Winter Hotties 2024/5

It has been a long winter, and if you’re anything like me, books have helped you get through it. Here are some of my favourites. 

The Man Who Never Called by Rosie Walsh ****+

What a stunner… Rosie Walsh has created that wonderful thing – a feel-good romance which is well-written and also truly suspenseful. She doesn’t just put obstacles in the way of her couple – she puts potentially insurmountable mountains of mystery.

When Sarah meets Eddie – in a place full of bitter memories – it seems too perfect to be true. They spend seven days together during which time they fall madly in love. But can you really find and recognise your soul-mate in seven days, and how well do you really know them? Sarah has to ask herself these questions (and many more) when after these seven days, Eddie never calls. Has he lost his phone? Has something happened to him? Or is he just one of those guys…?

Rosie Walsh’s writing has a rare emotional intelligence – it’s never slushy or clichéd and the twist, when it comes, is unexpected and powerful. Highly recommended.

 

The New Life by Tom Crewe ****

Crewe has taken real-life events from nineteenth century London, centring on a Society advocating a ‘New Life’ – a different way of approaching marriage and sex for example, which embraces (what were considered at that time) people’s ‘peculiarities’ such as sexual fetishes and homosexuality. At the time, such practices were criminal offences; during the time-span of the novel, Oscar Wilde is tried and imprisoned, a source of much discussion.

The two main protagonists are Henry and John, both based on people who lived at this time. Henry marries Edith; both of them favour a ‘new life’ and they do not consummate their marriage or live together – they enjoy more of a meeting of minds. Henry is not gay, but he does have certain fetishes, of which he is ashamed. But when Edith meets Angelica and forms an intimate relationship with her, he can’t help but feel left out.

John is well thought of, wealthy, with a respectable position. But although he is married with three daughters, he is gay and when he meets Frank in the park and falls in love, he is compelled to begin an affair and decides to bring his lover into the marital home.

When Henry decides to write a ‘medical book’ (as it is then considered) about sexual inversion, he approaches John to help him write it. But will the book be accepted in Victorian society? Will it change anything as the men hope or will it actually bring the authors and their families into disgrace?

Tom Crewe is an adept and fluent writer. He writes graphically about the male body and the sexual act as well as the historical period of the time, perhaps underlining the need for a lack of repression, for saying it as it is. For me, the descriptive writing was reminiscent of DH Lawrence and I found the novel engaging and informative. Recommended.

 

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak ***+

Ella, a housewife and mother of three, is approaching forty years old when she procures a job reading for a literary agency. For years she has contented herself with marriage to a man who has turned out to be a serial adulterer, who nevertheless maintains the pretence of being a perfect and supportive husband. But now, wanting to fill the emptiness in her life, Ella starts to read ‘Sweet Blasphemy’ and her life begins to change.

The book (a second narrative within the story) follows the life of thirteenth century wandering dervish Shams, a Sufi, and scholar and poet Rumi from the same period. Contained within it are the ‘forty rules’ and a wonderful mix of magic and mysticism.

By the time she has finished reading, Ella is ready and willing to change her life. She meets the author Aziz Z Zahara and makes some surprising choices.

I found this dual narrative fascinating. Elif is a skilled writer and in her hands the book avoids being preachy, a trap it could easily have fallen into. A refreshing, original and thought-provoking read.

 

Go As a River by Shelley Read ****

This beautiful story is set in 1940s Colorado where after the death of her mother, Victoria is the only female left in the household. She has no one to turn to for advice. Her father is taciturn and undemonstrative and her brother is an aggressive drunk. The family run a farm and a peach orchard and life is hard. One day, however, Victoria’s life changes forever when she meets Wilson Moon, a drifter of Indian origin, who has just walked into town. They fall in love, but the townspeople are bigoted and prejudiced and so they have to meet in secret, beginning a dangerous relationship.

In this story of coming of age, racism and survival against the odds, Victoria is forced to leave home, but she remains determined to save the peach farm that has been in her family for generations. The story echoes with the vivid descriptions of the land – a major character in the story, I would say, and it is an emotional and poignant read. Highly recommended.

 

The Philosophy of Love by Rebecca Ryan ***

Like all good romcoms, this novel made me laugh out loud and feel engaged with the characters. I knew what was going to happen – but I enjoyed the journey of getting there.

Alice (1^st person narrative) loved school (especially philosophy) and was good at it too. She even won the coveted ‘excellent’ competition at the end of her final school year – shared with Luke, the science boffin. But university in London showed her that she wasn’t quite as clever as she thought. Hence a fast-developing low self-esteem, followed by a relationship with the ‘pompous twat’ Charles (for ten years!) which ended in disaster.

