BOOK REVIEWS 2023 and 2024
2024
'AN OFFICER AND A SPY' by ROBERT HARRIS (Apr) -
'LONG ROAD FROM JARROW' by STUART MACONIE (Mar) - recommended as a good read.
In the autumn of 1936, some 200 men from the Tyneside town of Jarrow marched 300 miles to London in protest against the destruction of their towns and industries. Precisely 80 years on, the Author walks from north to south retracing the route of the emblematic Jarrow Crusade.
Travelling down the country’s spine, he moves through a land that is, in some ways, very much the same as the England of the 30s with its political turbulence, austerity, north/south divide, food banks and of course, football mania. Yet in other ways, it is completely unrecognisable.
The Group enjoyed this book overall; it tells the story of the Jarrow March set against the Britain of 2016. Maconie is an engaging writer, he not only writes about the big issues such as poverty and unemployment but he also tells us more about the quirks of the places on his route. The book sparked a lively discussion as the Group not only considered the periods covered in the book but also discussed how these issues related to today.
'MISSING IN SHANGHAI' by JEAN HARROD (Feb) - recommended as a good read
Jess Turner is working on the China desk in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It's her job to ensure the State visit of the Chinese Premier runs smoothly. But tensions are running high. As work progresses, Jess uncovers shocking, secret events that happened in Shanghai in 1984. A British Ambassador died, and another diplomat, Marianne Henderson, went missing in the city and has never been seen again. Not only that, all evidence Marianne ever existed vanished with her, as she digs in the past to find out what happened to Marianne, Jess finds herself in grave danger.
This was a book that was enjoyed by the whole Group. This is a fast-paced thriller, set in present day London and in 1984 Shanghai. The two stories of entrapment, espionage and betrayal come together in a thrilling climax. As a former British Diplomat (who has worked in Shanghai) the author brings her experiences and knowledge to bear and creates a believable heroine. This is the third book in a series and several members of the Group had read and enjoyed the other two. They also recommended them as a good read as was this book.
'THE DAUGHTER OF TIME’ by JOSEPHINE TEY (Jan) - recommended as good read.
Alan Grant, Scotland Yard Inspector is feeling bored while confined to bed in hospital with a broken leg. Marta Hallard, an actress friend of his, suggests that he should amuse himself by researching a historical mystery. She brings him some pictures of historical characters, aware of Grant's interest in human faces. He becomes intrigued by a portrait of King Richard III who has been always said have been responsible for the infamous murder of the ‘Princes in the Tower’. He prides himself on being able to read a person's character from his appearance, and King Richard seems to him a gentle and kind and wise man. With the help of a young American researcher, he begins to apply his detective skills to the story to see if he can deduce if Richard really was a murderer.
The Group felt that this was an intriguing book which prompted a great deal of discussion about so called historical facts. Although this book is advertised as detective fiction it was agreed that the author had cleverly used her detective and his investigations as a basis for re-examining a so-called historical fact. Given the complexity of the Wars of the Roses this was not an easy read but it was a fascinating re-examination of Richard’s guilt or innocence. It was particularly interesting given that this book was written in 1951, well before the skeleton of Richard III was found in Leicester.
2023
'MARPLE' by VARIOUS AUTHORS (DEC) - Not recommended
This is collection of short stories written by a variety of modern authors but all featuring Agatha Christie’s female sleuth Miss Jane Marple.
The group felt as a whole most of the attempts were unremarkable. Some, such as the ones by Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths, seasoned whodunnit writers, were well written and the best of the bunch. Some of the stories appeared to be short whodunnits with Jane Marple shoehorned in to meet the brief. The group thought that some of these read as if they were the output of a creative writing group.
Overall, the Group did not feel they could recommend this book as a good read.
‘PARALLEL LIVES’ by PHYLLIS ROSE (NOV) - Not Recommended
Academic and writer, Phyllis Rose, examines five Victorian partnerships from Charles Dicken’s disastrous marriage to Catherine Hogarth to the successful relationship between the author Mary Ann Evans’, writing under the pen name of George Elliot, who lived openly unwed with George Henry Lewis.
In an era when divorce was virtually impossible and the role of women was to subjugate themselves in the service of their husbands, the author examines how well or poorly these relationships played out.
Whilst the Group found the book a difficult read, as it was more aimed at the academic rather than the pleasure reader, it did spark considerable discussion as to the role of women and the changes that have occurred over the past 150 years.
The Group could not recommend this as a good read given the academic nature of the book but felt that some of the chapters were enlightening in particular that about Charles Dickens who; whilst being always held up as fostering the notion of the ideal Victorian family in his books, treated his wife very badly.
'THE LOVE SONG OF MISS QUEENIE HENNESSEY' by RACHEL JOYCE (OCTOBER) - Mixed Reviews - you will love it or hate it.
In Rachel Joyce’s previous book ‘The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry’, Harold Fry sets out to walk the length of England to save Queenie, with whom he has had no contact for years, despite Queenie telling him she is dying when she contacted him.
Queenie is in a hospice and it is suggested to her that she should write to Harold again but this time tell him everything. In confessing to secrets she has hidden for twenty years she will make atonement for the past. The volunteer points out that ‘even though you’ve done your travelling, you’re starting a new journey too’.
