The Colour

by Rose Tremain.


Three emigrants arrive in New Zealand from Norfolk, husband and wife and his mother. This is the story of how they tried to find a new beginning. Joseph, the husband, finds some gold in his creek, and becomes obsessed with finding more, neglecting his duties. His wife, Harriet, a much stronger and more interesting character, soon falls out of love with Joseph, and realises that she'll never be happy with him.

Their adventures are beautifully chronicled, this is a very readable book.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A towering book, great read. I had enjoyed the Kite Runner, but this is better. He really knows how to tell a story, almost Dickensian. Wonderfully told story of female suffering in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Very good.

Saturday by Ian McEwan

Astounding book, I literally couldn't put it down. This is one day in the life of Henry, a neurosurgeon, and we see what happens to him in one, very crowded day. The story is gripping, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The way he avoids being beaten up in a deserted street in London after a run in with some yobs must be unique! Worth reading again to catch up on the bits I missed first time round.

There a passage where he goes to visit his 78 year old mother, in a home in Perivale suffering from dementia. This is so moving it literally had me in tears. Even more moving was when he describes going swimming with his class at school and his mother, who had been a competitive swimmer, was finishing up a training session and all the boys watched her flashing through the water and doing tumble turns. His pride in her was overwhelming. Wonderful book, I loved it.

The Cement Garden

Ian McEwan. I found this to be a rather strange book, but enthralling all the same. Four children, with a very disorganised mother, find themselves orphaned, quite suddenly. They seem to know what the right thing to do is, but somehow fail to do it. It's alluring to be left without any adult supervision, and together with the very hot weather they let life slide by without doing anything about their predicament. It had in my view overtones of Lord of the Flies.

The Kite Runner

So much to say about this great book, I don't know where to start. Absolutely fascinating, the story is set in 1970's Afghanistan, the narrator is Amir, aged twelve. This is a tale of friendship, but with the lines clearly drawn as to class. It gives a great insight into life in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

The book has the feel of a Dickensian story, or a Shakespearean tragedy.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Angela's Ashes

by Frank McCourt. This memory of the author's childhood is absolutely enthralling. The poverty that the family suffered is unbelievable, and leaves you wondering how anyone could survive. It was interesting that when they were living in New York, the kindly neighbour Mrs. Leibowitz, who is as poor as the McCourts, manages to produce good healthy soups, whereas Angela McCourt seems incapable of cooking anything, other than potatoes. A fabulously written book, we re-live that terrible time through the eyes of the author.

Atonement

by Ian McEwan. Loved this book, beautifully written, it evokes so well the era in which it is set. The characters are wonderfully drawn. I couldn't put it down, and really wanted to know what was going to happen next. Briony changes the lives of her family for ever, and this story tells how she spends her life trying to atone for her mistake.

The Water's Lovely

Ruth Rendell. Well up to her usual standard, but I wouldn't say quite as gripping as some others of her's that I've read. Two sisters, one, Ismay, who thinks her sister Heather murdered their step-father, Guy, to save her from his attentions. Very readable.

Deaf Sentence

by David Lodge. Just read this, loved it. I really enjoy his work and have read most of his books. Once again we are Academia, but this one is different in that the narrator is chronically deaf. He hasn't lost his sense of humour though, and that's what makes this book hilarious in parts. The whole story is based on the main character mis-hearing what a young lady says to him at a noisy party. Great idea, although I don't know if I'd have enjoyed it so much if I was deaf!

Reading at the moment - Maeve Binchy - Nights of Rain and Stars

and

Patricia Cornwell - The Last Precinct This is well up to her usual high standard. Once again we hear about Lucy and Benton, who, together with Pete Marino, are the only people that really matter to Scarpetta. Loved it.

Back to reviewing

Due to family troubles I have neglected to write any reviews, but will start again.