An engaging story set in Australia and NY, about difficulties in relationships by someone who probably has Aspergers syndrome. The interesting feature is the degree to which one’s odd personality can be compensated for (sorry for the awkward sentence).
Note from Amy: Sequel is the Rosie Effect.
A crackerjack novel about love, lies, deceit and murder and a trial with surprises throughout. Lots of psychology, firmly from a woman’s point of view.
Story of a severely deteriorating relationship; alternating chapters told from Her and Him perspectives. Not as good as Gone Girls but an excellent read.
A beautifully written complicated love story: a child searching for love after being abandoned by her mother, and falling in love with a neighbour boy who can’t reciprocate what is for her an obsessive love.
Another sad story about the consequences of lies and guilt, set in Western Australia in the 1920s.
A sad story of an estranged family reunited by the death of the husband/father; story in both Africa and America. Issues of (no) communication and secrets.
Introspective book about relationships (my favourite topic); a single woman teacher and a Lebanese-Parisian family of three. The “woman upstairs” is a female construct – quiet, polite and causes no trouble; because of putting oneself down, becomes invisible and discounted. There is a terrific section describing the difference between longing and desire.
Another dysfunctional family book with abusive father, an alcoholic mother who dropped/threw a child into Niagara Falls (postpartum depression?) and three sisters who are the focus (how children cope). There is a chapter entitled Disneyland which is superb black humour; the next chapter is heartbreaking. Gowdy also wrote Fearless about a 9 year old girl who is abducted; the abductor is delusional and obsessed but amazingly becomes somewhat sympathetic because he tries to suppress his pedophilic tendencies. Both these books are tough reads but excellent.
What David Read 