A beautifully written, and important novel that follows a couple of generations of a white South African land-owning family through four funerals. The family dynamics are complex, and complicated further by a promise that lies unfulfilled, and threatens to tear them all apart. Set in the turbulent time at the end of apartheid, as the country begins to heal, we witness its effect on the family as their old ways crumble. Excellent! ~ Reviewed by Becky Doherty
A glorious fever dream of a novel. Set on a fictional Caribbean island where everyone is born with a unique magical ability, we follow the politics and relationships of the islanders as they navigate the dynamics of a powerful, elite family readying themselves for an heir’s wedding, parallel with the whirlwind of another couple’s journey to realize their true love for each other.
Ross manages to bring this beautiful, lush, dream of an island fully to life, an absolute joy to read. ~ Reviewed by Becky Doherty
Wow, what a novel! Emezi’s writing is flawless, lush and generous. She brings alive the world of Feyi, a widow who is learning how to love the world, and herself, again. Exploring life through art, food, and the love of true friends. We are taken on a journey of discovery from New York city to the lush beauty of a Caribbean island, as Feyi reconciles her past with her future, and opens her heart to new love. Let yourself fall back into this full color dream of a novel. ~ Reviewed by Becky Doherty
This novel is all sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. A thoroughly enjoyable, whirlwind read that follows a young girl embarking on an adventure to Marrakesh at the height of the swinging 60’s. Cece is our innocent protagonist, who gets caught up in the fast lives of the rich and famous of the era, rubbing shoulders with rock stars and the elite. Inspired by the world of Talitha Getty, the wife of philanthropist John Paul Getty Jr, who were quite the social butterflies of their time, and fully embraced the era of hedonism and free love after the oppression of the 50’s. ~ Reviewed by Becky Doherty
A wonderful gothic novel, and one that although the plot is a tantalizing slow burn, the read itself is an absolute page turner. Halls is a master at creating atmospherics, and this one is no different, you will totally be drawn into the gloomy, gas lit world of a Yorkshire moors mill town. We are taken there by Ruby May, the new nanny for the four children of the house, only to find that things aren’t quite as they should be, either at the house, or with Ruby May herself. Excellent! ~ Reviewed by Becky Doherty