Reviews by Jenny (39)

a bit thin...

Maureen Fry

After Harold Fry and Queenie, both of which were wonderfully rich in terms of characterisation, I found Maureen Fry a bit thin and disappointing. It felt like the author was just finishing off her 3 book contract and she does not give Maureen the nuanced depth that I had expected after the other 2.

Satire on the American Dream

A Calling for Charlie Barnes

This very funny and insightful story follows the life of Charlie Barnes who is a prototypical loser with 5 wives, 4 children and over 40 jobs - his nickname is 'Steady Boy'. He has tried to be an ethical financial advisor, and an inventor of a frisbee toupe. - nothing he tries works. and when he believes he is dying of cancer he attempts to mend his relationships, with all kind of unexpected results. A great read.

Returning to Benin

A House for Alice

This is the story of Alice who after living in England for 50 years, wants to return to her homeland of Nigeria to die. Her difficult husband has been killed in a fire giving her the freedom to leave. However her 3 adult children are understandably concerned about having her so far away. Also she needs to build a house on the land she owns in Benin City. (Benin just keeps coming up in the books I am reading). They try to help her while at the same time dealing with all types of complications in their own lives. I loved this, but am sorry I didn't first read its precursor 'Ordinary People' - not to be confused with either 'Normal People' or 'Museum of Ordinary People' - as I think that the prior story of the daughter Melissa would have enriched this one. Also there are references to British politics, events and the realities of growing up black in Britain that were unfamiliar to me. But the story keeps moving and I found it an engaging and really interesting read.

Gentle story of friendship and loss

Tin Man

I remember Sarah Winman from 'When God was a Rabbit' This is another clever, tight and touching story about friendship. It starts with a 50's housewife, Dora, winning a raffle and defying her domineering husband, who wants her to choose the whiskey prize, by choosing an amateur copy of van Gogh's sunflowers instead. Dora encourages her son Ellis' artistic talent, and that of his good friend Michael who has arrived to live with his gran after losing his mum and is a writer. She teaches the boys that 'Men and boys are capable of beautiful things'. Through times of great loss and grief the friendships endure and ultimately help Ellis to find his heart again like the Tin Man in wizard of Oz. This was an engaging and heart-warming read.

An epic saga

Burnt Shadows

This is a wonderful read. Starting in Japan where Hiroku survives the attack on Nagasaki but her German fiance does not, it moves through India, Pakistan, Germany, the USA and Afghanistan. Two families' lives are intertwined through many points of love and loss through the years between 1945 and 2001, and all the complex characters are real and engaging. Kamila Shamsie uncovers political and philosophical insights with nuance and humanity. I loved it. (Sorry I did not get it back to Richard in time for his book club!)

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