The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith is the 5th installment of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, and maybe my favorite so far.
McCall Smith writes with his usual charm and wit and makes you feel like the world is a little bit better of a place by the time you finish reading this book.
Mma Ramotswe is on a new case, while still waiting for the day that Mr J. L. B. Matekoni will marry her, as they have been engaged for a while now.
It's impossible to read this novel and not have a big smile on your face. Highly recommended.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
The People of Forever Are Not Afraid
The People of Forever Are Not Afraid is the debut novel by Shani Boianjiu, a new young voice from Israel.
The novel tells of three young girls from a tiny Israeli village who go off to do their military service in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years after high school. Yael, Lea and Avishag each have different experiences, yet Boianjiu weaves together a whole picture of what life is like for these girls experiencing hours of endless boredom, and seeing the violence that they witness, each responding in their own way,
She has a fresh voice and it is written in a stream of consciousness style. At times it was fascinating, at other times tedious. As a whole, a worthwhile read.
The novel tells of three young girls from a tiny Israeli village who go off to do their military service in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years after high school. Yael, Lea and Avishag each have different experiences, yet Boianjiu weaves together a whole picture of what life is like for these girls experiencing hours of endless boredom, and seeing the violence that they witness, each responding in their own way,
She has a fresh voice and it is written in a stream of consciousness style. At times it was fascinating, at other times tedious. As a whole, a worthwhile read.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Scent of Darkness
Scent of Darkness by Margot Berwin, could have been a really good novel, but instead fell flat. I've barely finished reading it, but have mostly forgotten it already.
The protagonist, Evangeline, has a wise old grandmother from New Orleans who is a master aromata, scent maker. She leaves a vial for Evangeline that she finds after her grandmother dies. The scent has a secret ingredient that attracts one good man, one evil man to her. This leads her to New Orleans where her life takes a strange turn and she almost loses herself.
Even though the writing was decent, none of the characters were memorable, or even believable. This was just very disappointing, very bad storytelling.
The protagonist, Evangeline, has a wise old grandmother from New Orleans who is a master aromata, scent maker. She leaves a vial for Evangeline that she finds after her grandmother dies. The scent has a secret ingredient that attracts one good man, one evil man to her. This leads her to New Orleans where her life takes a strange turn and she almost loses herself.
Even though the writing was decent, none of the characters were memorable, or even believable. This was just very disappointing, very bad storytelling.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Mother, Mother
Mother, Mother is a dark and somewhat disturbing book by Koren Zailckas. It tells the story of a perfect Mother who seems to have everything, beautiful home, beautiful children, successful husband, etc.
As the story unfolds, through each family members point of view, we see how destructive and manipulative the Mother truly is. She lies and tells different stories to everyone, pitting them against each other and slowly destroying her entire family.
Zailckas writes with razor sharp insight into the dark side of family dysfunction. Mother, Mother is a brilliantly written, suspenseful, psychological thriller that is hard to put down and even harder to forget.
As the story unfolds, through each family members point of view, we see how destructive and manipulative the Mother truly is. She lies and tells different stories to everyone, pitting them against each other and slowly destroying her entire family.
Zailckas writes with razor sharp insight into the dark side of family dysfunction. Mother, Mother is a brilliantly written, suspenseful, psychological thriller that is hard to put down and even harder to forget.
Friday, June 6, 2014
The Virgin Blue
The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl Earring, is historic fiction like only Chevalier can write.
Ella Turner moves to France and searches for the history of her family, the Tourniers. She begins having nightmares and is lead to discover some haunting secrets buried deep in her family's past.
The novel takes us back into the 16th century when thousands of Huguenots were persecuted and slaughtered all over France.
Not my favorite novel by Chevalier, but still a worthwhile read.
Ella Turner moves to France and searches for the history of her family, the Tourniers. She begins having nightmares and is lead to discover some haunting secrets buried deep in her family's past.
The novel takes us back into the 16th century when thousands of Huguenots were persecuted and slaughtered all over France.
Not my favorite novel by Chevalier, but still a worthwhile read.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
The Frangipani Hotel
The Frangipani Hotel is a collection of short stories by Violet Kupersmith. Kupersmith is a new, young American writer of Vietnamese descent.
The stories are filled with bits of traditional Vietnamese folk tales and ghost stories, while maintaining a distinctly modern feel. The ghost of the Vietnam War floats eerily in the background of all the stories.
It's a wonderfully compelling collection from an original new voice. I was drawn in from the very first story. Kupersmith is working on her first novel now. I can't wait to read more from this promising young writer.
The stories are filled with bits of traditional Vietnamese folk tales and ghost stories, while maintaining a distinctly modern feel. The ghost of the Vietnam War floats eerily in the background of all the stories.
It's a wonderfully compelling collection from an original new voice. I was drawn in from the very first story. Kupersmith is working on her first novel now. I can't wait to read more from this promising young writer.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
The Scent of Lemon Leaves
The Scent of Lemon Leaves is a novel by Spanish writer Clara Sanchez. It tells the story of pregnant and lost Sandra, living in her sister's house on the Costa Brava wondering what she is going to do with her life.
She is befriended by two older Norwegians that treat her like kindly grandparents, but who are not at all what they seem to be. She meets Julian, a concentration camp survivor and learns that she is involved with a group of old Nazis living out the ends of their life in luxury in this small village.
Although most of the characters in this novel are made up, the old Nazis are all based on real people who managed to escape without paying for their war crimes and lived out their lives in secluded luxury on the coast of Spain. An illuminating and disturbing story.
She is befriended by two older Norwegians that treat her like kindly grandparents, but who are not at all what they seem to be. She meets Julian, a concentration camp survivor and learns that she is involved with a group of old Nazis living out the ends of their life in luxury in this small village.
Although most of the characters in this novel are made up, the old Nazis are all based on real people who managed to escape without paying for their war crimes and lived out their lives in secluded luxury on the coast of Spain. An illuminating and disturbing story.
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