Dear friends. A bumper crop of books this month. I'm sure there's something of interest for everyone. I bring you two 5 star reads plus some close contenders from the likes of Elizabeth Strout and Satu Rämö, plus three non-fiction books covering butterflies, cooking and The Beatles.
If you're wondering how I managed to read 10 books in a month, well, I receive advance digital copies from NetGalley, sometimes months before the books are published. I read most of these in darkest winter.
An Unlikely Visitor by Joanna Cannon, 5 stars
General Fiction (Adult)
I've never read any of Cannon's er.....canon, but I was tempted by a 5 star review. from Bookaholic Bex. It's an extraordinary book. The way she deals with grief is haunting. I found myself reaching for a hanky.
It's difficult to describe the plot without major spoilers. Suffice to say Margaret, who has recently been widowed, has an unexpected visitor and together they try to solve the mystery of what happened to Margaret's daughter Jeanie, over 40 years ago.
There are some hefty topics but Cannon's light touch removes the incredulity and instead the book has a sprinkling of something like magic.
The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh, 5 out of 5 stars
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance
A fantastic story, Once started, you have to finish.
Its major strength is the characters.
I loved the love story between Johann and Carrie. Here was a man steeped in charisma, the most attractive fictional man I've encountered in a long time. This made it all the more perplexing when he was accused of a crime. Carrie was also a great character, determined to succeed in surgery but forced to give up her work to look after her premature twins. Her mother, a firebrand who takes part in protests and knows people in high places, is also a fascinating character. Her poor parenting, where she prioritised her career, impacts the way Carrie reacts to situations.
The twists were dropped gently with incendiary effect. So enjoyable.
People in Love by Claire Daverley, 4 out of 5
General Fiction (Adult) | Literary Fiction | Romance
Our lives are largely based around what if's.
Norah and her long-time boyfriend Robin have a good life. Then, 12 years after he disappeared globe trotting, her best friend from school, Bren, reappears. It seems he wants to pick up from where they left off, yet where they left off is elusive. We can't get a firm handle on it. Is Bren going to stay around long enough, or will he disappear again?
At times I wanted to scream at Bren and Norah, and also at the two mothers, but Daverley's hypnotic prose had captivated me. I felt as if I were a part of their lives.
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, 4 out of 5 stars
Anyone expecting a further gentle instalment of life in Crosby, Maine, with Strout's much loved characters Lucy Barton or Olive Kitteridge is in for a shock. This is an excoriating and damning indictment of the US "committing suicide" as a result of the last election result.
Strout uses character Artie Dam, a popular and lauded teacher, to confront topics of loneliness, desperation, loss of control, and anger at the way the world is changing.
She doesn't mention the president by name, describing him as "the new president." But Trump's various actions are mentioned: ICE, the marginalisation of immigrants, the military parade for his birthday, the checking of visitors' social media profiles.
Artie is a beautifully constructed character. He doesn't believe he is intellectual or particularly special, but the way he teaches and mentors his pupils is beautiful to read, as is the way he copes with a potentially devastating discovery.
I am particularly haunted by the lesson he teaches his students about the world wars. Explaining about Nazi Germany, he's asked why there wasn't more resistance or protests. He tells the students that Hitler's rise to dominance was extremely fast: he had changed the government in just one month and 3 weeks. The world was never the same again. The significance of this is not called out, but there's no doubting the intention and its application to today's world.
The Secrets from the Deep by Satu Rämö, 4 out of 5 stars)
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
This is the fourth novel in the hugely successful Detective Hildur series. It's a. million-copy selling, award-winning series which will soon become a TV series.
The latest instalment doesn't disappoint. Hildur, the stoic, surfing Icelandic detective, returns from Hawaii in good spirits after a holiday. Her trusted Finnish colleague Jakob is now permanently in the department and living with his son after a fierce struggle with his ex-wife in Norway. Hildur has even enjoyed a romance with the reindeer man.
She is soon dealing with several mysteries, spanning decades to the present day, and initially separate enquiries. Four skeletons are found on the land where she and her family used to live; Helga, whom Hildur visits in a nursing home, doesn't seem to have had a straightforward death, and a cruise ship arrives and brings trouble. Hildur finds she has some personal problems of her own to deal with, which, when resolved, leave her filled with hope for how she wants to live her life.
I love how Satu Rämö combines historical and contemporary crime themes, cleverly sewing together the disparate narratives to become a satisfying whole.
