Author: Chris Cleave

This whole book is one long letter to Osama bin Laden written by a woman whose husband and four-year old son were killed in a terrorist attack at a football stadium. Although the bombing in the book is a figment of the author’s imagination in a twist of fate the book was published on the same day as three very real bombs exploded in the London subway.

The narrator (I don’t think we ever really find out her name) begins by telling Osama how hard her life has been since the loss of her family. As she seems to be pulling herself up out of her depression she takes a job with the London police – the same bomb squad as her husband worked for. A confession from a lover sends her into another downward spiral toward madness.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Kristin Hannah

This woman is fast becoming my favourite author. This is the fifth book I’ve read by her and I’ve enjoyed them all. I won’t run out anytime soon as there are still 19 books I haven’t read.

This book was more predictable than some of the others. Jude has it all – a successful husband and twins (a boy and a girl) who have aspirations to get into a good college. As the twins are starting high school Lexi moves into the neighbourhood and becomes a part of the family. Just before graduation tragedy strikes and it isn’t certain who will recover or how long it might take.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Joan Didion

Pat and I have very different tastes in books. The last two in particular point this out. He loved this book and I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t like my last book; Pat is reading in now and he is liking it.

I think you could call this a mystery although I never actually figured out what was going on. The story, such as it is, is fragmented and involves characters you never get a handle on who they are or where they fit in.

This is the second Didion book I’ve read and I won’t be tempted to try another one – life is too short.

Goodreads Rating: * * (barely)

I was on Texada without my Kindle and I’d finished all of my library books. I keep a few books on the shelf in the studio, usually ones I’ve picked up at the thrift store over there. This was on the bookshelf and it was the only paperback I hadn’t read (except for a really thick one) so I picked it up.

Right from the beginning I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to enjoy it. The cover said it was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2003 and I often don’t enjoy their picks. I checked just now to see what book actually won the prize and it was this one.

Vernon Little has been accused of a terrible crime in small town Texas. He’s innocent but it seems fate is out to get him. Although I was sorry that he was digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole he couldn’t get out of, I wasn’t enjoying the book.

It went from two-stars to three-stars by virtue of the ending, but it still isn’t one that I would recommend very highly.

Goodread Rating: * * *