The Oracle of Stamboul

I've read The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas which is set in the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century when there is turmoil in the balance of power in Europe.  A young savant girl, Eleonora, travels with her father to Stamboul, where he sells carpets.  Eleonora is only eight years old but is an accomplished reader in seven languages.  A tragic event changes her life.  She is then involved in political intrigue as the Sultan asks her opinion about what should be done.  This was a pleasant story but a little too incredible. 3/5

The Memory Tree

This story The Memory Tree by Tess Evans is a fairly sombre tale.  It is set in Melbourne beginning in the 1930s when Hal marries the beautiful Paulina.  They have two children, Zav and Sealie.  At first the reader is unsure who the narrator is but gradually it becomes obvious that "something terrible" is going to happen and the narrator is revealed.  It is a poignant story of love and grief which takes us up to 1997 when Hal seeks redemption.  Sealie has held the family together for many years and finally has a choice about what to do with her life.  It is difficult to say too much without revealing the pivotal events in the story. 31/2/5

Lola's Secret

Lola's Secret by Monica McInerney is one of those "very nice" stories.  Lola is in her mid-80s, a little eccentric, and lives in a motel with her son and daughter-in-law.  She has two granddaughters living nearby and she volunteers at the local charity shop in the Clare Valley.  She insists that she is content to be on her own for Christmas Day and ensures her relatives will be away.  However, she plots to have guests at the motel for Christmas.  She uses her email account to contact these guests and the reader is introduced to them.  We learn who they are, about their lives, as well as the reason they accept the "free offer" to stay at the motel for Christmas. A lovely story. 4/5

The Language of Flowers

I very much enjoyed The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, a debut novel.  The story of Victoria Jones is told in two time periods, the first is the "present" as she "graduates" from a group housing home for wards of the state when she turns 18.  She then has to find her own way in the world.  She has very low self esteem as a result of her upbringing.  The second time period is when she is about nine and is taken in to foster care by Elizabeth who lives alone in a Californian vineyard.  Victoria is told that this is her last chance (after many foster care placements) to be adopted as once she reaches 10, she will be unadoptable.  Victoria constantly "tests" Elizabeth before finally understanding that she really is loved.  Elizabeth teaches her about flowers and their "language", the meanings derived from Victorian times.  An incident changes her life when she is 10 and the reader then sees much of the present story as Victoria establishes a life as a florist.  We eventually learn what happened when she was young, as past and present come together.  A poignant story about a girl who finds it difficult to accept and give love. 4/5

Before the Storm

I enjoyed Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain which is based around the dangers of drinking while pregnant, thus causing Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.  A 15-year-old boy, Andy, is a hero after saving the lives of people when the church in which they are having a dance burns down.  However, three people die in the incident.  Eventually the suspicion falls on Andy himself.   Andy has FASD and has the mind of a much younger person.  It is a tale of a dysfunctional family which tries to recover from early problems.  It is set in USA and I found it difficult to understand how an intellectually disabled child could be charged as an adult with murder.  The mystery is resolved and many family secrets are also exposed.  A compelling story. 31/2/5

Before the Poison

I enjoyed Before the Poison by Peter Robinson which starts with a confronting scene of the execution of a woman convicted of the murder of her husband in the early 1950s.  Then we move to the "present" when Chris Lowndes buys a mansion in the English countryside to escape from his work as a movie theme musician and the recent death of his wife.  He learns that the house he's bought was once the home of Dr Fox and his wife Grace, who was executed in the 1950s.  Chris becomes intrigued about the history of the house and its previous owners.  He begins to believe in Grace's innocence and sets out to prove it, meeting people who knew her.  At the start of each chapter there is part of the account of Grace's trial and later excerpts from her World War II journal.  There is also a romantic element in the story as Chris becomes involved with the real estate agent, Heather, who sold him the house.  The story is interesting, but perhaps a bit too long as Chris finally decides on whether or not Grace was guilty. 31/2/5

Started Early, Took My Dog

I enjoyed Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson which is a murder mystery set in England.  Private detective, Jackson Brodie, is asked by a client in New Zealand to track down her birth parents - a simple enough job he thought, but then finds no record of his client.  Meanwhile, retired policewoman Tracy Waterhouse witnesses an act of child cruelty and impulsively "buys" the little girl from the drug-addicted mother.  She then goes on the run with the child when the mother is murdered.  The plot becomes more complicated as Tracy is being chased by unknown thugs who are concerned with the murder of a prostitute 30 years previously.  This and Jackson Brodie's case are unknowingly linked and there is a good chase as the past catches up with all concerned. 4/5

July 2012 Book Club

 I hosted the July Book Club and enjoyed it very much.  I was fortunate to have my grandson help me with baking and he and my husband set up everything for me.  Unfortunately, the books I'd ordered from Amazons didn't arrive on time - three days too late, but at least they arrived, so we can look forward to discovering them next month - a double dose of books!  There were a few absentees - Vee had Denise had visitors, Carmen wasn't well and sadly Bev's stepfather died suddenly.  Jenny has her daughter and family visiting her and she's enjoying that.  Penny is besotted with her beautiful grandson.  Ulla was back this month.  Robyn, Liz and Kath were also there. We had some discussion about the ongoing Health pay debacle which is affecting a couple of people and we talked about genealogy and "Who Do You Think You Are?"  Interesting to see where we come from.  I look forward to our next meeting at Jenny's place.