Spilt Milk - Amanda Hodgkinson

courtesy:goodreads.com

A story about sisters and the choices they make.

It is a warm, frothy story of women who make mistakes and then live with it. However these mistakes only make them strong women, brave enough to challenge and disregard societal stereotypes in the
war ridden society of the 1930s.

Nellie and Vivian have been brought up by their older sister as companions for one another, discouraged to envisage themselves as wives and mothers.  After their sister dies, they then fall for the same man and life never remains the same. However life does get back on track and when the time comes, one marries for love and the other for security. Hogkinson traces their lives with insight and it is very interesting to see how their experiences impacts their perception and persona.

Nellie then has a girl Birdie who is partly raised by Vivian who is childless herself and the two women share a strong maternal bond with the child. Birdie too makes choices with disastrous consequences and years later, family secrets worm out of the closet when least expected.

Hodgkinson's depiction of the countryside is beautiful. I could easily imagine the river, a focal point of the novel, and feel the water gushing through my feet, dragging me along and keeping me grounded at the same time. I know this sounds a bit overboard, but the countryside setting adds to the charm of the plot and lives of the characters.


What works for the novel:

• Good strong, female characters

• The concept of family ties that every woman can relate to 

• Great descriptions of countryside

There is nothing that doesn't work here. It is well written and is quite timely. At a time when the greenery is making a comeback and the sun is shining brighter, Spilt Milk is an ideal read for those lazy evenings in the garden or for enjoying the sun by the beach.

Highly recommended.

The Advent Killer -Alastair Gunn

courtesy:alistairgunn.com

A pleasant surprise by a promising first time writer.

I had just finished The Cuckoo's calling before this and the Advent Killer came as a balm to soothe the wounds inflicted by Rowling.

At a glance, Gunn's crime novel seems run-of-the mill, with arresting one liners and a jacket desperately calling for attention. No fault there, after all he is no established name but going by the book, he may soon become one.

The basic premise is this murderer who churns out dead women every Sunday starting from the first week of December (hence the title). Hot on his trail is DI Hawkins, newly promoted and whose reputation lies on nabbing the killer. Although competent, she is not without her own baggage - personal and emotional, often colouring her perceptions and consequently, her handling of the case.

Crime novels are quite basic in nature - a murder and the detective solving the murder. But what sets the Scotts and Baileys, the Veras, the Barbara Havers apart is their quirkiness and the personas they inhabit. In this Gunn has done a great job. He has created a humane and an endearing character of Antonia Hawkins and portrays her with conviction.

Gunn's grasp of police politics, the gossip and the pressures they live with shows him off to good advantage. It is his keen eye for observation and the most crucial element of a crime novel- the ability to keep the reader interested enough to make them turn another page is what won me over. That, for me is the hallmark of a good writer.

It is this that makes it worthy of four stars - a well written novel with strong characters. This is despite the fact that the plot comes across as tad predictable.

But it is the characters that stay with you long after you are finished with the book. Perhaps what will follow is a slew of cases based on these characters of Hawkins and Maguire the Amercian colleague who happens to be her work partner and ex-lover.

Their relationship is very conveniently left open-ended and it would be interesting to see how their relationship pans out in the face of new cases and the complications arising thereof.

Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase - Book Review

A good read that could have been much more.


It came as a pleasant surprise when I tucked in, that there was not one but two stories running simultaneously; set in the past and the present.


The story begins with Roberta, the heroine who works in a second hand book shop and loves to collect forgotten letters, postcards left behind in books. Interestingly, each chapter that tells Roberta's story starts off with a discovery of a letter or a postcard and the details of the book that she finds it in. I was eagerly looking forward to a treat, but admit to some disappointment by the time I got to the end.
Shuffling through the pages of a book, Roberta chances upon a letter written by her grandfather to her grandmother, raising doubts and forcing her to dig into the past and unearth a long hidden family secret.

As the story flashes back to her grandmother, Dorothy Sinclair, her circumstances and life during the war, the story starts off with a bang but meanders down the middle. Although it is well written, the plot seems a bit stretched. Perhaps the focus was more on painting wartime lifestyle setting and how people lived then but it slows down the plot and makes it more predictable.

However, it is Roberta's story that is more interesting as it strikes a very contemporary note of isolation, the bonding of colleagues at the workplace and eventually the romance with her employer.

