The Making of Us - Lisa Jewell

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A fascinating fast track read

It is impressive how Lisa Jewell takes up a concept and weaves a story around it. My first book by her was about a hoarder who was unable to declutter her house and the impact it had on her family. I remember watching a documentary on hoarders and was amazed at how she turned it into such a readable story.

The Making of Us on the other hand is about a Donor Sibling agency and how three people leading separate lives discover each other as family. The plot is cleverly woven, the range of characters complex, resulting in  a highly readable book.

Gist:

 New millionaire Lydia, has lots of money and no family around her. A tiny cutting plants doubts about her childhood, raising some ghosts of the past and she feels compelled to find out her father. Robyn, a promising medical student needs to trace her past to put her fears to rest while 21-year-old Dean finds himself facing a bleak future saddled with a newborn daughter and a dead girlfriend.

Connecting them all is Daniel - the sperm donor who gave them life and Maggie, the woman out to reunite them all.

What works:

• Jewell's books are extremely easy to read. The simple prose, short sentences and bold print makes it a treat for readers to even skim read at times.

• The plot is engaging and simple but filled with flashes of incisive observation. 30 something Jewell, understands the dilemmas of being young and conveys it well; especially the bonding with non-maternal Lydia and Dean.

• My edition has a candid chat with the author at the end, which made for an interesting read. It was interesting to see how its forthright, straightforward talking author was a reflection of the simple, direct narrative that I had just read.

 What doesn't:

• Jewell keeps the story very simple. However, after a point the plot gets to be a bit predictable and it is all about tying up the ends together. 

In a nutshell:

An enjoyable read. I picked it up when I needed a break from Game of Thrones. This one fit the bill perfectly; I finished it in a couple of sittings and enjoyed it.

A quick engaging read indeed.

The Wheel of Fortune - Susan Howatch

A tattered looking copy hidden among bestsellers on a charity book shelf. That is how I came across this little gem of a book.

Howatch has been a favourite. I adore the way she breathes life into characters with their little quirks and personalities. Her books are usually sagas and make for an enjoyable read. When I picked up her book with this in mind, I was not disappointed.

The Gist:

The wheel of Fortune is about a mansion called Oxmoon and the dysfunctional family that inhabits it. Starting from Robert Godwin, the maverick heir, the story takes the reader through each generation from the 1880s to the two world wars as the characters make some life changing choices that affect the next generation with consequences.

The book into divided into narratives of main characters and Robert Godwin, Ginevra, Hal and Kester stay on in your mind for a long time. Perhaps it is because the authors builds a close relationship of the reader and the characters as one follows their triumphs and failures to secure the "epitome of happiness" - possessing the mystical and magical property called Oxmoon.

What works:

• Howatch's keen eye of observation is remarkable through her characters as they exhibit various flaws which explain their actions.

• She also has a firm grasp of the psychology which is highlighted in the second half of the story especially the relationship between Hal and Kester.

• What starts off like a saga eventually turns into a psychological thriller. The climax is riveting, rewarding the reader for sticking through the 1000 odd pages.

What doesn't:

• The outlining of the lives of the characters gets a bit tedious. Obviously, the minute details of their lives attain relevance eventually, but at times patience wears thin. 

• The dark and compelling nature of the story gets too bleak. The constant dysfunctionality of the characters takes off the sheen a bit.

• There is a lot of detailing of characters,  meaning chunks of prose. Since it is an old copy, the print is small and the reader has to wade through thick paragraphs before the pace kicks in .

In a nutshell:

There is something about old novels that I like. The story is focused and supreme with zero emphasis on style or packaging often found in contemporary novels.

Howatch understands the dark corners of the human mind so well and puts it all out in a rather convincing manner. If, like me, you are a crime thriller buff or love a good story, you will enjoy this.

A great story, a fascinating read.

the few - Nadia Dalbuono

photo courtesy:scribe publications

An arresting thriller set the corrupted atmosphere of Italian politics.

To be honest what drew me to the book, was the fact that it was  a crime thriller set in Italy. The setting immediately made think of wafting smells of pizzas, filled with sun and people along the small curvy streets that defines Italy for me.

The book was good, and a welcome relief after three family sagas that I finished back to back. I was looking for some gritty crime story and "the few" looked like a good one get into.

The gist:

Leone Scamarcio is a tainted cop. He hails from a mafia family but now is on the other side and this makes life difficult for him especially with other officers on the force. However, his detective skills are duly acknowledged when his superior gets him on a sticky but high profile case.

