October 2010- Book 26

When will there be Good News by Kate Atkinson
The only other two books that I have read by the author are both favorites of mine. "Behind the scenes at the museum" is a wonderful drama highlighting how a family does not cope with tragedy. "One good turn" is and intriguing bit of crime fiction (and some more) set at the Edinburgh festival. This read is a bit of both.

Featuring some of the characters I have met in "One good turn" this book also features not one, but 3 great female characters - each one clever, witty and  intriguing in her own way and each with a n interesting past.

Pivoting around a train disaster, a set of events featuring a 16 year old character called Reggie  -  a lonely, poor but brilliant girl- forms the backbone of the story, told with great compassion and speckled with Atkinson's telltale dry sense of humor. To be honest, I still have some questions milling in my mind about the eventual outcome of it all.

Clever and well written with endearing characters, this is a must read if you like a good crime read. 

Cat's ranking: 9 and a half/10 

June 2009 - Book 18

Spud - learning to fly by John van de Ruit
If you have not read the other two Spud books, please do so before reading this one. They are so worth it too!

This book really fulfilled on what it promised to be - a well deserved third book in the series. 'n Great read with a laugh a minute, and the inevitable tear to match. Filled with awesome real over the top characters that grips the imagination you are truly entertained on every single page. As with the previous books it documents another year in the life of Spud and the crazy eight in a school filled with more than it's equal share of  slightly crazy people. To top it all, Spuds own way dysfunctional family continues to entertain us through out.

I am sure that through the years I will read them all again, and so will my children. I also can not wait for the film of the first book to start showing- John Gleeson will simply be the best Guv possible.

Cat's rating: a stellar 9,5/10

August 2010 - Book 22

Dis koue kos, skat deur Marita van der Vyver 
also released in English as Just Dessert, Dear.

Clara Brand, food journalist's husband cheats on her with a pretty blond colleague and friend.When they are caught in the act, he makes the decision to leave his wife and 3 children for the pretty seductress. Clara fights to find herself again by finding solace in whiskey, chocolate and opera music, just to move to Cape Town and find herself in a brand new life. In the end, through a set of circumstances and a horny ex husband, she finds he own form of poetic justice. From insanely angry at the start to strangely in control at the end, we walk the path with her and see her grow.

Written with a lot of humor by means of letters and emails, the story is told without any character ever really "saying" a word. Clara writes to her ex husband, her sister, friend and the writer of the book who almost becomes a character herself, and to Griet, the very famous main character in the writer's best know work, "Entertaining angels/ Griet skryf 'n sprokie".

A great entertaining read, it is truly unputdownable.  I am truly a fan of her work.
Cat gives this one a great 9,5/10 for entertainment value.

April 2009 - Book no 12

The shadow of the wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
I have a very flexible list of top 10 favorite books of all time. And I have a top 100 list of books, which tend to stay more stable. This one made it to that top 100 list with the greatest of ease.

Set in charming time in the most intriguing city, it is the story of a young man that "discovers" a long lost book in the most amazing library. It quickly develops in the most amazing story that functions on many levels, connecting over characters and periods of time.

Really excellently written this very touching and intricate story will amaze and keep you intrigued. A warning though - it is a very long and not always easy read.

Cat's rating: a solid 9,5/10

January 2010: Book no 1

Infanta by Deon Meyer (Available in English as Devil's peak at Amazon.com and also as a Kindle book.)

In a sense this book is written in a slightly different style than all the other books by Deon Myer that I have read. From the first few pages you are aware of who the murderer is, but it's the question of whom the guilty party is that haunts you to the end. Excellently written and as usual so well researched, this book also provides and insight into the post apartheid police force and the escalating crime and violence in our country.

It is however the excellently and sympathetically drawn characters that provides the real strength of the book. Each and every one is so very real - each with their own ghosts from the past and dreams for the future.

Not only is Deon Meyer seen as the best crime thriller writer in South Africa, but having his books translated into 20 languages just proves how popular his books are.

I see that 13 uur (13 hours) that I read last year has now been released in the USA, UK France and Russia.
A good 9,5/10.