The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Definitely the kind worth reading.....

                                         

All agreed that this fast paced thriller kept the reader hooked from start to finish. Although clearly inspired by Patricia Highsmiths' 'Strangers on a Train' Swanson avoided producing a carbon copy of that classic work by adding a dramatic and shocking twist. The characters are interesting and engaging although all slightly mad, making it quite hard to decide who to root for ( Americanisms allowed as this is an American book). An enjoyable read during which the action crosses continents and reflects varied lifestyles within modern day America. Although the story is quite violent it has a light hearted tone which transcends the most gruesome parts of the story. Many and varied murderous acts, motivated by greed and deceit, are sugar coated, softening the true horror of the plot. This psychological thriller is a well crafted cat and mouse tale that isn't afraid to take risks. There are so many twists and turns that its almost impossible to predict who will emerge triumphant in the battle for revenge. The style of swapping narrators and recapping main plot points at regular intervals means that even the dopiest of readers can keep up. It is a little far fetched and relies heavily on coincidence but over all most loose ends are satisfactorily tied up.
This is Peter Swansons' second novel and is certainly a good advert for the author, we will look out for his debut novel 'The Girl With A Clock For A Heart'.

The Hussies returned to Vercellis Restaurant in Hexham for this months meeting, still noisy but again good value tasty Italian food. The service was no better or worse than you would expect in an Italian Restaurant, although it always seems a little odd when they blow out the candle and start setting the table for the next night, were they trying to tell us something?

This month we will be reading 'The Lie' by C.L.Taylor....

  

  

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

  

....  Some of the Group Could Have Let This One Go!

                                

....   This book was high on the list of the Top Ten Summer Reads of 2015.  Tense, Fast-Paced, Compelling with an Astonishing Twist echoed the marketing blurb!  

....   The plot grabs you from the very beginning with a hit and run accident and very few clues.  Little by little a dual story emerges through the abused central character and the investigating police.

....   The writing style aggravated the group. The first third was not engaging.  The descriptive style was annoying and weak, and, the reader almost felt manipulated by the way the story led you to believe the unbelievable.  The second part was much improved with a faster pace resulting in the group classifying this as a page turner. The writing style was also much improved which enhanced the reading experience.  However, the final part became more incredulous and although the scary climax left you guessing it still left us feeling very flat.  Although we all agreed it was a page turner, the reasons why were split.  One group member thoroughly enjoyed the book despite the flaws noted whilst the other two felt it was lacking in writing style and characterisation.  It was also very noticeable that the writer was a former police investigator as the writing was more comprehensive following the police investigation, and the politics within the police was very apparent.  

....   I Let You Go does fit into the genre of The Husband's Secret, Gone Girl and The Girl of the Train, all of which the group enjoyed as holiday reads.  They were enjoyable, but, don't scrutinise too deeply as depth was lacking.

....   The Restaurant choice for our discussion was Winships, an historical building in the small village of Ovington.  As it was a mid-week autumnal night, it was very quiet, so, through no fault of their own, ambience was lacking.  For a small restaurant the menu seemed too extensive and that added to a specials board just resulted in a feeling that quantity of choice overwhelmed quality of food.  The portions were on the small side for the price and the menu descriptions inflated our expectations which were quickly deflated on arrival of the food, Although, we should  mention that the coffee was exceptional.  It was our first visit, so, maybe we should give it another try as reviews on the whole were good and we may well have been unlucky on the night.  The meal averaged out at £25 per head for two courses and coffee, no wine!

           

              Don't choose the drafty corner table!

            

               Good Flavoured Coffee!

....   Continuing with 'The Best Ever Book' genre, join us to discuss our October choice  ....

                 THE KIND WORTH KILLING by PETER SWANSON

              

....    We will meet to discuss this 'Thriller of the Year' on Tuesday, 3rd November.  Hope you can join us!

13/13/2015 

   

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nikolas Butler

Don't judge a book by its cover 

This book came highly recommended by our local independent book store – well written and heart warming.  The cover claims it’s gripping, powerful, big hearted and beautifully written .  Surely a winning choice for our Hussies?

