Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen

In a nutshell

This book explores the trajectory of a wide range of "spillover" events, where a disease spills over from animals into the human population.  The number of diseases he explores is vast and includes AIDS, SARS, Parrot Fever, Lyme Disease, Herpes B, Ebola and many more.

Did I like it?

I found this book really interesting, though there were definitely some parts that I enjoyed more than others.  The opening chapter on the Hendra virus in Australia was fascinating and I enjoyed learning how the disease was transmitted from an equine to human population.  The chapters on Lyme Disease, SARS, Q Fever, Herpes B, and Parrot Fever were also very good.  I thought that the chapters on AIDS and the Ebola Virus were the weakest and I suspect this is because they were just a bit too long.  They needed to be tighter to hold my interest.

Will you like it?

People who enjoy books about the social history of medicine will be fascinated by Quammen's book.  It's a good fit for those who enjoyed The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Summer arrived!!!!!  Does anything else matter?  Though we did see two great movies: Saving Mr. Banks and 12 Years a Slave.

Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twang Eng

In a nutshell

Told in flashbacks, this book tells the story of a Malay woman who spent 
her early years in a Japanese internment camp.  In addition to exploring the time in the camp, the book also explores her later life where she becomes involved with a Japanese gardener while learning to build a garden to honour her sister.  The conflict between her anger at the Japanese people for what they did to her and her developing devotion to the Japanese gardener pervades the book.

Did I like it?

It was a bit slow, but I enjoyed it on the whole. Eng did a fine job of evoking the atmosphere in the Japanese garden.  The part about the tattoos, however, was a shade creepy (you'll know what I mean if you read the book).  The character of Magnus stands out as the most interesting (to me, he represented someone who had learned to forgive and that his had helped shape and better his life).

Will you like it?

If you like an atmospheric read that delves into a dark part of history, you will likely find this book appealing. 

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Waitangi Day 2014.  Made a great new recipe for sweet and sour fish.  Upped the distances on our runs (between 10 and 12 km) in preparation for Round the Bays.  Wally had eye and dental surgery which he came through like a champ.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

In a nutshell

The book opens with the death of one of the local council members.  The remainder of this book explores the repercussions of his death both for the council, and the larger community.  It explores the fallout from a large number of perspectives.

Did I like it?

It was fine.  The beginning reminded me of Downton Abbey in that I was having to sort out the names and roles of many characters.  Getting all that straight took about 100 pages!!  I found the book a bit disjointed in that it was told by no fewer than 12 characters (possibly more).  This was a bit cumbersome in the middle section and almost had me abandoning the book as I couldn't see how the story could progress with so many voices.  I persevered and in the end, while I didn't love it, I didn't think it deserved the harsh criticism it received.  It was simply a middle of the road book. 

Will you like it?

Do you enjoy a character driven novel told from multiple perspectives?  Do you like reading about infighting (and all other sorts of fighting)?  If so, this may be the book for you.  It's not upbeat, but Rowling's writing style helps pull the reader along.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

We had an earthquake (6.2) - but no real damage.  Ate our first corn on the cob of the year (love you summer).  Took my annual tumble while running, with scrapes and bruises to show for it (sigh).  Leo found a hedgehog in our driveway (awesome).

Picking the Perfect Holiday Read

There is no task I take quite so seriously as selecting a book to take with me on holiday.  There are a number of criteria it must fit and it is only the rare book that traverses them all (see State of Wonder by Ann Patchett as the perfect example).  The book must be highly readable and must take me into a completely different world.  It should have some depth (I can't abide chick lit any more).  There must be likeable characters as I want to take a vacation with people I enjoy.  An odd but also important point relates to size; the book should be compact and lightweight, particularly if I'm flying (obviously this criteria will diminish in importance as I rely more on my e-reader).  It is with some embarrassment that I must admit a critical error that I once made was choosing a book only by its size.  While My Name is Mary Sutter is a perfectly adequate book, it was not engaging to the point of not wanting to put it down.  It was a bit of a slog and a mistake that I've learned from.  My next big holiday read and one that I hope will stand up is The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

In the Woods - Tana French

In a nutshell

This book has an interesting take on the detective genre, which may be why it picked up a heap of awards when it was published in 2008.  The lead character/detective was one of three children who were victims of a horrific crime.   He escaped, but the other two have been missing ever since.  Flash forward twenty or so years and the detective is investigating a crime in the small community where the original crime took place.  Inevitably, it is a mystery after all, potential links between the past and present start to appear.

Did I like it?

I found myself really enjoying this book.  It managed to surprise me, which is always refreshing.  Tana French also has a pretty good sense of humour, so this helped to lighten the darker tone.  While the detective was the brooding type, he also was adept at  self deprecation, which somehow made him more appealing.  The supporting characters and the setting were also well drawn out, helping to build an "immersive" community.  All in all, a good book that has encouraged me to pick up Tana French's subsequent murder mysteries.

Will you like it?

If you enjoy a good murder mystery, this one will appeal as it has all the elements of a great one.  An interest in Ireland will also help you generate interest in this book.

What else happened while I was reading this book?

Went to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recurit (not too bad - entertaining but forgettable).  Made an amazing new salad  of black beans, avocado, and roasted carrots (thank-you New York Times).  Celebrated Wellington Anniversary over the long weekend.  A tropical cyclone headed our way.

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

Forgotten - Catherine McKenzie

Amid some great books that I read over the Christmas holidays was Forgotten by Catherine Mackenzie.  It tells the story of a lawyer who goes to Africa after her mother dies only to become trapped there after a natural disaster.  When she finally returns home, she finds that she has been declared deceased.  The book then follows the challenges she faces after finding this out.  Conceptually, this sounds really interesting.  However, its exploration of this issue is quite shallow and the main character is unbearably self-centered.  On the plus side, it is an easy read. 2/5 Stars.