Crescendo by Jane Healey, 4 out of 5
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction
Celebrated pianist Maxim finds himself making unheard of errors during his latest tour. He flees to Paris to take time out for a teacher, and is accompanied reluctantly by his twin sister Natasha. For the last 10 years she has put her life on hold, acting as his manager and making sure he eats. Jealousy eats away at her.
Max is feted by fans and admiring socialites wherever he goes. In Paris they stay at the luxurious home of patron Henri. Henri is fascinated by Max's talent and jealous Natasha decides to make him hers.
During the summer a cauldron of tension and emotions simmers and must eventually boil over, with devastating results. Healey does a great job in prolonging the resentment and tension between the siblings, and Henri's role in it. I gained further enjoyment by accompanying my reading with some of the great piano concertos mentioned.
Bring the House Down by Charlotte Runcie, 4 out of 5 stars
General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
A hugely powerful debut novel which looks at influence and power from different angles.
Set during the Edinburgh Festival, culture critic Alex Lyons and his colleague Sophie, the narrator, are busily reviewing shows. Alex, noted for his brutal reviews, awards 1 star with an excoriating review of a one-woman event. He then goes to a bar, sees the performer, Hayley, and they end up sleeping together, although she doesn't know who he is.
The fallout sees Hayley changing the name of her show to "The Alex Lyons Experience," and getting other women to share their experiences of how coldly Alex treated them. But there are numerous other talking points. The nature of journalism in these times of influencers and social media commentators. "Nepo babies" (Alex is the son of a famous actress). The role of a critic. The life led by Sophie, who feels torn between her career and her child, and resentful of her husband. Thoroughly enjoyed this insightful, biting read. It would be an excellent book for a book club.
Don't Look Back by OJ Mullen, 3 stars
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
This book is a little low powered and slow moving compared to my two previous OJ Mullen reads, Three Sisters and The Wrong Woman. I didn't like any of the three protagonists. This isn't necessarily a problem because sometimes you can admire someone without liking them. But I didn't find anything particularly admirable about married couple Gavin and Jess, and their business partner. We are supposed to feel sorry for Jess who's been deceived by her husband. But I find it hard to believe that a woman who's supposed to be a success in business could be so clueless.
There's a good twist towards the end but with still quite a few pages to go, I was expecting that more of the various threads would turn out to be linked. They were obviously red herrings, and instead there's a happy ending which didn't leave me satisfied. I was still too distrustful of one of the characters involved.
NON-FICTION
The Butterfly Season by Lea Korsgaard
On Beginnings, Endings, and the Life in Between by Lea Korsgaard, 4 out of 5
Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction (Adult) | Outdoors & Nature
Hungry Eyes by Dawn O'Porter, 3.5 out of 5 stars
Biographies & Memoirs | Cooking, Food & Wine | Entertainment & Pop Culture
A Hard Day's Night by Samira Ahmed
Nonfiction (Adult)
A Hard Day's Night, a film featuring The Beatles which has attained cult status, has a special place in my heart as it was the first film I ever saw in a cinema. It was 1964, I was three, and apparently enthralled by the antics and charisma of the fab four from Liverpool.
I have seen it once more since then and at the time I felt a bit disappointed. The film seemed to lack a cohesive narrative; it was surreal in places and yet serious, in documentary style, in others.
From this meticulously detailed book by journalist Samira Ahmed, I've learned this was deliberate. The film, directed by Richard Lester, was an ambitious endeavour intended to cross genres. Part of its nostalgic power, she says, is that it captures not just the Beatles in their prime, but an entire archetype that has passed.
The book is a veritable feast of facts and knowledge, The film was shot in black and white with a budget of £200,000 ($560,000). Lester's recollection of his first meeting with the Beatles was "You're enthralled. I felt there was something marvellous in them and in their music."
The Beatles came across as naturals in front of the camera, relaxed and mischief loving. "It was 80% work and 20% was all laffs," recalled Ringo in 1964. A photographer who worked with the band was struck by their screen power. "They weren't actors and they didn't have to be. It is why the film works."
There are wonderful anecdotes, an insight into their song writing process, and a scene-by-scene breakdown of the film.
I'm now keen to watch the film again, to enjoy it afresh with the knowledge I've gained from reading the book. A treat for Beatles' fans, and those fascinated by film making.
I hope you found at least one book that piqued your interest this month. Do let me know in the comments.
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