We met to discuss this at The Queens Head in Great Whittington, a small village near Hadrian's Wall.   This venue is a Chinese Restaurant housed in a quintessential, stone built, village pub.  The staff were friendly and eager  to please with their extensive menu but the quality of the food was inconsistent.  The duck in cointreau sauce was excellent but other dishes were rather bland - bring out the soy sauce.   Over Chinese tea - apparently the milkman was ill so there was no milk for coffee - the Hussies took out their reading guns to shoot down their latest read.

Undoubtedly well written, with a promising start,  the Hussies were generally disappointed with the pace, plot and character development in this story.   The book describes the maturing relationships and lives of four young men bound by their common experience of growing up in a small mid-west American town.

As readers,  we were embroiled in the relatively unremarkable lives and loves of Kip, Henry, Lee and Ronnie.  Lee, a wealthy musician, and Ronnie, an alcoholic, are the most memorable characters.  Without spoiling the story, it's fair to say that one of the most exciting story lines involved a jar of pickled onions - don't hold your breath.

The author paints a strong picture of life in a small rural town, evoking a life characterised by comfortable familiarity, with time to appreciate sunrise and sunrise.  A life where everyone knows about the milkman being ill.

Sunrise over Hadrian's Wall

However, Butler also shows that some towns can be too small for comfort.  In a city, to quote one of Butler's characters, 

"nobody looks twice at me.  And nobody tells me what to do, and what not to do". 

Cityscape - Newcastle on Tyne  - the nearest city to Hadrian's Wall

In Butler's small town drama,  small is powerfully depicted as suffocating and liberating.   Lee struggles with international success in the search for home, whilst Ronnie, struggling with his own demons, dreams of escape.

Ultimately, the Hussies felt that although Shotgun Lovesongs had some highlights, it -  like their meal - missed some of the vital ingredients which could transform it into an unforgettable banquet.

We are now reading I let you go by Claire Mackintosh.

A man called OVE. by Fredrik Backman

Not quite a happy holiday read.

An excellent story with well drawn characters, this book is not for the emotionally vulnerable, the Hussies were moved to laughter and tears in equal measure. The author portrays life in a small residential area of Sweden, focusing on the trials and tribulations of the loveable protagonist, Ove. 

It is a well written book that slowly reveals Ove's rather tragic life story by weaving events of the past into the present. Ove makes some rather unlikely friendships through out the book raising the question, does the author share the BBC's obsession with representing every sector of society in one show (Balamory). A bitter sweet story with some comic moments, one Hussie found it particularly ridiculous that a cat would go for a walk and  go to a coffee shop with its owner. In order to really enjoy the book its important to remember that it is a work of fiction, its' real appeal is that it can excite a wide range of emotions within the reader. It offers some insight into life in modern day Sweden. Generally a popular book that is easy to read and keeps the reader engaged.

The Rat at Anick provided the back drop for our discussion of the book. A traditional country pub where all the food was of a very high standard, succulent lamb chops with fresh tasty seasonal vegetables really were superb. With a cheese board to share at the end of the meal the Hussies were very impressed, although as ever attention to detail being paramount, it was pointed out that the cheese had not been out of the fridge long enough. Overall a superior meal that definitely warrants a return trip.

This month we will be reading 'Shot Gun Love Songs' by Nickolas Butler.

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz

Blogs,The Long Walk,Books,Hexham,war,Vercelli's,endurance

  

'DOOMED FROM THE START BUT A TRIUMPHANT END WITH A FEW INCREDULOUS DEVIATIONS'

                                       

 ....   Controversy ensued at the last meeting regarding reading books some people have already read or re-reading books already blogged!  The debate continues.  This resulted in a last minute decision to read The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz.  

....   The Long Walk was a long struggle for some but, finally, all of the hussies completed the book.  

