The Underneath

Kathi Appelt has published several picture books according to her biog in this book but I hadn't particularly come across her. Her debut novel is haunting, cruel, endearing, heartbreaking, disturbing, glorious, and captivating.

"It wasn't the chirring of the mourning doves that woke the calico cat, or the uncertain sun peeking through the clouds, or even the rustling of a nearby squirrel. No, it was the baying of a nearby hound. She had never heard a song like it, all blue in its shape, blue and tender, slipping through the branches, gliding on the morning air. She felt the ache of it. Here was a song that sounded exactly like she felt.............." Wendy

Hugo Awards

The Hugo Awards

for SciFi/Fantasy

have just been announced -

check out the website

for more details.

Briefly these are

annual awards for excellence

voted on by fans!

Wendy

Still Alice

I cannot rave enough about this book! It is a long time since I read something with such impact.

Have you ever paused a moment to consider what it might be like to descend into dementia? Still Alice is the story of one woman’s journey through early onset Alzheimer’s. Alice is a 50year old psychology professor who, at first puts her forgetfulness and confusion, as most of us would, to ageing, stress, lack of sleep.

Although fictional, Still Alice is a truthful and respectful depiction of life with Alzheimer’s and has been endorsed by the US National Alzheimer’s Association. Author Lisa Genova has a Ph.D in neuroscience from Harvard and combines her scientific understandings , with lots of research and contact with people who have Alzheimer’s and their carers resulting in a unique, touching story told from Alice’s perspective. I think that is what really makes the book so powerful as you become Alice. An easy read which I managed in a weekend ( although some of my tears slowed me down from time to time!).

Reading Still Alice has increased my awareness and understanding to the realities of the illness, and had me questioning issues of self and identity. The book left me moved and inspired. I reckon it will stay with you long after you have closed the last page. Linda

Devil's Brood

Sharon Penman has delivered an enthralling power play as Henry II and his fascinating wife, Eleanor of Acquitaine, deal with their 'devil's brood' growing up in her final volume of her trilogy on this the original power couple! Their 5 sons who include Richard the Lionheart and Prince John (of Robin Hood infamy) grow to manhood struggling to be recognised by their controlling father and to carve out their own destiny as Kings, Dukes and Counts in England and France. This is a long book - over 700 pages but the story rockets along as Henry deals with the aftermath of the murder of Thomas Beckett and the necessity to keep all his vassals in order. Sharon Penman does extensive research and adds notes explaining why she makes the choices she does when the historical record is not clear. Her website is also a source of good information on the period and her processes in writing historical fiction. As well as 'straight' historical fiction, she writes medieval mysteries which you will find in our Mysteries genre. I took a while to read this simply because the book is quite heavy - and I found it too heavy to read in bed but it's a great read so give it a go!
Wendy

Kellerman Mysteries

The Kellerman family have added significant depth to our mystery collection. Jonathan Kellerman writes forensic psychology novels which delve into the murkier areas of human interaction following the cases of Alex Delaware and featuring a regular cast of LA police and Alex's on-again off-again relationship with a troubled sculptress. Faye Kellerman writes police procedurals with a cultural twist as her protagonist, Peter Decker, a seasoned cop marries a Jewish widow and then deals with the religious/cultural issues of that blended family as his stepsons grow up. his daughter from his first marriage, Cindy, also becomes a cop so some of the stories revolve more around her. Each of the Kellerman parents deliver well written genre offerings. Their son, Jesse Kellerman, is now well established as a mystery writer in his own right, having delivered 3 novels - Sunstroke, Trouble and The Brutal Art - which are all different, all excellently written and all show he has his parents' gifts for story telling and character development. His people are more likely to be adrift in a modern world where they are struggling to define their own place as they deal with unfolding mysteries and are well worth a look if you like a good mystery read.

Wendy