The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

A quick rundown… Tony receives some money and a diary from his first girlfriend’s mother on her death. This prompts reminiscence through his youth and trying to understand his friend’s death years ago.

Strengths: Barnes is an excellent writer and the voice of Tony is particularly authentic.

Weaknesses: Tony sometimes just ‘doesn’t get it’, which is frustrating.

Why I read it: Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize and I was looking for a quick read

Pages: 150

Published: 2011

Publisher: Vintage

Setting: England

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Starter for Ten by David Nicholls (if you enjoyed Tony’s uni days)

I only became aware of the hype for this book when it became short listed and then the winner of last year’s Man Booker Prize. When I saw it in real life, I was somewhat shocked that such a slim book had so many people raving. But don’t judge a book by its size, it’s the words that make it matter.

The premise of the book is simple – the gift of money and a friend’s diary from an ex-girlfriend’s mother gets Tony reminiscing. And thinking. And wondering. And debating (mainly with his ex-wife) whether he is/was in love with the ex-girlfriend, Veronica. So he decides to catch up with Veronica, but Tony’s a bit slow on the uptake and still doesn’t understand what happened or what Veronica is trying to tell him.

Sometimes I didn’t understand exactly what it was Tony was misunderstanding. The ending certainly is in that field and it made me wonder if we’re all just as blind as Tony is at times. Misunderstanding or ‘just not getting it’ seemed to be a theme of the novel. The characters seemed to be reluctant to spell things out for Tony at times (Margaret, his ex-wife, is more tolerant than Veronica who gets frustrated). I suppose it wouldn’t be as much of a novel if everything was spelled out.

The passing of time and the effect it has on distant memories is another theme- is Tony remembering things correctly or with selective changes? We see that his memory cannot always be relied upon; he states he was accepting of Veronica entering a relationship with old school friend Adrian, but later a vitriolic letter appears from Tony to Adrian. What else is he missing in the narrative?

The prose of course is beautiful and it’s a testament to Barnes that we continue to feel for Tony even through his foibles. We’re just as eager to find out the truth as he is.

The Debutante by Kathleen Tessaro

A quick rundown… Two stories running together: the story of Cate in the present, cataloguing the items of a deceased estate, and the Blythe sisters in the 1930s. Can Cate solve the mystery of the missing sister?

Strengths: Interesting idea for a story, some interesting glimpses into fashion history.

Weaknesses: Dreary, conjures up bleak images and not as well executed as it could have been.

Why I read it: On my wish list and saw it at the $5 bookstore

Pages: 384

Published: 2010

Publisher: Harper

Setting: England

Rating: 6 out of 10

If you liked this, try: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield or any Kate Morton novel

This was another $5 bookshop buy. Would it be too harsh to say I’m glad I only spent $5 on it?

This book seemed like it had so much going for it. The plot, while not 100% original, could be so good! Let me just summarise it quickly for you: Cate, troubled by the ending of a previous romance, goes to work for her aunt’s auction business. There, she meets Jack, who is moody with secrets of his own. As they catalogue Endsleigh, the estate of one of the famed Blythe sisters, sexual tension flares. Cate becomes caught up in the mystery of what happened to the younger Blythe sister. Will she realise Jack’s interest and solve the mystery? There are many books that follow this kind of plot – Kate Morton has written some very good (okay, and one not so good) books about the modern and historic, involving big houses and decades old mysteries. Unfortunately, this one is not so good.

Why do I think this? The prose is dreary. I had to force myself to continue to read this, setting myself a page target each day (all for the benefit of you, dear reader – your life is too short for bad books!) The tension between Cate and Jack felt forced and clichéd – like the characters themselves were begrudgingly acting out the part for the sake of the reader. The prose really didn’t evoke an atmosphere either – it felt stilted and restrained. Cate’s love affair lacked love, regret and the anger of betrayal – it really felt like she was just going through the motions. No passion at all!

The mystery was quite interesting though and although the ‘discovery’ is somewhat clichéd (I won’t spoil it for you if you intend to read the book), at least it is solved. The way that Cate got interested in Baby Blythe’s disappearance through a hidden shoebox of memorabilia was unique and one of the more interesting parts of the book to me. The way the ‘historic’ side of the plot was revealed through letters mainly between the Blythe sisters was interesting too, but at times it left more questions than answers for me.