This is a, supposedly, true story about a Polish Officer named Slavomir Rawicz, who, like many others living on the Polish Border, was wrongly arrested, convicted and sent to the Gulags for a life sentence along with many an 'out of line'  Prison Officer,  all imprisioned in the hostile world of Syberia.  Stay and die or escape and die were the only two options available.  This book takes the reader on Slavomir's incredible journey, along with 6 other escaped prisoners, trekking for 9 months through the most treacherous conditions known to man from Syberia to Tibet, and, ultimately ....  Freedom!  I say, 'supposedly', because after being drawn into a relatively enjoyable, easy page-turner of a book, following their incredible journey, questions began to arise.  After a quick Google!  The bubble of enjoyment had burst and doubt ensued.  However,  as one hussies remarked, 'even if he didn't actually do the walk, someone did'.

....   The hussies thoughts regarding the book were rather mixed.  They all did agree it was a good page turner covering an epic journey.  However, one hussie felt that the arrest, trial and torture at the beginning of the book was unnecessary and did not enhance the story or do the book any justice.  It did put her off continuing, but with perseverance it proved worthwhile.  Also, certain parts made for an incredulous story, namely, the sighting of a, not so plausible, 'abominable snowman'.  That apart, it was still a good read showing tenacity and endurance, with an interesting geography lesson thrown in for good measure.  Another hussie felt it was a little contrived.  Always finding food or water at the 11th hour, surviving the Gobi Desert in their condition and never intentionally harming anyone or stealing from anyone on their journey.  The writing may have lacked a little substance which could have been due to translation and also the fact that it was an account rather than expressive or creative novel.  That said, we did feel an empathy for the individual characters even though pronouncing the Russian names proved bothersome.  Another hussie,  likewise, felt some of the extreme conditions were insurmountable, ie.  Surviving the winter night standing huddled together in the Himalayers.  Questioning what the other two died of in the desert and maybe giving a bit more insight into the politics and societies of the countries they were passing through.  Also, the book did finish rather abruptly leaving you wondering what happened to the men and why only one ended up telling the story.

....   Once the authenticity was questioned, it did raise a lot of unanswered questions which made for an interesting discussion.  Maybe because our generation has never experienced war or such hardship in travelling on foot in such adverse conditions, we could never contemplate such a story to be true!  As pointed out, there would have been many debriefings and, maybe, some more exaggerated than others, but, one thing is for sure .... Someone walked it and it was a good read!!

Image from http://www.vercelli.co.uk/css/images/location.png.

....   Vercelli's was chosen for our discussion night, firstly, because last time one of the hussies couldn't make it and, secondly, the food was previously good and we thought it deserved another try.  It is a larger than usual Italian so ambience and coziness are not words that come to mind.  However,  in general the food, service and portion sizes were very good, albeit, a touch expensive in some hussies eyes.  King Prawns and Scallops do come at a price..

....   Staying with the theme of true stories and non-creative writing!  No disrespect!  We are dipping into the medical world to investigate .....

                                       'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot'

                                              

Join us for, what should be, an interesting discussion !

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Medical ethics and racial injustice. Discuss...

Yes this months choice did read more like a thesis than a summer read but its' no nonsense style gripped the Hussies and spurred them on to the end. Skloots' non fiction best seller tells the human story behind the HeLa cells. It is a testament to her skill as a writer that she manages to combine science and humanity in a way that engages the reader and doesn't require any subject specific knowledge. For those unfamiliar with  He La cells this book gives a comprehensive account of their successful growth and subsequent immortality in a lab dish. The reader learns how the cells have been used by scientists over the years for incredibly diverse purposes, not just in America but across the whole world and beyond, even travelling in to outer space. 

The author covers the facts behind the harvesting of the cells from their owner, a young black woman called Henrietta Lacks, hence the name He La cells.  Henrietta never knew nor agreed to her cells being used for medical research, however at that time it was seen by the medical profession  as a form of payback for free medical treatment. Henrietta was poor and had no medical insurance and in 1951 Baltimore black people did not have access to the same medical care as their white counterparts. She died from cervical cancer in 1951, a time when it was the norm for Dr's to use parts of their patients for medical research without gaining consent. The author sites other cases in America where patients were used as guinea pigs for medical research. The book raised questions about ethics and racial discrimination but a lot of the things that happened were of their time and modern medicine has moved on so much its hard to imagine any procedure going ahead without full written consent.