Scamarcio gets down to unravelling the case but what seems like blackmail, quickly turns into a spate of murders. As he wading through the quagmire, there is also the abduction of a young American girl which appears to have connection with his case. The girl's abduction which so much resonates with the Madeleine Mcann case quickly gets the world's eyes on the Italian police force and Scarmarcio feels the pressure of racing against time to find the girl and solve his own case as well.

What works:

• It is hard to believe this was a debut for the plot is handled with such finesse and skill. The story is tight and moves briskly.

• The character of Scarmarcio is interesting, a man with a black past which hinders his present. The character is drawn well and has a lot of scope. I can easily see him solving a series of crimes and murders. He is definitely here to stay.

• The Italian atmosphere is done very well. The language problem, the feel of the place is described very well indeed.

• The author obviously has a good grip over the police force and the political system. She is aware of how things work and presents it an authentic manner.

The plot is a dark crime story which exposes the corruption in the Italian system and the stronghold of power over the law of the land. The author deals with the gory aspect with great sensitivity and brings out the dark aspects of the novel without going overboard with it unlike some crime novels that thrive on it.

What doesn't:

• It is obviously a dark crime thriller so there is bound to be some unpleasant emotions to it. However, at times I found it too bleak and depressing. 

• The tangle of the politics seems too complicated at times. Especially towards the end, I felt the writer rushing through with the resolution and tieng all ends neatly. It got a bit confusing then but then perhaps thats me. I was so busy walking down the dark corner that I missed a turn and should have been more vigilant about following the storyline. 

What makes this book different from the rest is that it not about a whodunnit, it is more like an expose of the corruption in Italian politics.

A good read. A great debut. I look forward to Detective Scarmarcio.

A Mind to Murder - PD James

A very crafted mystery by a well loved author.

photo courtesy:amazon.A we

What never ceases to me about a PD James novel is its consistency. There is a very definite, distinctive way of handling the story and its amazing how PD James sets exacting standards and meets it every time.

Gist:

This time the murder happens at a psychiatric clinic and the victim an adminstrative officer, Enid Bolam. Bolam being an administrator is not exactly popular among the staff and doctors making it difficult for Detective Adam Dalgliesh.  As usual, the way the victim is found throws light on many suspects, including doctors, nurses and the staff who have their own reasons to hate her.

I thought a psychiatric clince was a very interesting place to set the murder. Being a crime thriller fan, it was interesting to see how James sets out the murder and plays it out at the clinic. Apparently, James had served a short stint working in such a clinic and therefore it comes as no surprise how she draws on an accurate picture about the politics that inhabits the working environment.

What works:

• The cast of suspects are drawn with care and detail. James' keen eye for human behaviour and insight into the workings of the mind works very well indeed.

• Reading  PD James novel can be an eye opener in terms of life experience and leaves one a bit wiser about hows and the whys of human tendency. 

What doesn't:

• Reading James' is not always easy. She tends to get a bit old schoolish and demands patience. For a contemporary crime thriller fan who does not have to "labour" in terms of lengthly paragraphs and detailed descriptions in novels of recent times it can get a bit trying. 

• The writing gets a bit prosaic and once you are familiar with James' writing, you know you will have to trudge through the details before the story catches pace. 

I haven't read enough PD James nove to say whether it is one of the best or not. However, if you haven't tried James yet, perhaps this may be a good place to start.

Return to Fourwinds - Elisabeth Gifford

An atmospheric novel about family secrets.

This is my third novel in a row, for review in the family saga genre and I couldn't help but compare them. The three novels. Moriarty's Last Anniversary. Mcinerney's Hello from the Gillespies and Gifford's Return to Fourwinds deal with a similar theme yet they are distinct in their own way.

Where Last anniversary is more plot driven with a bit of suspense, Hello rides high on emotions and the characters and Return to Fourwinds, has underlying complex themes set in wartime atmosphere and a clash between the working class and the gentry.Gifford weaves a very atmospheric tale which has the past and present narratives running alongside giving it soft layers and laden with themes.

Gist:

The families of Nick and Sarah have come together to celebrate their wedding. However, things don't go to plan and then the wedding is about to be called off, it throws open some secrets from the past. Both families have known each other in another era and the past finally catches up with them forcing them to confront repressed memories and deeply buried secrets. Ranging from the war time to the academic atmosphere of Oxford, there are various themes in the novel, the relations between the working class and the upper classes.

What works:

• A great story, skillfully told. Gifford does a good job of painting the present day and that of the war time atmosphere very well. 

• Her keen insight into the characters show off very well in the story as we move between the the working class to the gentry through the characters.

• Her r narratives are very clear and gripping. Flitting through the past and the present can be difficult but the story moves fluidly and is very engaging.

