Only Ever Yours By Louise O’Neill
This novel by Cork native Louise O’Neill has been compared to The Stepford Wives and The Handmaid’s Tale, and for a very welcome change, it more than lives up to the hype and hyperbole. Freida and Isabel have been friends forever, and their friendship has withstood the trials and tribulations of life in the foreboding school to which they are confined. Without giving too much away, the girls are being groomed for the ultimate reality show, in which they will be designated as companions – wives to wealthy and powerful men – or concubines. The book’s deliberate construct of referring to all the female characters in lower-case letters, while men get the customary capital letter at the start of their names, neatly encapsulates where women come in the pecking order. While much has changed in this futuristic world, the obsession with body image and perfection has been taken to scary new heights. Not being a fan of science fiction, I had avoided this novel for quite some time, so it came as a very pleasant surprise to discover how good it actually is.
|
|
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly’s long career as a newspaper reporter is very evident in this latest Harry Bosch instalment, and it makes for a very informative read. With just a couple of years left to go before he has to retire, Bosch has been partnered with a real newbie – part of the LAPD’s new policy of pairing experienced cops with novices in the hopes that the newer recruits will receive invaluable training. Lucia Soto may be new to the force, but she is one of the best known rookies around due to her involvement in a liquor store shoot-out. As Harry takes her through the evidence of their long unsolved cold case, explaining his methodology, it’s a great opportunity for the reader to learn alongside her. But this isn’t colour-by-numbers police work, there’s enough action and intrigue to make it a very readable crime thriller. Connelly has been writing the Bosch series since 1992 and his experience shows. With The Burning Room, he is at the top of his game.
|
|
Some Luck By Jane Smiley
In this ambitious first step in a planned trilogy, Jane Smiley follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Langdon clan – a farm family in remote Iowa – with each chapter dedicated to a year in their lives. The first book takes us from 1920 to 1953, and this family saga set against a backdrop of real world events, is utterly captivating from the off. From the baby’s eye view of young Frank Langdon who finds beauty and thrills in a simple spoon to his extraordinary academic ability that offers him a way out of country life, much to his mother’s delight, the novel unwinds in a flurry of introductions. The reader is on hand to welcome the subsequent births in the family, and to mourn the losses. Smiley’s extraordinary ability to render ordinary, every-day life so beautifully is a testament to her amazing skill with words.
|
|
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
In this latest door-stopper from Sarah Waters, London is keenly feeling the devastating effects of the Great War, and cloths have been duly cut to suit the newest measures. For widowed Mrs. Wray and her unmarried daughter Frances, their new straitened circumstances mean they are forced to take in lodgers in an effort to keep the wolf from the door. The once-genteel house is starting to look more than a little shabby around the edges, and having let their staff go, Frances has become very acquainted with the art of scrubbing floors and polishing silver. Enter married couple Leonard and Lilian Barber, who are from a different social class entirely to the Wrays, and the effect on the household is instantaneous. When Lilian and Frances strike up a friendship, there are repercussions that nobody could have imagined.
|
|
Contact Information
Darina Molloy, Castlebar Central Library, John Moore Rd, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Email: dmolloy@mayococo.ie Phone: +353 (0)94 9047953
and Twitter