Elma Turner library book chat November
Bookchat is a place where we get together to talk about books we have recently read. Come along and tell us about what you have been reading, or just come to hear what titles other people have enjoyed. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:30am in Rūma Mānuka.
Here's a roundup of what we discussed last month.
This is one of three in a trilogy. Historical fiction set in France in the 1200s and 2000s. Toulouse and Carcassonne. Mystery, religious wars - the Cathars and Crusaders. I could relate to the towns and found it very readable.
Jornalist Lownie wrote this account after contacting 3000 people. 350 agreed to talk to him. Andrew and Fergie's childhoods discussed. Andrew referred to as 'baby grumpling'. Andrew overpraised and indulged. Diana set up Fergie for Andrew. Fergie beame over assertive with staff when she became a Duchess. As she has a lot of secrets she is made to keep quiet. A lot of money related/ economic information.
S J Bennett The Queen who came in from the cold
A detective series set in the 1960s. Princess Margaret has just married Anthony Armstrong-Jones. The Queen is en route to Liverpool for a Coal mining when a woman turns up in the Royal train ( Margaret's new lady-in-waiting) and blurts out inappropriate things at dinner and then witnesses a body being flung from the train. A fun read for Christmas.
Fiona Sussman Addressed to Greta
A quirky story about Great Jellings who has been left a legacy by friend Walter along with a posthumous challenge that leads her to leave her everyday life selling swimming pool chemicals, to travelling to London, New York, Rwanda and NZ. Great is an endearing character who's a bit clumsy and always has her mother's voice in her head.
Peter Williams QC The dwarf who moved
Each chapter follows a case. Much humour. Peter Williams comes across as a very likeable person with a lot of friends.
John Steinbeck The grapes of wrath
I read this as I travelled on what was Route 66 parts now Interstate 40). Steinbeck won the Nobel Literature prize. Set in the 1930s when America suffered both the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl times when families were desperate for survival. 400,000 travelled Route 66 to California, the land of 'milk and honey' for work. Many died en route. This book follows a family who get to California but have to live in cardboard boxes which are regularly burnt by sheriffs. A fascinating look at inhumanity, families and 'economic progress'.
A cautionary tale. Hackers have targeted 8 driverless cars, setting them on a fatal collision course. If the authorities interfere with the vehicles before they reach their destination, they will explode, killing everyone on board. Now the hacker is insisting that the public - and a select jury - judge who should live and who should die. It's a trial by social media - a popularity contest that will be fought to the death. Didn't finish
Graham Greene The power and the glory
Set in Mexico after the revolution with disintegration into Provinces ruled by the military or socialists. Churches have been torn down in the South and the 'whisky priest' is on the run, Still doing blessings and confessions when he can, this self-flagellating priest is finally caught during a confession.
Based on the true life of Mila Pavlichenko, a researcher in Kiev who became a deadly sniper with 309 known kills to her name. Set during the time Hitler was invading Russia in WW2. Known as 'Lady death' she was sent as an envoy for Russia to the United States where she made friends with Eleanor Roosevelt and later moved to London.
Shelby Van Pelt Remarkably bright creatures
This is the story of a friendship between a giant Pacific octopus called Marcellus and Tova Sullivan who works the night shift at an Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Nice read, lovely story.
Judith Mackrell Artists, siblings and visonaries: lives and loves of Gwen and Augustus John
Both Gwen and Augustus showed precocious skill with art. Their father, a lawyer, reluctantly agreed to letting them train at Slade Art School. Augustus was a genius, dressed flamboyantly, had 13 children and embraced the gypsy style. He was hopeless with money so needed the Society portrait commissions he became known for and wasted his talent on these, not progressing his artistic style. Gwen however, moved to Paris for a private life and devoted her life to art, She had an affair with the Sculptor Rodin then a wealthy American gave her an allowance in exchange for 3 paintings per annum. Gwen died just before WW2. Her start has risen and now regarded as innovative. No explanationation as to why the author has included the word 'visionaries' in the title.
Seishi Yokomizo The Honjin murders
A detective story in style of Agatha Christie set in the distant provinces of Japan. There are many references to classic detective stories. This is a locked room mystery where a couple are murdered on their wedding night. The denouement a bit unsatisfactory
Robert Hillman The bookshop of the broken-hearted
A nice story set in Australia in 1968. Tom is a lonely man - sheep farmer, stoic, hardworking. His wife has left him with their son. Hannah comes to town, Hungarian, Jewish. She sets up a bookshop in town. Wonderful writing. Slow and relaxing. Dry understated humour.
Julian Zabalbeascoa What we tried to bury grows here
Set in the Spanish Civil War. A Basque man reluctantly becomes a soldier. Each chapter is from the perspective of different characters who all have a connection. The story is not linear but there is a sense of progression. Not an easy read.
Hampton Sides Blood & thunder
Library doesn't hold.
Sydney Shaw has had no luck with dating. Using Tinder to find a man she finally meets a handsome doctor but he turns out to be a serial killer! Good holiday read.
A reimagining of the origins of Stonehenge. In about 2500 B.C.E. on the Great Plain, we read about humans behind the construction. A good yarn and entertaining
Michael is middle-aged, living in Wellington & checking out the online dating scene. His father is dying in a resthome. Michael's daughter comes home for the weekend, attached by a rope to Matiu, as part of an art project for a year. Funny and readable
Margaret Mills The nine lives of Kitty K
Based on a real person Kitty Kirk (1855 - 1930).Her mother left Ireland for New Zealand goldfields in Otago. She lived in Dunedin then Queenstown. Married and moved to Kinloch then to Arthur's Point. She endured those times, supporting herself as a woman alone. Happiness was followed by tragedy, fame by infamy, and the circle was repeated more than once. Some locals called her a heroine, others called her a harlot. Debut writer Mills was 91 when this was published in 2021
Elaine Sciolino Adventures in the Louvre : how to fall in love with the world's greatest museum
I would give this 5 for the writing and content, it just has very few illustrations and they're black and white. However this is a wonderful immersive description & history of the building ( once an inn, an arsenal, a prison, a mint and palace before today's purpose which came out of the Revolution and the dissolution of monarchy) It's a personal tour with each chapter focusing on aspects other than 'just' the art and objects within the walls. We learn that there are 400 rooms many of which we'll never see, the restoration workshop areas, the framers, the curators and staff, the pyramid construction, the cleaners and yes the crown jewels. I learnt that Beyonce hired the Louvre after hours for a Music video which can be viewed on Youtube Sciolini also talks about the wonderful sculptures and art that is not often visited eg some impressionist paintings which are rare (as the range in the Louvre is before 1848) but the 4-5 paintings are in a room wholly populated by a private donation including them. I loved it
