Jan 14, 2009
An Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England – Brock Clarke
Although you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, or it’s title for that matter, that doesn’t stop us from being attracted to a book by one or other of those things. I was attracted to An Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England by the curious title. I knew nothing about it, and as usual I avoided reading any reviews before I picked it up, and I gave it a... read more
Jan 9, 2009
1942: Australia’s Greatest Peril – Bob Wurth
I love history. I love finding out about periods of history I know little about, and I really enjoy reading a well written, informative history book that keeps you reading and never goes dry. The problem with so many history books is that they are often so full of names and dates that it is easy to lose track. As a visual reader, I need to be able to picture places, people and events in my head and I can... read more
Jan 7, 2009
People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks is an Australian, Pulitzer-Prize winning author. I had read A Year of Wonders several years back and remember being struck not just by the singularity of the story idea but by how subtly and beautifully it was written. When my Mum recommended People of the Book it took me a little while before I realised it was by the same author. But the imagination and the style were unmistakable. The... read more
Jan 5, 2009
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer
After finishing the previous book, I was really looking forward to a well written story and picking up The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was an excellent decision. This book was absolutely delightful. The characters were charming, the story was simply lovely and the format made it both easy to read and acutely personal. My Mum told me she had bought it simply because of the fabulous title,... read more
Dec 24, 2008
The Kommandant’s Girl – Pam Jenoff
The story is set in Poland near the beginning of the war. Emma, a young Jewish girl, newly married, finds her life thrown into turmoil when her husband, Jacob, disappears to join the Resistance soon after the Nazis invade. Returning to her parent’s, she discovers that they and her entire community have been rounded up and put into the Ghetto. In despair, she goes to join them, wondering whether she... read more
Dec 20, 2008
Mistress of the Art of Death – Ariana Franklin
As the author states at the end of Mistress of the Art of Death: It is almost impossible to write a comprehensible story set in the twelfth century without being anachronistic, in part at least. Nevertheless, Ariana Franklin has managed to do just that, and irrespective of anachronisms, has produced a fabulous tale with pace, great characters and a fascinating storyline. The story is set in Cambridge in... read more
Dec 19, 2008
Tough Love Tender Heart – Steven Verrier
When I began reading Tough Love Tender Heart, I immediately thought that this was going to be another version of the film Fools Rush In with Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. It starts out in a similar fashion, although Don, the protagonist of the book, lacks the successful career and suave personality that Matthew Perry’s character has in the film. However, although the start of the book was similar,... read more
Dec 4, 2008
Killing Me Softly – Nicci French
Hmmm. I wanted a light read which I could easily get finished before I headed back home to Australia for Christmas next week. There is nothing worse than being halfway through a book and then agonising over whether you take it (and risk finishing it halfway across the world, leaving you with nothing to read) or whether you wait for three weeks until your return so you can take a new book especially for... read more
Dec 2, 2008
The Boy Who Loved Books – John Sutherland
The Boy Who Loved Books is an autobiography written by John Sutherland who is Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor at University College London. Sutherland was born just before the Second World War, and the majority of the book deals with the first 20 years of his life. He grew up in Colchester and suffered through childhood and adolescence with the memory of a dead father and an often absentee and always... read more
Dec 2, 2008
An Instance of the Fingerpost – Iain Pears
The last time I read An Instance of the Fingerpost I was on a plane back to Australia. I remember not being able to put it down – it lasted me most of the flight and stayed with me for a long time afterwards. I have just read it for a second time as a part of my reading group, and I am pleased to say I enjoyed it just as much, and gained even more out of it this time that I had last time. Set in... read more
