A Busy Reading Month with Hastings Library Book Chat

The chat began with Bruce Holsinger’s latest novel, Culpability, which follows what happens when a young man causes a fatal accident, and what his family do to protect him. Modern technology such as AI, autonomous cars and chatbots, is threaded into the story – a family drama and compelling psychological thriller. Well-written, says our reader.

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence is a coming-of-age novel that follows young Alex whose single parent mother is a clairvoyant, which doesn’t make it easy with the local bullies. A life-changing experience leaves him with a very good brain for figuring things out. There’s also an unlikely friendship in this feel-good read which is both funny and interesting.

Kate Atkinson’s sixth Jackson Brodie mystery, Death at the Sign of the Rook was a clever story, beginning with a case for the private eye over a stolen painting. Another stolen painting leads us to a large country house struggling with impecunious aristos, and the need for Murder Mystery weekends. The scene is set for another brilliant if complicated mystery.

An interesting concept got one reader into The Good Liar by Denise Mina. Dr Claudia O’Sheil is a forensic scientist whose evidence helped put the killer behind bars. But since the trial Claudia has discovered her testimony was wrong. Not only is the real killer still out there, but when she is to give a career defining speech, they’re in the audience. A pretty OK read, was the verdict.

One reader said she wouldn’t be able to read This Poison Will Remain by Fred Vargas recommended by another in the group. This is the ninth book in the Commissaire Adamsberg mystery series about a Paris detective and his team of oddballs, in this book investigating a killer who murders by means of spider bite. A really good read, but not if you’re afraid of spiders.

Another French crime novel is Irene by Pierre Lemaitre – the second book in the Commandant Camille Verhoeven trilogy. A series of savage murders occur, one grim crime scene seemingly inspired by a James Ellroy novel. Verhoeven digs into the killer's literary motifs as the story and killer progresses. Really well written if somewhat gruesome, says our reader.

We heard about two William Boyd novels. Ordinary Thunderstorms is the story of Adam Kindred whose life is thrown into a spin following a chance meeting with a man targeted by a killer. Next, both the police and the killer are after Adam and he has to go on the run. A really well written and pacy thriller.

The Predicament is Boyd’s latest book, the second in the Gabriel Dax series that started with Gabriel’s Moon. Gabriel is a reluctant spy, whose career as a travel writer has become useful to the British secret services. His handler, the alluring Faith Green, has him on a string, with jobs that take him to Guatemala and a tinderbox election, before he heads to Berlin for the arrival of President Kennedy. Suddenly he’s involved in stopping a plot to kill JFK. Another absorbing thriller.

The Quiet Mother by Arnaldur Indridason is the third Detective Konrad novel, following a recently retired police officer who is asked by an elderly woman to find the child she gave up for adoption nearly fifty years ago. When the woman is murdered, he decides he must investigate a secret that someone is willing to kill for. An interesting Icelandic mystery, with threads of Konrad's personal life interwoven that relate to the previous books: The Darkness Knows and The Girl by the Bridge.

One reader is a lover of poetry and heartily recommends the second Essential New Zealand Poems: facing the empty page, edited by Siobhan Harvey, James Norcliffe and Harry Ricketts. It is brilliant because it has a poem from every New Zealand poet you’ve heard of, plus quite a few you haven’t. But what’s really great is that each poem has been carefully selected to showcase the poet’s talent, but also avoiding the obvious ones, so you get to read something new.

Competently rather than brilliantly written, Julia Eichardt: a life of grit & grace by Lauren Roche was nevertheless a fascinating story about a remarkable woman. The story takes you to the 1800s and the gold rush era of New Zealand and the true story of a woman who became a Queenstown publican. A story of hard work, love, heartbreak and survival.

Tracey Farr’s novel Wonderland is an interesting story in an almost poetic style about the family of a man who has built an amusement park in Mirimar. Reimagining history, Marie Curie comes to visit, fleeing scandal, and connects with the family, in particular the three young triplets, Ada, Oona and Hanna, who tell the story.

Boudicca’s Daughter by Elodie Harper is the story of Solina, who survives the warring of her tribe against the Romans, when her mother and sister do not. In an effort to endure she makes an alliance with a Roman soldier which takes her from the marshlands of Britain to Nero’s Rome. The historical details of life of the time were interesting but our reader was disappointed by the trajectory of the main character’s story.

Jackie Clarke’s book Her Say: survivors of domestic abuse tell their owns stories describes the work of The Aunties, a charity that helped the women rebuild their lives, as well as the women’s own experiences. Rather than being grim, it was uplifting to read how The Aunties were able to help the women in a non-judgemental way with whatever they needed.

Another reader has been rereading a favourite author: Ernest Hemingway. The Old Man and the Sea was a good place to start – a story that can bring you to tears. The group was also impressed that there is an edition in the library which is in te reo. Other Hemingways that were recommended included The Sun Also Rises and The Garden of Eden for a lovely bout of nostalgia.

An even older novel was Samuel Butler’s Erewhon, which takes you to a faraway land, a kind of utopia where machinery is forbidden, sickness a punishable crime and criminals treated with compassion and medical help. First published in1872, Erewhon’s an entertaining and thought-provoking novel.

Hastings Library Book Chat meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 10:30am. All book lovers welcome.

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