April Reads - Elma Turner Library Book Chat
Set in Paris. A young girl, Mona is losing her sight . Her doctor suggests a psychologist, but her grandfather decides to take her to Art Galleries around the City every day with the aim of imprinting a love of paintings. There are 52 chapters covering 1 artwork, sandwiched between an introduction and conclusion. Three components are covered in each chapter – Mona’s life ( fiction) – a background of each work – the meaning behind the painting ( fascinating) The author is actually an art historian and this is obvious. The story of Mona’s life is disjointed, not running on to the next chapter. Just didn’t work as a work of fiction.
Beyond the reef : selected stories Graham Lay
A selection of twenty short stories. An excellent introduction by the author and how he came to write short stories ( Frank Sargeson advised him) Lay has travelled widely over the Pacific and these stories reflect that. Published in 2025.Recommended
Three days in June Anne Tyler
The novel is set a day before during and after the wedding of Gail’s daughter, Debbie. Things aren’t going well. Firstly, Gail quits her job, her ex turns up at the door needing to stay as has a stray cat to look after and the groom is allergic and then a secret about the groom is discovered…I enjoy Anne Tyler
The loneliness of Sonia and Sunny Kiran Desai
A Booker finalist. Almost Dickensian with its list of characters covering the gamut of human characteristics. Sonia and Sunny are both Indian and leave to study in the States. Both are writers and have partnerships that fail. They are both lonely in the US & return to India and eventually meet and both want to write about India authentically, not as Western readers would like. The novel exposes the corruption, pollution, and violence of Indian society. Sunny has a possessive mother and Sonia has had a possessive boyfriend who was needy . Racism, feminism and family are some themes of the novel.
Clown town Mick Herron
Spy novel, about the British Intelligence Service headed up by Diana Taverner at Regents Park. Slough House is the repository for failed spies headed by Drunk Jackson Lamb, however occasionally the get to do a decent job of foiling threats. In this no. 9 of the Slough House series, there is a threat to Taverner’s reputation from the outgoing home secretary and another retired Spy, CC. It ends with Diana Taverner in strife caused by Jackson Lamb.
Just ignore him Alan Davies
Comedian Davies had a difficult childhood. His father was a paedophile and his mother died of leukaemia when Alan was 6. He felt like an outsider at school and played the class clown role. Sad, honest, dark and moving book. He has published a second memoir.
We did OK, kid: a memoir Anthony Hopkins
Hopkins had a troubled lonely childhood. His Welsh father was unsupportive. He cut himself off emotionally became an alcoholic. Had two failed marriages. Estranged from his child. Lost his house in the Palisades fires. An honest account of a great actor.
Sarah’s key Tatiana de Rosnay
Really enjoyed this powerful fictional story set in Paris during the Nazi era . Much unhappiness but I liked the way the author gave the victims’ family happiness and greater bonds in life eventually.
The aftermath Rhidian Brook
Set in Hamburg after WW2 from a British Point of View. British colonel and wife reunited in 1946 Hamburg to help with rebuilding the city. Not enough history
The path of peace: walking the Western front way Anthony Seldon
A memoir by historian walking the WW1 western front from the Swiss border to the English Channel. Plans to do in 35 days in 2021 during the Covid lockdowns so he struggled to find accommodation and food and in many places except Belgium, he was creating the path to follow the history of the battles. Lots of history about the areas he walks through but on the walking side he seems unprepared and anxious. Has no rest days factored in so walks 40 km some days, with blisters and is bitten by a dog. Not that interesting and I felt impatient with his unpreparedness and bad choices. He also took taxis to accommodation each night!
For reasons of their own Chris Stuart
NZ author. Detective Inspector Robbie Gray is stationed in Melbourne. Talented but troubled & estranged from her daughter. Sent to a conference to watch out for suspicious terrorist behaviour but all fine. But afterwards one of the attendees turns up dead and there’s a terrorist attack in Federation Square
Be brave: the life of a Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver
An autobiography of the TVNZ journalist. Fabulous. Dreaver was brought up in Kiribati & New Zealand. Open and honest, eye opening on the corruption and the drug trade in the Pacific. Names people who have made her job difficult. When she had a child, she was sidelined for journalism work in the Pacific.
The hotel on the roof of the world Alec Le Sueur
An account of life at the Holiday Inn, Lhasa, Tibet ( altitude 14,000 feet). Very funny travel book.
You are a brave man: a kiwi odyssey in the Himalayas Elizabeth Harding
The author and her partner worked at the Khunde hospital as doctors the 1990s. Not trusted by the locals who preferred their own healer and distrusted women in that role so called author ‘a brave man’ . She’s quite critical of her situation and felt lonely.
Minding Frankie Maeve Binchy
Many characters. Young pregnant woman with cancer so names the father ( a former partner) as the father so the child will have someone to care for her once born The father is a recovering alcoholic and needs help but a large network of family and friends. Set in Dublin,
Heartwood Amity Gaige
An Appalachian trail hiker, Val goes missing. The book offers her point of view as she writes to her mother as she battles the elements; the investigator’s Point of view, Barbara, the Maine State Game Warden, and Lena, a 76-year-old bird watcher living in a retirement community and plays the armchair detective role. Took me a while to engage with the story and the characters but eventually the three narratives connect in a believable way.
The Venetian Sanctuary Phillip Gwynne-Jones
Book 8 of a series set in Venice with the character Nathan Sutherland who is British Honorary Consul for the Cit. The author lives in Venice and gives excellent descriptions of the setting and the locals. The Consul has a grumpy cat and good loving marriage and a wry sense of humour. Set during the Covid lockdown when there are no tourists or cruise ships. The lagoon is quiet and quite clean. A Welshman falls from a bell tower on one of the lesser-known islands of Venice where there is a monastic retreat. Nathan goes to stay at the retreat to find out what really happened as it appears suspicious. Well-plotted with complex characters. Recommend reading his previous books for a back story but can be read alone.
Venetian vespers John Banville
English hack-writer Evelyn Dolman has married a rich heiress . They go to Venice for a honeymoon but after a very unpleasant altercation between them on the first evening, the wife disappears the following morning. There are references to earlier stories set in Venice ( The fog and red cape of Don’t look now, Du Maurier in its Gothic style and substance) The main character is thoroughly unlikeable, pompous and completely fooled. Despite misgivings I do like Banville’s plotting and style . Set in 1899 with appropriate language for the time.
