The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars is John Green’s fourth novel and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Chapter Books and remained in that spot for seven consecutive weeks! I am not surprised because this is without a doubt one of my favourite books I’ve ever read, however I think it was in the wrong category because this subject is a tad too intense for children.

In a nutshell: the book is written from point of view of Hazel and follows her friendship and romance with Augustus, but a pretty important factor of their relationship is that they met at a cancer support group... I’m sure by that you can tell that this book isn’t going to be completely happy. However, it’s done in such a way that cleverly brings humour to a not too funny subject. I really don’t want to say anything more to spoil it for you but it is definitely worth a read if you like to laugh one minute and cry the next.

Quinn

Stranded by Emily Barr

If no one knows you're missing, how can you be found? Bruised from the breakdown of her marriage, Esther Lomax needs to get away, and Malaysia's unspoilt shores seem the perfect place. But a day's boat trip takes a desperate turn when Esther and six other holidaymakers are taken to a desert island and their guide does not return. The group have no way of getting back to the mainland and know nothing about each other. As the days pass, tensions erupt, secrets emerge and time increasingly runs out, Esther must ask herself the ultimate question: will she leave the island alive? A page-turning psychological thriller which kept this reader gripped right to the end.
Cath

Blood Sisters – Barbara & Stephanie Keating

During their childhood years set in the Kenya Highlands of the 1950s, three girls from vastly different backgrounds become blood sisters, promising that nothing will ever destroy the bond between them.

Set just after the Mao-mao and as Kenya gained independence, it focuses mainly on the characters of the three girls, delivering romance, betrayal, and murder. The descriptions of Kenya are amazing.

A Durable Fire and In Borrowed Light : The sequels to the Langari trilogy are equally enthralling.
Evelyn

Safe House by Chris Ewan

I read Safe House during Manx Grand Prix Week on the Isle of Man, with the buzz of visiting motorcyclists creating just the right setting. It didn’t take me a week, as I raced through the book in a few days.

Rob Hale is called out to fix a boiler at a remote cottage in Arrasey Plantation. He finds two sullen men with a beautiful girl called Lena, and they’re definitely not locals. Lena doesn’t have much trouble persuading Rob to call back and take her out on his motorcycle. He readily falls in with Lena’s plans to give her two male companions the slip.

When Rob wakes up in hospital, he doesn’t remember how he crashed his bike. There’s no trace of Lena, and local police seem determined that she never existed. Is it a cover up, or concern for the family? Rob’s sister Laura had recently committed suicide, and his father was well known and respected on the Island. Or maybe Rob really is delusional after the accident?

Rob’s suspicion grows when he meets Rebecca, a smart and self-assured Private Investigator hired by his parents to look into his sister’s death. Lena holds the key, but she’s left a sinister and twisted trail.

Safe House was addictive reading, and I just had to find out what was happening next. It’s a dark read in places, but that’s offset by humour and the chemistry between Rob and Rebecca. As an islander, I loved the fact that this book was set on the Isle of Man, and the atmosphere and sense of location is superb. I once stayed for a weekend in the cottage that inspired Safe House, which made it all the more intriguing. I hope there will be more along these lines - I’m sure there’s plenty more secrets here on the Isle of Man to go on...

'Safe House' is topping the Kindle charts, and Chris Ewan has just released 'Berlin', the latest title in the award winning 'Good Thief's Guide' series. Find out more here  

Latest news about 'Safe House' - you can watch a brilliant sponsorship trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKUzJJfzCBE for broadcast on the Universal Channel made around Major Crimes.

An Unexpected Party

Chris Caine as Gandalf joined our book group meeting last Thursday to give a brilliant reading from 'The Hobbit'. He read 'Riddles in the Dark' where Bilbo finds The Ring and meets Gollum for the first time, and really brought the story to life.

Thank you to Elizabeth for her special homemade mince pies, and to everyone in the book group for bringing along all the delicious treats for our Christmas Party.

The Library has a Hobbit theme this Christmas - here's the doorway to 'Bagend'. Thank you to Chris for such a wonderful performance.

'The Hobbit' was a 4 star read for our group - reviews coming soon. If you're enjoying 'The Hobbit' and want to find out more about J R R Tolkien, you may like to try these from Colin Duriez.



