Finished June 18
Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste
We follow the family of Hailu and Selam in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia beginning in 1974 with the revolution. Hailu is a doctor and Selam is dying in the hospital. Their oldest son Yonas takes refuge in prayer, pleading for an end to the violence. Yonas' wife Sara feels herself to be abandoned by God after the loss of their parents and earlier pregnancies, even as she prays for her daughter's life to be spared. Hailu's younger son Dawit has joined an underground student resistance movement, and finds himself pushing to do more.
The family dynamics play a large role in the plot, as does the revolution and resistance in Ethiopia. When Hailu makes a decision to spare a prisoner further torture, he is ordered to report to jail and the fight for freedom becomes more personal. As the family becomes more involved in the political situation, we see the desperation and hidden depths of the characters we have come to care about.
Told from multiple viewpoints, this story is an emotional and powerful one.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Short Stories
Finished June 14
Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger: New and Selected Stories by Lee Smith
Stories with settings in the American South dealing with relationships, family, and how we all deal with what life brings to us. It is characters that are Smith's strong point. They come alive for the reader. They are us, our friends, our neighbours. The things that happen in their lives are things we are familiar with and can relate to. People get married, have babies, break up, and die. There are so many of the stories that I loved that I would be hard pressed to choose a favourite. What I do know is that this is a writer I want more of and will be seeking out her earlier books.
What is ordinary, she illuminates in a way that is unexpected, yet rings true every time.
Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger: New and Selected Stories by Lee Smith
Stories with settings in the American South dealing with relationships, family, and how we all deal with what life brings to us. It is characters that are Smith's strong point. They come alive for the reader. They are us, our friends, our neighbours. The things that happen in their lives are things we are familiar with and can relate to. People get married, have babies, break up, and die. There are so many of the stories that I loved that I would be hard pressed to choose a favourite. What I do know is that this is a writer I want more of and will be seeking out her earlier books.
What is ordinary, she illuminates in a way that is unexpected, yet rings true every time.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Aussie Mystery
Finished June 12
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
This is the first in the series featuring Phryne Fisher. This one has her just arriving in Melbourne, Australia from England. She was asked by an couple worried about their daughter's wellbeing to check into the situation, but plans to set herself up as a detective. On the voyage she has made friends with a female doctor, Dr. Macmillan, who is coming to be part of the staff of the new Queen Victoria hospital, a hospital for women.
The books are set after World War One, and Phryne is a very competent young woman, who drives well, pilots airplanes, and is capable of pretty much anything she sets her mind to. It is her knowledge of human behaviour and her powers of observation that make her a successful detective.
I'd read one of the later ones in this series and found it entertaining, so found it interesting to see how the series began. On her first day, Phryne witnesses a young woman who is considering drastic moves after being the object of a abusive employer. When Phryne takes a bit of revenge for her, the young woman, Dot, comes to work for Phryne. Phryne meets a Russian countess and her grandchildren who do innovative theatre and comes into contact with a world of drugs. She also hears about an incompetent and abusive abortionist from Dr. Macmillan and assists the police with that case.
She finds that two taxi drivers, Cec and Bert, and good allies and involves them in some of her activities.
There is lots going on here, but nothing that Phryne can't handle (even though she does make some bad decisions). A thoroughly enjoyable book, and one that made my vacation flight go more quickly.
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
This is the first in the series featuring Phryne Fisher. This one has her just arriving in Melbourne, Australia from England. She was asked by an couple worried about their daughter's wellbeing to check into the situation, but plans to set herself up as a detective. On the voyage she has made friends with a female doctor, Dr. Macmillan, who is coming to be part of the staff of the new Queen Victoria hospital, a hospital for women.
The books are set after World War One, and Phryne is a very competent young woman, who drives well, pilots airplanes, and is capable of pretty much anything she sets her mind to. It is her knowledge of human behaviour and her powers of observation that make her a successful detective.
I'd read one of the later ones in this series and found it entertaining, so found it interesting to see how the series began. On her first day, Phryne witnesses a young woman who is considering drastic moves after being the object of a abusive employer. When Phryne takes a bit of revenge for her, the young woman, Dot, comes to work for Phryne. Phryne meets a Russian countess and her grandchildren who do innovative theatre and comes into contact with a world of drugs. She also hears about an incompetent and abusive abortionist from Dr. Macmillan and assists the police with that case.
She finds that two taxi drivers, Cec and Bert, and good allies and involves them in some of her activities.