I cared about this book enough to finish, but I’m sorry, not enough to recommend it. It may be an okay beach or plane read at a pinch.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

A quick rundown…The story of Harry Clifton and his entanglement with the Barrington family. Part One of a trilogy.

Strengths: Fantastic action and plot.

Weaknesses: Hearing the same event from another character’s point of view gets a bit boring.

Why I read it: Enjoy historical fiction family sagas.

Pages: 343 (ebook)

Published: 2011

Publisher: Macmillan

Setting: England (primarily Bristol), the high seas

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

For some inexplicable reason, this series is linked in my mind with Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants. Is it that they both deal with families and war? Or that they will both be a trilogy? While Jeffrey Archer’s prose may not be quite as eloquent and detailed as Ken Follett’s, he does have several benefits:

1. He can write a page turner that will keep you up late at night. You can’t just stop reading this, there’s always a twist that will make you think, ‘just one more chapter’.
   
2. The books are easier to lift than Mr Follett’s chunksters. Still better if you’re reading the ebook!
   
3. The sequel, Sins of the Father is already out in hardcover and ebook in Australia. (The sequel to Fall of Giants will be released in September 2012 in the UK and USA. Not release date for Australia as yet).
   

Archer’s book deals with Harry Clifton, who never knew his father after he disappeared, presumed dead. The book deals with Harry’s life from birth to university days. We hear about Harry’s life from various points of view – from Harry himself, his mother, his friends, mentors and lovers. This is useful because you can get different points of view on one particular event, but sometimes hearing each person’s version of events can be tedious. You know what’s going to happen and you’re looking out for the titbit that adds another dimension to the mystery of the death of Harry’s father. This improves later on in the book as Harry goes to secondary school and then on to university. The subplot about how Maisie, Harry’s mother, tries to raise the fees for Harry’s private school, is also interesting with lots of unexpected events! This book is certainly never dull.

The last few chapters of the book are a real twist in events and the action steps up a lot of notches. Don’t expect a resolution at the end either – this is only the first book in the trilogy and there’s a lot more to come! If you have peeked at the jacket of the sequel, things will make much more sense after reading the closing chapters.

If you haven’t read this book and enjoy plot driven family saga style historical fiction, I’d recommend you read it, as you can read the sequel straight after! It’s not deep, but a lot of fun. Book 3 of the series will be called Best Kept Secret.

The Dancing Years (Morland Dynasty #33) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

A quick rundown… The 33^rd book in the series takes in England post-WWI and into the 1920s, which were not as carefree initially as portrayed.

Strengths: Great characters and a few shocking twists in the tale of the Morlands.

Weaknesses: Covers more years than the previous books set in WWI.

Why I read it: I’ve been reading this series since 2006.

Pages: 512

Published: 2011

Publisher: Sphere

Setting: England, America, Europe

Rating: 9 out of 10

If you liked this, try: watching Downton Abbey or reading more books in the series.

 

Thirty three books into the series and the Morlands have just been through the War to End All Wars (soon to be followed by World War II). This is a saga, but one that is worth the time and effort (in my case, more effort was expended in obtaining the books than reading them! They are quite difficult to purchase in Australia). The Dancing Years covers a longer time period than the WWI books, covering from 1919 until 1925 (the war books covered one year each).

Returning to Morland Place is as much a welcome home for the reader as for the Morland family. We are reunited with favourite characters, such as Bertie and Jessie, Jack and Helen and of course Teddy. Polly, as she grows into a young lady, has a stronger storyline than previous books and Emma also plays a leading role. The book covers the years that I had always thought were happy – post-war, into the 1920s, glamour and fun with a more realistic note. It was an eye-opener to read about the state of the English economy and how so many soldiers were unemployed (Jack being one of them) and the unsettled feeling that remained. Of course, there is Emma’s set – the Bright Young Things who dance and dance, mainly to hide the lurking shadows of the war. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is more daring in this novel, with some very unexpected twists unfolding. Characters will face tragedy (not for the first time), happiness (but suspicion from the point of view of others) and finally, happiness. I am really interested to see what happens in #34 with the Depression approaching.

The question that I should probably answer to this book is ‘can you read this as a stand-alone or must it be read as part of a series?’ I’ve thought quite deeply about this. I think it will make a lot more sense if it is read as part of the series (starting from the WWI books at least) but you could read it as a stand-alone. The characters are warm and engaging and in these internet days, you could more than likely Google any missing strands.

