Secret River - Kate Grenville

In a nutshell

This is really a settler story with a bit of a twist.  It follows the life of William Thornhill, who was convicted of theft in London and originally sentenced to death.  As luck would have it, he was saved and sent to Australia to serve his time.  The book then explores how he and his family adjust to life in the new land.  In particular, Grenville comes to focus on Thornhill's relationship with the aboriginals.

Did I like it?

M'eh!  I' expected to love it as there had been so many good reviews, but I found the first part of the narrative quite conventional.  It was like I was reading every other book that I'd read about poverty in 19th century Britain.  It wasn't until Thornhill arrived in Australia and Grenville started to explore the intercultural dynamic that things got more interesting.  Thornhill's struggle with accepting versus dominating the local aboriginals was interesting and this is the strength of the Secret River.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy historical novels, Grenville is an excellent writer and it does provide some interesting insight into Australian hisotry, so may be worth picking up.

Overkill - Vanda Symon

In a nutshell

Set in the small town of Mataura on the South Island of New Zealand, this is in some ways a conventional murder mystery.  It opens with what seems to be a suicide, but the officer on the case (Sam Shephard) quickly determines that it was actually a murder.  As Sam begins to investigate, her superior officers soon decide that given her previous romantic relationship with the murder victim's husband that she may actually be a suspect.  Suspended from duty, Sam is left to her own devices to solve this case.

Did I like it?

I loved it!  Although I identified it as fairly conventional, that did not take away from the experience of reading this book at all.  I loved how Symon pulled in contemporary events to make the story topical.  In addition, Symon is fabulous at creating a sense of place (her later stories set in Dunedin are equally fabulous).  I felt like I was right there in small town New Zealand with the plucky heroine. 

Will you like it?

If you're looking for a really page turner with a sympathetic main character and a rip roaring plot, this is the book for you.  It's a book to take on vacation when you want something both readable and compelling, but that isn't too taxing.  It's also a great read for individuals wanting to get a feel for rural New Zealand.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Another beautiful weekend accompanied by a lovely treat from Wellington's Cafe Polo.  'nough said.

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

In a nutshell

Tells the story of the final days of an Icelandic woman (Agnes) who has been accused of murder and sentenced to death by beheading.  The story opens when a local family is told that they are obligated to house the murderess until her execution.  From here, author Hannah Kent explores the relationship between Agnes and the family, along with a local priest (who is supposed to prepare her for death).  Through these interactions and conversations, we eventually learn how Agnes came to be charged with murder and her eventual fate.

Did I like it?

I really enjoyed reading this book (admittedly, I do have a bit of a thing for Icelandic literature these days).  Interestingly though, it was actually the relationships that Agnes forms with the family and the priest that engaged me the most.  Somehow, learning how Anges came to be accused of murder had become superfluous to me.  Instead, I was intrigued by how these local Icelanders came to grow and understand Agnes through their time with her.  Initially, they saw her only as a murderess, but as time progressed and they inevitably got to know her, these relationships became more nuanced.  For them, Agnes had things to offer that were distinct from her "role" as a killer.

Will you like it?

Readers who like historical fiction will enjoy this depiction of Iceland in the 1800's.  Additionally, there is a compelling psychological element.  It is interesting to watch how perceptions shift as the novel progresses.  Finally, it's a bit of a page-turner, so will also engage the reader who likes an element of suspense in their literature.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Beach day!!  Had a picnic up on the Kapiti coast last weekend, courtesy of the Long Beach Cafe (pizza, pizza) and the Old Beach Bakery (mmm...scones and donuts).  Lots going on at work and thrilled that weekend #2 has arrived.

The Heart Broke In - James Meek

In a nutshell

Told from the perspective of three main characters, whose lives are changed when one is asked to sacrifice another to save his own skin.  Sounds kind of interesting, right?

Did I like it?

M'eh - minus!  At first I was just ambivalent to this book, but gradually I grew to resent the time wasted on this book.  The characters were just unlikeable (from my perspective).  In fact, I'm loathe to spend much time even writing this blog entry.  Though perhaps it will serve as a helpful warning to others!

Will you like it?

If you like books that ask moral questions, you may enjoy this one.  Prepare, however, to engage with some fairly irritating characters.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

A quiet weekend that somehow passed very quickly.  Spent Sunday making these fab baked beans before enjoying a nice walk with les petit chiens.

