Review: A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom

A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

John Boyne is one on my favourite authors. What an original concept this story is. A boy in born in Palestine in A.D.1 just when his father receives an order to kill infant boys under the age of two ... Next chapter begins in A.D.41, in Turkey and is a continuation of the story, with the same characters, whose names whose names are different but always begin with the same letter. What a concept!

Reading A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom was a tour across time, places and events. The idea behind the novel is so unique that it took me several chapters to accept it. But I did, and allowed the author to tell me the stories of a man seeking love, revenge and trying to do become a master craftsman.
I am in awe regarding the amount of research of all kinds the author did preparing to write this novel about the journey across the continents and times.

An excellent read.

Review: A Promised Land

A Promised Land by Barack Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent reading. It was so lovely to hear his voice in this audio book, and I found myself learning so much about the politics of the US, along with his person life story. An excellent read.

Review: Shuggie Bain

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story of alcoholism. The realistic, and true story of a family and how alcohol completely ruins and devastates.

Agnes is Shuggie's mother and she has a drinking problem. At the opening of the story they are living with her parents, but her taxi driving husband is a run around and also doesn't like her drinking. Angnes has three children, Catherine, Leek and Shuggie, and the children are well aware of how alcohol works on their mother. How sad that children have to suffer this.

Only a person who has experienced this lifestyle could possibly write, or understand, this book. I can't even really call it a story as it is more of an account and it is the story of any alcoholic anywhere in the world.

Excellent work.

Review: The Midnight Library

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For all the regrets we have in life, this book shows us where the best place for us at this point in time.

An eye opening experience. A great story.

Review: Silent Bite

Silent Bite by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great Andy Carpenter story. This time a fellow, Tony, is arrested for a murder he didn't commit setting the whole Carpenter team out investigating. Lots of twists as usual and we always get Andy's humour. 

Review: Troubled Blood

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Also known as J.K. Rowling

I will probably be in a minority with this book as I loved it. It was soooo long, but I needed to sink my teeth (brain) into something to occupy my mind (i.e. get my mind off things).  

Strike and Robin are given an old 40 year unsolved case to try to solve. A lady doctor, who seemingly was fine and happy, just disappeared one day on her way to meet her friend after work. She has a baby named Anna, who after all her life of not knowing, just wanted the truth. This was to be her last ditch effort and if they didn't find anything, she would close the book on it.

Of course, Strike and Robin are also working on other cases at the same time and their personal lives come into play.

A very long, satisfying read.

Review: Bark of Night

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great story by David Rosenfelt. At Andy's vet where Tara has been given a clean bill of health, a man has brought in a dog and paid for it to be put down. The vet has questions about the dog due to a micro chip that he has found in the dog and asks for Andy' help. Very interesting story of how the dog ended up in this position and the whole team is called in to work on a new defense.