Modern Marriage is a domestic drama, having at its centre the marriage of Klara and Dante, two late thirties professionals. Klara's life is upended wheModern Marriage is a domestic drama, having at its centre the marriage of Klara and Dante, two late thirties professionals. Klara's life is upended when Dante is discovered unconscious in a gay sauna. Unsurprisingly, Klara begins questioning everything, looking back at their relationship, rehashing the past for clues she might have missed. As it's often the case, misery and misfortune attract more of the same. The stress and angst were palpable.
Her best friend and cosmetic practice partner, Tomas, gay himself, has a secret he keeps from Klara as well. Vukasin affords him several chapters so we hear his point of view. Klara's sister-in-law, Rachael, is also given plenty of air time. She's a psychologist, a bit of a know-it-all, who takes her love of crime podcasts a bit too far.
This was an accomplished debut novel, similar in style to Liane Moriarty's more recent novels....more
Written in 1972, The Clock Winder follows the Emersons, with the matriarch, Pamela Emerson, as the catalyst for the novel. One day, while moving furniWritten in 1972, The Clock Winder follows the Emersons, with the matriarch, Pamela Emerson, as the catalyst for the novel. One day, while moving furniture by herself, she's helped by Elizabeth who was walking by. Elizabeth ends up taking residence in her huge house, in exchange for doing odd jobs around the house and yard and company. Mrs Emerson is feeling lonely, especially since all her seven kids have left home and she's had recently lost her husband. Elizabeth is an unusual young woman - she doesn't care for appearances and doesn't conform to society's expectations. It's 1959, the expectations to conform are many. Slowly, Elizabeth gets to meet most of the Emerson children. A couple of the Emerson young men take a liking to Elizabeth, who's ambivalent about relationships. All Tyler's novels are about ordinary people and their ordinary lives and petty grievances. This one was no exception. I didn't think this was very well put together, a bit jumpy at times. Most annoyingly, I found Elizabeth elusive, I never quite understood what made her tick. There weren't many memorable moments, I probably will forget what it was about pretty soon....more
Leonard and Hungry Paul are two 30ish-year-old bachelors, not exactly go-getters. Leonard has just lost his mThis book was such an unexpected delight.
Leonard and Hungry Paul are two 30ish-year-old bachelors, not exactly go-getters. Leonard has just lost his mother, whom he loved dearly. He feels her loss acutely, the house is empty without her presence. He realises how truly lonely he is and that he's not really living. Aspects of his job as a ghostwriter of encyclopedias and other reference books are starting to bug him. He's grateful to still have Hungry Paul and his wonderful parents as friends. Hungry Paul is a quiet man, who's obsessed with board games. He's always lived with his parents, was never expected to do much or achieve anything. Therefore he obliged. But things are beginning to change. Leonard is interested in a woman at work. Hungry Paul has an unexpected financial windfall and takes on new endeavours.
This is a story about late starters finding their place in the world. The writing is sharp, witty, observant, the humour is wry and I found myself giggling and smiling often. I need more books like this in my life. I see the author's got a new book, I'm very keen to read it.
2.5 (rounded down, because The Boy Swallows the Universe was far superior to this and, still, only garnered 3.5 stars from me).
I pushed through and fo2.5 (rounded down, because The Boy Swallows the Universe was far superior to this and, still, only garnered 3.5 stars from me).
I pushed through and forced myself to finish this - admittedly, I skimmed here and there. I was hoping Dalton's second novel will be more to my liking, as I wasn't as charmed by his debut, although I appreciated some parts of it. I'm sorry to say that this novel did nothing for me. I thought it was half-baked and I could see the writer's hand in everything. Before page 10 I had a couple of eye-rolling episodes because of some grandiose, self-helpy denouncements: Promise me you will make your life graceful, Molly. Promise me you'll make your life grand and beautiful and poetic, and even if it's not poetic you'll write it so it is. You write it, Molly, you understand? Promise me your epitaph won't be ugly like this. And if someone else writes your epitaph, don't make them struggle to write your epitaph. You must live a life so full your epitaph will write itself, you understand? ... This comes from the dead mother of a seven-year-old, the daughter of a grave-digger. Forgot to mention, it's the 1930s, Darwin, Australia. Such sophisticated pronouncements, coming from simple people ...
