Songbirds - emotional!

So, my first book finished in 2022 is a hangover from the previous year, and it's a corker. Songbirds by Christy Leferti (who also wrote the phenomenon that was The Beekeeper of Aleppo) is the story of Nisha, who, desperate to give her young daughter a future, has left her behind and travelled thousands of miles to become a maid in Cyprus. She enters the household of Petra, newly widowed and with a young baby, and helps to raise Petra's daughter over many years. It's not until Nisha goes missing, however, that Petra starts to appreciate how central Nisha has been to her and her daughter. Petra goes to the police, but they aren't interested in such a foreigner and assume she's done a flit across the border. Only Petra and Yiannis, the man who rents the upstairs apartment from Petra and, unbeknown to her, was Nisha's lover, seem to be concerned for Nisha's safety. Yiannis is also a poacher, illegally trapping songbirds as they migrate across the island. He is convinced that it's because of him that she was taken, but as they both seek answers, it becomes apparent that she isn't the only migrant domestic worker to have gone missing. This book is an emotional roller coaster in that we see the obvious love that Nisha brought to the people around her, as well as those she'd left behind in her homeland. We also see Petra building a long overdue relationship with her daughter now that Nisha isn't there to fill that gap. But there is always the dark underbelly of what has happened to Nisha rumbling along. The poaching of songbirds migrating across Cyprus is used as a metaphor for the treatment of female domestic workers who migrate to find a way to earn money for their families back home. They have sacrificed so much, yet the majority of the native population have scant disregard for them. In a word, heartbreaking! Inspired by a real case on Cyprus, the author has woven a story of love and one that should open everyone's eyes to the plight of women migrants working across Europe who become as trapped as the songbirds in the mist nets. These women "owe" so much money to their "agents", that they are caught between sending money home so that their families can survive and not being able to put enough by to pay off their debt and return home themselves. With stunning, often other worldly descriptions and beautifully drawn characters, I think this is a book that will stay with me for some time. I read the audio edition which was fantastically narrated by Art Malik, Indira Varma, George Georgiou, Lolita Chakrabarti and Christy Leferti.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 400 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

His Bloody Project - No Happy Ending

It's time for the letter B ... His Bloody Project by Gordon Macrae Burnett. Set up as if it is a true crime, this is the story of a triple murder in a remote community in the Scottish Highlands in the 19th Century. This is a harsh story - it's a tough life as a crofter and there aren't many bright spots to your day. Without much love in the home following his mother's death, kept low by a harsh landlord and victimised by the village constable, Roderick Macrae is just trying to survive. But after one final incident, the misery and despair of his situation overwhelm him and he takes the law into his own hands and murders the constable, and his two children. He doesn't run, but admits to the crime. Yet somehow, as we hear his confession and hear, via witness statements, about Roderick's life, the reader cannot help but be sympathetic towards him. It almost felt like his actions were just a desperate attempt to escape from a life he believed held no other future than the continuing misfortune he had already suffered. This was an interesting concept, but the subject matter did not make for an easy read. Not one for the faint hearted.

My STAR rating: THREE

Length: 288 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Half Blood Blues - fractured relationships!

It's time for the letter E ... which brought me to Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan. Shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize, this is the story of a set of jazz musicians performing in the cafes of Berlin and then, once the nazi regime begins, they move to Paris to escape. But when Paris falls during the second world war, they are desperate to move on once again. Narrated by African American, Sid Griffiths, he reflects both on the past and the present and we see his feelings of guilt rise to the surface regarding one of the band members, Hieronymous Falk, who was arrested in a cafe in Paris and never heard from again. But now in their 80s, Sid's old friend and band member, Chip, persuades him to go back to Europe, where he reveals a mysterious letter, which leads them on a voyage of discovery. This is a tale of jealousy, jazz and betrayal - pretty much what many bands go through. The narrative style takes some getting used to, but feels authentic in its lyrical quality. You may not always feel sympathy for the main protagonist, but you are always interested in what he's going to do next. The friendship between Sid and Chip is often volatile and sways between love and hate and back to love again. We even get a cameo from Louis Armstrong which is a bonus as far as I'm concerned. Not your usual war story, but a great study on how relationships can falter or remain firm under the immense pressure. 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 352 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, audio CD, ebook.

Alias Grace - did she, or didn't she?

