Flaxmere Book Chat Recommends

Sometimes there's a book that strikes a chord with everyone at Book Chat and that's a real treat. But just lately we've had several books that the whole group just has to read. Among them is Elly Griffiths’ The Last Remains, which is the final instalment in a series that has had us enthralled for years. We’ve been following the crime-solving pair of DI Harry Nelson and forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway as they’ve tackled numerous murders, mostly in the windswept, low-lying Norfolk landscape. The new book rounds off the series beautifully.

Old Rage by Sheila Hancock
In her third memoir, Hancock writes very candidly about things that have suddenly made her furious at the grand old age of 89. After sailing through other milestones, still fit and working as an actor, Covid lockdowns seem to have thrown her. Brilliantly irreverent, funny and feisty, our readers connected with her frustration but also noted that despite the rage, there are still reasons for joy. Another top read that is going round the whole table.

The White Hare by Jane Johnson
This book is set in 1950s Cornwall and follows Mila, who has escaped the shame of a bigamous marriage, to start again. Her mother Magda is unstoppable in her attempts to turn a decrepit house into a guest house, while Janey, Mila’s daughter, seems to be able to communicate with something otherworldly. A gripping, and beautifully written story of redemption, community and the lore of the white hare. And yes, this one too has been handed round the whole group. As well as the physical book, there is also a terrific e-audiobook available from the library through the Libby app. 

The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs
This historical novel is based on the life of Eliza Acton, who is said to have written the first cookery book. The novel follows her story, how she began as a poet but through desperation and the suggestion of a publisher was driven to write a recipe book. At the time, she didn’t know how to boil an egg. With the help of Ann Kirby, a friendship grew that crossed the divides of age and class and produced a much reprinted classic. 

Behind the Sun by Deborah Challinor also comes highly recommended. This book is the first in the Convict Girls series and follows four young London women who meet up at Newgate jail before being transported to New South Wales. A brilliant historical evocation of the time with great characters. NZ author Challinor is also a historian, bringing the period to life beautifully.

As you can see historical fiction was a popular choice this month at Book Chat. Another in this genre is The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy which is told across two timeframes, beginning in 2015 when Tess is recently widowed and goes to family in Tuscany to lick her wounds. The story flips back to 1942 as Beatrice, trapped by the war in Italy, is rescued by Francesca who invites her to stay at her villa. The villa is also the refuge of a young Jewish boy, but danger lurks in the form of the local Fascist leader who has his suspicions.

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh takes the reader to a small West Coast town where Anahera has returned to recover from disasters in her personal life. We’ve also got Detective Will Gallagher, who has landed here as the sole cop after things went wrong in Christchurch. But Golden Cove isn’t the quite backwater you might expect when it comes to dark secrets and crime. A well-written and engaging read from this best-selling Kiwi author.

The most unusual book we came across at Book Chat was Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer. This book is very hard to describe – beautifully written and beguiling, a bit crazy, and rather sad, but a really interesting story. It all begins when Isaac, beset with grief, howls out his misery into the night only to hear something howl back at him.

And for a change, here’s a sports biography, this one from Eddie Betts, the AFL player. The Boy from Boomerang Crescent tells his story, of growing up in Port Lincoln and Kalgoorlie in an environment of racism and deprivation before his decision to move to Melbourne. The rest as they say is history – Betts becoming one of the stand-out players of his time. Today he’s a respected community leader and social activist. An inspirational story.

Posted by JAM

14 August 2023

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