Book Reviews.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Set in Northern Ireland in 1975, Trespasses by Louise Kennedy is a beautiful novel that weaves a complicated love story amidst the backdrop of the Troubles. Kennedy masterfully portrays the challenges of living a normal life while surrounded by violence and political unrest.
The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
A serial killer with an interest in medical experimentation, a badass forensic pathologist trying to stop him, all set against the backdrop of New Orleans – The Butcher and the Wren sounded like the perfect choice for spooky season at Brunch Book Club!
Renowned storyteller and Morbid podcast co-host, Alaina Urquhart further develops her world-building and storytelling skills in this debut novel, showing off her extensive knowledge of serial killers and forensic science.
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
Peach Blossom Spring starts in 1938 China, when Meilin and her four-year-old son Renshu are forced to flee their home, as war promises to devastate everything they have known. With little money but a beautiful, illustrated scroll, they escape the country and find a new home in Taiwan. Years later, Renshu is offered a place at an American university, where he becomes Henry and refuses to talk about his past.
The book covers decades of Meilin’s and Renshu’s lives, as they grow apart due to the distance that separates them and Henry’s refusal to acknowledge or talk about his past…
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
Of Women and Salt tells the tale of the lives of five generations of Cuban women, jumping from present-day Miami to 19th century cigar factories in Cuba, as well as the story of a mother and daughter who have to deal with ICE detention centres. The lives of all these women are interconnected, and through their relationships and circumstances, the author discusses issues of immigration, motherhood, mother-daughter relationships, sexual violence, substance abuse and more…
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A mixed bag of responses from Brunch Book Club; a number of us struggled to get into and it wasn’t until around Part 2 that we really got stuck in. As ever, it sparked a beautiful discussion with great topics and thoughts debated. So for that it gets a thumbs up!
Young Hiram Walker was born into bondage. When his mother was sold away, Hiram was robbed of all memory of her — but was gifted with a mysterious power. Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. This brush with death births an urgency in Hiram and a daring scheme: to escape from the only home he’s ever known. (From Goodreads)…
Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe is the divine daughter of the titan Helios and naiad Perse. Deemed unattractive and powerless from birth, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology.
But there is danger for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love…
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo came out to what seemed like universal praise and as such, it was hard to get into the book with the right level of expectation. It was also marketed as the book on female sexuality, which is perhaps why it felt like such a disappointment. In reality, the book follows three women and their sex lives. And that’s it. There’s nothing wrong with that being the focus of the story, but if you come in expecting more, you will feel frustrated.