The book is very well written, Walters has a turn of phrase which makes it a delightful read. Mrs. Sinclair's story wans a bit although Walters' description of life during the war has an authentic and pictureseque ring to it.

What works for it:
The flashback/flash forward technique of story telling, strong female characters and well written descriptions

What doesn't:
Predictable plot that stretches out in the middle and hurriedly goes about resolving itself in the end.

My recommendation:
The blurb and the one liner builds up a lot of hype that is unfortunately is not delivered by the novel. However it is an enjoyable read and look forward to reading more from Ms Walters.

Alphabet Sisters - Monica Mcinerney

courtesy: Penguin.com.au

The alphabet sisters is about three sisters, once very close till a major rift draws them apart, after one of the sisters marries the other's boyfriend. 

However, the girls' grandmother has kept in touch with them over the years and insists on having them come over for her 80th party. Well, so much for hidden agendas to get them together once again but it is the ease with which the story flows that makes it a crackling read. 

The novel particularly delights in some witty conversations, the repartee between the sisters and their grandmother. Mcinerney is clearly at home when she talks of bonding between sisters and family relationships (apparently she comes from a large family full of siblings) . The dialogues are a joy to read and once can easily relate to the situations in the plot as the story moves between the past and the present during their teenage years and their adult lives. 

My only complaint is that it tends to meander a bit, but I suppose when it comes to talking about emotions and feelings, a bit of a wide berth is called for. 

Over all a warm and frothy summer read. Recommended for anyone who understands what it is like to have siblings.

The Agincourt Bride - Joanna Hickson

courtesy:waterstones.com

Joanna Hickson’s Catherine de Valois in the Agincourt Bride, is a valiant attempt to break into a genre dominated by the likes of Phillipa Gregory.

Although a great debut, the Agincourt Bride falls short of the punch, characteristic of a Gregory novel. But then, it is unfair to be harsh on Hickson for the beginning of the novel pulls you right in. Told through the eyes of the nursemaid and confidante Guillaumette, it introduces the birth and traces the life of Catherine de Valois of France, during her tough childhood and later the court intrigue surrounding her as the daughter of a manipulative, corrupt queen and a mad king.

The crucial thing with such peripheral characters such as the nursemaid telling the story is that they must always be in the sidelines, keeping the limelight on the main characters. Hickson’s Catherine though is projected as the beautiful, strong willed character, fails to match up to Guillaumette (called “Mette”) who often ends up being more stoic and better character of the two.

Phillipa Gregory’s "King’s fool" also had a similar character, a courtier who bears eyewitness to the power struggles between Elizabeth and Mary and often suffers the consequences of being in that unique position. Yet she never becomes the focus of the story which unfortunately is not the case with Mette.

The pace too tends to dry up in places, making it a chore to plough through. But then giving credit where it is due, Hickson's effective use of the epistolary device offers a new dimension to the story.The letters revealing Catherine’s most private emotions in her letters to her brother Charles, the heir to the throne of France, furthers the plot while offering insight into the character. That along with Mette’s perspective offers some great moments in the novel, albeit in parts.

What works for the Agincourt Bride:

A great start. Mette’s self introduction is very engaging and hooks the reader

Hickson’s idea to choose Catherine de Valois, an interesting character with a lot of potential

The epistolary device

What doesn’t:

The strong introduction fails to sustain interest 

Writing tends to drag in places

The peripheral character ends up overshadowing the main character

Having said this, this debut novel holds a lot of promise and it is not easy to tackle such a subject especially for a first time author.  Also, the book offers an extract to its sequel, which continues Catherine’s journey to England as the Queen where she founds the Tudor dynasty. Hope the story which has started on a bit of a shaky ground will come into its own in the second book.

A great attempt as a debut novel.  Go for it but don’t expect it to be a White Queen or Red Queen and you won’t be disappointed.

The Almond Tree - Michelle Corsanti

photo courtesy:garnet publishing

It is not often that a novel enlightens and entertains at the same time. Michelle Cohen Corasanti’s The Almond Tree does just that.

 Set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the story unfolds through the eyes of seven year old brilliant child, Ahmed Hamid, as he helplessly watches his toddler sister stray into an area filled with landmines and die in front of him.