There is lots going on here, but nothing that Phryne can't handle (even though she does make some bad decisions). A thoroughly enjoyable book, and one that made my vacation flight go more quickly.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Feel-Good book
Finished June 10
Notwithstanding by Louis de Bernieres
This gem of a novel has linked stories from a small English village with wonderful, memorable characters that will capture your heart. I absolutely loved this book and found the stories heartwarming without being schmaltzy.The small village of Notwithstanding has both families that have lived there for generations and newcomers. Each story focuses on a select individual or group of characters that are linked to other stories in the book. We get a real feel for the village, the way the inhabitants relate to each other, and the creeping change that is happening.
Highly recommended.
Notwithstanding by Louis de Bernieres
This gem of a novel has linked stories from a small English village with wonderful, memorable characters that will capture your heart. I absolutely loved this book and found the stories heartwarming without being schmaltzy.The small village of Notwithstanding has both families that have lived there for generations and newcomers. Each story focuses on a select individual or group of characters that are linked to other stories in the book. We get a real feel for the village, the way the inhabitants relate to each other, and the creeping change that is happening.
Highly recommended.
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Meandering Book
Finished June 6
The Pattern in the Carpet: a personal history with jigsaws by Margaret Drabble
This is by an author I like and I found it very interesting. It was about more than jigsaws, although a theme of jigsaws did meander through it. Drabble associates jigsaws with her Aunt Phyl, who taught her how to do them as a child, and with whom she shared the entertainment on visits as an adult. Besides jigsaws and their history, she also looks into other childhood games and books, mosaics and tesserae, and various bits of social history.
I found that I read this book slowly, both to keep track of all the different sidelines that were introduced and also to savour the reading.
A very enjoyable and entertaining read.
The Pattern in the Carpet: a personal history with jigsaws by Margaret Drabble
This is by an author I like and I found it very interesting. It was about more than jigsaws, although a theme of jigsaws did meander through it. Drabble associates jigsaws with her Aunt Phyl, who taught her how to do them as a child, and with whom she shared the entertainment on visits as an adult. Besides jigsaws and their history, she also looks into other childhood games and books, mosaics and tesserae, and various bits of social history.
I found that I read this book slowly, both to keep track of all the different sidelines that were introduced and also to savour the reading.
A very enjoyable and entertaining read.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Audio Memoir
Finished June 5
Traveling with Pomegranates: a mother-daughter story by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor, read by the authors.
This book is a story of travel and self-discovery. It is told in alternating chapters by the two authors, and deals with travels and life events between 1998 and 2000. Their travels took them to Greece, Turkey, and France, with a concentration on women-centered religion and myth. Playing large roles here are Athena, Demeter, Persephone, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Anne. On their first trip together, the two women find small glass pomegranates in a store in the plaka in Athens and they become important talismans and symbols.
Sue is turning 50, and is becoming aware of her life's stages. Ann has just graduated college and is struggling to find her future. Touching on Greek myth, the two find meaning in the stories of Demeter and Persephone. They also find themselves drawn to particular representations of Mary, such as the Black Mary of Rocamadour. As they work their way into their futures, they find their struggles and epiphanies intertwined. A fascinating book of a special relationship between mother and daughter that will surely inspire others.
Traveling with Pomegranates: a mother-daughter story by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor, read by the authors.
This book is a story of travel and self-discovery. It is told in alternating chapters by the two authors, and deals with travels and life events between 1998 and 2000. Their travels took them to Greece, Turkey, and France, with a concentration on women-centered religion and myth. Playing large roles here are Athena, Demeter, Persephone, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Anne. On their first trip together, the two women find small glass pomegranates in a store in the plaka in Athens and they become important talismans and symbols.
Sue is turning 50, and is becoming aware of her life's stages. Ann has just graduated college and is struggling to find her future. Touching on Greek myth, the two find meaning in the stories of Demeter and Persephone. They also find themselves drawn to particular representations of Mary, such as the Black Mary of Rocamadour. As they work their way into their futures, they find their struggles and epiphanies intertwined. A fascinating book of a special relationship between mother and daughter that will surely inspire others.
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Business Book
Finished May 31
You Are What You Choose: the habits of mind that really determine how we make decisions by Scott de Marchi and James T Hamilton
The book looks at TRAITS, a different way of profiling someone by the choices they make and predicting future behaviour from that. I enjoyed the background information and the sample test (Of course I had to take it. Among other things I am an information geek, there's a surprise). I found the case studies of behaviour a bit dry, with too much repetition. I can see that it is definitely a useful system, but gathering the information wouldn't always be so easy.
You Are What You Choose: the habits of mind that really determine how we make decisions by Scott de Marchi and James T Hamilton
The book looks at TRAITS, a different way of profiling someone by the choices they make and predicting future behaviour from that. I enjoyed the background information and the sample test (Of course I had to take it. Among other things I am an information geek, there's a surprise). I found the case studies of behaviour a bit dry, with too much repetition. I can see that it is definitely a useful system, but gathering the information wouldn't always be so easy.
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