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Dear friends. Another stack of books for you today with 5 stars for two outstanding Irish writers. Joining the lovely bloggers of the southern hemisphere for #WhatsBeenOnYourBookshelf.
EARTH BY JOHN BOYNE (5 STARS)
It's a slim book which I digested in one session, but what a seismic story. Like the first story in the trio, Water, social media figures large. This time two professional footballers are pilloried as they wait for their trial on sex offences involving a 19 year old girl.
John Boyne paints a picture of a cabal of young men, pampered, rich and hunting in packs for women. The women are crudely ranked and discussed on WhatsApp. Sometimes they are videoed. The assumption is usually that they are lying when cases get to court, which is rare in itself.
The story is told from the perspective of Evan Keogh, one of the two young men. He fled an Irish island and became a footballer reluctantly became he wasn't original enough to be an artist. He had to prostitute himself for money and had traumatic experiences. He is now highly paid in a sport that rejects diversity (he's gay). He is under the thrall of straight team mate Robbie.
Regarded as effete by his father (who actually wouldn't know the word), Keogh is forced to look at his life so far and see if he is the man he wanted to be.
A sobering tale for our times. I couldn't stop reading.
MY FAVOURITE MISTAKE BY MARIAN KEYES (5 STARS)
Marian Keyes is gas! It's such a thrill to read her books and enjoy her wit, wisdom and insight.
My Favourite Mistake reunites us with the chaotic Walsh family and in particular Anna, who returns to Ireland for a spell to get over burn out in her PR job in New York.
She finds herself in a small Irish town, working on a project for friends. Unfortunately her "go boy", the man with the money, is Joey Armstrong, with whom she has history.
There are some fantastic characters in the book. Anna undergoes a transformation but not in the usual clichéd way of novels. We see her growing in confidence, but also shooting herself in the foot repeatedly. I liked Joey, the Go-Boy, and would prefer him any day to the feathery strokers!
Marian takes her time in filling in the back stories but all the better to keep us engaged, as if we need encouragement! Another great read from the great Keyes.
A MARRIAGE OF LIES BY AMANDA MCKINNEY (4 STARS)
A fast paced crime thriller with an engaging and complex heroine, and plenty of red herrings. Detective Rowan had a damaged and traumatic childhood, and threw herself into police work to try to improve the system. Her husband Shep also grew up in care homes, and he's her anchor, always loyal and solid after Rowan's years of neglect.
But now she seems to be getting close to a younger colleague, and she's convinced Shep is having an affair. Her therapist is trying to convince her to leave her husband.
Against this backdrop, women are being murdered with the same MO. And Rowan finds herself under arrest.
A DIFFERENT SOUND: Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers
Featuring Elizabeth Bowen; Daphne du Maurier; Elizabeth Taylor
A book worth buying for one story alone, The Birds. Famous as a Hitchcock novel, the terror and dread created by Daphne du Maurier is astonishing.
The 40s and 50s were a golden time for women's writing. At this time women had very few rights but writers such as Elizabeth Taylor, du Maurier and Penelope Mortimer gave a voice to millions of women who were resenting the loss of new found freedom after the war.
This is a stellar collection with an outstanding introduction by Lucy Scholes.
THE BORROWED HILLS BY SCOTT PRESTON (4 STARS)
Written in words as beautiful and occasionally brutal as the Cumbrian landscape, this is an uncompromising read about the difficulties of hill farming. The story opens with the devastating foot and mouth epidemic. Two neighbouring farmers, William and Steve, join forces to try to save some of William's stock, and the sole surviving lamb from Steve's father's flock. Their alliance continues as they decide to stage an audacious heist. The prose left me breathless at times, particularly the visceral account of the destruction of hundreds of sheep at one farm, the colours, smells and hard graft involved.
THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR BY ANITA WALLER (4 STARS)
It took a while to get into this: there's a lengthy set up about each of the four women. I wasn't even sure it was a thriller until it became clear that a death was suspicious, followed by several other incidents around the women.
The pace improved and I enjoyed the friendship between the four friends. It was interesting to learn about Erin's antiquarian book business. I loved the relationship between Jess's grandparents and the broader group.
Just when I thought the killer had been identified and all the loose ends tied up, there was a surprise twist at the end.
ALSO REVIEWED IN APRIL ON BLOG TOURS
THE LINEUP FOR MAY
I hope you enjoyed this month's selection and have found at least one book that appeals. What are you currently reading? Which have been your best books so far this year?Do share in the comments.
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