The narrator, Ahmed displays an amazing ability for academics. However he has to put his dreams on hold when circumstances force him to take over the responsibilities of his family. Eventually, Ahmed gets the chance to make a clean start and pursue his academic dream. But this decision comes at a price, with severe repercussions on his family.

What works for The Almond Tree:

  

• Gripping storyline tracing Ahmed’s journey from a country Arab to a renowned professor in the US
• Great scenes between characters such as clash of ideals between Ahmed and his brother Abbas          
• The confrontation between Ahmed and his Jewish mentor, depicting the two sides of the conflict 

To the writer’s credit, the Almond Tree is a truly fascinating story that highlights the unrest in Israel occupied Palestinian territories. I remember watching TV reports about the incidents in Gaza but this book offers a whole new perspective about the situation. Despite the atrocities, the book has a very positive feel to it, depicting how choices change people’s lives for the better or worse.

However on another level, it is also the life story of Ahmed as he transforms from a war-struck teenager to an intellectual youth and subsequently an accomplished individual and yet at each stage struggles to strike a balance between his past experiences and personal choices.

For these reasons alone, certain shortcomings of the novel, such as smoother transition of events or lack of development of minor characters can be overlooked. Abbas is a strong character and could have been developed better but perhaps was overtaken by the sheer magnitude of the story. The narrative is smooth and despite the bumpy rides when the story takes abrupt turns, it sweeps one along till the end.  

Overall, a great read that throws light on the conflicts in the Middle East at the same time as the personal life journey of an individual who makes tough choices and has the courage to live with it. 

Of God and Food for thought...

Some of  my most profound conversations often transpire with strangers.

Well this one happened when a guy came to paint our garage door the other day. Halfway through, a cup of black tea was duly requested. I brought it out to him but couldn't help noticing the carton of soya milk he produced.

"Oh, dairy allergy, " my mind pinged and I said it aloud.

"No, a vegan by choice," he answered. I was surprised. A white guy who is off milk and meat. I had heard of many vegans but meeting one was a first for me in this country.

My ethnicity and diet has often led to many a a question in the past.  "Is it a  religion diktat or a matter of choice?" and then further clarification, "Does that mean fish is off limits as well?"

Courtesy: Yogablog.com

Believe it or not, people in the UK often find it difficult, incredulous even, to believe that being a vegetarian means not consuming anything living. Fish included. Our diet often evokes awestruck looks from our non-English acquaintances, literally elevating us to the status of a martyr.

Anyway, so this guy was one step further. No milk or yoghurt either. And that too for a good number of years. He now had my total attention. I asked him how he got by.

"It is very inconvenient for my family but I cook my own food, bake my own cakes. It is not too bad."

I said it was refreshing to meet a white British guy who was off meat just like us. He explained his reason for staying off meat and milk was an expression of solidarity towards animals.

"But for you, it must be a religion thing, isn't it?" It was his turn to probe.

I said yes. But what started off on a religious note was now a matter of choice as well.

courtesy: soulsheparding.org

Talks turned to religion and suddenly there was a barrage of questions - What is it like being a Hindu? Was I a believer? Did God exist for me?

Taken back, I asked him was he a sceptic? He admitted, he was a cynic who had sampled various forms of beliefs imposed by friends and family.

He had seen the transformation in his troubled sister after she became a Buddhist and accompanies his friend to celebratory evenings of being an evangelist christian at the local church . Both had made unsuccessful attempts to draw him to their beliefs.

"I can empathise with their ideology and wish I could share their faith but I can't."

Taking a sip of his tea with a faraway look in his eye, he asked, "Buddhism believes that there is no self and after death you become at one with the God. Is that how Hinduism works as well?"

I told him yes, the Bhagwad Gita preaches of the soul (aatma) joining the bigger force (paramaatma) but confessed that my knowledge was far too limited to embark on a discussion about it.

How quick are we to typecast people on the basis of their profession! I recalled reading a class survey on the BBC website the other day where some random factors were used to determine people's place in the society. The generalised survey seemed an unfair means of slotting people and after this chat, I began to believe it was more so.

Nonetheless, worried that matters were getting too theological at the cost of the job at hand, I offered to take his empty cup back in.

"Thanks, that was the most interesting tea break I have had in a while," he said as he handed the cup and picked up the brush.

I smiled back at him.

As he resumed the paintwork, I sat down to do the same with words instead.