Things that bugged me were the unlikely situations, behaviours, speech, the under-developed, cardboard characters. Dalton tried too hard to be cute and whimsy. I was unable to fully immerse myself in the story nor give a damn. Not my jam. Beautiful cover....more
A bit of Provincetown porn, with affluent middle class people, tea shops, gorgeous beach houses. As it's the case in most books of this genre, people'A bit of Provincetown porn, with affluent middle class people, tea shops, gorgeous beach houses. As it's the case in most books of this genre, people's dramas get fully resolve and there's always happy ever after. It wasn't bad but it was predictable and overexplained at times.
Easy listen, but I probably won't remember what it was about come next week....more
Ground control to Major Tom ... I hope you've got David Bowie's Space Oddity playing as you read this review, I've had it as the soundtrack while readGround control to Major Tom ... I hope you've got David Bowie's Space Oddity playing as you read this review, I've had it as the soundtrack while reading this novel.
Calling Major Tom is a delightful novel, with an original premise. Curmudgeon forty-seven-year-old chemist, Thomas Major, is fed up with life and people. His dislike of people takes him on a one-way trip to Mars. Yep, you've read that correctly. Well, it turns out, you can't escape people even when you're in space. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. When Tom accidentally gets to talk to the seventy-year-old Gladys, he also gets to learn about and meet her two grandchildren, Ellie, fifteen and James, ten. Their mother passed away and their father is incarcerated, so Gladys is their guardian. Their life is difficult. Will Tom be able to make himself care for someone else and therefore make himself useful? Read and find out.
Praise the book goddesses, I've finally found a good lighter read. This one had all the right ingredients for a feel-good read, without being too schmaltzy or melodramatic.
I came upon this audiobook after downloading and trying and giving up on several others that weren't doing it for me at the time. A luxu3.5 rounded up
I came upon this audiobook after downloading and trying and giving up on several others that weren't doing it for me at the time. A luxury afforded to me and others by our wonderful library system.
The blurb of this novel is perfect, as unlike many other blurbs, it says enough without giving too much away: 'Set in a fading family estate nestled within the Chiltern Hills, this is the story of two summers, sixty years apart, woven together to reveal one dramatic family story.'
I enjoyed Richell's writing, even though, at times, I thought certain parts were drawn-out and stagnant, but it seems to go with the territory for this kind of novels.
The setting was an important part of this novel, as the Cloudesley estate is the central part of this novel.
The narrative alternates between Lillian Oberon's story from sixty years before and Maggie Oberon's, Lillian's grand-daughter, who finds herself back to Cloudesley to help her elderly grandma.
As for the characterisations, I thought Lillian and her husband, Charles, lack depth and could have been a bit more nuanced, as Lillian was assigned the saint, victim status, while her husband was the monster.
As the novel progresses, the reveals and the conclusion of this novel become more satisfying, albeit somewhat predictable.
This would make for a nice BBC TV miniseries. ...more
The Place on Dalhousie is the first Marchetta novel I read. Apparently, it ties in with a couple of other novels written many years before, something The Place on Dalhousie is the first Marchetta novel I read. Apparently, it ties in with a couple of other novels written many years before, something I wasn't aware of prior to starting it. It's a stand-alone novel, so it shouldn't matter.
This was enjoyable enough- it had family drama, an unexpected pregnancy, friendships, relationships, grief etc, you know, life and living and its many complexities. It didn't particularly impress me, despite its readability and realistic characters and situations.
This was the first Mary Kay Andrews novel I read, well, listened to. It was an enjoyable novel. Our heroine, Greer, is a movie location scout, so t3.5
This was the first Mary Kay Andrews novel I read, well, listened to. It was an enjoyable novel. Our heroine, Greer, is a movie location scout, so there are a lot of scenes about the intricacies of movie making. Her love interest was multi-layered and a bit different. This was the perfect beach read.
Beach Town could be turned into a cute romantic comedy....more
The Hollow Bones is a fictionalised novel about Ernst Schafer, a German explorer and a zoologist specialised in ornithology, who was also in 2.5 stars
The Hollow Bones is a fictionalised novel about Ernst Schafer, a German explorer and a zoologist specialised in ornithology, who was also in the SS before and during the WWII.
I was keenly anticipating reading Kaminsky's sophomore novel, as I loved her debut The Waiting Room.
Unfortunately, this novel lacked cohesiveness, as it had two different story arcs - one was the story of Schafer and his first wife, Herta, the other, focused mainly on Schafer's professional life, his explorations in Tibet and other parts of the world.
The first part of the novel, which introduced the newly married couple, Herta and Ernst Schafer, was more enjoyable, especially, Herta's point of view. In saying all that, throughout the entire novel, I could see the author, I could "smell" contemporary attitudes, as through Herta we were seeing "the right path", what was right and what was wrong, which to me, it feels a bit revisionistic, a problem encountered in many historical novels, more obvious in some novels than others.
