I enjoy historical fiction and this was an enjoyable easy read. I was not aware of the history of convents and whilst expecting the friendships and love, trust and betrayal portrayed, I was amazed at the politics. I enjoyed the various characters, the strong, sophisticated and worldly wise Abbess and Sister Zuana, whose scientific knowledge was highly unusual for this time and how she interacted with the seemingly vacuous Serafina and was appalled at the behaviour of the fanatical Sister Umiliana. I enjoyed the historical references to the lack of equality experienced by women at this time, whilst showing the contradictions of the various female characters and their apparent freedom within the convent walls. I especially enjoyed the comparison with ‘His Holiness’ of the venomous breath.

The book was expertly researched, showing life in convents at this time. I was surprised to learn that family and friends could visit and that convents were famed for their choirs, with concerts and plays often being performed. my only misgiving would be the ending – charming but it didn’t ring true for me.

Firstly, I will say that I thought the book was a bit too long but I did enjoy it, even though it took ages to read. Dunant paints a vivid picture of the lives of women, exploring how many women, often intelligent and powerful, were brutally stripped of status by being sent to a convent. Whilst they may have been able to keep some of the trappings of wealth, the power of their minds was not diminished in any way and was channeled into convent politics. Passion too was misplaced in various ways, such as extreme fasting, emotional attachments and misguided allegiances. Gossip was rife due to boredom and the need for entertainment. For some women, the convent was an escape from a potentially loveless marriage arranged for political gain. A convent was a sanctuary that protected women from physical abuse, rape within marriage, the shame of adultery and the risk to life of pregnancy. Yet again, some women may have been a ‘nobody’ but maybe she could carve out some status, like the much loved apothecary, Sister Zuanna.

The Abbess, Madonna Chiara, would have been a marvellous diplomat if she had been born male. Instead, she acts to ensure that the good of the convent is placed above that of the individual. It is this discretion, aided by her family connections beyond the convent walls, that we see in action when she deals with the young novice, Serafina. The Abbess’ handling of the novice mistress, Sister Umilia, is also a lesson in diplomacy. The Abbess sees the potential writing on the wall that would take away certain freedoms such as the concerts and plays and she is not going to surrender easily to the power of Rome. The convent was a hothouse of petty jealousies, fixations and the dangers of ‘particular friends’. A group of hormonal women living together rarely bodes well! Add to this the visions of Sister Serafina and Sister Magdelana, caused by what is now known as holy anorexia, and you have a powder keg that could blow up at any moment.

A well written, atmospheric book which conveys the atmosphere of a Nunnery with its claustrophobic, closed community extremely well. The characters are wholly believable and the story well told. However, the action, as such, all happened in the last pages of the book and I felt it could have been edited without any great loss. The ending is well done - what will be Seraphina's fate? Who can say?

460+ pages for what is a very simple plot. It is padded out by significant, historical detail, natural medicine and well-drawn characters. Madonna Chiara, the administrator and fund raiser who wishes to preserve the status quo. Umiliana, the devout novice mistress who wishes to embrace the new, stricter regime. Zuana sees herself in Seraphina, the novice joining against her will. Well written but rather tedious at times as there is so little by way of plot spread over what is a longish book.

I'd read it before and it ticks all my boxes - serious but intelligent historical fiction, a character driven story that taught me about renaissance convent life and the sort of women who were forced to enter the regime against their will. I like historical fiction that is informative and feels as though it's "of its time" rather than having characters with modern attitudes that feel incongruous.

Six women reunite at their childhood home, ‘Atlantis’, in Lake Geneva, after the death of the man who had adopted them as babies. Each sister is given a clue and coordinates to help them find their heritage. The first book is about the eldest sister, Maia, who journeys to Brazil. The novel intertwines her journey with that of her family, going back in time. There are factual references to the building of the Christ the Redeemer statue within the fictional story of Maia’s history. This is quite a long novel but it is easy to read and is something a bit different.

This is a police procedural thriller by an author I've mentioned before. Because it's set in Bradford, in areas I know very well, I can really relate to it. I like the way the characters bounce off each other and reflect the relationships between the white British and Asian communities in a realistic way. It deals sensibly with older Asians' struggle to come to terms with the younger generation embracing western culture and attitudes, but not in a simplistic or patronising way. The central crime story is well written, incorporating various different perspectives.

An Arab Muslim, an Israeli Jew, a Christian and a Marxist are invited to a room to talk with each other for one day. They argue, get angry, laugh and cry as they talk about the dreadful things that have happened in our world. The Purpose? To save the world. Are they successful?

An elderly teacher is killed by three teenagers and they are to stand trial. Each denies their involvement and each point the finger at the other two. This is a realistic criminal trial following a really nasty murder, narrated by 4 different barristers, 3 defendants and a Judge. The author obviously knows his/her stuff. It was very interesting with twists right up to the end. It’s a good book to listen to as different voices read each part, making it seem more like a drama.