There's also a 'Hobbit Hunt' around the library with riddles to solve for entry in to a Prize Draw. Thank you to The Lexicon Book Shop for the top prize.

The Light Between The Oceans by M L Stedman

Publshed by Doubleday

This is a beautifully written first novel, and a great choice for book groups.

Janus is the God of gateways, with two faces so that he can look to the future, as well as the past. He’s also associated with light, and is the namesake of the remote Janus Rock Lighthouse, set between two oceans off the South Coast of Australia.

Previous keepers have struggled to cope with the isolation, but after returning from Gallipoli, Tom Sherbourne is craving peace and structure in his life. He meets his future wife Isabel in Partaguese, the small town nearest the lighthouse. They create their own world on Janus Rock, where the supply boat calls four times a year, and shore leave is only granted every year or two.

Tom, haunted by survivor guilt and his family’s past, is lifted by Isabel, his ‘other half of the sky’. But Isabel becomes fragile and grief stricken following her miscarriages, and it’s the start of a distance between them. When a boat is washed up with a dead man and small crying baby onboard, she persuades Tom to keep the child. As time goes on, they begin to learn more about the child’s background, and the dark event that has lead to what Isabel believes to be a gift from God. With every passing day, Tom regrets more and more the choices they’ve made, and the gulf widens.

It’s very much a book about decisions and consequences, and how difficult it can be to see the right action to take. The Janus Light illuminates the way for others, but not for those on the rock itself. It’s not just a novel of light and dark, it’s more about what happens in the shadows. Anyone reading about each of the main characters will struggle to judge, as they are written with such compassion, and their actions seem understandable in each set of circumstances.

I was completely absorbed in the world of Janus Rock, which took on a real existence, and by the sadness of the lives it touched.  This is a book that stays with you long after you’ve put it down. 

If you're interested in novels about the world of lighthouses, why not try 'Light' by Margaret Elphinstone? It's based on our Calf of Man in the early 1830s, so also interesting from the point of view of local history. The lighthouse is being looked after by a woman and her family, and Margaret Elphinstone traced a connection with female lighthouse keepers from 1831 back through the centuries to Saint Bridget. Tensions arise when the lighthouse engineer, Robert Stevenson, sends his surveyors there...

Robert Stevenson's grandson, Robert Louis Stevenson said:

'There is scarce a deep sea light from the Isle of Man to North Berwick, but one of my blood designed it'.

This Month's Reads

Our next meeting is in November, month of remembrance, so we decided to read books themed around war and conflict - old and new. Here's a few of the books the group have decided to try:

The Greatcoat
By Helen Dunmore

Isabel Carey finds herself lonely and isolated after moving to Yorkshire during the winter of 1954. It's austerity Britain, and Isabel is adjusting to married life with her GP husband, who is frequently out on call. She spends much of her time alone, in rented accommodation that has come complete with a dour and creepy landlady.  When Isabel wraps herself in an old RAF greatcoat found in a cupboard, she starts to dream. Woken by a knock on the door, she answers her door to an airman, and starts an intense relationship with him.



The Book Thief
By Zusack Page

This book is narrated by the character of Death. It's 1939 Nazi Germany, and he's watching Liesel, a nine year old girl. She's living with a foster family on Himmel Street because her family have been taken to a concentration camp. Liesel starts stealing books, and both the events of the war and the words on the pages, change her life, and the lives of her community on the street.






Valentine Grey
By Sandi Toksvig

The Boer War is at the centre of this book, and so is the British Empire. When a soldier goes to South Africa to fight, there's not only the conflict of war, but also class, gender and sexuality, because Valentine Grey is a woman.









The Garden Of Evening Mists
By Tan Twang Eng

Elizabeth has read this already, and loved it. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it's Tan Twang Eng's second novel. It's set in Malaya around the Japanese Occupation in World War II. A young law graduate and concentration camp survivor becomes an apprentice to the only Japanese gardener in Malaya when she sets out to create a garden to the memory of her sister.







A Whispered Name
By William Brodrick
Moving novel of The Great War, highly recommended by Edith. Click here to read her review...