The book is of interest to non medics because it delves into the family history of Henrietta, highlighting the poverty and chaos some people have to endure. Dysfunctional interbred families that go on repeating the mistakes of past generations out of ignorance and circumstance. Skloot met with the family of Henrietta Lacks and discovered that they had no idea that her cells continued to live 20 years after her death. She highlights the misunderstandings that can arise when two worlds come together. Henrietta's husband believed his wife was still alive and locked in a prison cell when he was first told of the existence of the HeLa cells. His daughter worried that her mother could feel the pain of all the experiments conducted on her cells. We don't know how we would feel on hearing our long dead relative had immortal cells until we were in that position. A certain level of anger would be understandable especially given that some scientists have made a lot of money from the HeLa cell line whilst the family remain poor and unable to afford basic medical care. Of course we all agreed that it would be an impossible undertaking to trace every person who had ever donated body tissue to medical research and give them their fair share of any money made.

A well written interesting read that we would all recommend, not as dry as it first sounds.

The book was discussed at The Barrasford Arms, Barrasford, Northumberland. A picturesque village pub surrounded by castles and countryside, home to top chefs Tony Binks and Richard Muncaster. The food was of a very high standard, all agreed it was well worth the £30 per head for two courses  including the tip. Tempura King Prawns for starters were huge and well worth the £6.50 price tag, as was the slightly cheaper minestrone soup. We all went for the same main course, Roe buck on a bed of mash, very nice but could have benefitted from a bowl of summer vegetables, although we were all too full for pudding. The service was friendly and efficient leaving the Hussies with ample time to discuss the book. A great venue to which we will  return.

Saints of the Shadow Bible

 Doomed from the start?

Ian Rankin is well established as one of the most successful contemporary crime fiction writers.  According to the Guardian, he accounts for 10% of all UK crime fiction sales.  This latest novel brings Rebus out of retirement in a supporting role to his previous junior, Siobhan. Its classic Rankin and Rebus, and for the devoted follower of Rankin or crime fiction, it does not disappoint.  The characters are masterfully developed, the dialogue's strong, plotting is tight and Edinburgh looms as large as ever.  

Despite Rankin's mastery, he did not delight all the Hussies. He didn't flop but he failed to excite or delight.  

The harshest criticisms of this book concerned his plotting.  Why was it all so like an adult Enid Blyton?  Each episode was followed by lashings of Malt, all the mysteries solved and all the baddies captured.  

Cynics interpreted his celebrated dialogue as shameless scripting for an inevitable TV production.  

Other critics simply expected more thrills and drama - the stuff of crime thrillers rather than traditional crime fiction. 

So were the  Enid Blyton remarks negative or positive?  Surely successful crime fiction is characterised by its predictability and its adherence to certain rules?  Fans of this genre expect to find out whodunnit, how the baddies were captured and how all the loose ends and red herrings  were tied up. Are crime fiction fans seeking the comfort, familiarity, and safety offered by their childhood stories? If so, perhaps a Blyton comparison is a compliment?  

Similarly,  the TV adaptations of previous Rebus stories meant that all the Hussies approached this book as viewers as well as readers.  Such an audience surely presents additional challenges for successful authors?  

Ultimately, it seems that the Hussies just aren't huge fans of crime fiction and so, as a master of this genre,  Rankin was doomed from the very first page.  

Bouchons Bistro in Hexham displays certain Rankin tendencies.  It too is a master of its own genre  - french style cooking - and consistently delivers a small selection of its most popular dishes.   It knows what it's about and doesn't try to be all things to all palates.  If you like good quality French style food then you will like Bouchons.  If you fancy curry, fast food or a huge choice of dishes then you're doomed from the start! 

If you don't want french style food then you're doomed from the start ! 

Our next read is something completely different.  Was Slavomir Rawicz doomed from the start ?  Or not?

The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

Yet more Kabul in The Black Bull

Apologies to all our readers and followers awaiting this review - we discussed this on 3rd November 2014  but, for a whole host of reasons relating to a group blog, we're just getting to sharing our thoughts with you.  Please forgive us.

