This House of Grief

I enjoyed reading This House of Grief by Helen Garner, which is the "true crime" account of the murder trial of Rob Farquharson who drove in to a dam where his car was submerged.  Farquharson was on his way to his ex-wife's house to return his three young sons.  Farquharson escaped from the submerged car while his boys drowned.  The author attended all the court appearances.  The question the jurors had to decide was whether Farquharson "blacked out" after a coughing fit (the defence case) or whether he had deliberately driven the car in to the dam.  The question was never satisfactorily answered.  The author paints a picture of the courtroom and everyone in it so we see the characters in the story.  Here is a case where fact is stranger than fiction, riveting reading, harrowing, but highly recommended. 4/1/2/5                                                                                                                        

Big Brother

I enjoyed reading Big Brother by Lionel Shriver which is about a woman, Pandora, who has her brother come to stay with her family for a while.  Pandora is horrified to see her brother, Edison, is now morbidly obese.  Edison had some life-changing events - marriage fell apart, no more work for him as a musician, friends have turned away.  Pandora decides that the only way she can help Edison is to be his diet coach in a new home away from her family for one year.  She has made a great sacrifice to help her brother.  Pandora's husband Fletcher is not happy about the arrangement.  So the story tells what happens during that year, and then what happens after.  Makes the reader  think about food and our obsession with the "perfect" body.  Interesting. 4/5

Close Call

I enjoyed this terrorism thriller Close Call by Stella Rimington who is a former head of MI5.  This story was most interesting, particularly in light of recent events in Paris.  Liz Carlyle is in the Counter Terrorism unit in MI5 and is following the lead up to a terrorist attack in England.  They are looking for an arms shipment being smuggled in to Britain and searching for the jihadists who will be using the ammunition.  The author would be familiar with the procedures and it makes for nail-biting reading hoping the attack can be thwarted. 4/5

The Buried Giant

I enjoyed The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro which is set in early Middle Ages Briton after King Arthur's reign.  An elderly Briton couple Beatrice and Axl decide to visit their son in a village about two days walk from their home.  There is an element of "fantasy" as the couple and others have no memory.  A dragon produces a mist which robs them of their memories. Even their memories of love, and the battles with the Saxons are gone.  Beatrice and Axl meet people on their journey who come from a haunted past, one a Saxon warrior who fought against the Britons and another who fought alongside King Arthur.  It's a great story. 4/5

X

I enjoyed reading X by Sue Grafton which is her latest in the "alphabet series".  Private investigator Kinsey Millhone is having a fairly quiet time with her work when she is asked to find the son of a woman who had to give him up at birth.  This seemed a fairly straightforward assignment which was successfully completed.  As well Kinsey was going through the effects of her murdered colleague Pete Wolinsky and she discovers a hidden satchel with an envelope addressed to an unknown woman.  Kinsey finds a coded list of women in the satchel who are all connected to a man who seems to be dangerous.  Kinsey finds out just dangerous he is.  This story was a bit slow to start and there are so many characters to follow.  31/2/5

November Book Club

We had our monthly Monday evening book club meeting this week.  Most of our members were there, one absent due to illness and two traveling. Our hostess bought some great reads for us to enjoy.  It was a very small meeting last month so it was good to catch up with more of them this month.  One lady who was absent last month was in London attending her son's wedding and christening of their baby.  It's always hard to return to the "real world" after a wonderful holiday.  Our hostess had baked a delicious supper which we all enjoyed very much.

The Dinner

I very much enjoyed The Dinner by Herman Koch, set in Amsterdam.  The author uses the menu to progress the story.  The main narrator is Paul.  He and his wife Claire have been invited to dine with Paul's brother, Serge, and his wife, Babette at an exclusive restaurant to discuss their respective teenage sons.  Serge is a very recognisable politician who is on track to be the next Prime Minister.  As the meal moves from one course to the next, the reader learns the reason for the meeting and we know that "something" is going to happen. 4/5