As if things weren't disjointed enough, there is also a dead-panda, whose soliloquies pop up now and then. Even though those passages were well written, they felt preachy and gimmicky, not to mention they broke the flow of the story.
A great chunk of this novel is dedicated to Schafer and his hunting exploits in order to collect animals for Himler and not only. The details of the tracking, explorations and the descriptions of hunting the animals and preserving them became tedious and repetitive and after a while, felt like padding.
While I appreciate the research that went into this novel, The Hollow Bones has failed to leave a positive impression on me. Hopefully, Kaminsky's third novel will resurrect my enthusiasm for her writing....more
Dervla McTiernan's debut novel The Ruin was quite enjoyable, so I jumped at the opportunity to read the follow-up, as I was eager to reacquaint myselfDervla McTiernan's debut novel The Ruin was quite enjoyable, so I jumped at the opportunity to read the follow-up, as I was eager to reacquaint myself with Detective Cormac Reilly.
Detective Reilly moved to Galway, as his girlfriend, Emma, pursues a career as a scientist in the prestigious Darcy Therapeutics.
When Emma stumbles across a dead girl, while making her way to work, she calls Cormac, who takes on the case as the lead investigator, despite Emma being a witness. This was the first time I raised my critical eyebrow in disbelief, but I let it pass.
Quite early on, without trying, I was able to see one of the main subplots. It took Cormac and his team halfway through the novel, if not longer, to get to that point. Besides the red herrings that this genre employs in order to distract us from spotting the culprit, I found quite a few loose threads and incongruences. Also, without going into too many details for fear of spoilers, the motivations were unbelievable to me and there was too much made-up unnecessary drama and a bit too much padding, including the introduction of a character - Carrie O'Halloran - who basically gives the case to Reilly and then comes back to it in the end, but ends up getting Reilly to close it. I hope the introduction of O'Halloran was for the benefit of a third novel in the series. While I'm at it, the prologue was too long, and worse, unnecessary.
I am aware that there's pressure to ride the wave of success, before people's attention moves onto something else, but in my opinion, this novel suffers from a lack of credibility, lose plot points and too many fillers.
I'm afraid The Scholar hasn't overcome the curse of the second novel. In saying all that, I'm looking forward to reading McTiernan's third novel.
I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to HarperCollins Australia for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
The Lost Man is in many ways similar to The Dry as it's set in a remote outback community, this time in Queensland.
The heat, the huge expanse4.5 stars
The Lost Man is in many ways similar to The Dry as it's set in a remote outback community, this time in Queensland.
The heat, the huge expanse of mostly arid land, remoteness, loneliness, broken families, regret are themes that we've encountered also in The Dry.
When Cameron Bright is found dead by the Stockman's grave, in the middle of nowhere, nobody could comprehend how someone who's lived all his life in the bush would leave his car without water and other items essential for survival.
His big brother, Nathan, who's become a semi-recluse due to life circumstances and a big mistake he committed ten years ago, is trying to make sense of it all. I won't go into more details, it's best that you go in blind.
This was a slow, smouldering novel, rich in descriptions and complex characters. Harper excels at describing the environment and creating a very atmospheric novel. She seems to know the outback and its issues very well. The entire plot and the side stories were plausible, which is something I need, in order to enjoy a novel (well, with the exception of one thing, not that important).
I'm looking forward to seeing what Jane Harper writes next.
And the award for the Most revealing blurb or all times goes to ... Luckily, I don't pay much attention to a synopsis. But really, what a terriblAnd the award for the Most revealing blurb or all times goes to ... Luckily, I don't pay much attention to a synopsis. But really, what a terrible blurb, as if romance novels weren't repetitive, predictable enough, not to mention that we already know how they end.
Regardless, this was not bad for a contemporary romance. All the art talk made me shortsighted or longsighted to the cliches, although if I get overly analytical, even the art was cliche as it was mostly about Impressionists. But then, I'm not that original myself as I love the Impressionists, among many other art movements.
Anyway, it worked as a distraction, I gobbled it up in two sittings....more
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a bittersweet Japanese novel about a young man, Satoru, and his cat, Nana.
Man and cat take to travelling in a van. YoThe Travelling Cat Chronicles is a bittersweet Japanese novel about a young man, Satoru, and his cat, Nana.