This is the point at which we enter Alice’s story. At thirty, with nil self-worth, she has moved back to her parents’ house in Easington, poor, jobless and having completed only one year at university. Her family are ‘salt of the earth’ types but it isn’t until she meets Joanie at the local Chinese and Luke, her old school adversary, that her life takes a turn for the better. Who will win the £500 bet on the question: how rational is love? And in the end, will it really matter? The book makes a good stab at including some more thought-provoking material, but ultimately it is a romantic comedy and quite a good one too.

 

Half a World Away by Mike Gayle ***+

At forty, Kerry is a single mum caring for ten-year-old Kian. She is brave, generous and hard-working, and although she struggles financially, her work as a cleaner keeps the two of them afloat. Kerry was brought up in a children’s home, but sadly, at a young age, she was separated from her beloved brother Jason. One day, she makes up her mind to find him.

Jason has changed his name to Noah. He is married to Rosalind and they have a twelve-year-old daughter Millie. They lead a privileged life. Noah was adopted and had a happy childhood; now, he works as a barrister. But he finds it hard to open up to his emotions; he can’t face up to finding out about his past and until he does, he can’t solve the problems in his marriage.

This brother and sister are from different worlds and yet also from the same one – an interesting concept in itself. Mike Gayle explores what happens when they meet with sensitivity and perception and the impact on their lives makes for a tear-jerker of a novel. Recommended.

 

Autumn Reading 2024

Oh my… It has been a busy year. So much work… So many blogs that should have been written…

Instead, here are my Autumn pages – even though it is now December and coming up to Christmas and not autumn by any stretch of the imagination. Heigh ho. Happy Christmas!

 

My Husband’s Killer by Laura Marshall **+

This novel opens with newly-widowed Liz discovering an unpleasant truth about her husband Andrew. It is the day of his funeral and her girlfriends Saffy, Trina and Poppy are all there to support her. So can it possibly be true that Andrew was having an affair with one of these women whom she trusted implicitly?

As Liz’s suspicions grow, we are flipped back in time to the holiday in Italy which ended in Andrew losing his life. Gradually, we learn more about each of the girlfriends and their spouses and as we do so, the plot thickens. Will Liz discover the truth? This story can be melodramatic at times and the character development could be stronger, but Marshall is excellent on providing narrative tension and I was hooked from start to finish.

 

The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton ***+

It is 18^th century Amsterdam and Thea Brandt lives with her father Otto, her aunt Nella and their maid Cornelia in a once grand but now faded house on a prestigious street in Amsterdam. Thea knows that her mother died in childbirth, but no one will tell her more about the family history. An imaginative and romantic girl, she is only seventeen when she meets Walter Riebeck, a set-painter at the local playhouse, and falls in love with both Walter and the theatre.

Practical Aunt Nella however, would like to see her married to a wealthy man who can provide financial security for their family. Enter the miniaturist who has been involved with the family before, and who once again plays a part in this sequel to The Miniaturist as the family struggle to come to terms with past secrets and current problems.

As always, Jessie Burton paints a vivid picture of the time and the place and develops strong characters and a plot full of tension. This is a compelling and fully satisfying read.

 

The French House by Jacqui Bloese ****

We begin in Vancouver in 1911 with Emile Quenneville, a Guernsey man, who is left profoundly deaf after an accident. When Isabelle, the love of his life, stops writing to him from her home in Guernsey, he realises that she may not be coming out to join him after all. Has she also stopped loving him?

Skip to Guernsey 1940 and we meet Emile again – now married to Letty, whom he saved from disgrace by marrying her when she fell pregnant with Maud, following an affair with her employer. They now have another daughter Stella, but their lives together are far from harmonious, and Stella has started asking a lot of awkward questions. Isabelle is still in Guernsey too; she is married to Ron, an unpleasant and violent man, having been forced into it by pressure from her mother.

Emile and Isabelle have continued to avoid each other over the years, but when they are thrown together again, they realise that their feelings for one another have not died. However, their lives are now entwined with another’s – they are not free, and neither is Guernsey, now occupied territory.

This is a beautifully written and emotional read which I highly recommend.

 

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey ***+

When Miv’s family and community become aware of the threat of The Yorkshire Ripper, their lives begin to change. Miv’s mother – previously a warm and vibrant woman – becomes mute and inactive and has to go away for ‘breaks’ whilst Miv’s Auntie Jean does her best to try and take her place in the household and Miv’s father resorts to going to the pub and other things… Meanwhile, women and girls are being advised to stay inside after dark and Miv aged twelve and her best friend Sharon decide that they need to make a list of Suspicious Things (and People) in order to do what the police have failed to achieve – discover the identity of the Yorkshire Ripper.

