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: Ferrante, Elena

This was a recommend from a group I follow on Facebook. I didn’t realize that it was the first in a series of four.

The story follows two friends, Elena and Lila, from the early 1950’s before they started school until Lila’s marriage at age 16. They grew up in a poor neighbourhood in Naples and seldom left it. While Elena carried on her studies into high school,Lila was forced to end her schooling at Grade 5 because her family could not afford the books. It is an interesting story and there are hints at what is to come in their lives but I won’t bother reading the rest of the series.

Despite the same name as the author, I couldn’t find anything that said the book was a memoir.

Goodreads Rating: * * *