One Italian Summer

 

An account of a family's summer in Italy when Pip and Shannon decided to take their two sons across the world to experience life in a different country. The parents are taking part as WWOOFers - Willing Workers on Organic Farms - hoping that the experience gained will assist them with projects back home.

The family stays at four different organic farms experiencing a range of jobs including helping with bees, picking fruit, weeding vegetable gardens, tending vines as well as squeezing peaches for juice, baking bread and making pasta. In return for helping on the farms they are provided with free full board. The type of accommodation varies but learning to adapt to different environments is part of the experience. Meeting and working with people with different ideas and practices is also part of the holiday. 

Between each work experience the family become tourists visiting Rome, Venice, the Amafli Coast and Lucca. While in Italy the boys have some school work to do but much of their time is trying new experiences, learning to communicate in another language and enjoying lots of gelato and pizza, pasta and bread.

Before leaving the Adelaide Hills for Italy, Pip and Shannon hoped that the experience that they would gain overseas would help them sustainably farm their five acres of land when they returned. Shannon held on to that dream and continues farming but Pip realised that she needs other work as well. She returned to work part time but at her husband's suggestion wrote this book, One Italian Summer, recording their experiences. Since then Pip Williams has written the award winning novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words, one of the best books that I read last year. Hopefully there will be many more books to come.

A Dark Matter

When Jim Skelf died Dorothy, Jenny, and Hannah were left to run the family funeral parlour and private investigation agency. This could only be described as a sharp learning curve for the three women as they also struggled with the loss of Jim - a husband, father and grandfather.

Dorothy was forced to wonder how well she knew her husband when she discovered that he had been making regular payments into the bank account of a woman she did not know. Discovering the truth about this matter is a major, but not the only, plotline in the novel. When Hannah's friend, Mel, disappears Hannah focusses on finding out what happened to her, Jenny is asked to investigate a case of possible adultery while Dorothy and Hannah attempt to discover why objects are disappearing from the home of an elderly gentleman. There are also funerals to attend to.

Descriptions of Edinburgh feature in the novel while the three women undertake their investigations and also come to terms with their grief. This is possibly the first in a series of books about the Skelfs.

A little crime during a pandemic

Working as a librarian in a public library for many years I was well aware that fiction in the genre of crime / thrillers was extremely popular. Readers of this blog will note that  many of the reviews are of crime fiction.

With Melbourne currently experiencing its fourth lockdown due to COVID-19 there has been plenty of time to read and and a number of articles have been written on the dominance of crime fiction borrowed from libraries and purchased from shops. Better Reading has just released the list of the 10 most popular crime novels as nominated by readers on the 2021 top 100 books list.

The Dry by Jane Harper

Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie

The Bluffs by Kyle Perry

Last Survivor by Tony Park

Scrublands by Chris Hammer

The Wife and the Widow by Christian White

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michal Robotham

The Nowhere Child by Christian White

The Survivors by Jane Harper

When this list was published I had read five of these titles. The other titles were added to my books to read list.

This article discusses the types of books borrowed from Australian and New Zealand libraries during 2020.

I particularly like crime fiction set in Australia. Plenty of recent titles in the following lists:

They come from a land downunder - 13 Australian crime writers to try

Best Australian Crime Fiction recommended by Emma Viskic

A Great Year for Crime - Better Reading

Aussie Crime 2020 - 10 Recent Australian Crime Fiction to Read this Australia Day

Aussie Crime 2021 - 10 Recent Australian Crime Fiction to Read this Australia Day

New Class of Australian Crime Writers - Your Guide to the Best of Outback Noir

The Law of Innocence

After the conclusion of a successful court case defence lawyer, Michael Haller, is stopped by the police on his way home and a search reveals a body in the boot of the car. 

Thus begins the nightmare with Mickey Haller imprisoned for murder. Haller knows that he has been framed and he and a hand picked legal team set out to clear his name. This is made more difficult while he is in prison, especially as people in the legal system conspire against him. As his team investigates it becomes obvious that this is not a straight forward case, especially when it becomes apparent that the FBI is also involved.

In The Law of Innocence Michael Connelly has written a fast paced legal thriller set in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in America. This book is number 6 in the Lincoln Lawyer series.

Metropolis

Philip Kerr wrote 14 books in the Bernie Gunther series set in Berlin in the late 1920s until after the Second World War. The books were not written chronologically so this title is earliest in the series although it was the final book written.

 The description of life in Berlin is an important part of Philip Kerr's novels and the reader quickly becomes aware of political tensions and unrest  in the city, particularly in regard to Jews and Communists, with the rise of the Nazi movement. These tensions also extend between members of the policeforce.

When Detective Bernie Gunther transferred to the Murder Commission a major case being investigated was the deaths of several  prostitutes who had been shot then scalped. This case was then put on hold as the bodies of a number of disabled servicemen were also discovered. As Bernie investigates he is not only attempting to identify the killer and reasons for the crimes but also has to contend with a gangster whose daughter was one of the murdered women. Discovering the identity of the killer does not solve all of Bernie's problems as he realises the mayhem that will result if the name of the killer is made public.