As Miv’s list develops, we hear the voices of some of the people, all members of her community, who for one reason or another have made it on to the list. Gradually we learn that certain secrets are held by various people, as well as the existence of violence and racism, but also support and friendship in the heart of the community.

As Miv and Sharon turn thirteen they begin to learn more about the world and some of their suspicions begin to make more sense. Moreover, they are growing up – and discovering boys, leading to different feelings, understandings and possibly danger.

I enjoyed this book – it is original and an authentic story of growing up. There is humour, but also poignancy as we follow Miv’s journey into young adulthood. Recommended.

 

The Only Suspect by Louise Candlish ****

This author’s books are always pacy, accessible and brimming with tension and this one is no exception. The narrative has a dual time-line; the narrators are Rick in 1995 and Alex in present day; at first, we know nothing of the connection between them but information is gradually revealed as we follow the two stories forwards.

Rick is on his lunch-break from work when he first meets the enigmatic and beautiful Marina. He is immediately smitten and can’t believe his luck when she seems to return his interest. But Marina may not be exactly what she seems, and it isn’t long before Rick starts finding out things that change the situation, if not his feelings. When his friend Rollo moves into Rick’s flat, Rick begins to confide in him and the plot thickens… (no spoilers here).

Meanwhile in contemporary time in a suburb of London, Alex is married to Beth, not altogether happily. Things take a turn for the worse when her pregnant friend Zara moves in. Zara and Alex do not get on, Beth gets caught in the middle, and to make things even more worrying for Alex, the pathway behind their house and scene of an old crime, is due to be re-opened – something he most definitely is not in favour of.

I was gripped by this novel and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommended.

 

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff ***+

Geeta is unhappy. Her husband Ramesh has disappeared (not altogether a bad thing, since he was a drinker and violent too) and as a consequence, she is treated as dirt by most of the village. She does, however, belong to a female ‘loan group’ consisting of Saloni – her previously close childhood friend and various others who rarely include her in their social activities. Most of the villagers suspect that Geeta killed her husband in order to have a better life. Her life has improved slightly, it is true. Now, she can please herself, and save money from her jewellery business in order to fulfil her dream – of buying a refrigerator.

But when Karem, the local alcohol vendor, shows friendship towards her and Farah begs Geeta to kill her husband too, things begin to change for Geeta…

I enjoyed this book with its thought-provoking evocation of life for women in India and its humorous and witty tone, even if sometimes the messages are rather heavy-handed. The characters are diverse and well-drawn and the dialogue is punchy. The book is successful too in focusing the reader’s attention on important issues. Recommended.

 

 

Summer Reading 2024

Here are some of my favourites…

The Dance Teacher in Paris by Suzanne Fortin *** +

I very much enjoyed this dual-timeline story set in contemporary and early 1940s Paris at the start of the German occupation.

In the contemporary timeline, Fleur is visiting Paris from the UK, accompanying her grandmother on what has become an annual pilgrimage for Lydia, through which she wants to remember those who lost their lives in the city. This year, she has decided the time has come to tell her granddaughter the full story, but even she is shocked when at her old school where she used to dance the ballet, she finds an old ballet shoe belonging to someone she believed long gone. As they try to solve the mystery, they meet antiques dealer Didier, to whom Fleur is immediately attracted. But can he be as trustworthy as he appears, and is Fleur ready to move on from the loss she suffered when her beloved mother died and find the courage to love again?

Interwoven, is Lydia and Adele’s story narrated by Adele, the dance teacher of Paris. It was Adele who tried to save the Jewish children at her school. Her love story and her determination to do what she can to resist the occupation and save people’s lives lies at the heart of this book and was the driving force of the story for me. This is a compelling, sad and poignant narrative, well-told. Highly recommended.

 

The Hike by Lucy Clarke ***

Four old school friends re-unite to go on a hiking holiday in Norway. This could be (and is) a chance to re-assess their life journeys and make big decisions about the way forward. As one might expect, they all have problems. Liz, organised and practical, is on a trial separation from Patrick, husband and love of her life. Helena, still grieving for the loss of her mother and determinedly single, might or might not be pregnant. Maggie hasn’t fulfilled her own hopes and dreams – she has a wonderful daughter but also a problematic ex-husband and she is no longer as creative as she would like. And Joni is a burnt-out coke-addicted rock star who has lost her way. Hmm…

In fact they all lose their way on the Norwegian slopes before their problems are finally resolved.

