June 2011 - Book 14

Recipe for Life by Nicky Pellegrino

In the magical Villa Rosa, under the striking blue Italian skies, 3 woman form a bond that will last may many years.Through the language of good food and great cooking, Alice and Babetta strike a friendship that bonds, despite the barriers of real language and age. And despite the rocky road that charming local boy Lucio's affections create, Alice and Leila's sisterhood spans decades.

The recipes and food had me drooling at times - so wonderfully described, like the many colourful characters that populate the books. A little bonus is a few of the recipes cooked in the book added as an annexure.

Written in colourful language and showing the local charm of rural Italy and it's villas, this little book is a joyful and great girl's and bookclub read. Easy and gripping I can really recommend it for the holidays too.

Cat's opinion: a charming 7 and a half/10

July 2009 - Book 30

I am doing this one in Afrikaans as it is not available in English.
Verblyf deur Erika Murray-Theron

Wat 'n heerlike verassing was die boek nie. Ek het die boek doodeenvoudig impulsief by die boekklub geleen, en so ou tannie tipe boek verwag. Maar hierdie boek is uitstekend geskryf met 'n boeiende storielyn. Die hele toon van die boek is effe ongemaklik, mens kan as aan't ware die ontuisheid van die karakters in die boek aanvoel, wat op die ou einde vir almal na 'n soort van "behoort" ontwikkel.

Regtig 'n goeie lees.

Cat's gee die 7 en 'n half/10.

July 2009 - Book 19

The Road Home by Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen
A modern version of the age old story of Ruth portrayed against the background of Las Vegas and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania's Amish and Mennonite communities. The book features many very likable characters and manages to wield the charm of a rural lifestyle by pure descriptions- I could form clear pictures in my mind as to the countryside, buildings and people.


I would have never bought the book in a shop,. but I guess that's one of the advantages of belonging to a  book club - you get to read books that surprise you quite often.


Well written is is really worth the read.


Cat's opinion: a solid 7and a half/10

February 2009: Book no 5

Book 5: Norrevok by C Johan Bakkes.

Firstly, apologies to my English readers - this book is in Afrikaans and not available translated. However, his other two books have been combined and translated into: To Hell and gone.


Johan Bakkes is an adventurer by heart and an academic by day. He also tries to be a father and husband and in his own words describes his wife as being and angel as she let's him tramp off on adventures on is own at every whim. He finds (well, more like places) himself in some of the most remote and least visited places on earth and tells the story in his own unique and entertaining way (and swearing along as he speaks).

Definitely worth the read - entertaining as always (and very educational in an informal way)

Cat's rating: a comfortable 7,5/10