Author: Jen Sookfong Lee

Jen is an acquaintance of Pat’s; they met while Pat was volunteering at a writer’s workshop at UBC many years ago. I’ve read other books by the three members of the SPiN writer group. I read Jen’s first novel many years ago and I enjoyed it but this one is much, much better.

The novel is set in Vancouver (all the places are familiar) but it could be set anywhere. The story is about the disappearance of two young girls who are in foster care with what would seem like the ideal foster family. But when the mother dies, a gruesome discovery is made by her husband and daughter. The story goes back and forth between the time of the disappearance and the present day.

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The End of East 

This is my review of Jen’s first book.

We know this author and I was very anxious to read her first published novel. The story is set in Vancouver so the locations were familiar. I could see and hear the characters and, to me, that is the sign of good writing.

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Author: Henning Mankell

This is a Young Adult novel, although I found it on the shelves with the other Mankell books. Henning Mankell is better known for his Wallander series and, until recently, I didn’t know he wrote anything else.

To be honest, I enjoyed this book more than I did the previous non-Wallander book. Although it is clearly aimed at a younger audience, the story was interesting. Joel’s mother left shortly after Joel was born; he and his father lead a rather sparse life in a small Swedish town. Joel’s father gave up life as an able seaman when Joel was born, and they both dream of returning to the sea.

This is the first in a series of three books where Joel is the central character.

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Author: Henning Mankell

When I was at the library picking up a book I had on order, I decided to see if they had any books by Mankell. I’ve liked both the Wallander books and TV movies but there were no books from that series available. This one was on the shelf so I decided to bring it home.

I didn’t care much for the book. The story didn’t really go anywhere and it wasn’t much of a mystery. I’m sure the author wanted to say something about the state of immigration in his country. At least one of the characters was based on a real person, and I’m sure the stories told by these three immigrant women were typical of others in their situation.

For me though, I’ll stick to the Wallander books (except for the other Mankell book I’m reading right now).

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Author: Kate Alcott

An interesting book about how a small group of survivors from the Titanic were able to put their lives back together after reaching shore.

Tess, a young maid, manages to secure passage on the Titanic when she convinces Lady Duff Gordon, a world-famous clothing designer, that she can work as her maid. After their rescue from the ship, and during the hearings that ensue, Tess becomes less enamoured by her wealthy employer and makes friends with a reporter covering the hearings and a young man who is also a survivor.

The facts of the sinking and subsequent rescue attempts are based on transcripts given at the U.S. Senate hearings.

This book, by Kate Alcott, is not to be mistaken for the novel that was the basis for the movie of the same name.

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