One of the finest historical novels I've ever read. It is the first of a trilogy, and I'm looking forward to the next two. It is the story of a NorwegOne of the finest historical novels I've ever read. It is the first of a trilogy, and I'm looking forward to the next two. It is the story of a Norwegian village, the church that ties the people together and an ancient story of suffering and love. Astrid is a descendant of the Hekne family, who donated two bells to the church to commemorate the conjoined twins born and bred in the village. The bells are special, legends surround them, and they seem to be invested with an almost mystical power. When the church is deemed too cold and small to contain the village parishioners, a plan is made to remove it, complete with its bells, to Dresden in Germany. Astrid, who works for the priest, feels torn. She wants more for her life than this tiny village, but at the same time she feels compelled to protect the bells, which have so much meaning; she feels that if the bells are lost, the village will be lost.
When a young architect arrives to draw up plans for the new church she finds herself drawn to him, he represents a life outside, someone who has seen the world, someone who can teach Astrid of new ways, take her to new places.
This is a gorgeous, generous book. With unforgettable characters and with a wonderful heart. I came to love all of the inhabitants of the village and was heard to be emitting large sobby cries at the end of it. It is one of the best books I've read this year. A joy and a delight and a heartbreaking story of love and loss and struggle. ...more
If Anne Patchett recommends a book, I'll probably read it. I'm easily influenced that way! This was one that she spoke about in The Laydown Diaries a If Anne Patchett recommends a book, I'll probably read it. I'm easily influenced that way! This was one that she spoke about in The Laydown Diaries a couple of weeks ago and I just had to have it. Sybil Van Antwerp is a fantastic invention. A woman of senior years, she's got failing eyesight due to a rare condition, and she believes in the power of letters. She's an avid reader, a very prickly person and someone not to be trifled with. She's had a life in the law, a successful lawyer who gave up her practice to work alongside her beloved friend who became a judge. He has now died and she's retired but is in no way finished with sorting people out.
This is a gentle and moving story that had me laughing uproariously and shedding the occasional tear. It's a book for lovers of language and letters. A book which will touch your heart and make you think about books and justice and ageing and the indignities of it. I loved it enormously. ...more
I went to an author talk by Kirsty Gunn recently and had to come away with this book. She was so interesting to listen to and I was totally hooked by I went to an author talk by Kirsty Gunn recently and had to come away with this book. She was so interesting to listen to and I was totally hooked by her reading. This book is an uncomfortable read. At times I laughed, other times I found myself squirming in my seat - I read a few of the stories on a flight. Each story has elements of the ugly side of human nature in different ways, all of them challenge you. Some stories I found, made me recognise some of the less charitable parts of myself, and others made me gasp with the characters hard heartedness. Challenging and interesting, it isn't for those who want a cozy read. ...more
Whoa! There is plenty to unpack with this one, but I think it is best to go into it with a minimum of information. I'll attempt not to reveal too muchWhoa! There is plenty to unpack with this one, but I think it is best to go into it with a minimum of information. I'll attempt not to reveal too much. There are shades of Never Let Me Go in here; the concept of the value of human life comes up again and again throughout the story. The triplets William, Lawrence and Vincent are fascinating characters. They are living in a large house in the English countryside, in 1979, with a bunch of other children, all of whom are cared for by women who are referred to as Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night. These women carefully control their behaviour, administering pills, monitoring their dreams, which must be written down every morning, teaching them values and keeping them from mixing with anyone outside the institution. Children gradually recover from the bug that ails them and are sent off to Margate to live a wonderful life by the sea in a paradise of childhood hopes and dreams. The triplets never seem to recover, they are always poorly. Quickly, we understand that all is not right with these children, that some kind of sinister experiment is going on, that the doctor in charge of the place is conducting some very unusual procedures on them.
We've also got Nancy, living a closeted life with her parents in another town, not allowed to leave the house or have contact with anyone. She knows something is off with her life, but her parents won't answer any of her questions. When a visitor arrives one day and Nancy is sent off to be very quiet in a cupboard in a room away from everyone, she begins to suspect that something very odd is happening with her parents.
This book is peppered with clues that gradually lead you to understand what is happening to the children and why they are leading these lives in isolation.