 

The Golden Hour by Jacqui Bloese ****+

Set in Victorian Brighton, I was immediately drawn in to the world of the three main female characters in this novel. Ellen works and lives with her twin brother; they run a photography business which includes the salacious ‘golden hour,’ a time at the end of the afternoon when they photograph girls in more risqué poses than the usual society photographs, which can be sold for a profit in London or France. Ellen does have qualms – but the way she sees it, they are enabling girls to make a much-needed income without them having to resort to prostitution.

The second woman, Lily, is one of these women. She works in the laundry and is at constant risk of assault from her uncle. She needs money in order to get away from home, but when she does get away from home, she finds herself with even more problems than before.

The third woman is Clem, a well-to-do American, who is married to a man who is rather too fond of pornography and other women for Clem’s liking. And anyway, Clem has other interests to pursue… ones which her husband will definitely disapprove of.

A friendship builds between Ellen and Clem and when Lily comes to work in Clem’s house as a maid and Ellen becomes Clem’s paid companion, tensions mount until eventually their secret is out.

Beautifully written, sensuous in detail, I loved ‘The Golden Hour’ which kept me hooked and entertained from start to finish.

 

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell ***+

Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite authors and as usual, this novel sizzles with tension from the off. Very dark tension…

Josie Fair goes to a restaurant on her 45h birthday with her husband Walter, and there she meets podcaster Alix Summers, also out on a birthday celebration of her own. It turns out that they were born on the same day in the same hospital; they are ‘birthday twins’.

Josie, trapped in what she sees as a boring and unsatisfied life with her husband and her daughter Erin who has special needs, is fascinated by Alix, but it is a fascination that quickly turns into an obsession. She begins to want Alix’s life.

Alix is attractive and appears to be happily married with two healthy children. Having listened to some of her podcasts, Josie approaches Alix and asks her – would she be interested in interviewing Josie as an example of a woman who has had a difficult life and who is now determined to change it?

Alix is unsure at first, but as she begins talking to Josie, she starts uncovering a shocking darkness in the other woman’s life. She feels that she must continue – even as the power shifts between them and Josie starts encroaching on Alix’s personal life and that of her family.

Gradually, the truth is revealed – but whose truth is it? And is there another truth deeply hidden that may stay hidden forever? Chilling and compelling.

 

The Love of my Life by Rosie Walsh ****+    and my book of the season 😊

I was expecting a feel-good romance when I started this book, but actually it is so much more.

Emma, a marine biologist, loves her husband Leo, an obituary writer, very much. They have a young daughter Ruby; the family are blissfully happy, apart from the times when Emma has one of her ‘turns’ when she needs to take off and be alone by the sea somewhere, searching for rare marine creatures.

But their life is thrown into chaos and shock when Leo discovers that almost everything Emma has ever told him about herself, is a lie.

He cannot believe it at first, but he digs deeper, determined to find out the truth, and more importantly, why Emma lied to him. Where does she really go to when she needs to escape? And what can be so awful that made it impossible for her to tell him who she really is and what she has done?

When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past life finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was. But first, she must tell him about the love of her other life… Hugely enjoyable, thought-provoking, emotional and absorbing. Highly recommended.

 

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus ***+

I’m late to the party on this one, and was really looking forward to seeing what the fuss is about. Easy to see – the book’s premis of a beautiful and clever female scientist trying to teach women how they can use chemistry to change their lives in the 1950s and 60s is both original and compelling. It’s a revenge comedy and the premis sets the scene for some sharp satirical humour with feminism at the root; a string of one-liners had me laughing out loud at times.

All the characters are caricatures and the book is heavy on authorial comment with constant switches of viewpoint, including that of the dog, six-thirty. But it works. The book begins with Elizabeth (the scientist) dropping bitter, pithy, life-lesson notes in the lunch box of her four-year old daughter Mad – herself a precocious genius who has to pretend to everyone at school that she is nothing of the kind. Elizabeth is depressed because she has lost Mad’s father, Calvin Evans, the love of her life, in a freak accident and she has been forced to leave her job as a research chemist and instead host a cooking programme entitled ‘Supper at Six’ which she has attempted to make more like a chemistry lesson intended to change women’s lives.

Enter a host of other similarly caricatured characters and a mystery concerning the parentage of Calvin. Will the TV show survive? Will Elizabeth ever recover? Who was Calvin anyway? This is the narrative tension that drives the book forward. We do want to know, but I feel that with this book it is the – sometimes heavy-handed – feminist humour that has made it such a successful debut. Highly recommended (as long as you’re not either religious or a female scientist).