The Golem and the Jinni - Helen Wecker

This is a novel that takes hold of you and doesn't let go for almost 500 pages.   It tells the story of two "other worldly" creatures who are newcomers to early twentieth century New York.  As you might have guessed by the title, these beings are a golem and a jinni.  Relating to Jewish traditions, a golem is essentially a creature made from clay and brought to life so that it can serve a master.  A jinni, on the other hand, is a supernatural desert being.  Both new to the city, the golem and the jinni become companions of sorts.

In many ways, this is an immigrant story that explores the challenges of finding oneself in an unfamiliar land and learning how to belong. While the golem finds herself feeling unsure of her place in the world, the jinni is constantly comparing his new home to what he had previously in the desert.  However, because of their unique natures, this book becomes much more than just an immigrant's story.  The pairs' unique natures drive them relentlessly towards a climax that makes the reader fly through this book, dying to know what happens.

I loved learning more about the Jewish and Arabic traditions from which the golem and the jinni emerged and the conversations between the two were particularly good.  They both had such unique takes on the world that were often quite at odds.  I also enjoyed the setting of early New York, Wecker's descriptions were captivating.  Really, there is very little fault I can find in this book, it is quite simply fantastic!

The Mystery of the Ghosts - Gabriella Paradis

This is a first time author that has burst onto the scene in a very big way! Even at 8 years old, she has the soul of another Stephen King, and I'm not just saying that because I have known her since she was born.

This is the story of three sisters who, along with their parents move into a house which is reported to be haunted. Despite their parent's assurances that there is no such thing as ghosts, the trio starts to encounter various unexplained events almost immediately after taking up residence in the house.

I thought the characters quite well written, and the author managed to flesh out various aspects of their personalities. I am really hoping the author writes a sequel to this book as I would love to hear where the ghost came from, why it was in that house, and what the relationship is to the three sisters, and why the ghost was so attracted to candles.

I have a feeling that people interested in this book won't find it in their local book shop, but you can easily find it on Amazon's kindle store.

Newton and the Counterfeiter by Thomas Levenson

In a nutshell

This is a book that I've been wanting to read for quite a long time. I've had it on my Kindle for ages, and finally got around to reading it while on holiday. This book is about a period of history that I never knew about Isaac Newton; the time in his life when he was Warden of the Royal Mint in England. During his tenure at the Mint, he managed to take a public service entity that was pretty much haemorrhaging money and turn it around with the speed and efficiency that you would expect from someone of his drive and genius. During this time, he also took on a part of the job he originally tried to shirk off (going after coiners), and turned into one of the best anti-counterfeiting deterrents the mint has ever seen.

Did I like it?

I loved this book! Not only did I learn a great deal about Newton during a his tenure at the mint, a time in his life I knew almost nothing prior to this book, but this book also got into some fascinating detail about who Newton was, and what made him tick. Just as Einstein's contemporaries were visionaries in Physics, Newton was rubbing elbows with some of the best thinkers of his time: Halley, Hooke, Harrison, Leibniz and many others. I also learned that Newton wasn't the kind of guy you wanted to piss off; as William Chaloner found out in due course with his counterfeiting.

...Isaac Newton was a total badass!

Will you like it?

If you want to get into a bit of seedy history and learn about the late, great Isaac Newton, as well as learn a great deal about how our current financial system was like just a few years back, then this book is totally for you.

What else happened while I was reading this book

I had started this book before I went on holiday, but while reading it, we took a 10 day holiday to the Hawkes Bay and Waikanae. The weather was pure crap for most of the trip, but I did manage to read quite a lot of this book while seated in a hanging wicker basket chair...ahhhh, luxury!

Winter of the World - Ken Follett

Follett's capacity to create a world that immerses its readers in both the characters and settings is amazing. Winter of the World follows on from his earlier success with Fall of Giants.  In Winter of the World, Follett takes readers through the Great Depression and World War Two.  Interestingly, the main characters in this book are the children of the characters from Fall of Giants.  I enjoyed seeing the characters evolve from impulsive and sometimes shallow young adults into (mostly) mature and thoughtful adults.  While the era is dark, you still find yourself want to get wrapped up in Follett's world.  He takes you into compelling times, events and places, including: The Manhattan Project, Stalinist Russia, Hitler's Germany, the Spanish Civil War, and follows the ascent of Churchill.  It's a page turner with substance!  Recommended!!