The Others

Sometimes people do the most terrible things. Sometimes you just have to. This statement by the father at the end of part two of The Others by Mark Brandi dramatically changes the tone of this novel - a study of psychological power of a father over his son.

Jacob, an eleven year old boy, lives with his father on a small, isolated farm in Tasmania during a drought. Only at the end of the book do we learn the boy's name and location of the farm and this anonymity aids the thread of fear portrayed in the book. 

Although the son regularly has lessons from this father and has learned the basics of reading, writing and maths, his main source of information is from a dictionary and encyclopaedia. The father also teaches his son survival skills. Jacob has also had to learn to read his father's face to judge his father's moods. Sometimes after lessons Jacob is allowed to ask his father one question but depending on his father's mood it is sometimes best to remain quiet.

The story is told in the first person as Jacob records his life living with his father, cut off from other people. According to his father there has been a disastrous plague in the community. People referred to as the Others who live on the other side of the hill must be avoided. Jacob's mother has died. Her grave is on the property and occasionally he visits the grave. He does not know how his mother died. In fact Jacob knows little about his earlier life, only what his father has told him and that is not much.

Generally Jacob obeys his father's rules including remaining in his room when his father is not at home. The catalyst for change occurs when a lady from the past appears at the house and leaves a message.  Jacob hears male voices talking at night occasionally but this is the first time he has seen someone. His father refuses to tell him what is going on. After Christine's visit the son questions his situation, begins to explore beyond the farm boundaries on his own and makes a decision which will change his life.

Throughout the book there is an underlying and increasing current of fear and suspense. Initially Jacob's fear is of the Outsiders and what might happen if he disobeys his father. Eventually he begins to understand that most of what he has been told is a lie. The distrust of his father increases as he realises what his father has done and what he might he do.

Thanks to Better Reading and Hachette Australia for a preview copy of this book. #BRPreview 

Publication of this book is due at the end of June

The Rose Code

On a holiday in England in 2015 we visited Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. During the Second World War thousands of people working at Bletchley Park were sworn to secrecy about the work carried out at that establishment. This code of secrecy continued well after the war. Bletchley Park is where staff worked to break enemy codes. It is a fascinating place to visit.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is the story of three women, Osla, Mab and Beth, from very different backgrounds who are sent to Bletchley Park. The three women work in different sections using their skills to contribute to the war effort. Beth is a code breaker working initially on Italian then German codes. However when she comes across Russian files that her former mentor was working on, she decides to continue his work uncovering a traitor passing on information to the Russians.

Generally I really enjoyed reading this book, especially the sections on Bletchley Park, however I felt that it was too long and some sections could have been omitted or reduced. No doubt some other readers would enjoy the sections about the realtionships of the women more than the historical content. It is a book worth reading and provides an insight into what it was like living in England during and immediately after the Second World War.

Much of the book is factual and at the end of the novel the author explains which sections of the book and characters are based on actual events and people and where she has used her imagination to tell the story. There is also a guide for book clubs.

The Midnight Library

For Nora there appeared to be no reason for living until she found herself in a space between life and death. In the Midnight Library she once again met her former school librarian, Mrs Elm, who introduced Nora to a heavy volume listing the many regrets that Nora had about life. The rest of the library was full of books that allowed Nora to slide back to the incident causing the regret and discover the outcome good or bad that could have occurred. What may her life been if she had made other choices? The more life events that Nora encounters, the lighter the book of regrets becomes.

As Nora investigates how her life may have been she gradually realises that much of her life had been lived endevouring to please family and friends and often the regrets that she accrued were not necessarily due to her own faults. As Nora learns more about herself she realises that she really wants and needs to live.

In The Midnight Library Matt Haig ues the cocept of the possibility of many lives lived governed by choices made and allows characters to slide (time travel) between those lives. However this only works when the clock in the Midnight Library remains at 12 pm. Once time moves on the Midnight Library will be destroyed. The Midnight Library is about the many choices we make in life and adjusting to the relationships and consequences that can arise from those choices.

The Paris Library

My granddaughter has been known to comment - Once a librarian always a librarian. This probably explains why I am drawn to reading about libraries and about books. I also enjoy novels based on historical events so The Paris Library by American author Janet Skeslien Charles was almost guaranteed to be a book that I would enjoy.

There are two story threads and time periods woven throughout the novel - the story of twenty year old Odile Souchet, her family, colleagues and friends in occupied Paris plus the relationship between a much older Odile in 1983 now living in Froid, a small town in Montana. Lily, a teenage girl living next door to Odile in Froid, escapes from family pressures when she is befriended by Odile who teaches her French and helps Lily deal with life's challenges. Gradually we learn of the events that led to Odile settling in America and, with Lily, discover secrets long hidden.

