July 2011 - Book 18

The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble

At the beginning of a new year, a group of five woman meet to form a reading group. Through the course of the year and the books that they read, we get involved in their lives. It turns out to be a most eventful year all round and the choice of books strangely reflects the twists and turns the lives of the characters takes.

The story is told in wonderful, easy to read language without being too simple. I loved the wonderful woman created for this story- each one unique and charming in their own way. Each developing and growing through the year in their own way. Wishing that I could be friends with every single one of them.

A truly charming and gripping read this is a great bookclub choice as most woman will find a like minded  friend in at least one of the characters. I also loved how the writer suggests books at the end of the book for reading groups and I intend to read some of these suggestions as well as the books read in the book during the course of the next year.

A totally charming 8 and a half/10

July 2011 - Book 17

Feniks deur Deon Meyer

Kaptein Mat Joubert is lewensmoeg- en oorgewig en propovol cholestrol en rook te veel. Moord en Roof se nuwe polities aangestelde bevelvoerder is boonop besig om druk op almal te plaas om sy Scotland Yard idees af te druk op die eenheid.

En dan begin die Mauser moorde wat oenskynlik geen konneksie tussen die slagoffers het nie. Terwyl 'n sjarmante bakrower 'n bank teister met sy elegante styl en 'n nuwe vermomming vir elke roof.

Intussen met Mat sy vrou Lara se dood na 2jaar in die oe staar as hy verwys word vir sielkundige behandeling. Bennie Griesel sy kollega het ook hulp nodig om uit die kloue van die drankverslawing te ontsnap.

Met 'n aller briljante ontknoping is dit weereens 'n heelike lees.

'n Toonkrul lekker 9/10

July 2011 - Book 16

 The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

 

 I am not a lover of autobiographies or biographies at all. I much rather prefer the escape that fiction brings. But sometimes the saying "truth is stranger than fiction" actually rings true. Without a doubt this is one of those instances.

Whilst reading this book I was constantly gasping for my breath, wondering if indeed there were people thinking and living the way the author was raised. The result of a total dreamer alcoholic for a dad and a frustrated idealistic artist for a mom, Jeannette turns out a huge success in life, but not without fighting every misguided principle her parents forced on them Strangely enough, only the youngest sibling seem to be unable to break the constraints of a seemingly childhood of freedom or neglect, however you wish to phrase it.

Totally fascinating and extremely well written, this is a memoir worthy of a read and the bestseller status it has achieved. 

A must read 9/10