Book Fanatics Quiz Night and More

Manx Litfest

Lots to look forward to this September at Manx Litfest. Tickets are now on sale, and it looks like we're going to be spoiled for choice. Find out more, sign up for a newsletter and keep up with what's happening on the Manx Litfest web site.

We were talking about the Book Fanatics Quiz Night at the last meeting, and some of the group are keen to have a go if we have enough people free that night to make a team. Just a quick reminder that it's on Thursday 27th September @ 8.15 pm. at the Villa, and tickets are £8.00. Please contact Pam if you would like to join in as an Onchan Book Group team.

State of Wonder by Anne Patchett

Research scientist Marina Singh is sent to the depths The Amazon rainforest to find out how her research partner and friend Anders Eckman had died there. He was tracking progress on a new fertility drug being developed by the maverick Dr Swenson, a mentor of Marina's in a former life she would prefer to forget. Marina endures side effects from malaria drugs, insects, snakes and arrows to follow in Anders' footsteps through the rainforest and discover the mystery surrounding Dr Swenson. This book was shortlisted for the Orange Prize 2012, and Anne Patchett's Bel Canto is a former Orange Prize winner.





 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Howard Fry by Rachel Joyce

Harold Fry seems a most unlikely hero – recently retired, modest and unassuming.
His life is humdrum in the extreme. A letter from a former colleague leads him to undertake a journey on which he will eventually confront his past, and become something of a reluctant media celebrity. Journeying through Britain on foot, wearing only his yachting shoes and without mobile phone or credit cards, he encounters a rich variety of characters along the way, who, despite having their own problems, encourage and help him on his long journey. This is a gentle, amusing and at times heart-breaking novel, which was greatly enjoyed by everyone who read it. Cath

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Howard Fry was a 5 star read for us. It's been selected for this year's Booker Prize Long List:

Nicola Barker, The Yips (Fourth Estate)
Ned Beauman, The Teleportation Accident (Sceptre)
André Brink, Philida (Harvill Secker)
Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists (Myrmidon Books)
Michael Frayn, Skios (Faber & Faber)
Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Doubleday)
Deborah Levy, Swimming Home (And Other Stories)
Hilary Mantel, Bring up the Bodies (Fourth Estate)
Alison Moore, The Lighthouse (Salt)
Will Self, Umbrella (Bloomsbury)
Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis (Faber & Faber)
Sam Thompson, Communion Town (Fourth Estate

The Shortlist will be announced on Tues 11th Sept.

SAFE HOUSE coming soon

chrisewan.com

A great read to look forward to this summer is SAFE HOUSE, the new crime novel from Chris Ewan.  It’s set in the Isle of Man, and is a change of direction from ‘The Good Thief’s Guides.’ Plumber Rob Hale wakes up in hospital following a motorcycle accident. He’s concussed, but is certain that there was a girl on the back of his bike, but she’s disappeared, and no one will believe she ever existed...

There’s been a host of excellent advance reviews. I like this from Mean Streets: ‘Actually, Ewan hasn’t so much lost the humour as strapped it on to a 1000cc plot that tears around the Isle of Man (and a few other locations) like a TT superbike. It’s a thrilling ride: full of bumps, swerves, and bone-breaking crashes.’ Read more here

There’s going to be a launch party for Safe House hosted by Henry Bloom Noble Library this Thursday 2 Aug at 7.30 pm at the Nobles Park Pavillion.  Chris will also be talking about Safe House at The Manx Blind Welfare Society in Corrin Court on Friday 3^rd Aug, 7.30 for 8 pm. Find out how to book tickets for both events here

Ann Cleeves' Raven Black by Susan Moore

 “Raven Black” is the first book of a quartet by Ann Cleeves.   Set in the Shetland Isles, it is a crime thriller, but one with a difference.   Ann Cleeves moved to the Shetland Isles when she was 19, and her descriptions of these cold, isolated and snow covered islands could only have been written by someone who had spent time there and learnt to love this isolated area of Scotland.

 I have to say it was like a breath of fresh air reading a crime novel that, for once, did not bog me down with too much emphasis on police personnel or the technicalities and procedures of the investigation.

