I am motoring through books, or perhaps I should say cruising. I spend a lot of time reading but there is always the feeling that I really should be doing something else. Here, I have nothing to do so no guilt, nothing
So a quick round up of the books I have read since setting sail:
Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay. The next in his series of thrillers set in the fictitious town of Promise Falls. Many of the town characters turn up again so we have the continuing story of their lives. In this latest a young teenager is killed by a drunken driver and the town turn on him when he is given a suspended sentence. It is clear from the outset to the reader that his is innocent and by the end of the story we will find out who really did it. Perhaps I have read too many thrillers but I guessed who had done it within two chapters and also the ending. A predictable read and ok for sitting on a sun lounger with a drink but no more. I was quite disappointed with it.
The Wildflowers by Harriet Evans. I have read all of this author’s books and have enjoyed them all. Probably designated chick-lit by the appearance and production of the covers etc but a step up from that category. Concerning a theatrical family, the Wildes, and the back story and then the up to date story and a chronicling of death, infidelity and jealousy. By the time I got to the end of this story I was totally fed up with the sturm and drang and histrionics of every single character. I felt sad about this as her writing usually gives me great pleasure but this just went on too long and there were so many self pitying characters I wanted to shout Just Get a Grip.
In Love and War by Liz Trenow. I turned to this one knowing that I would enjoy it and I did. Shortly after the ending of WW1 Thomas Cook started tours to the battle fields. Some thought this was dreadful making a commercial business out of tragedy, but others thought it was a good thing as families went to come to terms with the loss of a son, a husband or father. There are three characters in this story. Ruby a young widow who lost her childhood sweetheart and husband, Alice an American eager to track down what happened to her brother and Martha and her son Otto, trying to locate a grave. But they are German and have to conceal this from the Belgians who would turn on them if they knew their true identity. The story of these three women and how they meet, become companions and friends and how they find themselves and a new strength after the trip was very moving and I read it through in one afternoon (on the sun deck)
I then spotted the latest Erica James in the onboard shop – Tell it to the Skies and grabbed it straight away. I do like her books and I love this one too. Read it this morning (again on the sun deck, sorry to rub it in). Lydia and her baby sister Valerie have to go and live with their grandparents after the death of their father in a car accident and the consequent suicide of their mother. Their life is hard and brutal as their grandparents are loveless and hard and members of a narrow minded church. Lydia has a sad and lonely life until she meets Noah, who has been through a family trauma as well, and they form a friendship which lasts all their lives. They are torn apart by events and separated for many years but, as Erica James herself said in her afterword that she always has a happy ending, the reader need not fear being upset. It is also set in Italy, in Venice so what more could you want? I loved it.
Then on my Kindle I read an early John le Carre featuring George Smiley, A Murder of Quality. Stringent, not a word wasted, superbly written (though the author afterwards said that on looking back it was not a good effort) I was just so taken by the style of narrative. It was like eating a sharp piece of cheese after feasting on cream cake. Masterly.
In Face of the Verdict by John Rhodes. A prolific detective writer of the thirties, and I do mean prolific, over a hundred or so stories under different names. I tried this one and found it pedantic and boring and do not think I will bother with any more. Sometimes there is a reason why forgotten authors are just that.
Inspector French and the Starvel Hollow Tragedy – Freeman Wills Croft. Now this is a Golden Age writer that I do like and had no problem with this one. Featuring Inspector French in dogged pursuit of the story behind a dreadful fire which consumed a house, killed three people and a missing fortune, it was great fun.
So that is it so far. I have not put links to Amazon as I usually do as the wifi and internet is very slow and pulling up Amazon is problematical so you will have to do the work this time.
After posting this I will probably go upstairs for afternoon tea. It is a hard life. We are nearing Barbados now and the sun is shining and the sky is blue….but I won’t go on.
