Some Bookish Inspiration from Hastings Library Book Chat

The crew at Hastings Library Book Chat read a wide variety of books over the last month, but for some reason many of the books discussed evoked in various ways the theme of “family”.

Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer is a YA thriller, with a First Nation American as the main character. Ezra is bullied by Matt Schroeder so becomes a prime suspect when Matt’s family's house is burnt down. Ezra's family believe he won’t get a fair trial, so send him to his grandfather’s home in remote Canada, where the older man is a trapper. But the Schroeders are still after Ezra, who meanwhile learns about trapping and his heritage. This was hugely enjoyable, a contemporary novel that is very readable for both younger and older readers.

We Are Together Because by Kerry Andrew is a dystopian novel, which throws four siblings together at a moment when the world as we know it is no more. Alone in their father’s holiday house, two brothers and their half-sisters have to deal with an awkward family situation as well as how to survive on their own. Our reader thought it was a bit slow going to start with, but it gets really interesting as the story evolves.

In Amma, Kiwi Sri Lankan author Saraid De Silva writes a story about three generations of women, starting in Singapore 1951. Josephina is only ten when she’s betrothed to a man old enough to be her father. In 1984, she and her family leave Sri Lanka for New Zealand. Decades later, Annie journeys to London to find the uncle she never knew she had and the family secrets that have driven them all apart. Our reader found that although there were some strong themes, there wasn’t the character development to carry them all.

Home by Marilyn Robinson is the second of the author’s books set in the small rural town of Gilead. Glory returns to her childhood home to care for her ailing father. While other siblings come and go, it is the arrival of black sheep brother Jack that upsets the applecart. The novel is about how the two eventually come to understand each other. Although not a lot happens, our reader found this book to be very realistic and a satisfying read.

Ann Cleeves has recently become a favourite, with The Darkest Evening the latest hitting the Book Chat table. Of all the Vera Stanhope novels, this one illuminates our scruffy detective’s family background. Lost in a blizzard, Vera takes a wrong turn on the way home and discovers a car on the side of the road, the driver missing and a baby left in the back. The nearest house is Brockburn, where her father grew up, still in habited by Vera’s extended family. There’s plenty of awkwardness when Vera shows up, but she’s the right person to be on site when a murder victim is discovered outside. Another brilliant read in this compelling series.

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray was shortlisted last year for the Booker Prize. It follows an Irish family dealing with a once thriving car sales business that is now going under. The kids are going off the rails while their spendaholic mother is selling off her jewellery. How can father Dickie hold it all together? The characters may not be all that likeable, but humour and a spectacular ending make this a top reed.

The Girl by the Bridge by Arnaldur Indridason is a missing persons mystery that all begins with grandparents turning to former policeman Konrad for help in locating their granddaughter. The story unexpectedly brings to light another case – the death of a girl twenty years before. This was a sad story but a gripping one, perfect if you like Scandi Noir and stories set in Iceland.

David Baldacci is a popular mystery/thriller author but writes a different type of story with One Summer, a story where Jack is trying to reunite his family at his late wife’s childhood home. The story is no less interesting for being domestic fiction, and Baldacci’s usual brilliant storytelling is on display.

Jessie Burton made a splash with The Miniaturist which was adapted into a TV miniseries. In The Confession, we are off to 1980s LA, where Elise follows writer Constance Holden, falling under her spell. Three decades later in London, Rose is trying to find out what happened to her mother and her quest leads her to none other than Constance Holden. Our reader really enjoyed the 1980s time period of the story but found the modern day events a little hard to believe. Overall, a good read though.

Backwaters is the first novel by Emma Ling Sidnam and takes us to present-day Auckland where Laura, a fourth generation Chinese, is tired of being asked where she’s from. A work project leads her to explore the story of her great-great-great grandfather, a market gardener when New Zealand was a new colony. She discovers more about him, as well as herself in this nuanced and well-written novel.

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is based on a true story and takes us to London in 1944 where Clara has created an underground library at the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Here too is shelter from air raids, and their little underground community thrives. But as the war drags on, things are far from rosy. This was a little slow to begin with but became quite gripping as the story developed, and our reader loved it.

A couple of short story collections were discussed as well. The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac is by Louise Kennedy, the author who brought us the much acclaimed Trespasses, which hit a few book prize short lists. The stories are described as visceral and crafted, and deal with some difficult topics, and quite good according to our reader.

Claire Keegan’s stories collection Antarctica hit the spot with one reader. This collection was originally published in 1999, and since the massively popular short novel Small Things Like These, shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2022, no doubt Keegan's fans wanted more.

Another reader was prompted to read A Mistake by Carl Shuker when she saw the movie recently. The story focuses on what happens when things go horribly wrong for a female surgeon during an operation. The consequences and demands for answers that follow add to the story. Both the book and the movie are well worth checking out.

One Day has been recently brought to life as a TV series, which prompted one reader to pick up the book by David Nicholls. The story begins with an unexpected friendship between Emma and Dexter on 15 June 1988, the night of their graduation. Life has its ups and downs for both of them, which develops their characters in some interesting ways, and the story follows how their lives intersect in the twenty years that follow. It’s a kind of romance, at times humorous, and beautifully written.

Our only poetry collection was Brian Flaherty’s Plague Poems, which sounded promising - an anthology written through the first pandemic lock down, and in response to Albert Camus’s novel The Plague. Although sadly our reader found these poems disappointing.

View from the Second Row by Sam Whitelock was the only non-fiction title discussed. Although it is probably best suited for rugby fans, it’s nicely written in what sounds like Sam’s own words. The book describes the former All Black’s wonderful family, and his amazing career with four World Cups and 153 appearances in the black jersey.

23 September 2024

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