Man and cat take to travelling in a van. You see, Satoru is trying to find someone to look after Nana. So he goes back to friends he made when as a child and teenager. And so, we find out a little bit about Satoru's life and how he came to be in the life of different people.
Satoru visits several of his old friends trying to find a suitable carer for Nana. For different reasons, they all turn out not to be able to look after his cat.
At first glance, this is a simple story, deceptively naive.
The cat's musings, interspersed throughout the novel, are witty and sharp as claws, and they add another layer to the story.
Satoru is a man with a heart of gold. Although his life was disrupted early on by an unfortunate event, he kept a positive attitude and carried on being a kind and extremely considerate person.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is about kindness, companionship, loneliness and duty. Its slow pace and simple writing made this small novel even more powerful. Tissues will be needed.
I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Penguin Random House/The Berkley Group for allowing me to read and review this novel. ...more
Liane Moriarty, you are one terrific writer/person. Each novel I read makes me feel even more in awe of your talent and in-depth knowledge of what makLiane Moriarty, you are one terrific writer/person. Each novel I read makes me feel even more in awe of your talent and in-depth knowledge of what makes women tick.
It's astonishing how complex and realistic your characters are. You even managed to make me sympathise and empathise with a stalker! Actually, my heart was broken for her. Big time.
This is probably my favourite novel of yours. Your writing was so good and convincing, I feel like now I have less disdain for hypnotists. That's a small miracle in itself! :-)
There's only one more novel of your back catalog to go through and then I'll have to wait for your next book to be published ... sigh ... I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
On The Java Ridge is an extremely contemporary novel. I found myself listening to the audiobook compulsively, unable to stop.
This is a novel about asyOn The Java Ridge is an extremely contemporary novel. I found myself listening to the audiobook compulsively, unable to stop.
This is a novel about asylum seekers and politics. Serong has wisely chosen to tell his story via three characters: nine-year-old Roya fled Afganistan with her heavily pregnant mother after the Talibans took away her father and brother; Isi Natoli is the skipper of the Java Ridge, and she's taking Australian tourists to some great surfing spots in the Javanese archipelago; Cassius Calvert is the Minister for Border Integrity - he's an ambitious, competent politician, who's announced a new measure to deter the boat arrivals. As I've said, this is a very contemporary novel.
When the asylum seekers' boat sinks near to where the Java Ridge was anchored, the Aussies do their best to save as many people as possible. But over half of the people, including babies and children perish. Stranded on an atoll, without meaningful means of communication and injured people to look after, this becomes a rescue trip. Will anyone come to their rescue?
Jock Seron wrote a compelling, riveting novel that just got better and better as it progressed. The characterisations were fantastic. Surprisingly enough, I've never read a book on this very contemporary issue. Serong gets extra brownie points for daring to write a political novel focusing on an issue which is highly divisive.
I found On The Jave Ridge unexpectedly riveting, relevant, and touching while managing to avoid the melodrama. It is a "message book", I didn't mind it....more
This is the sixth Fredrik Backman book I read. He’s become one of my favourite writers, so it’s always exciting to read something new from him.
Us AgaiThis is the sixth Fredrik Backman book I read. He’s become one of my favourite writers, so it’s always exciting to read something new from him.
Us Against You continues to delve into the lives of some of Beartown’s inhabitants. We are acquainted with many of them from his previous novel, Beartown (also known as Scandal in other countries).
Again, at the centre of this novel we have the Beartown Hockey Team manager – Peter Andersson, his lawyer wife, Kira, their kids, Maya, 16 and Leo, 12. What happened to Maya in the past year still affects her, her family and, to a certain extent, the entire town. The only thing that makes Beartown tick is hockey, but they’re about to lose that as well. Many players had moved to the bigger neighbouring town, Hed. There’s conflict between the two towns stemming from hockey rivalry but also due to socio-economic issues. Add a sociopathic, master manipulator politician to the mix and we’ve got yourself an explosive mixture.
We reacquaint ourselves with some of the hockey players we met in Beartown : Benji, the excellent hockey player, who’s in the closet; Amat – the immigrant, very talented player and his best friend, Bobo, hardworking, less talented but with a heart of gold. Benji gets more play time on the pages of this novel, I personally didn’t mind, as he was intriguing in so many ways. There are some new characters, who are given more or less air-time.
I loved the pacing of the book and how Backman kept adding layer, upon layer, upon layer, creating a tower of tension about to topple.
This is another ambitious novel that deals with trauma, parenting, friendship, small town mentalities, homophobia, sexism, and politics. Oh, and some hockey.
