Nella Larsen’s novel Passing, published in 1929, is a short but powerful and provocative tale about race and racism. The two main characters, Irene and Clare, are childhood friends whose lives diverged in their teen years but intersect again as adults. Both women are fair skinned enough to pass as white. Clare has chosen to hide her past and her race from her wealthy white husband. Irene has married a successful black doctor and has a seemingly good life in Harlem. When their paths meet […]
Another Stephanie Plum book……
What can we say about book 24 in this series that would not have been said about the previous 23 books?? Not much, except that a new love interest has popped up! With a bit of research, apparently Diesel is in the special edition Stephanie Plum books – the Christmas ones. Personally I did not enjoy these off shoots and only read a couple of them. So the new love interest definitely adds something new to this particular book in the series. Despite this book […]
An Aussie comedy
When I first began reading this book, I was quite worried about the content. A number of characters were introduced that fulfilled the stereotypes of racist, sexist and even “up to no good old whingers”. So for the first few chapters I was quite iffy about continuing to read the novel, wondering if these characters were appropriate in this day an age where there is a huge focus on these issues – especially in Australia. However after a while I realised the intent of the […]
This book reads like a waltz.
The best way to describe this book is by liking it to a waltz. It moves along at a slow and steady pace, being careful not to get to excited, or include many turns or twists, is quite beautiful but not as exciting or fulfilling as a more interesting dance would be. The concept of this story is around a lady who marries for convenience – ie she is of marrying age and wealth is dwindling so she needs to be married ASAP. (This book […]
Jo Nesbo does it again!!
Jo Nesbo is fast becoming one of my favourite authors of all time. I absolutely love his ability to create a suspense mystery that always includes nice and neat twists. Nothing ridiculously out there (which often spoils a good thriller) but always surprising. The Thirst was definitely filled with little twists and turns, with a fairly gruesome murderer on the loose. Again, Harry Hole is the main detective on the case (called back from retirement to help out). And with each new Harry Hole novel, […]
The rough poetry of life…
As much as I wish I could enjoy Russian classics, I tend to get bogged down in the political and philosophical discussions that go on and on and on and on. Most of the characters come across as self-important and obstinate and everyone just sits around arguing and insulting one another. I know this is an oversimplification but I just don’t get the appeal. “The Summer Guest”, a contemporary novel and only Russian adjacent, only reinforced that for me. Three stories are interwoven here: A husband […]
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