Book Reviews 2018
November
The Glass Palace - Amitav Ghosh
The Glass Palace - Synopsis
Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, this masterly novel by Amitav Ghosh tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen, whose love will shape his life. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her. The struggles that have made Burma, India, and Malaya the places they are today are illuminated in this wonderful novel.
Discussion
A mixed response to this read, some loved it and did not want to put it down, others not so keen, not all of us managed to finish it.
Chris was unable to attend but said she had enjoyed learning about the culture and history of Burma, she said she loved the descriptions of the lives of the people and what they went through and found this type of book fascinating.
We agreed it was at times difficult to keep track of people and places, the paperback copies had a useful map. A family tree would have been helpful.
There were lots of lovely descriptions in the book for example re the logging processes and the elephants but not so much about the characters, some of us felt we did not get to know them enough to feel empathy for them.
There was some disappointment regarding the ending, (for the group members who had finished the book) it seemed to finish abruptly with everyone dying off.
We went on to have a discussion regarding Britain's colonization of many parts of the world, looking at positives and negatives.
October - Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Jane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most perennially popular works of English fiction. Although the poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage.
She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester.
However, there is great kindness and warmth in this epic love story, which is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Ultimately the grand passion of Jane and Rochester is called upon to survive cruel revelation, loss and reunion, only to be confronted with tragedy.
Discussion
The book proved to be a great success, it was enjoyed by all, Chris was unable to attend the meeting but sent a message saying how she had been captivated by the by the book and with the descriptions and drama found it difficult to put down.
We discussed the style of writing and how it differed to the style of many modern authors. We could imagine we were there by the descriptions
We looked at how hard life would have been in Jane Eyre's time and how people more readily accepted their station in life, we found Jane to be feisty but still submissive, perhaps not typical of the time.
We discussed the characters, the kindness of Mrs Temple and how this made Jane's life more bearable but we were divided on Mr Rochester, some of us could see his charm and attraction other thought he was just a rogue.
September The Sixth Man - David Baldacci
Synopsis (from Amazon)
When alleged serial killer Edgar Roy is locked away in Cutter's Rock psychiatric unit, private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in by Roy's lawyer, Ted Bergin, to examine the case further. But the investigation is derailed before it begins when Bergin is found murdered in his car on the highway.
A sinister trail of terrifying events begins to unfold as King and Maxwell attempt to determine Roy's guilt or innocence. When the FBI becomes involved, it fast becomes apparent that there's much more to this case than meets the eye. As they dig deeper into Roy's past and learn about his phenomenal ability, they are bombarded with obstacles, half-truths, and dead ends which make filtering the facts all the more difficult.
Discussion
There were mixed views on the book, some of us loved it, others did not enjoy it at all and the rest of us sat in the middle.
Unlike many of our previous reads, this book did not create the usual volume of interesting discussion. We looked how the use of Americanisms made the story somewhat confusing. We also looked at the style of writing, quite simplistic, not wordy and at times unclear who was speaking.
The book had lots of twists and turns and kept the reader guessing.
The sixth man is number 5 of a series of 6 books about detectives King and Maxwell, reading the previous books was not necessary to follow the plot but we wondered if we had read them we may have got to know the main characters and perhaps got more from the book.
July - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Synopsis - (From Amazon)
When four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they're broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. There is kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their centre of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, by midlife a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he'll not only be unable to overcome--but that will define his life forever.
Discussion
Not our most successful read, only two of us managed to finish it, the book was lengthy with over 700 pages and had small print this combined with the harrowing contents made it a difficult read.
Despite this we were able to have a good discussion around it. We looked at Jude's life, it was truly terrible, going from one abusive relationship to another. Yet he seemed unable to accept there were good people around him who cared.
We discussed how true to life this was, were there people experiencing this?
We had a discussion on self harm, why do people do this? and are we forever shaped by our early experiences or can we move on.
June
The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly By SU-Mi Hwang
Synopsis - From Penguin Random House
This is the story of a hen named Sprout. No longer content to lay eggs on command, only to have them carted off to the market, she glimpses her future every morning through the barn doors, where the other animals roam free, and comes up with a plan to escape into the wild—and to hatch an egg of her own.
