The Collector

I read The Collector by Nora Roberts which is set in New York.  A young woman, Lila, who house-sits and writes teen novels for a living witnesses a murder in a nearby high-rise building.  Improbably she reports what she's seen and meets the brother of one of the victims.  Of course, they have a relationship as they try to work out the motive for the murder.  A tedious, unconvincing story, but as I'm a "compulsive finisher" I wanted to know what happened as quickly as possible to get it over with (it's a thick book with small writing). 21/2/5

Mr Mac And Me

I enjoyed Mr Mac And Me by Esther Freud which is set in an English coastal village just before and during World War I.  The main character, 14-year-old Thomas Maggs, tells his story in the first person.  He befriends an older couple, Charles and Margaret Mackintosh, who are not native to the area.  Charles Mackintosh (based on an actual person of the same name) is a gifted artist and architect.  Tom has a lot to deal with in his young life with family issues and a disability which affects his walking.  He is encouraged to sketch and paint and enjoys his time with the Mackintoshes.  At times the War comes too close for comfort and paranoia causes problems.  A good story. 4/5

The Lowland

I very much enjoyed The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri which is set in Calcutta and Rhode Island.  The main character Subhash grows up with his brother Udayan in Calcutta in the mid to late 1940s.  They are well educated and Subhash  goes to an American college on Rhode Island to further his education.  When a tragic incident occurs Subhash returns to his family for a brief time, when he meets Udayan's wife.  The story continues when Subhash returns to Rhode Island as everything in his life changes.  This is beautiful writing as the author tells the story from the perspective of the main characters as they grow older.  The final chapter shows how one incident can dramatically affect the lives of all involved.  This author has won the Pulitzer Prize, among other writing accolades.  Highly recommended. 5/5

You're Next

I very much enjoyed this fast paced thriller You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz.  It is set on the west coast of USA where a man, Mike, who was abandoned by his parents when he was four is now a property developer.  He is married and has a young daughter, Kat.  Suddenly, he realises there are very bad people who want him and his daughter dead.  His main ally is his childhood friend Shep who was in his foster home.  When Mike's wife is seriously wounded by these unknown men, Mike understands he must flee with his daughter and try to learn why these people are after him.  It is an exciting read, hard to put down when Mike finally discovers the reason he wanted dead. 41/2/5

The Golden Age

I enjoyed this story The Golden Age by Joan London which is set in early 1950s Perth at a hospital caring for children with polio.  The main characters are Frank who came to Australia with his parents from Hungary, and Elsa a girl Frank loves.  It is interesting to read about those times before we had immunisation for this terrible disease.  The author has written a beautifully gentle story.  4/5

March 2015 Book Club

We had a very enjoyable evening last Monday with our host providing a delicious supper.  She bought some great books to add to our collection.  We had one member missing who was visiting her daughter interstate.  One lady talked about her experience in finding and meeting with members of her birth family.  She was able to speak with the elderly sister of her mother.  Another lady will become a grandmother for the first time on Thursday.  This is a very exciting time.  Soon there will only be a small number in our group who will still be working.  Age is catching up.

Hard Twisted

I enjoyed Hard Twisted by C. Joseph Greaves which is based on a true crime, The Skeleton Case, in mid-1930s America.  A drifter, Palmer, meets Lottie and her father and offers for them to team up with him.  Along the way Lottie's father disappears.  She is left alone with Palmer and she is only 13 years old.  The story of their "road trip" is told in retrospect as each chapter begins with excerpts from the trial with Lottie giving evidence. 31/2/5