I was obsessed with this book from the first page to the last. It has a touch of ick about it and is downright unpleasant in places and I was totally there for it all. ...more
I learnt so much in this wonderful book about history, sociology and a terrifying disease that I honestly thought wasn't really something to worry aboI learnt so much in this wonderful book about history, sociology and a terrifying disease that I honestly thought wasn't really something to worry about anymore. It turns out that if you live in a country with a robust health system and decent pharmaceuticals available at a price that the government can bear, that is true. However, if you come from a poor country, you should definitely worry about it. I loved meeting the people in this book. I love John Green's voice as he gently pokes you and makes you aware of serious things.
This is excellent on every level. It is, like all of his work, full of heart and feelings of generosity and gratitude for the privilege he has. Marvellous. ...more
Having read myself up to date on the St Mary's books, I was delighted to spy this new book. If you've been pootling along with Max and the disaster maHaving read myself up to date on the St Mary's books, I was delighted to spy this new book. If you've been pootling along with Max and the disaster magnets of St Mary's, you will have encountered Smallhope and Pennyroyal, this is their backstory. I'm pretty sure that the lovely Jodi Taylor is setting us up for another spinoff series, and I have no problem at all with that. This is all kinds of good fun, just as you'd expect. There are guns, misunderstandings, Time Police misadventures and some dastardly criminals and baddies. Lots to love, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Bring on another one please!...more
Well this is a great big bundle of fun. If you can count dangerous snakes, extreme climate change-induced weather conditions and quite a lot of dodgy Well this is a great big bundle of fun. If you can count dangerous snakes, extreme climate change-induced weather conditions and quite a lot of dodgy risk-taking as a good old fun time. This is a family story, but not as you might expect.
Cat is living with a semi useless bloke in Florida, she is easily influenced and ends up with snakes as pets. It's awful! She is mainly attracted to them because she likes the idea of having them as self decorations. Unfortunately snakes and small children are not a good mix.
Her mum Ottile is a genuinely great person trying to do her best for the planet, her family and her community. She is suffering terribly from the unrelenting heat. She is trying to be creative with crickets and other alternatives to meat in the hope of helping out the planet. She is fabulous, her musings kept me smiling all the way through the book.
Then there is her son, a perennial student of botany. He has something truly traumatic happen to him and spends a good deal of time coming to terms with his fate and dealing with his relationship troubles.
These folk and their extended circle make for a story that is a little bit crazy, a lot of fun, a bit squirmy, and frankly terrifying in its vision of climate disruption. It has a strong message about climate and the need to do something about our future. It's all wrapped up in a weird, hilarious, uncomfortable, fabulously entertaining novel. I loved it. ...more
Lovely to be back with Arthur and Linus again. There are some new creatures to enjoy and some dastardly nasties to navigate. As always a really good tLovely to be back with Arthur and Linus again. There are some new creatures to enjoy and some dastardly nasties to navigate. As always a really good time. ...more
I've gone for middle ground on this novel. On one hand I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective, one I've not encountered before, I loved the young voice I've gone for middle ground on this novel. On one hand I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective, one I've not encountered before, I loved the young voice gave me a lot to think about. At times I was nodding along thinking, "yes, yes yes, this"! Other times I found myself thoroughly frustrated with the tone and the attitude. Especially to the protagonist's relationship with her lover and the dismissive way she thought about pakeha who were learning Te Reo. On one hand I get it, on the other I wanted to chuck the book across the room at times. This isn't a bad thing, it's great to be challenged in your thoughts, and this certainly gave me plenty of things to think about.
I did have some issues with some of the writing in this novel, I took an age to finish it, I'd have liked it to be a bit tighter.
In the end, while I did enjoy it, and the voice of the young protagonist challenged my thinking, I can't say that this novel was a fave. ...more
I bought this book because it was hyped up by someone I follow on Instagram but for me It wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I loved the premise but found iI bought this book because it was hyped up by someone I follow on Instagram but for me It wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I loved the premise but found it dragged and I just wanted things to move along....more
Beautiful, thoughtful, moving and with glorious prose. This wonderful dystopian vision of life in a grim future not too far distant from now, probablyBeautiful, thoughtful, moving and with glorious prose. This wonderful dystopian vision of life in a grim future not too far distant from now, probably ruined other books for me for a while. I adored every sentence, every scene. Brilliant book....more
A beautifully atmospheric novel of things that made me go "What?" This is a book full of those situations that families go through, things that irritaA beautifully atmospheric novel of things that made me go "What?" This is a book full of those situations that families go through, things that irritate you, people who aren't your people, even though they aren't your people. Every sentence is perfectly placed. Characters seem somewhat distanced, it takes a bit to get into their heads, but it's worth it, it becomes totally compelling. This book was great company as we sat in our van watching the rain pour down while wrapped in rugs, on our 'summer' holiday.