This book met with mixed reviews from the Group. Some of the Group loved this book and found it very moving. Others did not enjoy it as much and some felt that the characters were all stereotypes ie the dying woman or the troubled teen.
Overall, the Group felt that this was a book that you will either love it or hate it. If you have enjoyed previous Rachel Joyce books, in particular ‘The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ it is likely you will enjoy this one.
'FALL - THE MYSTERY OF ROBERT MAXWELL' by JOHN PRESTON (SEPTEMBER) - recommended as a good read
Robert Maxwell was a very British success. Born an Orthodox Jew, he escaped the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, fought in the Second World War, and was decorated for his heroism with the Military Cross. He went on to become a Labour MP and an astonishingly successful businessman, owning a number of newspapers and publishing companies. But after his dead body was discovered floating in sea around his superyacht, his empire fell apart as long-hidden debts and unscrupulous dealings came to light. Within a few days, Maxwell was being reviled as the embodiment of greed and corruption. John Preston explores what went so wrong in Maxwell’s life. How did a man who had once laid such store on the importance of ethics and good behaviour become so corrupt.
The Group agreed that this was a book which took a while to get into but once they persevered, they wanted to know more as it became more fascinating as it went on. Although everyone had heard of Maxwell, and knew of the scandals, the bizarre details of his life and business dealings were a revelation and that the saying truth is stranger than fiction certainly applied here. The book was well written and not only shone a light on Maxwell but the impact he had on his family and all his associates. The last of part of the book when his empire was collapsing and it was clear this was the end for him was compelling and raised questions as to could this ever
happen again. In the end the reader is left with the question was his death an accident or suicide or (in the unlikely event) even murder?
'THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB' by ALEXANDER McCALL-SMITH (AUGUST) - recommended as a good undemanding holiday read.
Isabel Dalhousie, the main character in the novel, is a Philosopher and Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. She lives a tranquil and privileged life in Edinburgh but gets caught up in mystery when she witnesses what on first sight appears to be the accidental and fatal fall of a young man from a balcony in a concert hall. Isabel is fond of problems, particularly when there is an ethical element involved, and, despite the advice of her no-nonsense housekeeper, who advises her not to become involved, she cannot resist the temptation to find out if this was the accident that it seems to be on the surface. Her investigations lead to more moral dilemmas as she uncovers several uncomfortable truths.
Overall, the Group enjoyed this book, two of the members commented that the depiction of Edinburgh was very accurate and reflected a certain Edinburgh residents’ lifestyle. The characters were sometimes not fleshed out fully but the Group felt that this may be because this was the first book in a series and some characters would develop over a number of books. It was not however a fast paced ‘whodunnit’ as Isabel appears to philosophise about every decision in her investigations and this made the book rather slow at times.
'THE LIFE OF AN MP' by JESS PHILLIPS (JULY) - recommended
As a group we were divided on our views about this book. This is a Labour MP writing, so the political views are aligned to centre left. Whilst, she spends a lot of time giving a full account of a day’s or a week’s activity, it is obvious after three days in Westminster followed by three days in constituency is really hard graft. She comes over very positively but at times “mind dumps” whilst writing which ruins the flow.
However as one person said “if she was my MP, I would vote for her”. Her passion for the work and the need for the public to know and understand what is happening comes over in bucketfuls. If you want an insight into how a committed MP works for their constituents and tries hard to improve legislation then you will enjoy this book and forgive some of the technical glitches!
THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES by ELIF SHAFAK (June) - recommended as a really good read
The book unfolds across different timelines and locations: the first set in Cyprus in 1974, the second in the early 2000s in Cyprus again, and the third in the late 2010s in London. The story is told through chapters that alternate between timelines narrated in the third person, interspersed with chapters narrated from the perspective of the fig tree which has an overview of the whole story.
It would be difficult to say much more about the plot and the characters as to do so would be to pre-empt the story which unfolds gradually and too much summarising of that here would have to be accompanied by a spoiler alert.
This book generated a lot of interest and discussion and was enjoyed by the group. It is a serious book with more than one love story at its heart. Peripheral to the main story we learned a great deal about fig trees and their care, about Greek, Turkish and British relationships on the island and about the work of groups exhuming mass graves following conflict. We felt that, due to the complexity of the writing, it is best not to take too long reading it, not leaving long gaps between reading sessions. So perhaps a really good holiday read.
STEP BY STEP' by SIMON REEVE (May) - recommended as a good read.
Simon Reeve is an author, journalist, documentary maker and television presenter. He has made a number of travel and environmental documentaries and has written a number of books on subjects including international terrorism and his adventures and travels.
This book is an autobiography, divided into two halves. The first part is about his troubled childhood and youth and how he became a journalist and documentary maker. The second half tells of his travels to some of the most unreported and controlled parts of world and his encounters with the people who live there.
The group enjoyed this book, they felt that it gave an insight into places we can only imagine and the struggles of people in these places to survive. He also addresses environmental and political issues but there is an element of humour running through the book although he is always respectful of his subjects.
BACK TO BOOK GROUP PAGE.