Author: Brian O’Raleigh

Pat learned of this book from an online friend and we were able to download it onto my Kindle. When we were in Ireland we planned a day trip to the Aran Islands but it was too stormy for the ferry so we didn’t make it.

A young man, living in Australia, is seeing his life crumble; his wife and son have left him and his advertising firm is on the brink of bankruptcy. At one of his worst moments he receives a letter from his dying grandmother asking him to return to Inis Mór. By the time Connor arrives on the island his grandmother has died and the conditions in the will mean he will have to rearrange his life in order to inherit.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Janet Skeslien Charles

A quilting friend passed this book to me quite awhile ago. She said at the time it took her awhile to get into it so I put off reading it. I didn’t have any trouble with it at all and I’m a little sorry I took so long to start it.

Although a work of fiction it is based on the very real American Library in Paris, where the author worked for a time. The story tells about the struggles the staff encountered during the Second World War and, in particularly, during the occupation of Paris.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Ian Rankin

On our recent trip to Victoria we picked up a couple of Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus books. I didn’t know it at the time but this book is the first one in the series. I’ve never read a Rebus book that I didn’t like so I’ve decided to read the entire series – provided I can get the ones we don’t own from the library.

This one probably wasn’t my favourite of the ones I’ve already read but it was still good.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Joyce Carol Oates

I’ve had this book on my list for a long time, and I’ve also had the book for quite awhile but it was in the bookcase on Texada and I never seemed to be needing a book while I was there. The book was worth the wait – I loved it.

This is the story of one family – Mum, Dad, three boys and a girl. They are well respected in their small community; they are well adjusted and a bit quirky. One night their daughter is assaulted and the family begins to unravel. The story is told by the youngest son but every member of the family is highlighted – their back story as well as the way they unravel.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *