bookswelike

bwl 7 - February 2001

Fiction

Isabel Allende - Daughter of Fortune

An epic novel stretching from colonial Chile to China and to the mayhem of the Californian gold rush. It is a passionate book exploring themes of racism and greed, as the heroine, abandoned by her lover, pursues him to California. The pursuit becomes a journey of self-discovery. The pages teem with colourful characters giving the reader a strong sense of the diversity of the people who created California - I found Tao Chi'en particularly interesting. (Christine Miller)

Rafaella Barker - Hens Dancing

I would buy this book solely for the gorgeous cover, but it's also quite a fun book written in diary form. It follows Venetia over the course of a year, after her husband has left her and her three children for another woman. She is not exactly struggling and lives in a rather gorgeous house, but taken in the spirit in which it's written (pink shoes, tented bathrooms etc) it's a lovely light-hearted read. (Caroline Winstanley)

Melvyn Bragg - The Soldier's Return

Sam, a corporal in the British army, returns from the war in Burma to his home town of Wigton. He hasn't seen his wife and son for five years. The book tells the story of his homecoming and subsequent struggle to settle back into his marriage and old life. This is a brilliant book, which brings alive what many must have experienced during the aftermath of the war. (Caroline Winstanley)

Elizabeth Buchan - Secrets of the Heart

A book of several love affairs, the most important being those of 30 year old Agnes and a house, and of Andrew, a farmer, with his threatened Dartmoor farm. The others are almost incidental, and only one comes to a satisfactory, romantic, happy conclusion! (Sandra Lee)

James Buchan - A Good Place to Die

In 1974, a young Englishman teaching in Isfahan finds himself involved with one of his pupils, who is the daughter of a General and an Iranian princess. The lovers elope, are separated and he spends the next years searching for her in the prisons and battlefields of Iran's new world. This is a book to savour, gripping and enigmatic, part love-story, part political-thriller, it paints a chilling picture of a country ruled by oppression. (Jenny Baker)

Candace Bushnell - Four Blondes

I found this novel by the famous author of 'Sex and the City' really entertaining. It gives you consolation that you don't live in Manhattan and are not one of those beautiful, rich (even if through a husband or different lovers) stupid blondes. Because they may think they have it all - especially Manolo Blahnik shoes and Designer clothes - but what they miss (and you probably not) is a love life and funny reads! (Laurence Martin Euler)

Tracy Chevalier - Girl with a Pearl Earring

'Every picture tells a story.' True! The timeless wonder of Vermeer's ravishing painting has inspired an interesting and lovely book on a possible history behind this portrait. Imagination and fine research leave a vivid impact on the reader of the isolated and harsh life in Delft in 17th Century Holland. Clear, beautiful writing, as the not-so-simple girl herself tells her tale. (Joan Jackson)

Helen Fielding - Bridget Jones's Diary - The Edge of Reason

I am proud to be a new contributor to bwl. My first choice is Bridget Jones's Diary, the entertaining, perceptive and intelligently analysed day-to-day life of a young woman with wry humour. Fielding's second book, The Edge of Reason, a continuation, is even (much) better. A great achievement as it is usually the other way round. (Kathie Somerwil Ayrton)

Philippa Gregory - Earthly Joys

An historical novel following the fortunes of a family of gardeners in the C17th. John Tradescant is uniquely skilled in collecting new species of plants, and in creating wonderful gardens for the great houses and palaces of England. He and his family are caught up in the political upheavals of the time. This is a book I couldn't put down. (Caroline Winstanley)

Philippa Gregory - Virgin Earth

The sequel to Earthly Joys and every bit as good. The story continues with John Tradescent's son inheriting the family business and follows his travels across the sea to Virginia, where in his quest for new plants and trees he becomes involved with the Powhatan Indians. The book follows both the civil war in England and the fight between the settlers and the Powhatans. (Caroline Winstanley)

Nick Hornby - About a Boy

This is a book about today's life: broken relationships, single-parent families, difficulties of growing up in such contexts but it's written in a casual sort of way, which seems effortless but it's probably not so effortless to write. And it's funny and sweet. (Laurence Martin Euler)

Susan Howatch - A Question of Integrity

Anyone who's read her Starbridge series will know to expect high psycho-spiritual drama and won't be disappointed. But the somewhat feverish narrative is a vehicle for interesting depths of religious insight, particularly concerning the Christian ministry of healing. A real page-turner. (Annabel Bedini)

Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon

The absorbing tale of a daring experiment performed by neurosurgeons on a mentally retarded man, Charlie Gordon. We see life through Charlie's diary, as he travels out of the dark cell of his mind and finds himself lost in a maze where intelligence does not open all the closed doors and where betrayal lurks behind friendship. A great feeling of warmth and humanity as we discover Charlie's trials and disappointments. (Pamela Jaunin)

Stephen King - Christine

This is scary, rather vintage King, but a marvellous read for train or plane. It's realistic, not science fiction, but with, as usual with King, a different dimension. Riveting. (Kathie Somerwil Ayrton)

Donna Leon - The Death of Faith

My first venture into the world of Commissario Guido Brunetti. It has all the trappings of a first-class mystery thriller. Dark secrets, unexpected deaths, strange heirs, a nun who having renounced her calling has put herself into grave danger, priests who are more worldy than pious and a sub-plot of paedophilia, all bathed in the luminous light of Venice. A great winter's read, curled up by a glowing fire! (Jenny Baker)

Anne Michaels - Fugitive Pieces

This begins with the 'hero', as a very young boy, seeing his family brutally murdered by the Nazis. He escapes and finally sees an old man. He says: "I screamed into the silence [a] phrase...in Polish and German and Yiddish, thumping my fists on my own chest: dirty Jew, dirty Jew, dirty Jew!" The book follows the love that grows between the two. This is, unfortunately, Anne Michaels' only novel. I wish there were more. (Julie Higgins)

Yukio Mishima - The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

This novel was inspired by the destruction by burning of the famous Golden Pavilion, in Kyoto in 1950 (subsequently completely rebuilt). I visited it in 1947 and was sad to learn of its destruction by a young Zen Buddhist acolyte. It is a tale of the destructive quality of primitive envy and provides food for thought for the thoughtful (bwl) reader. Perhaps I should mention that Yukio Mishima finally committed ritual hara-kiri. More food for thought! (Murray Jackson)

Rohinton Mistry - A Fine Balance

The 'balance' is between hope and despair for four characters in Bombay during Indira Gandhi's rule. Their survival in a crazy, arbitrary and cruel world will depend on overcoming built-in prejudices, but will this be enough? Handled with immense delicacy, tenderness and even humour, this is another marvellous Indian book. (Annabel Bedini)

Tony Parsons - Man and Boy

A light, touching but periodically hilarious story of a TV producer in his thirties, married and father of a young son. He describes the far-reaching consequences for his family of an unplanned 'one-night stand' with a young colleague. Living abroad, I found this particularly interesting as an insight into life in suburban England and in the media world in the 1990s. (Jeremy Swann)

Rosamunde Pilcher - Winter Solstice

This is not a book to set the world on fire, but is enjoyable with a strong 'feel good' factor. No nightmares or introspection after reading this story. Elfrida leaves Hampshire to live in Scotland to help console her friend and neighbour, after a tragedy befalls his family. Various other people join their household, and all their personal problems are solved in the nicest possible way. A warm gentle book. (Sandra Lee)

Juan-Manuel Prada - The Tempest

A young Spanish art historian arrives in Venice to meet the director of the Accademia Museum and give his solution to the mystery of what Giorgione meant to convey through his picture 'The Tempest' which hangs there. With countless twists and turns, there follows a breathtaking story of art, crime and love against the lugubrious background of Venice in winter. An excellent translation into English of a recent Spanish bestseller. (Jeremy Swann)

Philip Pullman - Northern Lights

Having heard so much about this trilogy, which is ostensibly written for older children but has adults equally enthralled, I decided to try it and now I am completely hooked. Beautifully written, set in a parallel and completely believable Universe, it's moving, terrifying, gutsy and full of twists and excitements without a hint of whimsy. I can't recommend it highly enough. (Jenny Baker)

Philip Pullman - The Subtle Knife

This second volume continues the story of Lyra and her dæmon Pantalaimon only this time the action moves between three Universes. A new character is introduced, Will, who is searching for his explorer father. His quest interweaves with that of Lyra's and the book, like the first, ends on a knife edge making it imperative to go onto Volume III. Watch this space! (Jenny Baker)

Ruth Rendell - From Piranha to Scurfy and Other Stories

I usually don't like short stories but these are so good that you cannot forget them! There's a funny one 'Computer Séance' where a psychic fails to predict her own murder or 'The Wink' where a country girl takes her revenge on her rapist thirty or forty years later! Very good reading. (Laurence Martin Euler)

Ahdaf Soueif - In the Eye of the Sun

The heroine of this novel, a young Egyptian woman from Cairo's elite academic world, meets and marries a local computer consultant and goes to England to do a postgraduate at a Northern university. The story moves between Egypt, Athens, Beirut and England and provides an interesting insight into relations within her family and marriage. I found it gripping, moving and sometimes even comic. Don't be put off by its unusual length. (Jeremy Swann)

