christine Stinson was quite sweet. Sophie is growing up in the suburbs of Sydney in the 1950s and 1960s. She discovers quite young that she is illegitimate. She lives with her grandfather after her mother and grandmother died when Sophie was very young. Her next door neighbour, Mrs Hogan, acts as her "mother" and with a number of people in the street is a great help to her. Unfortunately, there are gossips who make her life difficult. Sophie becomes obsessed with discovering who her father is. As she grows up she becomes romantically involved and the story has an almost inevitable conclusion. A pleasant sweet story. 31/2/5

The Memory of Love

I very much enjoyed The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna which is set in the early 2000's in the aftermath of the civil war in Sierra Leone. A British psychologist, Adrian, goes to work there for a short time and his first job is to listen to the story of a dying man, Elias Cole. Other important characters are Kai, a surgeon, who worked to save lives during the war and the beautiful Mamakay who connects all the main characters though that is not immediately obvious. There are love stories as well as tales of horrors committed during the war, which the country has to come to terms with. There are some terrible memories. It is likely a story that could be repeated in many countries that have suffered similar fates. The story is very well written - one that you want to finish but feel bereft when it's over. Highly recommended. 5/5