The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh

In a nutshell

Alternating between two points in time, this novel tells the story of a young girl who grew up in the foster care system.  We are introduced to the younger Victoria when she has found what is seemingly the perfect setup for her.  She lives at a vineyard and learns about the Victorian tradition of translating flowers into language (e.g., a thistle means mistrust).  However, the story progresses and Victoria's time with her foster mother Elizabeth is cut short.  Flash forward 8-ish years and Victoria has just turned 18 and is "set free" from the group home where she had been living.  After a short homeless stint, Victoria finds her niche at a florist's shop and is able to use the knowledge she learned from Elizabeth to blossom (pardon the pun) as a professional and also finds love.  However, she still harbours guilt over what happened with Elizabeth many years ago, leading to a myriad of bad decisions that make for a very interesting book.

Did I like it?

I loved it!  Diffenbaugh is a fantastic writer.  This book was compuslively readable and you really felt for Victoria as she grew up.  The language of flowers was an interesting twist that Diffenbaugh pulls in nicely.  This Victorian element seems completely at home in this modern text and I loved learning about the different meanings of the flowers.

Will you like it?

If you like strong, if troubled female characters, this may be the book for you.  While you have to be able to tolerate some darkness as Victoria's past isn't an easy one, it's well worth taking the journey with her. 

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Another long weekend (yay!).  Saw a great movie musical - Sunshine on Leith, which is based on the Proclaimer's songs.  Went on a great hike across the Skyline trail (beautiful views).  Finshed painting our kitchen (finally).  Bright and cheery indeed.

Five Days at Memorial - Sheri Fink

In a nutshell

This book opens by describing the events that took place at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, highlighting in particular the challenges that staffed face due to loss of power and rising flood waters.  Fink highlights the decisions that staff made regarding patient care and how these decisions would follow some of the nurses and doctors after Katrina.  In particular, Fink looks at the issue of euthanasia and its place in disaster response.  The second half of the book follows the investigation into potentially hastened deaths at Memorial and whether the medical professionals involved should be held responsible.  

Did I like it?

I wanted to like this book more than I did.  I expected it to be an amazing account of the events and to some extent it was, but there were so many characters that I found myself constantly trying to remember who was who.  This had the effect of "taking me out of the book" and hence, I never became immersed in the experiences of these doctors and nurses.  I do wonder if this book would have been better if I had read it in hard copy where I could easily have referred back to the list of characters.  Perhaps the Kindle is to blame for my reaction?  At any rate, while I didn't dislike the book, it failed to have the same impact as other non-fiction books (e.g., Spillover, Kinglake 350).

Will you like it?

If you find ethical dilemmas interesting, you may find the debate about euthanasia to be of interest.  I think, however, there are better books written about disaster response (e.g., the aforementioned Kinglake 350).

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Easter came and went.  We went on some amazing hikes.  Went heavy on the kids movies: Lego and The Muppet sequel.  The former was amazing, while the latter was just passable.

Strangle Hold by Richard Rotenberg

In a nutshell

This book is part of a series that follows investigations being carried out by members of the Toronto justice system.  In his fourth book, Rotenberg turns the tables on one of the cops. Head of the homicide unit, Ari Greene finds himself accused of murder when the woman with whom he was having an affair is brutally murdered.  The story follows Greene as he tries to clear his name.  One of the things that I enjoy about Rotenberg's books is that he tells the story from a range of perspectives.  It keeps things fresh and interesting.

Did I like it?

Strangle Hold finds itself in the enviable position of following the much condemened (by me) The Secret History.  This may have coloured my reacation, but I really loved it.  The characters are becoming familiar to me by this point (#4 in the series) and they are all very engaging.  Moreover, Toronto itself is a character in the books and I enjoy reading about the familiar scenery (brings me back to Canada for a wee while).  The book also managed to surprise me.  I didn't find the ending to be in any way predictable, which is pretty important in a murder mystery.  This was the second book that I read over my holiday and this one did the trick.  It was the perfect holiday read and I raced through it in a day.

Will you like it?

Those who enjoy murder mysteries with a legal twist will have fun with this book.  Rotenberg is a solid writer and his character development is improving with each novel in the series.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Hung out in Waikanae at the beach with Leo and the dogs, while enjoying a delicious breakfast from the Old Beach Bakery.  Saw and enjoyed the Dallas Buyers Club that evening.  Oh, and had a delicious lunch on a cool old school bus at Te Horo.