Burley Cross Postbox Theft by Nicola Barker

A quick rundown… A novel about the residents of the small English village, Burley Cross told through letters stolen from the local postbox.

Strengths: Unique perspective telling the story through letters.

Weaknesses: Does anyone write letters anymore? Difficult to keep track of who’s who at times.

Why I read it: Liked the cover, sounded interesting.

Pages: 352

Published: 2010

Publisher: Harper Collins

Setting: England

Rating: 7 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Reading Middlemarch, another view on village life.

 

I’ve thought about this book for some time after I finished it but haven’t really come to any definite conclusion – do I like this book or do I not? Let me list the pros and cons of this book.

 

PROS

• It’s written all in letters. I like that. Brings me back to some of the books I read in high school.
• You can get a good perspective of the village of Burley Cross through all those letters.
• There are some truly funny moments, such as the ‘sex hex’.
• It’s original.
• The ending is truly innovative.

 

CONS

• All written in letters means sometimes not a lot of background detail is there.
• Sometimes some characters don’t really seem to fit in all that well into the overall narrative (such as the church play, who was the person writing the letter and what was their role?)
• People don’t really write letters that much nowadays due to email etc. and they don’t always go into extreme detail. (A fairly trivial point though).
• The neighbourly arguments can sometimes be a little too close to reality. (Not applicable if you live in Summer Bay or Neighbours).
• It gets a little boring in places, trying to work out where all these people fit!

 

There you go. After writing the list, I’ve tempted to lean towards the ‘I like’ list, but you probably won’t feel comfortable reading a book about village life (disputes, love, friendship, planning disputes etc.) if you’re having a neighbour war of your own. On the other hand, it is a witty look at petty politics and worth a laugh, particularly if you’ve ever had any voyeuristic thought about a post box. The characters are over the top (I still shudder thinking of Baxter and his appearance post-sex hex) and cleverly illustrated to display their flaws. There are loving moments and some just plain ridiculous moments (such as the phantom dog dropping bags tied to fences). Like real life, there are some moments that just seem not to do anything or be part of the bigger picture. In retrospect, I found that nice – too often now TV programmes and some books lack any deviation from the Major Plot Line.

 

This book is an eccentric departure from the linear plot and should be enjoyed as such. You’ll either like it (as I ended up doing after I penned my thoughts) or think it’s a load of junk mail.

 

 

 

 

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes

A quick rundown… The companion guide to Series One and Two of the English drama, set in prior and during WWI.

Strengths: Beautiful photographs and a deep insight into the life and times of the Edwardian era.

Weaknesses: May give away a couple of plot points (e.g. a new character) – but spoilers are kept to a minimum

Why I read it: Loved the TV programme

Pages: 304

Published: 2011

Publisher: St Martin’s Press

Setting: Downton Abbey, England

Rating: 9 out of 10

If you liked this, try: watching the TV show!

 

The World of Downton Abbey is a relatively rare find in the plethora of books about television programmes. Not only does this book inform you about the characters from the show, it also gives an insight into life during pre and during World War I England.

Generally books like this are set into chapters about setting, characters, plot etc. Not so here. Jessica Fellowes has taken an innovative approach with the text and coupled it with beautifully detailed photographs from the world of Downton Abbey and the historical period. The forward is written by the show’s creator, Julian Fellowes (I believe Jessica is his niece, but there is definitely no nepotism at work – Jessica has created a wonderful book in her own right). Subsequent chapters then follow on family life, society, change (i.e. during the war), life in service, style, house and estate, romance, war and behind the scenes. Each chapter reveals to the reader what the topic would have been like during that period using both real life examples and Downton examples (e.g. a day in the life of Daisy, as well as real life anecdotes of life in service). Photographs used are relevant to the chapter and the book is beautifully styled.

I also liked that the book didn’t give away too many ‘spoilers’ for the second series, which hasn’t yet aired in Australia. I feel I can be pleasantly surprised by the events of season two – those that aren’t already shaped by history of course!

For those who enjoyed the factual and historical parts of the book, there is an extensive reading list at the back. Fans as well as more casual watchers of the show will enjoy this book, as it goes far beyond the usual ‘book to accompany the TV series’ to actively inform the reader.

Definitely worth the read!

Middlemarch by George Eliot

A quick rundown… The story of the people of Middlemarch, England.

Strengths: A lot of characters with interesting quirks.

