The Content Reader

My first book by Liane Moriarty, but I have seen the TV-series  Big Little Lies  based on her book. I really loved that story so was happy to find this book on  'grab a book' shelves.  "Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . . Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret. Acclaimed author Liane Moriart...

In 2016 I reviewed a book by Leona Francombe, The Sage of Waterloo .  A wonderful tale, and a different perspective on the battle of Waterloo, from the view of a white rabbit. Leona's new book is out;  The Universe in 3/4 Time, which I am currently reading (review will follow).  Leona is not only a writer but also a classical pianist and composer, so when she enters into the musical world in her story, she knows what she is talking about. When a mysterious World War II piano appears on a Brussels street one winter’s night, no one could have imagined the events it would set in motion—least of all Audrey Nightingale, the pianist who comes across it. The instrument, of finest rosewood, bears the name of an obscure Czech manufacturer, and inside it, someone carved a Pythagorean symbol. Audrey convinces two musician friends to help her make sense of this portentous discovery. At the heart of their quest is an extraordinary man: Konstantine Zar, charismatic philosopher-musician...

Today I take a look at the bamboo, one of the most fast growing species on earth. It is used in construction as well as Asian art such as drawings and paintings made with ink.  Origin: Mostly warm, tropical regions, especially East Asia Type: Woody evergreen grass Height: Up to 30 m Edible: Yes Medical: Yes Merchandise: Yes Technical: Yes Apart from rice, no other plant has played such a big role in the history of China and the East as bamboo. You can eat the young shoots, it has been used in almost all areas of life, as well as in paintings, writing and other cultural forms. It is found in Japanese paintings and it was these paintings that inspired Claude Monet in his impressionistic art form.  There are about 1.400 species of bamboo in the world. They are used to different conditions, mountains to plains, but hardly grow on limestone soils, dry deserts or swamps. As far back as 2.000 years ago bamboo played an important role in all areas of Chinese culture. The Chinese carve...

"For Harriet Delvaney, the great house of Menfreya, standing like a fortress on the Cornish coast, had always been a citadel of happiness and high spirits. Not until she herself came to Menfreya as a bride did Harriet discover the secret family legend of infidelity, jealousy and murder. And not until the legend seemed to come dangerously to life did Harriet begin to believe the old story that when the tower clock of Menfreya stopped, someone was about to die . . ." I would say this is quite a typical Victoria Holt. We have an old house, an old family with secrets and a young girl in love the the heir. It could be a very banal story, but Victoria Holt is too good for that. She engages us in the story of Harriet Delvaney, her life and her dreams. She is the daughter of a wealthy man, has a handicap and is not loved by her father, since her mother died giving birth to her. Her best friend and substitute mother is Fanny who has taken care of her since childhood. She is under the ...

Another wonderful story by Karin Fossum. This is the 5th book about detective inspector Konrad Sejer, but can be read independently.  I love Fossum's writing and story telling, and this is a very touching story about a middle aged, rather lonely, man.  "Gunder Jomann thinks his life has been made complete when he returns from a trip to India a married man. But on the day his bride arrives in Norway she vanishes. Then the town is shocked by the news of an Indian woman found bludgeoned to death in a nearby meadow. Inspector Sejer and his colleague Skarre head the murder inquiry, planting seeds of suspicion in a community which has always believed itself to be peaceful and safe." As one can imagine finding the dead woman is a big event in a small town where nothing much usually happens. Fossum  creates a set of ordinary people who reacts in different way to violent actions. Her characters are so well defined that you really think you know the people. You probably do, because...