How to be Both

How to be Both by Ali Smith is two novels in one that eventually converge and overlap. It's written in a totally original style and voice, and once you allow yourself to be taken away by the book, it becomes a wonderful, playful journey.

There is Francesco del Cossa, an Italian Renaissance painter, and George, a modern day teenage girl dealing with the loss of her Mother. Through questions of art, time, gender, etc, the two become linked.  

Smith pushes the boundaries of what a novel can be, and for this alone, it's worth a read.

Sacred Hearts

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant is historical fiction set in a convent in 16th century Italy. Almost half of all noblewomen of the time were put into convents as their families could not afford to marry off more than one daughter. The novel takes place entirely within the walls of the convent and is populated only by women.

What could have been a rather boring story is brought to life in the most fascinating way by Dunant. There is the angry young novice put into the convent entirely against her will, there is the strong Abbess who is as politically cunning as she is spiritually evolved, and there is the dispensary mistress, who would have been a doctor had she been a man.

Well developed characters, beautifully written, I couldn't put this book down. A recommended read.

The Death of Vishnu

The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri is an imaginative novel centering around an apartment building in Bombay, all the families that live there, and Vishnu the man who has lived for many years on the landing and now lies there dying. This provokes various responses from the tenants who have known Vishnu for years.

Suri skillfully weaves Hindu Mythology in and out of the story and transports the reader on a wonderful journey. At times funny, at times sad, at times mystical, this is a fully entertaining novel full of universal themes.

The Hatmaker's Heart

The Hatmaker's Heart by Carla Stewart is a novel about a young English girl living in NYC in the 1920's trying to make her way as a hatmaker and designer. Its a wonderful story, full of the fashion and jazz scene of the times, even taking the reader to England for a royal wedding.

I was enjoying this book until the end when the author suddenly starting talking a lot about God. It seemed strange and out of place and I felt disappointed that this was thrown in. I discovered that Stewart is a Christian writer and I felt the ending was heavy handed and didn't stay true to the characters. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable book

The Children's Crusade

The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer is a novel about four kids growing up with an unhappy mother and a stable father south of San Francisco on a piece of property that would eventually become very valuable. We meet them first as kids, then later as adults when one wants to sell the house they grew up in.

Although the title is misleading, it is an engrossing and well written family saga. Packer has a way of delving into family dynamics and showing a situation from many different points of view. However, other than the Father, I didn't really like any of the characters, and by the end I found the book tiring.