Category Archives: Books

The Redbreast

Books

Author: Jo Nesbo

I’ve read a few books by this author and liked them all. This one, not so much. To start with the story is interrupted with date changes that, in the beginning, had to be taken note of. After the characters and the direction of the story were more familiar the dates didn’t seem so important. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and it didn’t help when Multiple Personality Disorder was identified in one of them.

Harry Hole is back but he’s moved from the Crime Squad to another department after a shooting incident that the police and FBI are reluctant to share with the public. But Harry can’t help himself and he’s following up on several clues that relate back to Norway during the Second World War.

I would still recommend the author but I’d suggest you pick another title.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

An Irish Country Courtship

Books

Author: Patrick Taylor

Pat picked this book out for me at the Texada Library Book Sale. I was surprised to see that the author, originally from County Down in Northern Ireland, now lives on Saltspring Island.

The story revolves around two GP’s working out of the same clinic in a small village in Ireland. Their love lives are complicated and one ends well and the other not so well. The best part of the book, for me, were the stories of their patients. I could hear the accents from the beginning of the book and the author includes a glossary of translations for the lesser known phrases and words. From reading the author’s notes I think this is one in a series of books focussing on these two doctors but I’m not tempted to read another.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

The Orphan Sisters

Books, Needlework

Author: Shirley Dickson

This is one of the books included in Kathryn’s 2025 birthday bag. I saw the idea on Facebook and decided to pass it along. On her birthday Kathryn received a bag of books (second hand that I’ve pre-read) each wrapped in brown paper. The idea is that once a month (on her birthdate) she can pick a book to read. Each book includes a bookmark of some sort.

Etty and her big sister, Dorothy, have been abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Dorothy aged-out at 15 and was sent to work with a kind family. Etty had to remain at the orphanage until she turned 15 but when she was finally released she was taken in by her sister. Both girls found work in the economy boost that the Second World War brought. The story takes us through the hardships and losses suffered during the war, as well as some of the happier times spent with friends.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

The Chicken Sisters

Books

Author: K J Dell’Antonia

I saw a post for this book on Facebook and since Stacia, Deloise and I are working on that Here a Chick, There a Chick project I thought I should read it.

Three generations ago two sisters, Mimi and Frankie, opened chicken restaurants in the same small town – one serving the railroad travellers and employees and the other serving the coal miners. Over the next two generations a rivalry existed between the two restaurants. It wasn’t until Food Wars, a reality TV show, arrived that the questions of which one was best would be answered.

An easy and fun read with a predictable ending.

Goodreads Rating: * * *