Author: Boyne, John

Pat brought this home from the library but it was due back before I had finished it. Knowing it was only a two-week loan I added my name onto the list and waited for it to come back to me.

There are four stories in the book, each with their own plot line, and each of the stories are connected in one way or another. The connections weren’t always obvious and I enjoyed finding them.

Water tells the story of a woman whose husband has been convicted of the rape of several young girls in his care. One of her daughter’s has died by suicide and the other doesn’t want much to do with her mother. Willow has come to an isolated island, off Galway, in order to sort herself and her life out.

Earth tells the story of a young man from the island who longs to be a painter but lacks the talent. Evan does, however, have an innate ability in football. After trying unsuccessfully to realize his dream he gives up and joins a professional football team. All does not go well for the naive man and his life takes on a downward spiral in spite of the money he is making.

Fire tells the story of a doctor who specializes in treating burns. Freya had a traumatic experience in her less-than-ideal childhood and that trauma has followed her through into adulthood. In spite of her successful career she continues her habit of picking up and molesting young boys.

Air tells the story of a child psychologist who has moved from London to Sydney, Australia. He is in a dysfunctional marriage that seems to suit both parties. When their marriage breaks up Aaron is left to raise their son. His ex-mother in law’s funeral brings them all back to the island where their secrets are revealed to their son.

Author: Dexter, Pete

This book sat on the shelf on Texada for a long time. After reading a book that was really awful it was time to find something I might like better. The book cover reminded me of another book I loved – Bastard Out of Carolina – so I thought I’d give it a read.

Paris Trout is a mean shopkeeper who earns extra money on the side by lending to the Negro population in his small Southern town. A series of events, over the lending and purchase of a vehicle, leads to the murder of little Rosie Sayers, a 14-year old coloured girl. Through the book we learn of Rosie’s difficult past and the horrific man Paris Trout is.

I’m surprised our library doesn’t carry any of the author’s work, but I’d certainly read more if I came across them. This one will stay on my shelf.

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *

Author: Jamaica Kincaid

Pat suggested that I might like this book. Since I was waiting on a book from the library I picked it off the shelf to read. If ever a book was written to make me break the rules (finishing every book I start), this was probably the one.

Although not a memoir it tells the story of a family (mother, father, a boy and a girl). Most of it is told through the eyes of the mother and father, and the father doesn’t seem to love any of his family other than his daughter, who is barely mentioned in the book. The mother dotes on her son but seems indifferent to her daughter. Not a happy book at all and, although it is small, it was a real challenge to get through it.

Goodreads Rating: *

Author: Roxana Spicer

I never would have picked this book but Stacia was on a trip with someone who knew someone and she passed it along to me.

The author’s mother is Russian and served during the Second World War. Her Mum’s story is remarkable, as is the author’s research to find the information her mother would never share. The big connection is that the family lived in Netherhill, SK, a town where my uncle and aunt lived. Although I didn’t necessarily enjoy the book (and my aunt and uncle aren’t mentioned) it did teach me things about the war that I had never heard.

Goodreads Rating: * *