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All the light we cannot see / by Doerr, Anthony,

Publication: London : Fourth Estate, 2014 . 496 pages ; 24 cm. Date: 2014

This book is really two parallel stories set during World War II, about two children, growing up in two different countries. In Nazi Germany, a young orphan boy named Werner lives in a children’s home with his young sister. He is exceptionally bright and curious with a knack for fixing radios. His talents in math and science win him a spot in a Youth Academy. This is his only chance of escape from a grim life working in a coal mine. In Paris, France there is a shy redhead named Marie-Laure who lives with her locksmith father who works at a museum. When she goes blind from a degenerative disease at the age of six, her father builds a detailed miniature model of their neighborhood, so she can memorize every street, building and corner by tracing the model with her nimble fingers. When the Germans attack Paris she and her father must flee to the coastal town of Saint-Malo. Added 14/09/2015 by Heather

Polymer clay in a day : over 15 exciting projects, from gifts to accessories for the home / by Ralph, Emma.

Publication: London : New Holland. 2004 . 80 p.; 28 cm Date: 2004

Having never worked with polymer clay before, I found this book very interesting. I was surprised at the bright colours you can get. I found some of the projects quite interesting looking, but my favourite by far was the fluorite mokume eggs on page 48. A good read Added 01/09/2015 by Sharon

The rake's challenge / by Elliott, Beth,

Publication: Leicester : Thorpe, 2012 . 321 pages (large print) ; 24 cm. Date: 2012

I'm a fan of Regency romances with Georgette Heyer as my all time favourite author. This book is not as good as Heyer but a very entertaining and good read nevertheless. The heroine and hero have believable problems and the sense of period is well drawn. The little asides of humour add to the pleasure of this book. I would like to see more from Beth Elliott. Recommended.

Rose River / by Osborn, Margareta,

Publication: . 351 pages ; 24 cm.

This is a light weight, somewhat humorous, romance set in the Australian outback. There are lots of this sort of book being published these days and most are a fairly good read. This book is no exception with the plus of the gentle (mostly) humour. Despite its literary lightweight and the reasonably predictable outcome, I like this book as a good, easy, escapist read. The main characters are a city girl and a backblocks 'macho' guy and both are pretty well drawn and understandable. Not bad at all and I'll read more from this author.

Life after life / by Atkinson, Kate,

Publication: London : Doubleday, 2013 . 477 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2013

A great book, beautifully written. A real page turner yet gentle. Can't wait to read her next book which follows the same family but in a different style. Added 01/08/2015 by Kaye

The dwarf who moved : and other remarkable tales from a life in the law / by Williams, Peter

Publication: . 304 pages ; 24 cm.

This book is a reminder of events that carried headlines in NZ news in their times. Peter Williams was involved as a lawyer and his comments and insights stir memories and offer explanations that are valuable as well as interesting. Added 06/06/2015 by Heather

The secret life of Luke Livingstone / by Norman, Charity,

Publication: . 374 pages ; 24 cm.

I am very glad I pick books by the author not the content, otherwise I would have missed this one. It's one of those books that everyone should read for the good of mankind. If you have ever sniggered at the thought of cross-dressers or transgender people you will find this book sobering and moving and a thoroughly good read.

The anchoress / by Cadwallader, Robyn,

Publication: . 314 pages ; 24 cm

This is a well-researched book about a way of life long forgotten. It is fascinating in its detail, becoming more engrossing the further you read. The heroine and narrator is a 17-year-old girl living in an English village in 1255, locked in the room where she is to remain for the rest of her life. She is an anchoress, a holy woman maintained by the lord of the manor in a small stone hermitage attached to the village church, where she spends her days and nights in prayer for her community. . She has two servants, who bring their own stories and those of the village as well as food and embroidery to pass the time between prayers. Priests come to hear her confession once a week, although a curtain veils her from the gaze of men. The book is not about exciting events but absorbing in its exploration of a world so different from our own. Added 11/05/2015 by Heather

The last dance / by McIntosh, Fiona,

Publication: . 416 pages ; 24 cm.

A nice enough story but suffers a little from lack of research which I've noticed in previous Fiona McIntosh novels. e.g. 2 pound 50 in the 1930's instead of 2 pound 10 shillings.

The skeleton road / by McDermid, Val,

Publication: . 406 pages ; 24 cm.

My first Val McDermid novel and I was expecting a 'who dunnit' with a Scottish setting. I got that - and more. This story is baou the Balkans War and the crimes it deals in are more complex and far reaching than a 'simple' murder. Its about justice, revenge, loss and death. The war history is revealed as it is entwined with a current Scottish murder investigation. Not an easy read but worth it. Added 06/04/2015 by Kaye

The beautiful mystery / by Penny, Louise,

Publication: London : Sphere, 2012 . 376 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2012

This is an amazing story - I couldn't put it down. Music, love, murder, the Catholic church, long-lost monks - it's all here. I have read previous books in this series but none of them match up to this.