An anthem for freedom, individuality and motherhood featuring a plucky, spirited heroine who rebels against the tradition-bound world of the barnyard, The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is a novel of universal resonance that also opens a window on Korea, where it has captivated millions of readers. And with its array of animal characters—the hen, the duck, the rooster, the dog, the weasel—it calls to mind such classics in English as Animal Farm and Charlotte’s Web.
Discussion
The book was generally enjoyed by us all. It was very short and simplistic, we thought it would appeal to the younger reader on a different level. Sprout's life was very much a reflection of our own. Sprout's desire and determination to raise a child and protect it to the end led to much discussion on subjects such parenthood, altruism prejudice and adoption. We even felt some sympathy for Sprout's enemy the weasel who we discovered was a mother just trying to feed and protect her own family.
May
Americanah By Chimanada Ngozi Adichie
Synopsis (from BookBrowse)
As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are leaving the country if they can. Ifemelu - beautiful, self-assured - departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze - the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor - had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.
Years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion - for their homeland and for each other - they will face the toughest decisions of their lives.
Discussion
This was a lengthy read not helped by the very small print so not all of us had managed to finish the book, views varied from a very good read to anger provoking.
We discussed the two main characters Ifemelu and Obinze and how their lives changed when they left Nigeria, we looked at their struggles to survive in England and America and the lengths they were prepared to go to pay the rent or get a visa for example. We had much discussion on race issues and wondered how true to life the experiences of the characters in the book were.
We shared some of our own experiences in relation to race issues and inequalities.
April
On Chesil Beach By Ian McEwan
Synopsis
Ian McEwan's emotionally charged novel follows an inexperienced young couple through their disastrous wedding night at a Dorset hotel in 1962. Very much in love, Edward and Florence are predictably nervous, but for different reasons.
He longs to consummate the marriage; she is repelled by the very idea. Locked in their inhibitions and utterly unable to discuss their fears and needs, they are victims not only of personal experience but of a distinctively British brand of repression destined to crumble in the sexual revolution.
Discussion
There were varying opinions about the book, from very sad to a load of rubbish but we all managed to read it.
We looked at the relationship between Florence and Edward, were they really in love? or just needing to be married for their own reasons?
The disastrous wedding night was set in 1962, we discussed whether a couple could have been so naive about sex, we agreed it was possible but would have been more realistic if it had been a few decades earlier. Would they have still married if the incident had taken place before they wed?
We looked at the couple's upbringings, how much did this play a part in what happened. Why were Florence and Edward unable to communicate?
Did we really get to know the characters? was Florence asexual? was her music the only way she could express herself. Were Edward's feelings for Florence just based on lust?
March
The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold
Synopsis (from e-bay)
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973"
In heaven, Susie Salmon can have whatever she wishes for - except what she most wants, which is to be back with the people she loved on earth. In the wake of her murder, Susie watches as her happy suburban family is torn apart by grief; as her friends grow up, fall in love, and do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But as Susie will come to realize, even in death, life is not quite out of reach . . .
Discussion
Review from Judith
"I sort of enjoyed the book .I thought she took a very good approach to write about what happens to a family after the loss of a young daughter. It was well done, well researched and compassionately written. I really didn't like the ending of the main protagonist getting inside Ruth's body, nor did I like the icicles landing on the murderers head! But overall worth reading I thought."
Review from Chris
"I thought it was an amazing book. Shocking and sad but also in a way reassuring as it tackled life after death and gave me lots to think about. I loved it"
Most of us had managed to read and enjoy the book, one of our members did not like the style of writing, we had some discussion on this, we found some of us decide whether we want to read a book by just reading the first two lines! we all agreed this book was one you would want to continue with.
We discussed the author's concept of heaven, a place where earthly wishes are fulfilled, without the bad bits e.g. school with no teachers, this led on to further discussion about the afterlife and religious beliefs.
Whilst we enjoyed reading about Susie watching over her family and seeing them getting on with their lives, some of us found the part where Susie fleetingly comes to earth in her friend Ruth body and has sex with Ray (a boy she had kissed before she died) was a bit unbelievable and unnecessary and thus spoilt the story.
