Wishing everyone a joyful holiday.
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The Night Guest
by Fiona McFarlane
Genre: Mystery / Suspense
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Publish Date: October 1, 2013
Format: Hardcover | 256 pages
Rating: 4½ of 5
Ruth, a 75-year-old widow, lives alone in a secluded beach house in a coastal Australian town. Her sons are grown and while they check up on her by phone, neither live nearby. Her husband, Harry, has been gone for five years.
Ruth’s needs are simple but her days are lonely and she leads an isolated existance. She eats pumpkin seeds for breakfast – there is little else in the pantry – and watches the surfers on the beach from her window. She thinks back on her childhood and growing up in Fiji with her missionary parents, and reminisces about an unrequited love.
As Ruth looks out the window at the surfers on the beach, she sees a woman approaching her doorstep. The woman introduces herself as Frieda Young and says she’s here to help. She was sent through a government program as a caregiver for an hour or so a day: prepare meals, take on housework, etc.
Frieda’s arrival seems too good to be true. At first she is a wonderful companion and helper, a tireless worker, volunteering to do everything for Ruth, but she gradually changes from friendly, cheerful caregiver to easily annoyed, sarcastic, and often losing patience with Ruth. At first Ruth seems alert and in command, but is she? Questions arise, clues mount and things don’t add up, but Ruth accepts it all even though Frieda becomes manipulative and creepy.
About the half way point the tone of the novel changed from a light tale to a suspenseful, slowly building psychological thriller. Who is Frieda and what are her intentions? Even at the start she seemed to good to be true, but Ruth’s sons never verified her credentials. Did the government really send her? Much of the novel is through Ruth’s point of view. Is she a reliable narrator or is she losing her mind? I liked Ruth and was worried about her as she became confused and dependent on Frieda.
I enjoyed this well-written, thought-provoking story. I was surprised to learn this was a debut novel and from a young author. She has a keen sense of the trials of aging and dementia. This was a haunting, emotional and at times alarming tale with well developed characters that could be drawn from real life. It will make you want to pick up the phone or get in the car and check up on someone you care about.
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Source: Review copy.
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Mailbox Monday was created by The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their home last week. Currently on tour, it is hosted by a different blog each month.
The December host is Rose City Reader.
I was expecting the stores to be crowded today so instead of finishing up my Mailbox Monday post I ran out this morning to do the last of my Christmas shopping. I suppose I could have done the post last night but I can be a bit of a procrastinator. If I wasn’t, the holiday shopping would be done already. To my delight, the stores were not crowded yet, sales associates were plentiful, checkout lines were wide open and I got almost everything done in 3 hours. Woooo hoooo! This afternoon I’ll be baking cookies and listening to an audiobook.
As for new books, I received a few audio downloads. Audio is pretty much all I have been reading the past week. This time of year, as in dark and cold, sitting down at night with a book, my blanket and a hot cup of chocolate tends to put me to sleep, even if it’s a really good story.
Audiobooks
From Random House Audio
Perfect by Rachel Joyce
Andrew’s Brain by E.L. Doctorow
After the Quake: Stories by Haruki Murakami
From Penguin Audio
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee
What are you reading?
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Only 88 more days until spring.
Astronomical winter begins at 12:11 p.m. EST in North America. Here in Chicago we will receive only 9½ hours of daylight and no sunshine as it’s overcast and sleeting today. I’m already tired of the colorless winter landscape and am counting the days until spring.
Solstice facts
- The solstice occurs because the earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees.
- The word solstice comes from ancient Latin. Sol meaning “sun” and sistere, “to stand still.” For several days before and after the solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky and it’s noon time elevation does not change.
- Some say early Christmas celebrations have their roots in the Feast of Saturnalia, a winter solstice celebration to the Roman god Saturn. When Christianity was introduced to the Roman Empire, the church allowed the feast to continue but dedicated it to the birth of Christ.
- The custom of giving presents comes from the Roman feast of Saturnalia.
- Stonehenge is aligned with solstice. The timber circle is orientated towards the rising sun on the midwinter solstice.
