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Beloved Stranger by Clare Boylan |
Ruth, a modern career girl, determined to remain single, had always assumed that being grown up meant being free of your family; but when her irascible father is stricken with manic depressive illness and her feckless mother is forced to cope, Ruth discovers that she also has a few issues to face. Poignant, humorous scenes, sometimes preposterous, yet always truthful!
(bwl 9 June 2001) |
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Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah |
A stunning book, both satirical and moving, set in 1899 Kenya where English colonists, Islamic Indians and Arabs, as well as the 'muddled natives' of Africa cross paths. This tragic tale of cross-cultural love and loss takes us over three generations into the 1950s in Zanzibar. Gurnah artfully plays with the narrative point of view, which is sometimes disconcerting, but he weaves a brilliant story rather like a fugue, with the recurring motif of desertion. Definitely recommended!
(bwl 35 July 2006) |
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Disobedience by Naomi Alderman |
The incredible story of a girl who grew up in a stifling orthodox Jewish family in London and later cut off all ties with her past. In New York she becomes a new woman, even dating a married man. But when she returns to London for her father's funeral, deep issues, including lesbianism, come to the fore. An enlightening, satirical and unforgettable glimpse at orthodox Jewish society. You won't be disappointed!
(bwl 40 June 2007) |
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Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry |
Family life turns topsy-turvy when Nariman Vakeel injures himself and his middle-aged stepchildren have a bedridden invalid on their hands. The cast of characters in this seemingly mundane story astounded me. Bombay comes alive: whether in the realm of business, home, politics or religion, Mistry cunningly reveals the little acts of love and betrayal that often go unnoticed, but that make all the difference in life. Never a dull moment, even bedpan scenes are unforgettable!
(bwl 28 February 2005) |
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Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes |
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.
(bwl 7 February 2001) |
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Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala |
The elusive nature of life in India, as seen through the eyes of two British women, writing diaries which are cleverly intertwined. Olivia, the young wife of a British official, discovers a deeper side of herself when she meets an Indian Nawab. Fifty years later, the experiences of another young English woman in India echo those of her predecessor. A love story, and a thought-provoking look at India.
(bwl 34 April 2006) |
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I Heard the Owl Call my Name by Margaret Craven |
When white civilization and modern customs intervene in the remote villages of the proud, Pacific Northwest Indians, the disorientation they experience is visible in their facial expression: Mark, a young white vicar, sent to live among the Canadian Kwakiutl, sees the depth of sadness in their eyes and learns to understand its deep causes. This simple and moving tale may be predictable but its beauty is compelling.
(bwl 26 October 2004) |
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Last Orders by Graham Swift |
An unforgettable plunge into the lives of ordinary men who set out on an extraordinary task, taking the ashes of their deceased friend, Jack, to the sea. This is no sad story of death, however: at the end I felt as though I had personally experienced all the moments of jealousy and friendship, joy and despair, that subtly link Jack's circle of friends. Vibrant language. A beautiful, moving story.
(bwl 13 April 2002) |
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Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton |
Although it can be tedious reading about every dignitary she has met, I could not help feeling that Clinton's life centres on a deep sense of commitment to both family and social issues. Some might accuse her of name-dropping, but this book is more concerned about meeting women in African villages, setting up health clinics and micro-credit institutions in Asia, and fighting political enemies in America...If you want gory details about Lewinsky, you'll be disappointed!
(bwl 27 December 2004) |
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Mrs Jordan's Profession by Claire Tomalin |
The gripping biography of a renowned 18th century actress of poor Irish origins who had to learn to fend for herself and her family in an age when women who worked professionally were disdained. Although she achieved fame and bore no less than ten (!) children as the mistress of the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV), Dora Jordan's life ended in bitter disappointment. Her sense of duty, her struggles and her courage are unforgettable.
(bwl 13 April 2002) |
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Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier |
After discovering an intriguing book by a Portuguese doctor named Prado, a classical languages teacher at a Swiss high school abruptly abandons his job and starts a new life in Lisbon. His quest to comprehend Prado's life takes him into the past and the secret resistance movement against Salazar. A fascinating read about choices in life and existential angst. Not for those who crave action though!
(bwl 47 September 2008) |
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Red Earth and Pouring Rain by Vikram Chandra |
Sanjay makes a pact with the Indian God of Death, Yama. He must tell a story and retain a captive audience to escape death. Thus begins this incredible tale which plunges us into India's past and its long struggle for identity. Between magic and realism, poetry and battlefields, the novel shifts from Calcutta to London to modern America. A dense but powerful story, well worth reading.
(bwl 29 April 2005) |
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The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver |
Not as profound or as riveting as The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees is nonetheless a memorable tale about a tough-minded and cocky young girl, Taylor, who sets off from her hometown in rural Kentucky and ends up in Arizona. The tone is childishly chatty, delightfully humourous. But there are poignant moments also when Taylor confronts child abuse, government authorities, separation and social injustice. By the end of the book I was sorry to let her go.
(bwl 25 August 2004) |
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The Chancellors by Roy Jenkins |
Roy Jenkins has provided a fine set of essays on his predecessors as Chancellor of the Exchequer from Lord Randolph Churchill to Hugh Dalton which provide much reflection on British politics of the twentieth century. It is spoilt by poor editing with some long and unwieldy sentences. It also lacks a table of Prime Ministers and their Chancellors. Although it falls short of what it might have been, nonetheless this is a good read.
(bwl 4 July 2000) |
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The Chosen by K R Usha |
Nagaratna, a proud young woman oppressed by the tawdriness of her life in Bangalore, seeks to escape into a more refined world. She is lucky to find a job in a progressive school led by an enlightened headmistress. A gradual stripping away of illusions follows in this humorous and highly ironic novel. A brilliant portrayal of Indian society.
(bwl 29 April 2005) |
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The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer |
Carrie is on the point of breaking off her long-standing relationship with her fiancé when he is suddenly injured and ends up a paraplegic. Feeling trapped and unable to cope, she eventually flees to Manhattan, seeking new people, new experiences, new possibilities. An honest look at the difficulties Carrie faces, her feelings of guilt and her struggle to find a way to live her own life as an unbound individual.
(bwl 34 April 2006) |
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The Glass Castle - A Memoir by Jeannette Walls |
Although I feared this memoir by a woman who grew up in a dysfunctional family might be full of whining complaints about her alcoholic and terribly negligent parents, I was amazed by Jeannette Walls' ability to recount the amazing experiences of her childhood, from surviving burns to hunting through trash bins for food. Despite the shocking failures of her parents, this book is full of humour, hope and love of life. Unforgettable!
(bwl 47 September 2008) |
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The Tortilla Curtain by T. Coraghessan Boyle |
Witty, satirical. A comical and complex view of the gulf of misunderstanding which separates the lives of illegal Mexican immigrants and upcoming, ecology-minded liberals who dwell in the Los Angeles hills. This is no simple tale of the "good" guy and the "bad" guy, however! Guaranteed suspense all the way to the frightful ending.
(bwl 2 March 2000) |
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Travels by Michael Crichton |
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!
(bwl 7 February 2001) |
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Unformed Landscape by Peter Stamm |
A strange but credible tale of a young Norwegian girl who has always lived north of the Arctic Circle in a remote seaside port. Although she has a job and a young child, she is terribly lonely. After two unsuccessful marriages she begins to discover the outside world and the feelings within herself which she has always suppressed. The simplicity of the author's style is almost provocative, but you feel he has touched upon a universal truth.
(bwl 41 August 2007) |
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