Weaknesses: I forgot who some of the more minor male characters were at times.

Why I read it: Had not read Eliot previously.

Pages: 889

Published: 1871

Publisher: Vintage

Setting: England

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

Middlemarch is not for the weak-wristed. It is a 889 page tome which contains the lives, loves and death of the small village of Middlemarch in Great Britain. It’s also not for those who like a quick read, not just due to the length, but for the fact that each carefully crafted word should be savoured. You might think that the previous sentence is shorthand for ‘confusing, hard to understand’, but honestly it’s not. I think Middlemarch is one of the more easily read classics for the modern reader. Fairly light on scandals for the modern reader, this is a true reflection of daily life. There are also some interesting comparisons to be made of medicine through the ages.

As I’ve alluded to above, Middlemarch is about several people in a village, rather than just one main character. If I was pressed to do so, I’d say Dorothy and Lydgate (new doctor in Middlemarch feature most prominently). Divided into eight books, you could say that some books feature some characters more prominently (for example, the first book is primarily about Dorothy and her marriage) while others spend time with most of the characters. The book deals with several different themes – money (or lack of it) changing opportunities, marriage (what constitutes a good or bad marriage – should one marry for love?), education and wishes versus reality. Dorothy marries Mr Casaubon for his devotion to good works as she wants to do the same, but learns that being eager to do good doesn’t add up to love. Lydgate marries Rosamund in a flurry of lust, but their financial and social lives don’t collude. Fred would love to marry Mary, but doesn’t have a fortune (and what he did have, he spent on the horses). Mary could have changed things for him, but decisions at the death bed are hard to make. The more minor male characters (such as Featherstone and Bulstrode) I found hard to delineate at times – there wasn’t enough for me to make them distinctive in my mind.

The final chapter ties up all the characters’ predicaments nicely, as well as giving the reader an insight into what eventually happened to them over the years – did their dreams come true? Or did they just blow away in the wind? Each chapter is also prefaced with a quote – generally in English, but sometimes in French and Latin, which sometimes linked to the chapter contents, sometimes not. They didn’t really add a lot to the novel for me, and I found myself skipping over them.

I wouldn’t say that Middlemarch is a book and could pick up and put down; I think it was better read in larger chunks (such as an hour a day). Don’t let that put you off reading it though. It is a big read, but a gratifying one as the village people come to life inside your mind.

The Decision by Penny Vincenzi

A quick rundown… Set in the 1960s and 70s, this book plots the events leading to a marriage and then its downfall.

Strengths: Always entertaining, varied characters and attention to detail.

Weaknesses: The book is quite large and therefore quite heavy.

Why I read it: I’ve enjoyed Penny Vincenzi’s other works.

Pages: 768

Published: 2011

Publisher: Headline

Setting: England, Italy

Rating: 9 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Almost a Crime by Penny Vincenzi

I really like Penny Vincenzi’s books – you know that you are guaranteed an interesting plot, well written characters and an element of surprise. The Decision is no exception. It is slightly unusual in that you know what will happen to the main characters Eliza and Matt ultimately – it’s no secret that they will get divorced. But it is an interesting reflection on what leads to a marriage and then its downfall. All but the epilogue is revealed by the blurb on the back cover. Is it still worth reading? Of course.

Like Vincenzi’s other books, The Decision is quite weighty (and the large format paperback was still cheaper than the ebook). It is a tome to carry around, so I’d suggest that the ebook may be easier for portability (and anonymity if that’s what you’d prefer). The story is very engaging, and as always, there is a lot of skill involved in creating the supporting characters – they are all memorable from the horrid Juliet to Jenny, the biscuit-wielding receptionist. Each has their quirks which makes such a long list of characters (thoughtfully summarised at the beginning of the book) unique and unforgettable.

Surprisingly, much of the book focuses on the earlier, happier days of Matt and Eliza – how they met, their romance and early marriage. Emmie, their daughter, is thoroughly precocious (to illustrate, she gets lost and is found trying on shoes in a department store!) but lovable. It’s easy to see how Matt and Eliza both want custody of her. The divorce itself is fraught with tension and I found it hard to decide which team to ‘bat for’ – Matt or Eliza? Both had obvious faults to their claim for custody (even in 1960s London, adultery was still frowned upon). I found the ultimate decision a little strange and perhaps a bet each way, even though it’s probably a logical conclusion. The ending tied up a little too neatly for my tastes, but it also ensures the reader knows exactly what happens to each character.