Firstly the venue.  We met for lunch at  The Back Bull in Corbridge which is well known for providing good quality pub food and service.  On this occasion, the Hussies tested the pub to its limits.  One Hussy, already grumpy about how difficult it is to park in Corbridge at lunch time,  disappeared at the ordering stage to sort out a puncture,  another was feeling too queasy to dine and another had issues with the salmon!   

Secondly the book.  It was OK.  Its main problem was that we all had previous. We had all previously read a lot  about women living in Afghanistan - Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns",  Rodriguez's other book "The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul" and "The Bookseller of Kabul" by Asne Seierstad, are the main examples that come to mind.   And so, we learnt little new from  Rodroguez on this occasion.  

In the absence of enlightenment, we sought entertainment - great characters, plot twists and a satisfying ending?   Rodriguez writes well, and it was an easy read, but this was neither a page turning satisfying plot nor an autobiography.  It was frustrating to wonder where autobiographical fact ended and fiction began.  

In reality, the book and the food were probably very good.  But somehow,  on that cold, queasy, punctured  day, the salmon, the tyre and the Kabul Beauty School left us all feeling flat. 

Still, the great thing about reading is that there's always another story, another page...so  we parted with high hopes for 

PS - For anyone interested in 'geographical fiction' then why not visit Guardian World Fiction for inspiration. 

'Bodies of Light' by Sarah Moss

                                                    'Illuminating Victorian Values'

A cold dark December evening found the Hussies back at one of their favourite Italians. Cheered by the welcoming lights of Corbridge's Il Piccolo, determined to make this meeting an improvement on the last, the book club shrugged off their winter coats ready to discuss 'Bodies of Light', the third novel by up and coming author Sarah Moss.

                                 

                                         

King Prawns in a sambuca sauce warmed the bones and half a portion of pasta helped to add another layer of insulation. Good food at reasonable prices and happily, decaffeinated coffee available to round off the meal. The only downside was that the delicious cooking aromas from the kitchen permeated the restaurant, confusing the senses of the diners who wanted to savour their own selection. As always friendly service helped to give the evening a pre Christmas injection of goodwill.

Impressively all the Hussies had read the book, a definate vote of confidence in the author. 

Although set in Victorian Manchester, this book is chiefly about family relationships and how the mistakes of the past are often revisted on future generations. A young mother who parents in the same misguided and damaging way as her own mother. A father too weak to intervene who emerses himself in his art. A mismatched couple, Mr and Mrs Moberley bring up their daughters in a world where women are prohibited from many professions, notably medicine, a society that  uses and abuses vulnerable young women blaming them for their own downfall. Mrs Moberley, an evangelical social reformer, is determined to mould her daughters into productive members of society. Whilst her aims are admirable her methods are cruel and callous, particularly in the case of her eldest daughter Althea who suffers physcological damage as a result. Mr Moberley, an artist and interior designer does what many men who are married to strong women do, take the path of least resistance, hiding in his work rather than stepping in to protect his daughters.

Each chapter is built around a piece of art by the father, or his close friend and colleague, a mysterious figure with an ambiguous relationship with the young Moberley girls. The author's ' show, dont tell' style leaves the reader wondering if Aubrey's interest in the girls is rooted in something rather more sinister than a love of artistic beauty. Interestingly, the younger daughter May, was a character in Moss's earlier novel, 'Night Waking', this could explain why her fate seems to be brushed over in the second half of 'Bodies of Light'. Definately worth rereading the earlier work to find out exactly what happened to the character.

On the whole a good read that examines the role of women in society, shedding light on the trials and tribulations endured by generations of women who were determined to enter a world dominated by men. An important reminder of the need to promote and protect gender equality and ensure that women all around the world have access to a good education and the opportunities it brings.

Join us in January when we meet to review our next book, 'Saints of the Shadow Bible' The latest addition to the ongoing series of crime novels featuring Detective Rebus, written by the very well established master of crime fiction, Ian Rankin.