Saturday Snapshot was originated by Alyce at At Home With Books. It is now hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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Welcome to the Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by Bookhounds and I Am A Reader Not A Writer.
Over 175 blogs are participating and each will be giving away books or book related items. The hop begins today and ends at midnight December 31st.
The Giveaway:
I have a special giveaway of the first two books in the Glide Trilogy for one lucky winner with a US address. To enter, fill out the form below. You don’t have to be a follower to win but new subscribers are always appreciated.
One winner receives both books:
Glide by Bill Gourgey
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Jacked Arts
Publish Date: February 1, 2011
Format: Paperback | 434 pages
About the Book
Suffering in the Academy’s iron grip for decades, the world drew what seemed sure to be its final, ragged breaths. Then a miracle happened: a blow from the heavens struck the Academy straight through the heart in the capital of Aerome… more
Nu Logic by Bill Gourgey
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Jacked Arts
Publish Date: April 26, 2013
Format: Paperback | 530 pages
About the Book
Nu Logic is the sequel to Glide and is Book 2 in the Glide Trilogy.
For more information visit:
Win Both Books
Giveaway is open to those 18 or older with a US mailing address. To enter, fill out the form below on or before midnight December 31, 2013 (EST). For an extra entry tweet or blog about the giveaway. I will draw a random winner who will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond with a US mailing address.
Now hop on over to one of the many other participating blogs. Click HERE for a list.
[Giveaway has ended]
Winner: Heather Burgess
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Books provided by JKS Communications.
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Jonathan Santlofer, Stephen L. Carter, Marcia Clark, Heather Graham, Charlaine Harris, Sarah Weinman, Alafair Burke, John Connolly, James Grady, Bryan Gruley, Val McDermid, S.J. Rozan, Dana Stabenow, Lisa Unger, Lee Child, Ken Bruen, C.J. Box, Max Allan Collins, Mark Billingham, Lawrence Block
Narrator: Christopher Evan Welch
Genre: Mystery/Noir
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publish Date: October 8, 2013
Format: Audio CD, 8 hours | 23 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy
Rating: 3½ of 5
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Pericles “Perry” Christo is a PI with a past—a former cop, who lost his badge and his family when a corruption scandal left him broke and disgraced. When wealthy Upper East Side matron Julia Drusilla summons him one cold February night, he grabs what seems to be a straightforward (and lucrative) case.
The socialite is looking for her beautiful, aimless daughter, Angelina, who is about to become a very wealthy young woman. But as Christo digs deeper, he discovers there’s much more to the lovely “Angel” than meets the eye. Her father, her best friend, her boyfriends all have agendas of their own. Angel, he soon realizes, may be in grave danger . . . and if Christo gets too close, he just might get caught in the crossfire.
My Thoughts:
Inherit the Dead is a joint effort involving twenty popular crime fiction writers, each penning a chapter in a twisted noir tale in their own unique style. This is not an anthology; it’s a complete novel. The impetus for the collaboration was to draw attention to, and raise funds for, Safe Horizon, a victim assistance organization.
This was a fun book to listen to. Each chapter began with a byline letting the reader know who the author was. While the story was not complex and got a little predictable at times, I was amazed at how well it flowed considering the number of authors involved. Occasionally there was a little repetition but that was to be expected. There were plenty of plot twists to keep me interested and a satisfying ending. All in all it was a fun ride through a classic noir tale.
One of the things I enjoyed was that many of the authors included noir metaphors. There were quite a few but these are two I remember:
Dude’s one drink away from a liver transplant.
He could read her body language as easily as the morning headlines.
Made me think I was channeling Dashiell Hammett!
I listened to the audio which was performed by Christopher Evan Welch, a first time narrator for me. He did a fine job conveying noir atmosphere and was easy to listen to.
Fans of the genre are sure to enjoy this book.
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Source: Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster Audio
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Almost wordless: I wait until spring to cut back the prairie grass. It breaks up the boring winter landscape and provides seeds and shelter for birds and small animals.
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