August Book Club

We met at Liz's place for our book club this month. As I'd missed the last two meetings because I was overseas, it was good to catch up with everyone. Sandy, Leonie and Kathy were absent this time. Ulla had also recently returned from overseas as well. We talked about the joys of travel and the deflated feeling when returning home. It is such a terrific "high" to be exploring all those wonderful places. Liz is looking forward to travelling next month. Bev told us about the grim situation in Zimbabwe where her mother lives. Liz is doing some work, despite her retirement but she seems to be enjoying it much more now. She made us a delicious supper, including some brownies which were to die for!! It's my turn next month so I've now got the books - like a kid in a lolly shop.

Conflict of Interest

I quickly read Conflict of Interest by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg for our Crime Club meeting today. DA Joanne Kuhlmann becomes personally involved in a robbery case she is prosecuting when doubts emerge about the mental fitness of one of the defendants. She is also dealing with problems with her children who had been abducted by her husband and she hadn't seen them for 2 years. Now she is trying to rebuild the relationship with them. Meanwhile, the robbers turn on each other and two of them mysteriously disappear - have they been murdered? There are many "different" characters in this book, some of them entirely unconvincing, for example, Kuhlmann's 12 year old son. Most of the ladies at our meeting agreed that the book had the potential for a good story but the poor writing let it down. It certainly promoted some lively discussion.

Paula

My mother gave me a copy of Paula by Isabel Allende to read on my recent holiday to Europe. I was reluctant to read it as I had been to a talk by the author a few years ago when, among other things. she told us about the writing of Paula. It sounded much too sad a book to be reading. However, as I was given it, I felt compelled to read it and I did like it very much. It is a sad story of the slow dying of Paula following being in a coma, the consequences of porphyria. The book was a memoir dedicated to Paula (written after her death) telling her about Isabel's life and those of her other relatives and the military coup in Chile. It is a heart-wrending story for any mother to read, and it is told well so that the reader becomes quite fond of Isabel's family. The insight into the terrible coup was interesting to learn to more about as well. This is a story I'm now glad to have read. 4/5

Firewall

I've just returned from nine weeks overseas and only finished one book, Firewall by Henning Mankel, which I very much enjoyed.  There are mysterious people dying suddenly or being murdered and Inspector Wallender must find the connection as he battles with his colleagues and superiors.  Throughout the story, Wallender "consults" his former mentor, Rydberg (now dead) - "What would Rydberg do?"  When he finally learns the truth, he must act quickly to avert disaster.  The story makes you think about the world's vulnerability and dependency on computers.

Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand

I've taken a couple of weeks to read Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand by Fred Vargas as I've been very busy preparing for our holiday and coping with a family illness. I enjoyed the book. The serial killer was very sophisticated and there were lots of "twists and turns" as Commissaire Adamsberg struggled to make others understand how the same killer could be operating after 60 years. Adamsberg's brother was accused of one of the murders and in finding the murderer, he will clear his name. The reader goes on a journey to Quebec and back to France as we learn more about the murderer. There are some wonderful characters. 4/5

May Book Club

We had a lovely time at Di's place. She had been busy baking some delicious treats for us and brought out her very beautiful teasets collection, which we always look forward to seeing. We've all had a busy month with work or holidays. Liz, Leonie and Ulla weren't able to come. Marilyn and Bev went to Sandy's daughter's wedding in the Cook Islands. Sandy's photos showed that it was a really beautiful wedding in a romantic tropical island setting where all had a great time. Bev also holidayed in New Zealand on the way to the wedding. Marilyn is off to Brazil soon but will then be travelling back and forth while her husband works there. Marilyn was proud to see her daughter graduate as a policewoman recently. Jenny has had dramas with her bathroom renovations which have dragged on for a month and still not completed. I'm off overseas later this month so will sadly miss a couple of book clubs. Di got some great books including one from her favourite genre Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand by Fred Vargas, which I'm reading now.

Exit Music

I've finished Exit Music by Ian Rankin the last in the Rebus series?? I hope not. Rebus is days away from his retirement and hopes to crack the murder of a Russian poet before then. He continues to be a thorn in the side of management right till the end as he struggles to find a motive and a murderer. When other attacks point to a connection to the Russian and Scottish MPs, as well as Rebus' nemesis Big Ger Cafferty, things get really interesting. Siobhan Clarke brings in a young rookie, Todd Goodyear, to help out and he is also tenuously connected to some of the characters involved in the murders/attacks. Rebus must solve the case while contemplating his future post-retirement. 4/5.