The America Library in Paris was established in 1920 so it celebrated its centenary last year. The novel is largely based on actual events. Miss Reeder was director of the library when the Germans occupied part of Paris and when she returned to the USA the Countess de Chambrun took charge. One of the librarians, Boris Netchaeff, was shot by the Gestapo and many of the incidents described were based on actual events. This novel therefore portrays a slice of history during the Second World War.

This novel is also a story about friendship, trust, jealousy, misunderstandings, courage and love. It is the story of facing challenges that a person should not have to face but finding ways to survive in dangerous situations. Throughout the War the library remained open continuing to provide books for library members as well as for soldiers serving their country. I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the power and importance of books and reading in people's lives and the people who worked so hard to maintain the library service through difficult, and often tragic, times.

Clanlands: whisky, warfare and a Scottish adventure like no other

In the television series Outlander (which I have not watched) Sam Heughan plays Jamie Fraser and Graham McTavish plays Dougal MacKenzie. In this book they join forces to explore some of the locations and history that featured in the early episodes of the television show. The two are obviously good friends and spend much of the time joking and creating difficult situations for each other during their adventure. As the subtitle suggests there is a lot of whisky drinking and, as the emphasis of the early series is on the clans in the Highlands, there is an emphasis on clan rivalries and warfare. 

The authors alternate writing sections of the book and often provide different interpretations of an event. They also use the opportunity to reflect on past and recent acting projects, including the Outlander series, and discuss people they have met. This style of writing can result in repetition and can become tedious though I enjoyed the descriptions of Glencoe and Culloden and their significance in Scottish history. In August 2014 we visited a number of places mentioned in the book.

Diana Gabaldon has written eight books in the Outlander series. I read the first three but then decided that I had read enough. The books are a mixture of historical fiction, time travel and romance.

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions is a collection of short stories involving Phryne Fisher by Kerry Greenwood. Thirteen of the stories were originally published in a Phryne Fisher anthology, A Question of Death. Another four short stories have been added for this volume.

The content of the stories vary from Phryne solving a puzzle, often for a friend or acquaintance, or assisting the police solve a crime. The stories are full of fun and for those who have not read any Phryne Fisher novels provide a good introduction to the books. Three of the short stories that I particularly enjoyed are Hotele Splendide, The Vanishing of Jock McHale's Hat and The Bells of St Pauls.

Most of the stories are set in Melbourne and readers from Australia will recognise many of the locations where stories are set. At the beginning of the volume is a short article by Kerry Greenwood on how she came to write the Phryne Fisher novels. All in all this is a fun volume of light crime stories.

The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy

The RootsTech 2021 conference held online earlier this year had a section of presentations on the use of DNA for family history research. A book that was frequently mentioned was The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T Bettinger.

This is a guide for those who are considering the benefits of using DNA to assist their research as well as those who have already done tests but need to know how results can be effectively used. The main sections of the book look at things you should be aware of including misconceptions and ethics when using DNA for genealogy research. Section two looks at the different types of tests available and how they might assist research while the third section examines how to analyse and apply test results. The main companies providing DNA testing referred to in the book are 23andMe, AncestryDNA and Family Tree DNA. The author reminds the reader that genetic genealogy is constantly evolving and to expect changes in how the data can be used to aid research. There is a list of material for further reading, a collection of research forms and an index. This book was published in 2016.

Blood Salt Water

Denise Mina is a Scottish crime writer who has written several series of books including the Alex Morrow series. Blood Salt Water is the fifth book in this series featuring Alex Morrow who works with Police Scotland stationed in Glagow. The novel is set just before the 2014 referendum on whether Scotland should leave the UK and this topic is a theme.

Much of the action is set in the small town of Helensburg where most of the population is under the control of Mark Barratt, a criminal who has never been convicted of a crime. The members of the town are reluctant to reveal any information about what is actually happening in the community for fear of reprisals.

A series of crimes and investigations are intertwined in this novel. Iain Fraser is forced to participate in the death of a woman to pay a debt and protect a friend. As usual when a crime is committed Mark Barratt is out of town but his heavies, particularly Tommy Farmer, ensure that his orders are carried out. Much of the novel concerns the effects of the murder on Iain as he worries about what he has done. Then Susan Grierson returns to Helensburgh to arrange the sale of the family home after the death of her mother. She reconnects with Iain and his cousin Boyd who have long connections with the town but is she who she says she is? Meanwhile DI Alex Morrow investigaties the disappearance of Roxanna Fuentecilla, the mother of two children. It soon becomes obvious that there is a mystery about Roxanna's business enterprises.

Part of the power of this novel is that the reader gets to know the character and thoughts of those involved in the crimes committed as well as how the police attempt to discover what is really happening. There are several mentions of divisions within Police Scotland adding to the challenges for police officers trying to solve crimes and protect the community. The different stories become intertwined with the suspense growing as the novel comes to a conclusion.

Other books in the Alex Morrow series include Still Midnight, The End of the Wasp Season, Gods and Beasts, and The Red Road.