While I agree with every single message of the book, I did find this novel a bit too sanctimonious – it pains me to say that, but that’s how I felt. Also, I would have preferred he’d dialled-down the melodrama. In saying all that, I adore the guy - Backman is a Renaissance man – I don’t say that lightly.
As always, I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. His writing is a treat I hope to indulge in for many years to come.
I’ve received this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Atria Books allowing me to read this novel. I truly appreciate it....more
The Summer of Secrets is set in an idealised English country farm, complete with a tea room and a petting zoo.This was an enjoyable weekend companion.
The Summer of Secrets is set in an idealised English country farm, complete with a tea room and a petting zoo. The owner is Harper Woods, engaged to Shay, a building contractor.
Harper's best friend, Pip, is working alongside as well.
When Shay digs out a small chest with a treasure, things take an interesting turn. The reclusive next-door neighbour, a lord, comes to light.
More characters come into the story - a young historian set to discover who are the rightful owners of the treasure; then some handsome writer from Norway, who somehow manages to insert himself into the research and discovery - it didn't quite add up, but anyway, you don't read this kind of book for its realism.
Look, this was a pleasant, clean, romance novel. I feel like I've read this book before and upon checking, it turns out I did read another Tilly Tenant novel before.
If you enjoy an English setting, a castle, a lord, tea and scones, this novel is for you.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I may get crucified for this review, anyway, I’ll take my chances.
I, like many others, enjoy an underdog story. This is the story of Sam Hill, who hasI may get crucified for this review, anyway, I’ll take my chances.
I, like many others, enjoy an underdog story. This is the story of Sam Hill, who has ocular albinism, a genetic abnormality that makes his eyes look red. It’s the early 1960s, so people are less enlightened. Sam’s mom is an ardent Catholic and she’s fierce. She would not let anyone or anything stay in the way of her son getting an education and achieving his potential. Sam’s hardships start early on, practically on the first day at the local Catholic school, affiliated to the church they attend. His nickname became Sam Hell or Devil Son. The poor boy, not only is he shunned by his colleagues, he draws the Principal’s ire, the mean sister Beatrice.
The novel moves back and forward in time. During the school and high school years, Sam makes two great friends, Ernie, the only black boy in the neighbourhood, and Mickie, a tomboy, outspoken girl. The three of them are very tight.
This started off pretty well. Unfortunately, as I read on, I became irritated with this novel. It’s like a soap-opera, lacking in nuance. Sam is a saint, saving and helping everyone left, right and centre. Also, I would be remiss not to mention that I found all the religious connotations, overtones and undertones and not so subtle Catholic mantras suffocating.
This novel is basically a Catholic allegory of good vs evil. I found it emotionally manipulative. While I’ve never read a Christian novel, had this not had a few mild sex scenes, it could probably be labelled as one.
There were a few things that didn’t agree with me. (view spoiler)[The White saviour trope - of course, Sam, the brave white boy, has to save the black boy by not only befriending him but also by helping him with school work, as he was dyslexic. Not only that, while in high school, Sam became a school sports correspondent for the Times!, so because of his raving reviews of his friend's sporting prowess, Ernie ends up getting a basketball scholarship at Stanford University. Who knew high school students had that much power … (hide spoiler)]
I’m going to be pedantic now: I’ve read on ocular albinism – Sam doesn’t seem to have as many issues as others seem to have, even when allowing for individual differences. Also, I had big doubts that someone who had had a stroke that had developed into dementia would last as long as Sam’s father did.
So, this was an accessible, competently written novel. I’m sure Robert Dugoni had the best intentions, obviously informed by his own convictions. I’m certain that my own secular views are not to blame for my disenchantment with this novel. This reader enjoys reading novels with characters that are more realistic. I also don't care for melodrama.
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ...more
Although this is the eighth novel in the series, it's my first Louise Penny novel.
I enjoyed it enough, despite not liking the narrator that much. The pAlthough this is the eighth novel in the series, it's my first Louise Penny novel.
I enjoyed it enough, despite not liking the narrator that much. The premise and the setting were original and I thought that Inspector Gamache and his sidekick, Beauvoir, were well drawn.
I can't remember reading about a crime in a monastery before, so that was different. Also, the descriptions and the monks' characterizations were quite detailed. I did think that there was some repetition and the pace could have picked up a bit, but in some ways, it suited the monastic setting.
As I write this review, I'm listening to some Gregorian chants, which feature greatly in this book. I quite like them, good thing I don't understand what they're singing.
So anyway, another author ticked off my (non-existent) list. I shall endeavour to read more books in the series....more
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