A friend suggested this book to me and I've since recommended it to others.  The reactions are always fantastic -- it would seem to have universal appeal.  5/5 Stars

Mister Roger and Me - Marie-Renée Lavoie, Wayne Grady (Translator)

This book won the French version of Canada Reads and I can certainly see why.  At its core, it's a coming of age story.  Helen (or Joe as she prefers to be called) is a young girl growing up in a tough area of Montreal.  The author uses this device to touch on issues related to growing up poor, but also on the effects of changing mental health policies.  The characters are unique and interesting and while the story itself is quite bleak, Lavoie's tone keeps some levity in place.  A book well worth reading for its many nuances. 5-Stars.

The Cruelest Month - Louise Penny

I've given glowing reviews to Louise Penny's earlier two books and I'm not going to change that trend here.  I simply love the way she writes, creates a sense of place, and develops winning characters.  And I love that Armand Gamache's fatal flaw is his sense of honour.  I've read one too many crime novels where the lead character is a hard drinking jerk.

In Penny's latest book, the Three Pines murder takes place during a seance.  The victim is a seemingly well loved (if newish) member of the community, but that presumption starts to break down as the book evolves and the team investigates the crime.  An interesting side plot relates to a thread that has been present in the previous two novels.  Gamache's integrity led him to anger many high ranking members of the police force by arresting one of their own and many on the force are still committed to bringing Gamache down.  This all comes to a head in Penny's third novel.

Once again, I was captivated by Penny's world and can't wait to read the next.  I try to save them for my holidays as they are a guaranteed winner! 5/5 Stars.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home - Carol Rifka Brunt

This was one of my favorite books of 2012.   It tells the story of a young girl in the 1980's, who has just lost her uncle to AIDS.  The story centers around her burgeoning friendship with her uncle's partner, whom she only meets after her uncle's death.  The book is haunting in its portrayal of this era, with the AIDS panic at its full intensity.

I loved this book for a variety of reasons.  First, the sense of place in it was amazing.  I felt like I was living in 1980's New York.  Second, the protagonist (June) is an incredible character.  Rifka Brunt perfectly captures the awkwardness of adolescence and all its conflicting emotions.  Finally, it was a lovely story about friendship in difficult circumstances.

I recommend this book to everyone  -- it will stay with you long after you're done.

5/5 Stars.

Battle of the Network Ann(e)s

There are two Ann(e)s who I find to be "go to" authors: Anne Tyler and Ann Patchett.  So, this November, I was feeling particularly lucky to be reading both The Beginner's Goodbye (Tyler) and State of Wonder (Patchett).  So, who won this epic battle?  Ann Patchett, by a long shot!

The Beginner's Goodbye tells the story of a man who lost his wife in a tragic accident.  He begins seeing her soon after.  Ghost, hallucination, take your pick.  The story essentially shows him coming to grip with both her death and the failings of their relationship.  To me, it came across as a bit "twee" and was not up to some of my favorite Tyler works, such as Saint Maybe and Breathing Lessons. 2/5

State of Wonder is a far more interesting tale which explores issues related to medical ethics, culture, class, and friendship.  It begins with a pharmaceutical research finding out that her colleague and friend has died on a trip to South America.  She is tasked with bringing his body back, but perhaps more important to her boss and significant other, is finding out more about the medical research taking place in the small village that her friend had visited (he too had been sent to find out more about this research).  She goes on an epic journey that I loved and could not stop reading.  Highly recommended!!  5/5 Stars

Of note, State of Wonder was up to the incredibly difficult task of awesome holiday read!!  So do take it away or let it take you away :).

Round-Up of the Recent

Historical Fiction

Birth House - Ami McKay - 5 Stars

Virgin Cure - Ami McKay - 5 Stars

The Conductor - Sarah Quigley - 4 Stars

The Report - Jessica Frances Kane - 4 Stars

Crime Fiction

Containment - Vanda Symon - 4 Stars

Bound - Vanda Symon - 4 Stars

A Darker Domain - Val McDermind - 4 Stars