THE STRANGER by Harlan Coben

I read this book in 1 day. It was racy, incredibly clever and suspenseful. And all with no bad language, a sure sign of a good writer. This was my first book by Harlan Coben and it won't be the last. I can see why he has been called 'master of the plot twist'. While this story is about a stranger, it shows that none of us are really strangers in 21st century where we are all vulnerable through technology which can trace anyone, find anyone and expose anyone.  This means that in a world such as ours, secrets are fragile and fair game. While we all have them, this novel asks us to examine to what extent we would go to keep them from others and how far we would go to protect our families from knowing the truth? By the end of the book you cannot help but conclude that it is best not to know some things. The story of this book is intriguing and the plot brilliant and far too complex to summarise. I look forward to reading more of Harlan Coben. He is clearly the writer to turn to when you want a good adrenalin rush.

NEW YORK by Edward Rutherfurd

Do you want to know how New York got its' name? Do you know if the name Wall Street has anything to do with a wall? And what's with the name 'Broadway'? This book will tell you all this and much more. From the time that New York was an Indian hunting ground to the occupation of the Dutch who named it New Amsterdam to the English takeover and renaming of this pivotal American island that became a bridge between the old and the new worlds and which ended up being one of the biggest financial pulses of the world, you will be enthralled with the history of this great city. I am always in awe of authors who successfully weave an interesting story of human lives into historical events and this book delivered this for me without the fictional characters taking over the historical panorama of the novel. It taught me in more simplistic terms about many historical and political milestones  I had not previously known about or understood. I found this side of the book captivating. This book made me appreciate Rutherfurd's research skills and his ability to turn historical fact into interesting reading. My biggest thrill - discovering he has written a book on Paris, London and Russia - my three passions. Is there a better way to learn history than through a cleverly crafted novel where fictional characters bring their day to life and make you remember them long after you have closed the book on the final page? I have ear-marked this book in 21 places, I want to remember....

LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult

This was one of the best of Jodi Picoult books. The subject was fascinating and the twist in the story unexpected and extremely clever. The story follows a young girl who is trying to find her mother who became lost to her when she was three. She employs the help of a burnt out psychic and a retired policeman who was in charge of a murder case in an elephant sanctuary where her mother worked and following which her mother disappeared. This book will take you to the wonderful world of elephants in Africa and in preservation in America. It explores the dynamics of motherhood within the elephant kingdom and parallels it with that of human's and I must say the elephants come out on top. While the elephant will not leave her dead calf's body for days on end, the mother of this story runs away not knowing what has even happened to her child. The book also advocates the existence of life after death and the reality of spirit beings through the theory of reincarnation. Even though this theory is one among many which attempt to explain the meaning of life, I found it had profound bearing on the story and left me saddened knowing that there are people out there believing that family relationships end with death and that even though we continue to live as spirits we do not continue the associations we formed in 'each' of our lives. The theory of reincarnation gives little to no hope that we will ever see our loved ones again as we hop around to different bodies and different lives which makes the possibility of crossing paths with people we've come to love extremely thin. I do not believe in the theory of reincarnation and consider it absurd. I do, however, believe in life after death and that we continue on as spirits until the time of resurrection. I look forward to meeting my ancestors with great anticipation when we will renew our family ties which will go on forever. I do not know if Jodi Picoult believes in reincarnation and is attempting to promote it through the medium of this book or if she has used this theory for the impact it makes on the story she tells but the fact that she makes no attempt to discredit it makes me think that she accepts it. If so I feel sorry for the lack of confidence she has in enduring family relationships which makes the premise of her story, that of irreplaceable mother's love, rather futile.

THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty

This is an excellent book, literally unputdownable, if there is such a word. Liane Moriarty did a fantastic job not just with the subject matter but with the plot of this book and the depth of the characters. Whereas Big Little Lies allowed the reader to see the characters through imagery, The Husband's Secret delved more into their hearts and the emotions relative to their lives' tragedies, current events and future hopes. I loved the way the character were cleverly intertwined and the stark awareness of how our lives have a bearing on others forming an almost invisible connectivity. It also highlights important choices we have to make in consideration of other's lives like our children. For this reason I loved the character of Tess and the forgiveness and sacrifice she made to preserve her family. This book presents important truths like the damage we suffer when we are do not accept accountability for our actions as is witnessed in John-Paul Fitzpatrick's character. His lack of accountability gave birth to karma culminating in tragedy suffered by his daughter Polly.The most startling realisation the book brings to light is that we will never know some facts and secrets which impact our lives and send us in different directions, some of which we are meant to take and others maybe not.

BIG LITTLE LIES by Liane Moriarty

This was a highly entertaining book with a fantastic twist. Liane Moriarty is the queen of vivid imagery which makes her characters very real and her stories very engaging. Reading her books makes you wonder what goes on in your local school, community, street, neighbourhood. Her stories turn the ordinary into something fascinating. Big Little Lies tells of one quintessential truth (quintessential being Liane's favourite word, at least in this book): just about everyone has secrets and all those who do would tell any lie to protect them, the most tragic secret guarded by one of this book's main characters being one of domestic violence. I loved the way Liane Moriarty handled this difficult subject in an objective way by uncovering another layer of abuse hiding behind the violence, that of bullying. Behind the perfect facade and protected by money and an impeccable image even the most unlikely can be oppressors but underneath the adult monsters cower little boys unable to handle humiliation to any degree. This is a story of a tragic death but so well written and intrigue so well perpetuated throughout the book that it is not until the very end that the reader finds out who actually died. Loved it. A warning: this book has swearing and blasphemy in it. This is my one and only complaint.

THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert

This was undoubtedly one of the best novels I have ever read. I marveled all the way through it which was greater, the intellect of the writer or the amount of staggering research she must have done to write such a book. Most surprising of all was that she could make the subject of botany so intriguing. The story was more than brilliantly weaved and the language so suitably employed to reflect the time period in which the novel was set. It left me thirsting for knowledge and refinement of speech. The story begins on 5 January 1800 with the birth of the heroine, Alma Whittaker. Born into wealth and tutored by her intelligent and no nonsense Dutch mother, Alma develops a brilliant and enquiring mind which enables her to excel in the field of botany and to which she dedicates her entire life. The story also covers the history of her father's life and his many exploits and expeditions of discovery across the globe. His story gives the reader a compelling window to the world of discovery as it once was and evokes appreciation for the world that now is. He eventually settles in America and becomes the riches man in Philladelphia and a much regarded man of business. His foundation in botany forms a platform for his daughter to delve into the natural world and to become a gifted botanist in her own right. Alma's life's work takes her deeper into the mysteries of evolution from which she develops her own theory to coincide with that of Darwin's theory of 'natural selection' but Alma never resolves the enigma of humanity and concedes to the inability to reconcile science with spirituality. This is one book that should not be missed by a serious reader who desires to learn and to question what it means to be human.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd

This is a charming book that deserves attention. Set in the 60's against the backdrop of racial struggle in American south, this book reminded me of "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. The main focus of the story, however, is a 14 year old girl's quest to reconnect with her mother who she accidentally shot dead at the age of 4 during a family dispute. Having been raised by a harsh and unyielding father who harbours resentment towards his dead wife and punishes his daughter because of it, Lily yearns for love from her mother. She is convinced that learning all about her will connect her with this love and grant her forgiveness for taking her life. When racial tension reaches it's peak one summer afternoon involving Rosaleen, the black servant who has served as a surrogate mother to Lily, an opportunity presents itself for Lily to embark on a journey of freedom. Running away from home, Lily and Rosaleen find refuge in the home of three beekeeping sisters where the mystery of her mother unfolds and where Lily finds the nurturing that she has missed out on since her mother's death. This is an engaging story of prejudice, forgiveness, discovery and acceptance, cleverly paralleled with complicated and fascinating life of bees. If you like honey, you will crave it the entire span of the book!

