Shannon, Samantha (2103) The Bone Season. Bloomsbury. In the first volume of a projected seven-book series we are introduced to 19 year old Paige Mahoney. Paige is a dream walker and one of the Seven Seals, the stars of a criminal syndicate fighting the Scion regime, in the forbidden realm of psychic powers. When her luck runs… Continue reading October Picks
September Picks
Koppel, Lily (2013) The Astronaut Wives Club. Headline. In April 1959 NASA's first spacemen, the Mercury Seven astronauts were announced; followed by the Nine, and the Fourteen from the Gemini and Apollo programmes. Koppel offers a revealing glimpse into the lives the women behind the astronauts, with a personal portrait of each woman on how… Continue reading September Picks
August Picks
Disclafani, Anton (2013) The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls. Riverhead Books. In the midst of the Great Depression, Thea Atwell, age fifteen, is exiled to a boarding school, high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is far removed from her free and easy childhood, and as she comes to grips… Continue reading August Picks
July Picks
Knox, Elizabeth (2013) Mortal Fire. Gecko Press. Canny Mochrie is 16 years old, and a little different. She has a strong mathematical mind, and has always been able to see something Extra. She begrudgingly joins her stepbrother on a mine disaster research trip, and wanders into an enchanted valley, full of children and magic.… Continue reading July Picks
May/June Picks
Moggach, Deborah (2013) Heartbreak Hotel. Chatto & Windus. Reminiscent of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Deborah Moggach again takes on the challenge of running a dilapidated hotel, this time in rural Wales. Irrepressible retired actor Russell 'Buffy' Buffery, ups sticks to take-on a decrepit B&B that needs a boost in patronage. Under his tutelage his… Continue reading May/June Picks
April Picks
De Courcy, Anne (2012) The Fishing Fleet: husband-hunting in the Raj. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. From the late nineteenth century when the Raj was at its height, many young women suffering from the lack of eligible young men back home, followed in the wake of Britain's 'best' to India. These young women were known as the… Continue reading April Picks
March Picks
Jonasson, Jonas (2012) The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared. Hesperus. Allan escapes via the bedroom window of his rest home because he can't face the planned 100th birthday. Adventures begin with murders, stolen cash, unlikely companions acquired along the way (including an elephant!) plus revelations about Allan's life… Continue reading March Picks
Jan’s Holiday Reads – January 2013
Livesey, Margot (2012) The flight of Gemma Hardy. Harper. A retelling of Jane Eyre set in Scotland and Iceland in the 1950s. When her widower father drowns at sea, ten-year-old Gemma Hardy goes to to live with her uncle's family. But the death of her doting guardian soon after leaves Gemma under the resentful eye… Continue reading Jan’s Holiday Reads – January 2013
7.30 Bookclub Books of the Year 2012
BOOK OF THE YEAR Isaacson, Walter (2011) Steve Jobs. Little Brown. (reviewed February 2012). An extraordinary and inspiring read; this masterly biography is filled with learnings about innovation, imagination, character, values and leadership. Highly recommended. SHORT-LIST De Goldi, Kate (2012) The ACB with Honora Lee. Longacre (reviewed November 2012). De Goldi creates wonderful links between young and old in this warm… Continue reading 7.30 Bookclub Books of the Year 2012
November Picks
Jan's been reading: De Goldi, Kate (2012) The ACB with Honora Lee. Longacre. Nine-year old Perry's parents are busy people, and they seek to keep their only child Perry busy too. But Perry has a plan; she is making an alphabet book for everyone at Santa Lucia. At Santa Lucia lives her grandmother Honora Lee… Continue reading November Picks
7:30 Bookclub 