I found this book on special at The Warehouse, I really liked the lovely production, a gorgeous, embossed hardback, it called to me. I didn't realise I found this book on special at The Warehouse, I really liked the lovely production, a gorgeous, embossed hardback, it called to me. I didn't realise it was the second book in the series, but that didn't matter, I really enjoyed the story. Billy is a cheeky street urchin, poverty-stricken and desperate to become a bookseller. He encounters the sinister Obscurosmith, a terror of a man and is warned off getting involved with him and his dastardly ways by a young girl. Thus an alliance is formed, one which will take done the powers of evil and try to save his parents from poverty and gain him the job of his dreams.
Great fun, a good old-fashioned adventure. Loved it. ...more
In a large farmhouse in the Dutch countryside, Isabel spends her days fussing and keeping house. She live in the home precariously for it has been givIn a large farmhouse in the Dutch countryside, Isabel spends her days fussing and keeping house. She live in the home precariously for it has been given to her brother to take up when he is ready. She is bitter about this and worried that she might be left homeless. When she is introduced to her brother’s latest unsuitable girlfriend she is unimpressed, but swiftly horrified when they move into her home. Isa cannot get along with this woman that she now shares her life with. Then they are alone together and Isa suspects Eva is stealing the family possessions. Spoons and forks begin to disappear. When it becomes obvious that Eva is the thief a confrontation is necessary. This leads to an unexpected consequence and Isabel finds a yearning id fulfilled and her heart melted. But there is an underlying threat. All is not as it seems, the unravelling of a mystery and a heartbreak which cannot be escaped.
It is a novel of the aftermath of war, of deep seated grief and grievances. Quiet in its feel but huge in its rage and sadness, this is a beautiful novel. ...more
I've really enjoyed the two other novels by Charlotte Wood and was really looking forward to getting into this one, and I was not disappointed. It is I've really enjoyed the two other novels by Charlotte Wood and was really looking forward to getting into this one, and I was not disappointed. It is a novel of pensive reminiscence and has an almost meditative feel. A woman goes on a retreat, she takes a break from her life, from the complications of her failed marriage, her friends and her busyness. She stays in a convent, is largely unaffected by the praying and religious rites and then returns to the city. Next, we meet her and she is now part of this group of nuns, not wearing the habit but fully immersed in the convent life. We too become immersed in the daily duties of prayer, hymns, cooking and gardening and the terrible plague of mice which is terrorising rural Australia. There are mice everywhere, in everything, eating everything.
News comes to the community that the remains of a nun who was brutally murdered in Thailand will be returned. She'll be accompanied by a nun that the woman realises went to the same school as her as a kid. Covid is on the way. The mice population keeps growing. Tensions are rising. Beuracacy is rife in relation to the burial of the body and the woman and the visiting nun have history.
This book is extremely beautiful, it has much to say about the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, about forgiveness and about how your attitudes change as you age. It is timely for me whose mum died a month ago, a woman who was complex and difficult and I related a lot to the way that Charlotte Wood wrote about complicated relationships. The sadnesses and forgiveness that comes to us in the end. ...more
I wax so looking forward to this. I bought it because it is set in an area I know well. I enjoy this author’s work. But I’ve list the will to continueI wax so looking forward to this. I bought it because it is set in an area I know well. I enjoy this author’s work. But I’ve list the will to continue. It’s beautiful writing, but I need more to happen. ...more
This feels meditative and full of awe for the Earth. Six astronauts orbiting the planet, gaze out the window towards their home. They watch the sun riThis feels meditative and full of awe for the Earth. Six astronauts orbiting the planet, gaze out the window towards their home. They watch the sun rise and set, they conduct their experiments, they joke with ground control, and one of them grieves for her mother who has died while she's been on this journey. They watch a huge storm roll out and imagine the devastation. They sleep, they eat, and they think about the journey to come. That's it really. Don't read this if you need action, but read it for its meditative style and its lovely structure and because it is such great writing. ...more
A great big bunch of boozy fun. Read it because someone I interviewed for a project about books for boys told me her 14 year old wax loving it. Fair eA great big bunch of boozy fun. Read it because someone I interviewed for a project about books for boys told me her 14 year old wax loving it. Fair enough , its s cracking cozy mystery and there is plenty of twisty turney investigationy fun to had in here. TV series coming soon and I like the look of that too. Will read more of these, lots of fun! ...more