Where the Past Begins

I've read Where the Past Begins by Amy Tan which is the author's memoir.  Most of the book was very interesting.  Tan writes about her grandmother and mother who lived in China prior to the Revolution and their stories formed the back story for Tan's life.  Her parents had a difficult time after they went to America to improve their lives and that of their children. They faced terrible tragedy.  As a child, this was often very bewildering. Tan's parents had high hopes for the success of their children to justify coming to the US.  Tan had boxes of material to sort through and discovered some of the documents which impacted on her life, giving her an understanding which could not have been appreciated as a child.  The structure of the book was not appealing.  I was engaged with the narrative but when the story went "off course" to, for example, examine pages of emails, I found this less interesting. 3/5

Into the Water

I enjoyed Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, which is set in a small English village.  There is a river in the village and a swimming hole is part of it. The pool has a history of tragedy dating back centuries.  More recently there have been two women and a teenage girl who have died in the pool.  The police are investigating whether these drownings have been suicide or murder.  This village has lots of secrets and is highly dysfunctional.  There are lots of characters and each chapter is from the perspective of a different character, also could be first person, or third person.  Sometimes difficult to remember who is who. 4/5

Under the Eye of the Clock

I enjoyed Under the Eye of the Clock by Christopher Nolan which is a memoir about the author's school days in Ireland.  Nolan has written in the third person and used the character Joseph Meehan to tell the story from a different perspective.  Born in 1965 to a loving family who refused to acknowledge his limitations of his disability.  They recognised Christopher was an intelligent person and found ways for him to express his thoughts by communicating with a typewriter.  It would have been tedious and a labour of love for those who helped him write with a stick attached to his head.  He went to a "normal" school with the support of students and teachers.  After school  he was accepted in to Trinity College.  This book was originally published in 1987, republished in 2013. Computer technology has now made it easier for similarly disabled people to express themselves.  Nolan fulfilled his dreams as an author and showed his readers that dreams can come true. 4/5

March 2018 Book Club

We had our Book Club meeting on Monday evening and it was great to see all of our members present.  This is very rare as there is usually at least one member away on a holiday.  Of course, over the next few months some of our members will indeed be travelling interstate or overseas.  I think we need to travel as long as we possibly can, storing new memories to savour in the future.  Our host provides a lovely place to

meet and we enjoyed a delicious supper.  She bought some great new books which we will enjoy over the coming months.  It's always good to get together to talk about the travels we've been on and those we've yet to have.  Indicative of our age with lots of chatter about our grandchildren, so wonderful to be a grandmother.  Happy reading!

Congo Dawn

I very much enjoyed Congo Dawn by Katherine Scholes which is set in the Congo in 1964.  Secretary, Anna Emerson, is from Melbourne and learns that her father is dying.  Anna's parents are divorced so she goes to the Congo to see her father.  She then learns more about her past and sets out to discover more.  This is a volatile time in the newly independent country.  I enjoyed the story and also the history of the country. 41/2/5

I Am Pilgrim

I very much enjoyed I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes which is a story about a "special agent" who goes by various names.  Narrated in the first person by the main character, Scott Murdoch, who is enjoying his "retirement" when called upon to find a terrorist he calls "the Saracen".  Murdoch tells the story of how he hunts him down because the Saracen is a major threat to the Western world.  There are many threads to this story which enables the author to hold the reader's attention for the almost 900 pages (small paperback) of the book.  A thrilling ride. 41/2/5

The Hunting Dogs

I very much enjoyed The Hunting Dogs by Jørn Lier Horst which is set in Norway.  Detective William Wisting is accused of tampering with evidence to secure a conviction for a murder 17 years ago.  He is suspended but works to clear his name and find additional evidence which will confirm that the conviction was sound.  Wisting's daughter Line works for a newspaper as an investigator and she uncovers more information about that murder and discovers ties to a more recent murder.  This is a great suspenseful read.  5/5