Although this book is set in 1950s-70s London predominantly, there is not too much use made of the setting. The Swinging Sixties gets a glimpse, but the plot could be set anywhere, anytime. This is not a criticism, just a comment.

This is still a lovely, warming read, leaving you satisfied with some brain stimulation. It’s easy to imagine the characters and the settings – Penny Vincenzi does these types of characters (generally middle to upper class British) so well.

Flawless by Tilly Bagshawe

A quick rundown… A fun chick-lit set in the diamond dealing business. Sex, romance, intrigue, goodies and baddies all in one.

Strengths: Light and easy, a bit of conscience thrown in.

Weaknesses: Some scenes are a little clichéd.

Why I read it: I like chick lit by Ms Bagshawe.

Pages: 400

Published: 2009

Publisher: Orion

Setting: United Kingdom, Africa, Russia, USA

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Adored by Tilly Bagshawe

Flawless is a perfect book for the times when you need to escape the daily grind but don’t want to bog yourself down in a serious, convoluted book. This book is exaggerated fun – the hunks are hunky, the women beautiful, the baddies bad and the plot interesting but easy enough to be remembered. While not as much fun for me as Adored (which was perfect escapist fare), this book is still a very good beach read.

Flawless centres around the diamond industry – the heroine, Scarlett Drummond Murray designs jewellery; the Meyer twins (Jake and Danny) are diamond dealers and the baddie, Brogan, owns diamond mines. This is how all the characters link up initially, at diamond dinners and trading stones. Scarlett sticks out somewhat in the diamond business, as she runs a campaign for Trade Fair diamonds (diamonds that are not the product of war, where workers are fairly treated). This gets her into a lot of trouble with a number of people, mainly Brogan. Then strange things start to happen – her tyres are slashed and her shop burns down. Scarlett then moves to L.A. to work with Jake Meyer, but their relationship is topsy turvy…

I’m sure you can guess what happens from there, but that doesn’t make the journey of the book any less fun. While not as good as some of her other books, Flawless (also known as Perfect in some areas) is above the standard for chick lit. Bagshawe puts in the ethical message about Trade Fair diamonds as well as having several plot threads running. Flawless doesn’t quite hit the wild peaks and troughs of this kind of genre, but it’s still solid, containing passion, intrigue and fiery arguments. The characters are likeable and flawed enough to make things more memorable. Some of the turns of phrase are clichéd (in particular, the sex scenes) but you do notice this less as the book continues.

A light story, good for escapism.

Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence

A quick rundown… The story of a woman, her two sons and the everlasting ties between them.

Strengths: A different way of approaching a story with three sequential protagonists; Paul is an amiable character.

Weaknesses: Dragged for me in places.

Why I read it: Have never read D.H. Lawrence before.

Pages: 544

Published: 1913

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Setting: England

Rating: 7 out of 10.

If you liked this, try: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin deals with similar family issues.

This was the first D.H. Lawrence book I’ve read and I’m still undecided whether it will be the last. If I had to sum it up in one word, the word would be ‘okay’. Not brilliant, not awful – just tolerable really.

The story is simple enough – the story of Mrs Morel, who seems to have married the wrong man (a miner who drinks a lot) and puts her effort into her firstborn son, Arthur. Arthur is given every opportunity, sometimes at the expense of his sister Annie and younger brother Paul. When Arthur returns home engaged, Mrs Morel finds it hard to deal with and picks fault with his fiancé. Arthur then dies and Mrs Morel sets her sights on Paul. She controls nearly every aspect of Paul’s life and is a continual source of friction between him and his first girlfriend, Miriam. It seems no one is good enough for Paul and Mrs Morel will be the only woman in his life.

Lawrence is excellent at being able to convey thoughts and feelings of his characters within a few words. The portrayal of the different relationships – Paul and his mother, Paul and Miriam is excellent. Mrs Morel and Paul both love and hate each other, yet they can’t break or change the bond between them. Paul knows his mother is interfering with his relationships, yet he still goes back for more. You would expect Mrs Morel to appear overbearing, but she doesn’t – it is clearly written that she wants the absolute best for Paul and will do her damnedest to get it for him. Like most mothers!

Very well written but not my favourite 20^th century classic (that is reserved for Richard Yates). Somewhat dull and bleak in places, but the strength is in the relationships between the characters.