I read this book as I am going to see Davies at Parr Hall in November and I have read his previous memoir Just Ignore Him. Both books are a difficult read in that we learn of Davies’ childhood, the abuse he suffered at his father’s hand after the death of his mother. The abuse, along with the neglect he endured, made growing up and relationships a nightmare. He spiralled into substance abuse and a fear of closeness and intimacy, believing that everyone would either mistreat or abandon him. He describes his life on the comedy circuit, its highs and lows and his life on TV, including his thoughts on QI. There are references to many other comics in the memoir but one that really stands out is the close and supportive friendship he has with Jo Brand who encouraged him to have therapy. Being in the public domain and speaking openly about your abusive childhood is a risk but Davies knew that this was a necessary step on his journey to healing.

A husband has written a letter to be opened on his death and its contents are explosive enough to destroy people’s lives. The wife finds the letter but the husband is still alive. What will the fall out be?

Another excellent read set in two time frames - now and 100 years hence. A literary book concerned with biography and what we can know from the past. McEwan is a master of his trade and well worth a read/listen.

I so enjoy Strout’s take on contemporary small town USA. Her characters are so believable and it is easy to invest in their lives. The Burgess boys, along with their sister, have a troubled past and the fear that each has about causing the death of their father. Their dysfunctional relationships impact on their partners and their children and we get a real sense of anger, despair, mistrust but also hope. Strout’s writing is crisp, powerful, evocative and funny. I don’t like it when her books end as I think that I must be missing out on what her characters are up to!

Helena returns to Cyprus after she inherits her godfather’s house and her family join her. The house is falling apart and the secrets it holds tumble out. Helena’s past and present are about to collide. The book was a family drama, filled with too many ‘terribly, terribly’ people.

A psychiatrist, recently involved in a case that went badly wrong, exonerated but destroyed by the press, returns to her hometown to treat a 'wild child'. The child has lived as a captive in a cave after being kidnapped. Her kidnapper is killed in a car accident when he leaves her briefly. She breaks her restraints and walks to the nearest town. A rather sentimental and unlikely tale. I find Kristin Hannah hit and miss but have enjoyed some of her writing.

Robert Langdon, the hero of other books, is attending a neuroscience lecture in Prague. The lecturer is an ex-lover who is about to launch a book about human consciousness that will revolutionise common beliefs. A murder throws things off track, as does the lecturer being kidnapped along with her manuscript. Langdon becomes the target of a powerful organisation and the action continues in London and New York. The fact that the places and experiments in the book are real makes it a scary read.

Whilst the book is the second in a trilogy, it can be read as a standalone. It opens in Vienna in 1914 when a young Anton is trying to gather a reputation for journalism. To augment his meagre salary, he works as a private tutor and it is here that he meets an older woman, Delphine and they embark on an intimate relationship. All is well until his country decides to go to war with her country. Fast forward to 1927 and we meet Lena who lives a life of poverty with her drunken mother. She has little hope of escape until a young lawyer, Rudolf, takes her to Vienna. But Lena is unhappy in the big city and takes a lowly job at a snow bound sanatorium. We then move to 1933 and Anton, the journalist, is trying to recover from the loss of so many pals during the war. He is enjoying success with his writing career and journalism and is sent to the sanitorium to write a magazine article. Who will he meet there? What will happen? The book is a good read but for me, Faulks’ best book will always be Birdsong.

Reads as a standalone book but is a sequel. Intelligently written with humour. Paul goes to France with his cousin to find peace to write a book. He gets involved in the local characters, especially the village restaurant. Gentle story with larger than life characters.

Ruby Bozarth is called to the bar in Mississippi and 9 months into her residency, she has not been given any real cases as such. She has lost a case but never won one. A judge offers her the murder trial of a young black man who is accused of killing a young white woman. Bozarth knows she won’t win and everyone is against her and there is only one black person on the jury. Bozarth is acute and knows the process of the law and issues a subpoena when the prosecution deny her access to see the evidence for the prosecution. She hacks into the dead girl’s phone and finds pictures of her with the accused and other men. One of them is significant, but why and how will this impact on the trial?

Brandi Carlile comes from a poor but musically talented family. They moved regularly, their lives were chaotic and yet loving and Brandi nearly died at the age of 5 due to meningitis. She was open about her sexuality and her pastor refused to baptise her on the appointed day but the town united in support. Broken Horses is a journey through her life and its influence on her music. It’s a raw and honest book.

Back in 2023, I read the ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop,’ and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many book titles mentioned that are familiar to me and they are the kind of books any Japanese person who likes reading would have read many years ago. The main characters remain the same as the first book, there is Takako, her Uncle Satoshi, his wife Momoko. Of course, this time there is Wada, with whom she feels close and they spend time together in their favourite café. A romance is in the air…

Things seem to be back to normal but when Satoshi and Momoko return from their deserved trip, Takako notices changes in Satoshi’s behaviour which he doesn’t want to talk about. Later on, tragedy strikes as we find out that Momoko’s cancer has spread and now becomes terminal. She told Satoshi during their trip, and that is the reason for his changed behaviour. After a short stay in a hospice, Momoko passed away peacefully. Takako promises Momoko that she will look after Satoshi. Inevitably, Satoshi is inconsolable with grief and he shuts the bookshop and everything looks crumbling into pieces. What he needs is a good cry but he wouldn’t admit to this or do it. He is the kind of man who cannot show his weakness in public. In the end, Takako takes on the running of the shop and finally both cry like babies late into night and several weeks later, the Morisaki Bookshop opens again.