Shakespeare: the Man who Pays the Rent

When Brendan O'Hea conducted a series of interviews with Dame Judi Dench, he did not initially plan to turn the research into a book. Fortunately he changed his mind and has produced not only Judi Dench's reminiscences about the many Shakespearean plays in which she has performed but also also her thoughts about plays, acting and the theatre.

It is interesting to read an actor's view on roles she has performed and the different interpretations produced depending on who directed the play and in which theatre it was performed. Many of the plays were ones that I was introduced to at school and university so I enjoyed reading the interpretation of someone who has performed the plays for a living. The sections of the book that I also found interesting and entertaining were entitled Play, Company, Fireside Ramblings, Rose Theatre, Failure, Rehearsal, Critics, Shakespeare's Language, Audience, Changing Times and Future of Shakespeare. These provided an introduction to being an actor performing in the theatre.

As the title suggests there is much humour in the recollections as Dame Judy looks back on her many roles as a Shakespearean actor. Illustrations throughout the book are sketches made by Judi Dench.

Black Sheep

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the Australian economy was dependent on the sheep industry and large pastoralists held a position of economic and social power in the country. Black Sheep by Judy Nunn is primarily set from the 1880s to 1920. 

James Wakefield is the son of a shearer and spent his early life travelling with his father around properties in Queensland. Then came the Shearers' Strike at Barcaldine in May 1891 where shearers marched through the streets of the town demanding better pay and conditions. After his father was killed, James changed his name and set off for a new life in a new state. After meeting Ben McKinnon whose family own a property near Goulburn, James has the opportunity to start his life again.

James' father had taught his son to read by reading him a book of nursery rhymes and explaining their true meaning. James' favourite rhyme was 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' and he and his father often discussed the different interpretations of a black sheep. Throughout the book the reader meets a number of characters to whom this term may apply.

Overtime James becomes an entrenched member of the McKinnon family and starts his own family. Then comes the First World War and its impact on the family, not just young men going off to serve their country but the business opportunities for pastoralists to supply the army with wool and leather for uniforms and military equipment.

Black Sheep is a family saga with episodes of Australian history as part of the back story. The novel often contains descriptions of of violence and there are also sections discussing sexual activity and attitudes. It is a story of the establishment of power within an industry as well as within a family.

Lola in the Mirror

A teenage girl and her mother spend their lives moving from one part of Australia to another to escape the past. At each location they change their names. The girl often asks her mother who she really is but her mother says that she will reveal the girl's identity when she turns eighteen. However the mother drowns in the river trying to save another mother's baby and the girl is left to discover her true identity on her own.

The young girl is an artist and regularly sketches images of the challenges she faces as she seeks to discover her true identity. She does have friends among many of the houseless (not homeless) who live in Brisbane and also frequents a welfare agency where some support is available. However there is constant danger, especially from Flo and her cohorts who sell drugs and exert violence on those in debt to her. The young girl seeks solace and advice from the image that sometimes appears in a broken mirror as she attempts to sort out her life.

In Lola in the Mirror Trent Dalton has created a story that is often dark and violent but is also a story of love and compassion and the fight for survival and contains moments of humour. Life is not easy for the young artist, however she is determined to fight the obstacles placed in front of her and discover her own path in life.

At the beginning of each chapter Paul Heppell has created one of the girl's sketches complimenting the theme of the chapter. A premise running through the book is that one day the girl's artwork will appear in the art gallery in New York when she becomes a famous artist.

Trent Dalton has written a compelling study of life in parts of Australia not seen or understood by most people. However throughout the novel there is a belief that eventually the girl should be able to determine her own future. This confronting story with a thread of hope is definitely one of the best books that I have read this year.

From a Far and Lovely Country

It has been a while since I read any of the books in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series so, for old times sake, I decided to read the latest book in the series, From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith. Once again I was transported to the world inhabited by Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi and their family and friends in Botswana.

My mother enjoyed reading the stories in this series and would lend the copies that I gave her to friends to also enjoy.

In this book they investigate the Cool Singles Evening Club which is suspected of deceiving single women by pairing them with married men. They also attempt to reunite a lady from America with family members in Botswana. Another moral dilemma is how to react when presented with a birthday present which is the wrong size. 

Precious Ramotswe always manages to find a positive solution to the problems encountered even when the solution may take a different path from the expected outcome. As the character looking for family members explains at the end of the book - 'I came looking for people ... and I found a country'.

This book is number 24 in the series.

Dirty Thirty

As the title suggests, Dirty Thirty is number 30 in the Stephanie Plum series by American author, Janet Evanovich. Readers of this serious of entertaining, humorous crime novels know what to expect and will not be disappointed. 

When a local jeweller asks Stephanie to investigate a robbery at his store she does not envisage the dangers that she and Lula will encounter as they search for the person accused of the robbery. As Morelli is in Miami on police business Stephanie is entrusted with looking after his dog, Bob. As Bob is inclined to destroy furniture and other items when left alone for too long he joins the team for much of the investigation.

Some of the FTAs that Stephanie and Lula pursue are routine, however some prove to be more of a challenge. With Morelli away Stephanie has to rely on Ranger for assistance, especially when her car becomes undrivable and her apartment is firebombed - routine events in the life of Stephanie Plum. When it is obvious that Stephanie has become a target it becomes necessary to bend the rules to solve the crime.

Everyone on this train is a suspect

Everyone on this train is a suspect by Benjamin Stevenson is a sequel to Everyone in my family killed someone. When Ernest Cunningham boards the Ghan in Darwin to take part in the Australian Mystery Writers' Festival he does not envisage that once again he will encounter a number of murders during the trip to Adelaide. He was searching for inspiration for his next book but the train trip produced more than he bargained for.

Once again the reader is challenged to solve the crimes as Ernest explains his theories about what has occurred and refers to how other crime novelists solve and reveal crimes. This book is another entertaining and often humorous Australian crime novel.

Resurrection Walk

After a successful case resulting in the release of a wrongly accused prisoner, defence attorney Mickey Haller decides to enlist his half brother, former detective Harry Bosch to assist him in reviewing cases of other prisoners requesting help after falsely being imprisoned for a crime. Both Mickey and Harry agree that the case of Lucinda Sanz requires investigation. Cindi was arrested for the murder of her former husband. She had accepted a nolo condendere plea at the insistence of her lawyer, however she always maintained her innocence. The task was now to prove it.

The novel recounts the work and thoughts of Mickey in the first person and Harry in the third person as they build their case. They then have to convince the judge that Cindi was not involved in the crime. Investigations indicated that Cindi's former husband was involved in a police crime clique and that false evidence had been used to ensure that Cindi appeared guilty. Much of Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly involves the trial and the the hunt for additional proof that Cindi is innocent. When a gaoled prisoner is proven not guilty the release of the prisoner is referred to as the resurrection walk.

An excellent crime novel.