I instantly warmed to the main character, Inspector Perez, an Islander (or “insider”), who found himself in charge of a murder enquiry when the body of a young girl is discovered in the snow.  Black ravens were circling around the body and the girl had black hair, giving the book its title.   Perez was a rather scruffy, untidy but warm individual, more a man than a policeman, and contrary to his appearance, lived in an immaculate, tidy house near the sea front. 

 The Shetland Isles reminded me of how the Isle of Man used to be – the locals, the come-overs - in Shetland there are “insiders”, “incomers” etc., with everybody knowing everyone’s business (or thinking they do!), with old traditions, and families that go back to Viking times..   And no murders to brag about either!   

The murder enquiry becomes more complex and the “Big Boys” are called in (police from the mainland – Aberdeen), and Perez has to reluctantly hand over the case to Taylor (an Englishman to boot!).  When another child is found dead, it is vital that a suspect has to be found quickly, and a result achieved. 

The finger of suspicion points to Magnus Tait, the local weird character (every small community has one) and he is eventually arrested.  Perez and Taylor are both of the same mind that they have the wrong man behind bars, and even when the mainland police leave the islands, with an apparent case closed, Taylor stays on to assist Perez find the real murderer, and a respect for each other begins to emerge.   

  I found it amusing that when the CSI from the mainland commented that the murdered girl was not carrying her keys, the local police pointed out that here in Shetland, no-one locked their doors!  Just like the Isle of Man a few years ago!  Perez was considering leaving the police to take up crofting, and join the lifeboat crew as his forefathers had done, but the buzz of a strong case like this could maybe change his mind.  I also felt the beginnings of a romance for Perez with another character, Fran, divorced with a small child.   As the story unfolds, it is apparent that the murdered girl, was a “dark horse” and many of the characters had been involved with her in one way or another.  I had absolutely no idea who the murderer was until the very last, and exciting few pages, which shows what an excellent story teller Ann Cleeves is.  Raven Black had me turning the pages, and thinking - “just one more chapter, and I really will turn the light off!”    I will certainly read the next three books in this series ... especially want to see if Perez and Fran do “get it together”!

What We're Reading Now...

We're missing a meeting in July because of the Tynwald Bank Holiday, so we've got two different books lined up for our next meeting on Thurs 2 August. Both are debut novels, and they share a central theme of memory.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Howard Fry by Rachel Joyce is about a retired man who learns that a former colleague has cancer. He takes a leap of faith and  walks from one end of the country to the other to visit, instructing his friend Queenie to wait for him. His memories unfurl along the road, triggered by events and chance encounters. Although sadness is part of Howard Fry's journey, there is also humour and a great deal of charm.

Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson is a psychological thriller which is going to be made into a film directed by Ridley Scott, with Nicole Kidman in the lead role. S J Watson worked in a hospital and was inspired to write this novel about amnesia. Following an accident, Christine loses her memory each time she sleeps, and has to start afresh again every morning. The reader begins to share her confusion and uncertainty as the suspense builds.

The Other Half Of Me by Morgan McCarthy

This book comes highly recommended by Elizabeth, and here's what she says:

I found the title intriguing to begin with, and as the story unfolds, it opens up a strange scenario involving Jonathan and his sister Theo. Their mother insists on their calling her Alicia, and lives in a world of her own. She's on prescription drugs and gin, so doesn't relate to the children except to tell them to go away while she takes a nap.


They have been told that their father, Michael Caplin, is dead, and the children's welfare falls to Miss Black the nanny who dislikes them, and a cook who can't cook. Their grandmother Eve then arrived on the scene, sweeping all before her. She held lots of secrets, but was a strong woman who didn't stand for any nonsense.


Theo was a child given to dreams, and a strong belief in fair play. She and her brother were very close until cracks began to emerge in their relationship. Theo got caught up in drugs, and Jonathan and his friends drank far too much. A web of deceit begins to unfold, leading from Wales to London, and crossing the Atlantic, where a really lovely story emerges.

R J Ellory's Ghost Heart by Susan Moore

I opened this book with some reservations. I had read that R J Ellory was British, and wondered how he could write a novel set mostly in Manhattan, and make it work. However, my doubts soon disappeared.