FebruaryThe Final Reckoning By Sam Bourne
Synopsis
Tom Byrne has fallen from grace since his days as an idealistic young lawyer in New York, now he'll work for anyone – as long as the money's right.
So when the United Nations call him in to do their dirty work, he accepts the job without hesitation. A suspected suicide bomber shot by UN security staff has turned out to be a harmless old man: Tom must placate the family and limit their claims for compensation.
In London, Tom meets the dead man’s alluring daughter, Rebecca, and learns that her father was not quite the innocent he seemed. He unravels details of a unique, hidden brotherhood, united in a mission that has spanned the world and caused hundreds of unexplained deaths.
Pursued by those ready to kill to uncover the truth, Tom has to unlock a secret that has lain buried for more than 60 years – the last great secret of the Second World War.
Discussion
Jenny was unable to attend but sent in a review as followed;
"For me it was a page turner! I really enjoyed it and in a way was surprised as I probably wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. Once more not the happiest of reads but totally gripping. I hadn’t known anything about the schemes of the holocaust survivors to avenge the actions of the Nazis, but found it all fascinating - and thanks to Andrea for the info re the TV programme. I was very involved with the characters of Tom and Rebecca and the unravelling mystery. I was horrified by the description of their abduction - found it very sinister. (How often do similar things happen??) The denouement was a surprise for me - I won’t say more in case you, or others, have not finished the book".
The book proved to be a page turner for most of us.
The book brought out the horrors of the Holocaust which made for sad but compelling reading.
Some of us had not been aware of the post war Jewish "Avengers" we wondered how the Jews would have been regarded by the rest of the world if Plan A had been carried out (poisoning the water supply thus killing innocent Germans) Plan B (the one carried out) had just targeted Nazi war criminals. Would they have lost the moral high ground?
We discussed treatment of the Jews and man's inhumanity to others, we looked at how this is still happening in the world today.
Sam Bourne (pseudonym of Jonathon Freedland) had obviously done his research, he had wide knowledge of the Holocaust which was portrayed well.
We were less impressed with the romance between Tom and Rebecca and of the "Abduction" of them, we felt these had been put in to spice up the story and were thus unnecessary or at least could have been more plausible.
But generally this was felt to have been a good read and some us would consider reading other books by this author.
January
Fingers In The Sparkles Jar By Chris Packham
Synopsis - (from Goodreads)
An introverted, unusual young boy, isolated by his obsessions and a loner at school, Chris Packham was only at home in the fields and woods around his suburban home. But when he stole a young kestrel from its nest, he was about to embark on a friendship that would teach him what it meant to love, and that would change him forever. In his rich, lyrical and emotionally exposing memoir, Chris brings to life his childhood in the 70s, from his bedroom bursting with fox skulls, birds' eggs and sweaty jam jars, to his feral adventures. But pervading his story is the search for freedom, meaning and acceptance in a world that didn’t understand him.
Discussion
Chris was unable to join us but emailed her thoughts on the book.
"I'm afraid I couldn't take to it at all !! I had a go but found it very tedious and difficult to get interested in. It maybe because I'd seen his programme on the television, and the book covered the same ground, or maybe, because I know a bit about Asperger Syndrome I found it a bit boring and self centred, which are the characteristics of Asperger Syndrome !! "
The book was described by one member of the group as a "Marmite " book, that is you love it or hated it and this was true of our group.
The author Chris Packham was brought up in Southampton and now lives in the New Forest, so some of the group had knowledge of him and had attended local events he had held. Knowing the places Chris Packham spoke about in his memoirs added an extra dimension to the book.
Many of us felt sorry for the author who spoke of being different and how this negatively impacted on his childhood, he spoke of being bullied at school and being unable to fit in.
Others found him to be self centred and uncaring.
There was some discussion whether his recollection of his childhood was accurate in light of him having Asperger's Syndrome.
We all agreed the author was very knowledgeable in his field. We were impressed with his attention to detail when describing his encounters with the wildlife.
We had further generalised discussion re living with Asperger's Syndrome