The Tidal Zone - shattered lives!

This book was a bit of a punt - it was on offer and, I am pleased to report, I have not been disappointed. The story centres around Adam and his family who are going about their normal routine - he writes, his wife is a doctor and their two daughters are still at school - when their lives are turned upside down by a phone call from the elder daughter's school reporting that there had been an "incident". This, it turns out, was when Mim stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. Now in hospital and undergoing tests, she is feeling okay again, and just wants to go home. As the test continue over days and weeks, she becomes increasingly truculent and bored. However, for Adam, the realisation that his bright, beautiful daughter could cease to be at any moment is earth shattering. He tries to distract himself with his work, researching the devastation wrought on the city of Coventry by bombing raids during World War II and the rebuilding of its Cathedral as a symbol of hope and fortitude. This story of renewal parallels what's happening in his own family, as they find a way to move forward despite the potentially life threatening condition that blights them. The Tidal Zone, by Sarah Moss is written with heart and may appear delicate, but it packs a punch about the important things in life. The characters are believable, although I did get irritated with the wife who seemed to be one step removed from the family at all times. The attention to detail within Adam's research was excellent and I found this element just as interesting as the "drama". Although I enjoyed the book while reading it, it hasn't really stayed with me as much as I was expecting it to. With one exception, it has left me with a real desire to go and visit Coventry Cathedral again - which is no bad thing as far as I'm concerned!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 336 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.98.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Miss Garnet's Angel - An absolute delight

When Julia Garnet retires from teaching, she unexpectedly inherits a substantial amount of money from her long time companion. Julia had always been the cautious one of the two, but now at a loose end and with money in her pocket, she decides to go to Venice to see if she can live a different kind of life. She develops feelings for a man who has taken her under his wing and shown her around the city, but her budding hopes are dashed when she gets the distinct impression that he is gay. However, he has helped her to appreciate the beauty of Venice and she finds herself drawn to the ever-present figure of the Angel Raphael. She endeavours to find out more about Raphael and why he seems to be everywhere in Venice. This leads her to acquire two young friends who are restoring one of the churches, and she becomes involved in the drama surrounding their relationship. Alongside the action in present day Venice, the story is interspersed with the ancient tale of Tobias, who travels to Media accompanied by the Archangel Raphael - although he is unaware of this. This book takes us on both a physical and spiritual journey with Miss Garnet as she begins to blossom in a far off city. There is so much to like about this book, which is gentle, but never dull. Miss Garnet's Angel, by Salley Vickers is definitely a love letter to Venice, but also to the idea that no matter how old you are, your life can take you in an unexpectedly fulfilling direction - you just have to take that first step! A thoroughly enjoyable read and I was a bit sad to finish it.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 342 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my Mum.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

A Far Cry From Kensington - an evocation of 1950s London

Set in the mid 1950s, A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark brings to life a time and place where people were trying to recover after the devastation of the Second World War. Our narrator is Agnes "Nancy" Hawkins - although no-one uses her first name. She is a young, rather portly, war widow working in publishing, but, as was common at the time, she is living in one room of a house with other disparate people. Everyone sees Mrs Hawkins as a trustworthy, reliable individual - someone you can go to with your troubles and who would be good in a crisis. Her best friend is Millie, the landlady, with whom she spends many companionable evenings. Things are ticking along nicely until she encounters Hector Bartlett - a wannabe author whose writing is atrocious and she rejects his manuscript in the strongest of terms, in the course of which she coins an unflattering phrase to describe him. Unfortunately for Mrs Hawkins, Hector is "attached" to a very well known author who wields much power in the relatively small world of publishing, with the result that her little outburst causes her to lose not one, but two jobs. While this is happening, unsettling things start to happen at her lodgings with one of the residents, a Polish dressmaker, becoming more and more unstable. Events start to unravel, and it's not until much later that Mrs Hawkins realises how woven together all these apparently random events actually are. This book is highly enjoyable, with a cracking narrator in Mrs Hawkins, and an excellent supporting cast, all of whom are totally believable. It is evocative of the time and place and is full of detail about post-war London and the publishing world of that time. There is light and shade and dodgy dealings, but also a sense of optimism that things can get better. It's the first book by Muriel Spark that I have read, but I'm sure it won't be my last.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 208 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.98.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.