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. This is a book I purchased some time ago but hadn't got around to reading. So when the letter A was pulled from the bag I was more than happy! Based on a real life person, this is the story of Grace Marks, one of the most notorious women of the 1840s. At the age of 16, she, and another man, are accused of a double murder and although convicted, she is sentenced to life imprisonment rather than facing the noose her supposed accomplice suffered. Following a mental breakdown, she also spends time in an asylum. Through a series of interviews with Doctor Simon Jordan, plus letters written between various doctors, clergy and judiciary, we learn about Grace's short life and what brought her to the day of the crime. It's a sad tale of hardship, deprivation and the unfair treatment of women. Grace herself gave three different accounts of the events that led to the murder of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper and lover, Nancy Montgomery. And as the book progresses, it is hard to stay whether she was the instigator, coerced or completely innocent? There was much debate at the time, with opinions varying wildly, and still the debate continues. This is a fascinating dive into the politics, treatment of mental health patients and criminals of the time. I liked that it was told from different points of view, so that you are never quite sure which one to listen to, and can find yourself swaying one way and then the other. As you would expect from the author, this is well written and the only reason it failed to receive five stars from myself is that I found some parts a little repetitive, but that's probably just me! I can definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a meaty read and who doesn't mind that the light moments are few and far between! 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 560 print pages.

Price I paid: £3.00

Formats available: print, unabridged audiobook, ebook. 

The Messenger of Athens - Mystery on the Greek Islands

Another testing pick from the bag produced a Z. After a bit of digging I came across The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi. This is the first in a series of mysteries featuring "detective" Hermes Diaktoros, who arrives on a remote Greek island to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman. The local police are, to put it mildly, irritated by this, as they have already cited this as an accidental death. But Hermes is not so sure and begins to stir up the population. He is a most unusual man - he appears to know things about everyone without ever having met them, or perhaps he is just incredibly intuitive? We follow Hermes as he travels around the island, interviewing a vast range of people and digging deep to find the truth. In a community where there are many secrets, it is hard for him to get people to open up, but he is nothing if not quietly persistent. There is a sprinkling of Poirot to the main character, but he is definitely his own man. There is a relaxed pace to this book and sometimes I wanted things to progress a little more quickly. But the pace is in keeping with island life, and gives the reader the opportunity to ponder and take their time to get to know the characters well - something I found hard at the beginning with some of the names sounding similar (in the audio edition) and the narrative switching between timeframes (we see the events leading up to the woman's death as well as the investigation itself). I would suggest this is a great holiday read - not too taxing, but with an interesting main character and setting.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 288 print pages.

Price I paid: Free, borrowed from library as an audiobook.

Formats available: print, unabridged audiobook, ebook.

The Mermaid of Black Conch - beautifully strange

And now onto the letter R and an unusual tale called The Mermaid of Black Conch, by Monique Roffey. Mostly set in the Caribbean in the 1970s, we open with David, a fisherman whose singing attracts a mermaid. Enchanted by this encounter, he returns to the same spot time and time again in order to sing for her. But one day, some American tourists catch her, bring her ashore and hang her up just like any other fish on the dock. While they celebrate in the local tavern, David rescues her and takes her home to help her recover, with the intention of returning her to the sea. But, the mermaid starts to lose her scales, then her tail and reverts to womanhood. Slowly, but surely David and Aycayia (the mermaid) fall in love. Told from different points of views and from different times, this is a strange, but beautiful story of love, friendship, devotion and separation. We learn that Aycayia was cursed by jealous women in her circle, and, as a result, has been a mermaid for hundreds of years. We see her blossom into the woman she was destined to be, but there is always a shadow looming and it becomes apparent that she cannot escape the curse for long. There are tender moments and incredibly sad moments too. I really enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters, and there are some good supporting roles. The dialogue and descriptions really bring the reader into the world of Black Conch. Many people have gone wild over this book and indeed, it was the winner of the Costa Book of the Year. I did appreciate the magical realism that this book offered, but, for me, some parts felt a little repetitive. However, if you are looking for a mermaid story that isn't saccharine, then this could be the book for you. 

My STAR rating: FOUR. 

Length: 272 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Hellion - Wise Woman or Witch?

The letter Y was the next out of the bag and it took me a while to hone in on a book, but I found The Hellion, by Harriet Young in a random search on Audible and I am mightily glad I did. The story starts in 1537, when youngsters Elizabeth and best friend Anne, witness a devastating fire. Following this, they are raised by Anne's grandmother, who teaches them the ways of a wise woman. This leads them to being able to earn a living for themselves by providing healing remedies, spells and the odd curse! A feud develops between them, and Elizabeth finds herself living in the grim Malkin Towers, on the edge of Pendle, where, in 1612, the most notorious witchcraft trials in England are taking place. Elizabeth's granddaughter, Alison, becomes embroiled in a scandal and she is accused of witchcraft. Before long, her whole family and that of Anne are also accused, thanks to the evidence of a nine year old girl - who is not as innocent or sweet as she appears! This is a gripping debut novel and gives a real insight into the prejudices and misunderstandings of the time where a woman earning an independent living was always viewed as suspicious. Love, betrayal, misunderstandings and manipulation all feature among a cast made up primarily of strong females, who, despite their strength, will always be at the mercy of men. Full of historical detail, you will learn something about that era, without realising it! It isn't always an easy read, but it is well worth the effort. If this her debut, I can't wait to see what Ms Young does next.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 300 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.