Author: Charlotte Gray

I read Susanna Moodie’s “Roughing it in the Bush” and, to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. This biography of Susanna and her sister, Cathrine Parr Trail, came to me as a Christmas gift.

The book is well written and gives us a glimpse of their lives before marrying and then emigrating to Canada in 1832. From that point the book focuses on the hardships and poverty both sisters faced trying to settle and make a living from their homesteads in the bush, and follows them as each family moves across Upper Canada in an attempt for a better life. During this time the sisters continued to try to earn extra money publishing articles and books both in Canada and in England. Although their writing was well received they were never paid much for their efforts. Life was certainly a struggle from beginning to end.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Ian Rankin

In this third book of the series Inspector Rebus has been seconded to London to help in the search for a serial killer. While he doesn’t consider himself the expert that he is being advertised as there are some advantages to being in London. He’ll be able to reconnect with his ex-wife and their daughter.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Sarah McCoy

This was just like reading Anne of Green Gables all over again. Some of the same friends of Marilla in the Anne stories are young people in this book. The story starts when Marilla is thirteen years old and follows her story through to before they bring Anne to live with them. Marilla is pictured as being as high-spirited as Anne turned out to be. I think Lucy Maud would approve!

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *

Author: Alice Walker

I thought I had read this book previously but a look through some old book reviews didn’t reveal anything. I do, however, remember the movie version of the book.

I have two other books in this series loaded on my Kindle. I don’t know how long I’ve had them because I didn’t even know there was a series.

Had I owned a copy of the book it would have remained on my shelf, but this one I downloaded from the library onto my iPad.

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *