Author: Wilbur Smith

This was one of Dad’s books – Deloise gave it to him for Valentine’s Day in 2003.

I’m not sure about the book – it’s almost 900 pages so I should have had ample time to decide whether or not I liked it. The story is set in South Africa during the time when apartheid is taking hold of the country. The characters in the book reflect the view of the Afrikaans as well as the various political protest groups. Hunting and safaris play a role in the book and I found that unsettling. Also, women weren’t depicted as strong characters. I thought that might be a sign of the times (the book was published in 1987) but Smith did not have a happy private life (according to Wikipedia) and that may have influenced his writing.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Emma Donoghue

The word influenza comes from the ancient belief that the disease was associated with the influence of the stars. The book was delivered to the publishers just as Covid-19 began to surface.

The story takes place towards the end of the First World War and in the midst of the Spanish Flu. Hospitals are overcrowded and Julia, a midwife, works in a makeshift ward (a supply closet) with three beds for women who are pregnant and infected. A volunteer, Bridie, comes to the ward and she and Julia strike up a friendship (and love) after working together for only three days.

I wonder how different the story would have been had it been written to describe the conditions of this current pandemic.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Ragnar Jónasson

I follow a lot of quilting blogs and the author of one of those blogs is also a Goodreads member. I saw some of the books that she had read so I made a friend request to her and I’ve been following her for almost a year. We’ve read a few books in common but this is the first one I’ve picked up solely on her recommendation.

Ari Thór Arason is a young man in his twenties who has recently completed his training as a police officer. The first job he is offered is in a small fishing village in northern Iceland but he has to leave his girlfriend in Reykjavik as she is finishing up her medical training.

Ari is told that nothing ever happens in the quiet town but that isn’t the case after Ari arrives. An accident (maybe murder) and an assault all take place within a couple of months. The weather is as much a character in the book as the various village people that Ari comes in contact with.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Anne Tyler

It’s nice to be back to a favourite author for my first book of the New Year. I just signed up for my 50 book challenge through Goodreads.

An Anne Tyler story is often a story about real people doing everyday things – not too much drama and not much suspense – but by the end of the book her characters are your friends.

The book opens when Ian is a high school student; he lives with his family, mother, father, sister and brother. When his brother introduces the woman he is going to marry Ian is a little star struck. But as the days go by the glitter is wearing off. When his brother kills himself Ian is filled with guilt that only worsens when his sister-in-law also dies and three children are left homeless.

Ian, by chance, stumbles into a service being held by the Church of Second Chances and is convinced that he must raise the children as penance.

Goodreads Rating: * * *