The Clockmaker's Daughter

I enjoyed The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton which is set in a few different time periods in an English country home.  A young London archivist, Elodie, discovers material in a leather satchel and tries to discover its origins and the story behind the artwork within it.  The story surrounds one country home which at different times was home to a number of people.  There was a mysterious gathering at the home in 1862 which has a lasting impact on some who were there.  There are several voices who speak to the reader in this story, including the most mysterious one who is revealed towards the end of the story.  I have enjoyed all Kate Morton's books but I think this one was unnecessarily long.  4/5

October Book Club

I had just returned from a fabulous holiday in Alaska and Canada.  Other members were away this month on holidays.  We had a lovely meeting our our host's home.  Always good to catch up with everyone.  Our host bought some great new books and I have a few books to read for the month.  We had a delicious supper in very pleasant surroundings.

Thanks to our host and also thanks to another member for taking me there.

Normal People

I've read Normal People by Sally Rooney which is set in Ireland.  This is a love story.  Connell and Marianne are at school together.  Connell's mother is Marianne's mother's cleaner.  So they are very different in socio-economic terms.  They go to university and remain friends while they each have other lovers. There is no punctuated dialogue but the story still flows. 3/5

The Choke

I enjoyed The Choke by Sofie Laguna which is set in a small town on the Murray River.  Justine lives with her grandfather, "Pop" as her parents went their separate ways and she only occasionally has her father visit.  Justine is shy and doesn't really have any friends.  One day when her father is visiting he takes her to "visit" a former girlfriend and something happens which adds to a long-term feud with that girl's family.  This later has serious ramifications for Justine. 4/5

Ginny Moon

I enjoyed Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig which I read on my Kindle app. while overseas recently.  The author has experience with autistic children and the narrator in this story an autistic 14-year-old.  Ginny had a traumatic childhood and was removed from her mother four years before.  She has been in a few foster homes and the story has her with a couple who want to adopt her.  They have some reservations about her behaviour when the foster mother becomes pregnant.  Eventually Ginny's behaviour is understood and the story continues.  I found it interesting being "inside Ginny's head". 31/2/5

The Lie of the Land

I enjoyed The Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig which is set mainly in the English countryside.  A woman moves there with her children while waiting for their house in London to sell so she can divorce her philandering husband.  There is a mystery surrounding the property as they learn the reason for the cheap rent.  A murder took place there and the killer has not been identified.  There are interesting characters in this small village including the landlord ageing rock star.  Twist at the end. 4/5

A Gentleman in Moscow

I very much enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.  In the early 1920s in Moscow, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to remain in the Hotel Metropol for life but not in his usual room.  He is taken to an attic room which he eventually makes comfortable for himself.  There are some great characters in the hotel and the Count is the most interesting of them all.  He meets and sees many people come and go in the hotel.  A young girl has an impact on his life and the story takes a new turn.  Highly recommended. 5/5