Category: Book themes

The Last Devil To Die – Richard Osman

This fourth book about the four septuagenarian members of the Thursday Murder Club has the usual crime mystery elements, notably missing heroin and multiple murders. What distinguishes this novel is the emotional content, not just reflections on aging but on dementia and death. Funny, moving and suspenseful, a delicious read.

Beautyland – Marie-Helene Bertino

Adina is an extra-terrestrial sent to earth to a single mother in Philadelphia; she is “born” in 1977, simultaneously with the launch of the Voyager-1 spacecraft. Her role is to observe and report on human behaviour, using a fax machine (!) to communicate with the extra-terrestrials. Her communications are both wistful and insightful, for someone in exile at home. Adina’s life is endlessly surprising – highly recommended, thanks Amy.

Wobegon Boy – Garrison Keillor

John Tollefson, a Norwegian of course, is raised in Lake Wobegon in Minnesota, according to the following philosophy (page 1): “Chin up, make yourself useful, mind your manners and … don’t feel sorry for yourself. As an adult, he moves east to manage a college radio station in upstate New York. Witty asides abound, especially about the contrasting idiosyncrasies of Lake Wobegon inhabitants and New Yorkers. Stories about Norwegian ancestors and relatives provide both poignancy and comedy – very entertaining.

The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa


This is a strange and spooky book. On an unnamed island, objects like birds mysteriously disappear. The sinister Memory Police then remove all references to birds, like the writings of an ornithologist. And if memory persists, the people are removed to ensure that what has disappeared remains forgotten. Loss and fear become paramount. And the ending is depressing- can memories be preserved?

Thanks Amy, for this recommendation.

Runaway- Alice Munro


The recent death of Ms. Munro prompted me to (re)read this amazing book, consisting of 8 single-word-titled stories. Her literary gift is to write about everyday people ( mostly women) in both common and extraordinary circumstances. There is an unparalleled purity of language – she a national treasure.

Prophet Song – Paul Lynch


Trigger warning: this is a tough read, bad things progress to worse things. Contemporary Ireland is becoming dystopian with national emergency legislation and suspension of constitutional rights. Eilish is an approximate 40 year old mother of 4. Her life is upended when her trade unionist husband is abducted by the state. How can she protect her children and her mildly-demented father from the political chaos that descends into civil war. Does she stay or attempt to flee? The writing is dense with run-on dialog that is consistent with the intensity of emotions (desperation, despair). What will a mother do to hold her family together in the face of societal collapse.

Thanks Mike, for giving me this important book.

The Relatives – Camilla Gibb

A relatively short but insightful book about family and motherhood. There are three separate storylines. Lila is contemplating motherhood. Tess  is the mother of an 8-year-old whose relationship with Emily is ending. And Adam is the enigmatic sperm donor. What are our responsibilities to each other in order to create a family? This is a remarkable book – highly recommended.

The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese

Be advised that this is a long book, more than 700 pages, but the writing is exquisite. The setting is South India from 1900-1977, with a focus on three generations in a single family. The story begins with a 12-year-old bride meeting her much older widowed husband. Being India, some tragedy is inevitable ranging from an inherited propensity for drowning to leprosy. Verghese’s writing is exceptional; some examples are describing Madras evening breezes to rail journeys, plus medical information. Family secrets abound, of course, and historical India provides an indelible backdrop to lives full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss. A must read book – highly recommended.