In touch with Grace / by Pattrick, Jenny,

Publication: Auckland, N.Z. : Black Swan, 2006 . 222 p. ; 20 cm. Date: 2006

Yet another great book by this New Zealand author. This one is set in a middle class suburb and concerns the life of Grace, an elderly widow. She belongs to the local bowls club and this is where she finds most of her social interaction but she also has a very good friend in Mildred, another widow. She comes across an old flame and breaks the calm flow of her very even life when they become friends in the nicest possible way. The author brings her characters to life and the reader becomes their friend, so well does she capture the ups and downs of old age. A lovely book and very highly recommended

Heartland / by Pattrick, Jenny,

Publication: . 328 pages ; 24 cm.

I've read two earlier books by Jenny Pattrick (The Denniston Rose and The Landing) and thoroughly enjoyed them both but I found this book very, very different from the those two. Heartland is set in a very typical, rural, very small town in the centre of the North Island and concerns the lives of the residents as they interact with each other. Filled with great characters, all close to the breadline, they help each other wherever they can. The characters are beautifully and sympathetically drawn with great good humour. A lady who cooks dinner at home and then carries it, in a wheelbarrow, to a lonely friend on the other side of the town, three elderly spinsters and a rather simple young man. As you read, you cannot help but become friendly with all these somewhat odd characters who are getting on with their lives in the best way they can. Lovely snatches of comedy enliven this lovely book. Very highly recommended.

The emperor far away : travels at the edge of China / by Eimer, David,

Publication: . 322 pages ; 24 cm

A fascinating book! Full of information about people and places well beyond the usual traveller's writing. David Eimer has become familiar with the distant regions of China as he has visited them over the years and records his personal encounters with people and his understanding of the political changes of the past as well as present developments. Well worth reading but needs concentration! Love the cover - look at it carefully then read the back cover to identify it. Added 08/03/2015 by Heather

Dinner at Rose's / by Hawkins, Danielle,

Publication: Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Arena/Allen & Unwin, 2012 . 409 p. ; 20 cm. Date: 2012

I loved this story it was full of great characters and well set in New Zealand. It was natural and easy to read and I hope this author has written more novels. It dealt with a feisty aunt who calls a spade a spade - and her niece who is recovering from a broken engagement. Cancer raises it's ugly head too but in a realistic manner. Well worth reading give it a go over summer. Lynne

Personal / by Child, Lee,

Publication: London : Bantam Press, 2014 . 432 pages ; 24 cm. Date: 2014

A very satisfactory tale of international intrigue and more dead baddies than you can shake a stick at!

Rosalee station / by Magro, Mandy,

Publication: Camberwell, Vic. : Penguin Books, 2012 . 281 p. ; 20 cm. Date: 2012

Not much to say about this book but do Australian farmers really talk like that? Not the ones I've met. This book consists of more slang than standard language and I found it very hard to cope with. No more, please!

Chocolate cake for breakfast / by Hawkins, Danielle,

Publication: Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Arena/Allen & Unwin, 2013 . 360 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2013

A romantic and humorous yarn telling the story of a young and somewhat unsure of herself, lady vet and a gorgeous young man who is an All Black and a male model plus being an all-round nice guy. Despite the somewhat unlikely setting, this is a great book. Ms Hawkins has a very deft touch and the humour had me laughing out loud on occasions. The country vet bits are very true and she seems to have a spy in the All Blacks camp. Well done, Ms Hawkins, please write some more!

Beneath an Irish sky / by Connor, Isabella,

Publication: Camberley, Surrey : Choc Lit Ltd, 2013 . 414 pages ; 20 cm. Date: 2013

Isabella Connor is the pen name for a writing duo and quite new to me. This book chronicles the storyof the wealthy and almost aristocratic Stewart family and their involvement with the Kiernan family of Irish tinkers or travelling people. Jack Stewart's wife, a Kiernan, had left him shortly after their marriage some twenty years ago and now has been killed in a road accident, leaving a 20 year old son, Luke, who hates his putative father, Jack Stewart. With a few, easily followed, flashbacks we slowly come to understand the reasons for the strong feelings which both these men hold. With the help of friends, especially an Irish counsellor, the difficulties and misunderstandings are slowly resolved. Well written in a style easy to follow, this is a very believable tale. I will be looking for more from this author (s). Well recommended

Around India in 80 trains / by Rajesh, Monica,

Publication: London : Nicholas Brealey, 2012 . xix, 248 p. ; 22 cm. Date: 2012

This book is a delight! Monisha has largely grown up in England, but returns to India to embark on a 40,000km adventure in all sorts of trains - city commuter-crowded, rural hospital, mountain tiny, large luxury - all sorts! She meets all sorts of people too and they tell her all sorts of stories. Well-written, witty humorous and enjoyable . Added 19/11/2014 by Heather