Category Archives: Fiction

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

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Second Tuesday Book Group – September 2014

 

Summary

burial

Set against Iceland’s stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.

Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tóti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes’s death looms, the farmer’s wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they’ve heard.

Riveting and rich with lyricism, BURIAL RITES evokes a dramatic existence in a distant time and place, and asks the question, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others

 

 

Comments

  • Story about Agnes Magnúsdóttir who was condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men in Iceland in1829.
  • Really liked the book, interesting, emotional; devastating end.
  • Wonderful; great writing good descriptive on relationships. Showed what life really was like for the time; hardship.
  • The writing was very vivid and took the reader on a great journey.
  • One of the best books read this year. Very different, good insight into the way of living and different class of living standards.

March Violets by Philip Kerr

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First Wednesday Book Group – September 2014

 

Comments

  • Good story. Did not like style of writing-too many similes. 2 out of 5 stars.
  • Enjoyed the book. Setting interesting & background also. Dialogue good.
  • Historically fairly accurate. 3.5 stars, would recommend.
  • Found Bernie Gunther captures Berlin well in 1930s. Depicts corruption & brutality of Nazis. Marries history and fiction well. Episodes in book gel with actual history. Liked Bernie Gunther. 4 stars, would recommend.
  • Enjoyed Berlin, fascinating. History of time accurate. Did not like references to women; sexist. Dark corrupt, hopelessness portrayed well. 3.5 stars
  • Set the scene well of pre-war era. See the horror beginning. Fascinating! I would not have picked up prior to reading group; so grateful for that. 4 stars
  • Wisecracking, irritating. Lost track of some characters enjoyed back story. 3.5 stars.
  • Put off by similes (too many). Good descriptions without similes. Plot too wide? 3 stars.

Goddess – a Review

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goddessTitle: Goddess

Author: Kelly Gardiner

Fourth Estate, 2014

Katherine’s pick

For any reader who has enjoyed Kelly Gardiner‘s Young Adult fiction & poetry,  this new addition to her work is a real treat.

Goddess is very much an adult novel though,  based on the life of Julie d’Aubigny  a  larger than life character who lived in the seventeenth century.   Known as La Maupin, the Goddess of the title embarks on a life of fearless adventure.  Obviously a talented and beguilingly beautiful young  woman, she goes from humble beginnings to become  a star of the famed Paris Opera.  Tempestuous and volatile she blazes a trail across Europe falling love with both men and woman,   Original and witty this is a rollicking read, that doesn’t disappoint.

2014 Hugo Awards Winners

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Sci-fi fans, now here are something for you. The Hugo Awards, presented annually since 1955, are science fiction’s most prestigious award. The Hugo Awards are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”), which is also responsible for administering them. Continue reading →