The opening paragraph was so descriptive; I could smell the atmosphere of Manhattan 'awakening' for another day. The sounds, smells, were tangible - 'The smoke and steam crawling like tired ghosts from the subway below' I think this first paragraph was one of the best I have ever read, on a par with 'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier. I always feel that if a book 'grabs' you in that first parargraph, then it's going to be a good read.

The characters seemed totally believeable - Annie in her little dusty book shop, longing for a real romance, and thinking she had found it in David. I found myself envious of the wonderful relationship she had with Jack Sullivan, the hard-drinking journalist in the next appartment. he was always there for her - best friend, brother, father, rolled into one. (He would have been her lover I think - if he'd been younger!) A wonderful colourful character. Annie had other friends, but to me, she seemed a lost soul, and but for Sullivan, would have had a vary sad and lonely life. Her father's death when she was a child had left an empty space within.

From what initially appears to be a 'loneliness to love' story soon turns into something completely surprising and unexpected.. The stranger named Forrester who enters her shop one day claims to have known her father well. He leaves 'stories' for Annie to read in instalments, and this makes for compulsive reading. What were these stories really about, and who was Forrester? Did he - and the stories- have any real relevance to Annie?

R J Ellory beautifully describes Annies life with Sullivan, who was always there watching over her, the shop, and her romance with David. This starkly contrasts with the stories given to Annie by Forrester, which were extremely violent, ruthless and shocking in places. But like Annie, I found myself impatient for Forrester's next visit - and the next instalment of these 'stories'. Would my particular hunches about the ending be right?

From start to finish, there were twists, turns and shocks. This is a great read - brilliantly written, and full of mystery, love, crime, with a fascinating mix of characters, and an amazing finale! What more could you ask for in a book?

The vivid descriptions of Manhattan, New York, and especially the people who live and work there, were excellent, and at times, very poetic. (I noticed that R J acknowledged Anita Shreve amongst others, and I could feel her influence on his writing.) Ellory has certainly done his research very thoroughly.

I look forward to reading the rest of Roger Ellory's books - he is an author I am so glad to have found. Thanks to Manx Litfest Reading Club and the Book Club of Onchan Library!

R J Ellory's Anniversary Man by Cath

This novel opens in 1984 with the murder and attempted murder of a young teenage couple by a killer known as 'The Hammer of God'. The killer is caught, and commits suicide in prison. The action then moves to New York in 2006 where a series of gruesome killings is under investigation by Detective Ray Irving.


His investigations lead him to discover that all murders are recreations of previous serial killings carried out on the anniversaries of the events. As the bodies mount up, he comes under increasing pressure to find the killer, and enlists the help of a crime researcher attached to a newspaper. This happens to be John Costello, who survived the Hammer of God attack.


I thought this was a very well written novel, with strong characters whose lives and relationships intertwined and developed. There was a good sense of place, and the author obviously has a detailed knowledge of New York - despite being English. I found the details of the murders very gruesome though, and I wouldn't normally read such a violent novel. It was even more shocking to learn at the end that the book was based on real life serial killings .... However, it was so well written, and such a page turner, that I'd read more by this author.

Manx Litfest Reading Club - R J Ellory

Onchan Book Group have been gripped by another Manx Litfest writer this month - R J Ellory. This multi-award winning author was born in the UK, but he's completely at home writing about the USA. R J had a strange childhood, following the death of his mother when he was only 7 years old. He never knew his father, and his grandmother sent him to schools and residential homes for orphans, where he escaped into the world of American Culture through watching Hitchcock and James Cagney films, and Starsky and Hutch & Hawaii Five-0 on TV.  

His books will take you from the Deep South to California, Washington, New York and places in between. He writes tough and gritty crime, but doesn’t follow a formula, and each new book takes on a variety of different subjects. ‘A Quiet belief in Angels’ was a Richard and Judy Book Club Read in 2008.

 

Manx Litfest Reading Club
Jasper Fforde

by Roger

I have only part-read two of his books so far - yet I am hooked - and will most certainly read them all.