Barry Unsworth - Losing Nelson

This is for those with an historical bent who can stand subtly scary and subjective enlargements of the pure biographical. (Kathie Somerwil Ayrton)

Barbara Vine - A Dark-Adapted Eye

This is probably the best-plotted book I have ever read. When Vine is at her best, as she is here, both the writing and the story are compelling. With this one, the reader knows from the first page who done it, but not why or how. Very slowly it unravels until, finally, you discover just what happened. The reader is constantly surprised and fascinated at the twists and turns, and the writing is sharp and clever. (Julie Higgins)

Non-Fiction

Tim Berners-Lee - Weaving the Web

An impulse buy at Heathrow airport, and I was glad that the journey to Budapest proved a slow one. It's a fascinating insight into how the founder of the web sees his brain child, and I am eagerly awaiting a sequel. (Serena Fenwick)

Michael Crichton - Travels

I was both amused and bemused as I read about Michael Crichton's astonishing travels among sharks, gorillas and London psychics... His unbounded curiosity and desire to experience life directly are more than just a quest for adventure. On this soul journey, Crichton unremittingly questions himself and conventional wisdom. An easy read and good for a smile or two as you ponder the possibility of seeing auras and bending spoons! (Pamela Jaunin)

Tony Hawks - Round Ireland with a Fridge

Tony Hawks took on a mad bet thet he wouldn't be able to hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge within a calendar month. It's a completely silly adventure, but quite funny how the Irish people rise to the challenge and help him along the way. He meets some hilarious characters and it's a very amusing book. (Caroline Winstanley)

Mark Kurlansky - Cod - A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

This won the prestigious Glenfiddich award in 1999 for Best Food Book, and became a best-seller after winning rave reviews. Even so I resisted it, not imagining a book devoted entirely to cod would be that enthralling. But I was wrong. Not least among its revelations is that there actually was someone called Birdseye who developed a way of freezing fish and invented what the Americans call fish-sticks better known to us as fish-fingers. (Jenny Baker)

James Morris - Venice

For a recent week in this fabulous city we took along various guide books but again this proved the most stimulating and helpful one. Originally published in 1960 but still procurable, it was written after the author spent a year living amongst the Venetians and covers a wide range of subjects: the people of Venice, their way of life, culture (art & architecture), curiosities, environment and things not to miss. Altogether a fascinating read. (Jeremy Swann)

Lacy Robert - The Year 1000

and Danny Danziger What life was like at the turn of the first millennium in England. This is a book which is well researched but not easy to get into probably because it centres round the Julius Work Calendar which is a little bit dry. Once however you get over this difficulty then it is fascinating and you learn a great deal about the lives of the Anglo-Saxons. (Julie Schaer)

Lorna Sage - Bad Blood

An autobiography which reads like fiction, even though you know it isn't. As a child she lived with her mother and her grandparents during WWII. The people around her are incredible in their strangeness, but she writes with great skill (she invented none of the dialogue - everything that was said was so vivid that she remembered it word for word) and I raced through it with hardly a pause. A wonderful read. (Julie Higgins)

Dava Sobel - Galileo's Daughter

Essentially a biography of the great man himself and his struggle with the Vatican on one of the biggest issues of the seventeenth century, scientific observation versus the literal truth of the Bible. But the tale is beautifully and imaginatively written around an archive of letters from his intelligent nun-daughter, Maria Celeste, who comments not only on these great affairs of state but also on the details of the family's domestic life in Tuscany. (Michael Fitzgerald-Lombard)

Art Spiegelman - Maus I - My Father Bleeds History and Maus II - And here my Troubles Began

I resisted these two for a long time - the story of the Holocaust told in cartoon form? But enough people recommended them to me to make me try them. The story is told by the son of a man who lived through Hitler's Europe, and is now an embittered widower. Spiegelman tries to understand his father while - certainly at the beginning - his antipathy is apparent. But he takes you through the war in all its horrors (including the relative in the camps who informs on his fellow Jews for favours from the Germans). It's an extraordinary feat that you do begin to see the characters as people (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice) and their dreadful history is as moving and heartbreaking as if it were done in a more ordinary manner. Perhaps, oddly, more so. (Julie Higgins)

Colin White - The UnDutchables

and Boucke, Laurie And, for those with an interest in Holland or the expats living there or who have lived there, The UnDutchables, is funny, true and not carping. (Kathie Somerwil Ayrton)