BITTERSWEET by Colleen McCullough

I loved this book. I was half way through it when I heard Colleen McCullough had passed away. I was terribly sad that there will be no more books coming from her well trained pen. Lucky for me she has written quite a few, the several of which I have in my possession. My two favourites are 'Thorn Birds' and 'The Touch'. 'Bittersweet' comes third so far. Whenever I choose a Colleen McCullough book, I know I am going to learn something significant. Her research is impeccable and her stories are closely aligned with historical places and events. This is true of Bittersweet, a novel set in rural NSW in 1920's and 30's. This is a charming story of four sisters who happen to be two sets of twins, at the forefront of professional nursing becoming the first registered nurses in Corunda. Even though the town is fictional, one gets a very realistic feel of rural Australia and love of the land. The book offers a very informative insight into women's lack of professional opportunities at a time when marriage was their primary option in a patriarchal society. It is hard to believe that only 80 years ago women were forced to choose between marriage or work. The book also leads the reader through the Depression and its devastating effects on families and in particular men, who were main providers. Colleen McCullough has a talent for incorporating the reader into the time and place she has chosen as a setting for her story. I appreciate this about her books more than the stories she weaves around places and points in history. This is an excellent book that highlights women's ability to deal with their limitations and tragedies and should make women of today more grateful for many opportunities and choices they are faced with.

WHAT ALICE FORGOT by Liane Moriarty

I loved this book. I always like discovering a good writer and tend to read all their books. I also love books that deal with family dynamics. "What Alice Forgot" is one of those books. It is charming, clever and insightful. It allows the reader to see how false perceptions can change people, relationships and outcomes. It makes you to wonder if there is such a thing as truth and if people's perceptions is all there is. As Alice sustains a head injury in gym class she loses her memory of the past 10 years. She goes back to the time of her first pregnancy when her love for her husband was new and fresh and 'exhilarating and light and bubbly'. What Alice has forgotten is 10 years of three children and a marriage that hasn't survived its' challenges so well. Instead of 1998, it is 2008 and Alice is in the middle of a nasty divorce, the only problem is that Alice has forgotten that she hates the husband she is divorcing and loves him like they are newlyweds. Because the theme of the book is 'lost memories' Liane Moriarty uses the medium of reflection by three main characters to piece Alice's story together. Alice puts events of her life together through snippets of memory, her sister Elizabeth reflects on their relationship through the diary she is writing for her therapist and Alice's adopted grandmother Franny writes a blog. The rambling of these three women makes the characters very real and true to life. The diary Elizabeth keeps chronicling struggles of her infertility is both fascinating and heart wrenching. It shatters the inadequate perception you might have of women whose bodies betray their longing for motherhood. The ending of the book is extremely fitting with characters stepping up to the maturity that the situation asks for. This book is true to complexities of family dynamics, devoid of unnecessary sentiment and highly entertaining.

THE PAYING GUESTS by Sarah Waters

This book was very well plotted and executed. It was recommended to me by our book store's sales assistant. She said she loved all the books written by Sarah Waters. What I didn't know is that this author is known for novels set in Victorian society and featuring lesbian protagonists. She has won the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction. The story was incredibly clever and the characters very believable. Despite my aversion to lesbian sexual encounters I appreciated the authenticity of the period the book was set in and the dynamics of a lesbian relationship within it. Set in early 1920's, following the Great War, a mother and daughter left without male support in middle class England find themselves obliged to rent spare rooms in their house to keep them financially viable. The rooms are rented to a young married couple who transform Wray's lives forever. A love affair blossoms between Frances Wray and the married Lilian Barber which not only leads them to the dangerous and uncertain future but also to crime. What starts off as a view into hardships of a genteel family slipping into demise ends with suspense and reflection on complexities of a lesbian relationship in a society that offers no recognition of such liaisons. Sarah Waters is an excellent writer who has found her niche in the literary world and for that I admire her.