My mind is on 'The Big Over Easy' because that's what I'm reading right now. I laugh out loud over his one-liners and thereafter he has got me smiling for page after page. However, after a while, as in 'Carry-On' films you know what the next line will be - but it is so cleverly done. 

I loved the Toast Marketing Board, slotted into the Thursday Next series and the 'Allegro Enthusiast Club in the B.O.E. He convinces you to take this seriously because of the car's renowned 'hydrostatic' suspension gives a great 'ride' and you can always adjust the 'torque' to your advantage.

It is great fun to play around with the author's classic characters. Fforde knows that these by their nature carry the luggage of his readers preconceptions. He doesn't impose on them a different personality - and that makes the whole book work. I'm sure he purposely resists 'developing' a character such as his Inspector Jack Spratt (who cuts off all his fat from his bacon breakfast at the Police Station Canteen - 'My wife won't eat anything else.') It's all about the dialogue for Fforde.

I find that the books can be too loaded to take in a single session. Rather like too much Marx Brothers - you need something different in between. The beauty of his stories is that you get to believe in his reconstitiuted characters as real people, and that includes his Nursery Rhyme ones too, because he does them so well.

Jasper Fforde is one of the authors appearing at Manx Litfest 27 - 30 Sept.

Lost in a Good Book

Jasper Fforde

I’ve been reading Jasper Fforde for the first time for The Manx Litfest Book Club. These books are completely out of the ordinary, so if they’re new to you too, just suspend belief and dive in.

I started with ‘The Eyre Affair’ which immerses you in Jasper Fforde’s fantastical and humorous Book World. It’s 1985, but not as we know it. Characters can travel in and out of books, and a literary detective named Thursday Next finds the ability to follow them.When Jane Eyre is kidnapped, only Thursday can save her. I liked Thursday -  a sassy heroine who takes on sinister villains, and a corrupt organisation.

But her every action has consequences, which continue in the next title in the series, ‘Lost in a Good Book’. This discloses more about Thursday Next’s personal life, and her marriage to the absent Landen Park-Laine. Thursday attempts to bring him back, and needs the help of man-hating Miss Havisham from Great Expectations.

These books are a romp through the fantasic world of Thursday Next - full of clever puns, quasi situations and quirky characters.  I haven’t come across anything quite like this series, which manages to combine famous books with fantasy, humour and a detective story too.

BTW, I was fascinated to find out how Escher's famous picture of reptiles inspired  Thursday Next's car, and this real paint job. Here's a pic from our Escher pop-up book, and here's the car:

  
Visit Jasper Fforde online for everything you ever wanted to know about Book World, and his other books too.

Book of the Month

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

This month's read is a Pulitzer prize winning novel made into a film starring Kevin Spacey and Judy Dench. Don't judge the book by it's movie - it's a much better read. Comic and tragic life events have left the downtrodden character of Quoyle at the end of his rope, literally. Ties, knots and rope are a theme throughout the book, and Quoyle is named after the kind of knot designed to be walked over on a deck. Quoyle's life changes beyond recognition when he takes his daughters out to Newfoundland to start a new life there, with the help of his aunt.The pace of life is slow, and that's reflected in the book. Annie Proulx's writing style is unusual, but really draws you into the hearts of people living at the edges in this remote community.

One Day by David Nicholl

Image courtesy of Amazon

“This is me.’" He handed her the precious scrap of paper. ‘Call me or I’ll call you, but one of us will call, yes? What I mean is it’s not a competition. You don’t lose if you phone first”

David Nicholls, One Day

We chose a book about love for February, but one of our group summed up it up as "too much alcohol and not enough romance!" Dexter does alcohol to excess, and Emma has her feet too firmly on the ground to expect moonlight and roses. This isn't a traditional romance, and the story is told through events that happen to the couple on 15th July, every year, for 20 years.

We were passionately divided about this one. Some people loved it, and had even read it twice, or couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
David Nicholls expertly captures a sense of time and place, and sums up the trends that came with the eighties / nineties / noughties. 'One Day' has become such a popular read, that it's almost a trend itself now.

It's a book that can make you feel frustrated with Dexter & Emma, but there's deadpan humour and sadness too. Some of the group gave the book 5 stars, and others just one star, so overall a 3.5 star read.