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: * * *

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: * *