What doesn't:

• The story is wonderfully detailed however it tends to get a bit dry when you are wondering what is going on the mind of Ralph and how does he end up with Alice. 

• Despite the dry going in the middle, the story picks up pace and gets interesting as it moves to the resolution with all ends neatly tied.

A great story and extremely enjoyable read. I am glad to have discovered her through goodreads and look forward to her next novel with interest

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Hello From The Gillespies - Monica Mcinerney

photo courtesy: goodreads.com

A superb read from a much loved author.

I have always been a great fan of Mcinerney although I found her earlier works better than the later ones. What sets her apart is that her books are all set in Australia which makes it a fascinating read, her stories offer a glimpse into the country as well.

I can still dig into The Faraday sisters and enjoy re-reading my favourite parts of the book. Her later book, At Home with Templetons was not something I could stick with till the end and left me wondering if she has lost the magic, that made her books so enjoyable.

I was wrong. She is back with a delightful book, and reading every page of it was a pleasure.

Gist:

The crux of the story is a Christmas letter sent out by the protagnist Angela Gillespie to the extended family and friends. Originally a Londoner, Angela is married to an Australian and living in an outback station with her husband and four children of varying ages. Her Christmas letters are usually cheerful, flowery and optimistic but not this one. Something has changed this year and the letter triggers off events, forcing the family to assess their priorities and relationships with one another.

What works:

• Everything. Mcinerney connects very well with her reader and has an amazing ability to handle family issues well. The subtle shifts in family relations, the banter and the repartee between the characters is skillfully done and enjoyable.

• She brings the characters to life through dialogue and description and the reader instantly takes to them and like them for their distinct personalities.

• It was nice to read about a family in rural Australia. Having been in the country on holiday recently, it was nice to read and imagine a family in the outback. It made me regret the fact that that restricted my travel to the big cities instead of venturing into the outback.

• The concept of spinning off the story from a Christmas letter was a very great touch.Couldn't help wondering if it was a timely launch to help readers pick it up as a Christmas read or as a gift. Well, it it certainly fits well as the perfect family read, this festive season.

What doesn't:

• So much for gushing about how what a lovely read it is, I couldn't help but feel that a bit of editing would helped the story. The interaction between Will and Nick seemed to drag a bit. It could have benefitted from the editor's red pencil and made the story tighter.

Overall a great read. Much recommended for those looking for a nice, feel good book this Christmas.

Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty

photo courtesy:goodreads.com

A delightful lighthearted read.

Having heard of Lianne Moriarty's The Husband's Secret, I was looking forward reading this one. The premise seemed a bit obscure and vague but interesting enought for me to get stuck in right away.

Gist:

The story begins with Sophie, a 30 something career girl in the city, with a rotten love life. Things look up when her ex-boyfriend contacts her with the news that his dead aunt has left the house to her. Sophie, is shocked first but also exhilarated and then moves to the island into her new home and meets the Family.

Connie (Thomas' aunt who left her the house) has a reason for leaving the house to Sophie. She and Rose are known as the Doughty sisters who found the Munro baby and have been living of the story quite profitably.

There are also other characters, the Munroe baby (Enigma, who is grandma now),
Grace, their grandchild and a new mother struggling with the demands of a baby, Callum, her husband who is baffled by his wife's behaviour and Sophie comes as a breath of fresh air. Thomas, the ex who has married another but is hanging onto Sophie still. A divorced Veronika who first introduced Sophie to her brother Thomas but is grappling with issues of her own.

Over and above is the mystery of this abandoned baby, that Rose and Connie brought in years ago. Veronika is keen to unravel the secret behind it once for all and trigger off a set of events which are misleading, confusing but finally enlightening.

What works:

• Moriarty's style of writing is fresh and though she tackles a predictable side storyline of a thirty something girl waiting for the right guy, she does it with humour and gets it right.

• The characters are all well etched, although I must admit, I was a bit confused about who was related to who and how. However, the characters are good and although it gets a bit chaotic in between, it does keep you turning the page. In my view, the sign of a winner.

• Moriarty's writing builds up suspense quite well which provides the necessary twists and turns. I think that was quite good especially she pulls it off well.

• Moriarty also does a good job with the way she says her heroine loves Regency romance and keeps the focus on getting the right guy. The reader has fun finding out who she ends up with and Moriarty uses the Romance genre well. I do not want to say more for fear of spoiling the story, but it is very subtle and shows off her storytelling talent.

What doesn't:

• It takes a while to get used to the characters. As I said, it takes a while to figure who is whose daughter and sister and so on, but the characters are all endearing and it is fascinating to watch who Sophie ends up with and what is the mystery all about. 

A great downtime read. A bit frivolous at places but a well written story.