Archive | July 2022

Brisbane by Eugene Vodolazkin

Jul22

An Ethereal Beauty

Brisbane by Eugene Vodolazkin (translated by Marian Schwartz) is an epic contemporary novel that drew me in from the start.

It is a novel that focuses on a life in both relatively present day and the 1970’s moving forwards.

Brisbane is also a celebration of the arts – Gleb is a musician but he also loves words, exploring their impact in the novel. He is conflicted between the Russian and the Ukrainian in him.

The main character has a mixed relationship with his father, also a musician, who seems to enjoy putting his son down. Gleb strives to make his father proud.

In contrast there is a loving relationship with his grandfather who sustains and encourages Gleb. He also introduces him to God. Religion was not encouraged in Soviet Russia as a communist country, when Gleb was growing up. Gleb dreads having the dilemma as to whether to acknowledge his faith or to deny it. Gleb finds comfort in knowing God.

Continue reading →

Lifesaving For Beginners by Josie Lloyd

Jul21

Living Real Life Together

Lifesaving For Beginners by Josie Lloyd is a marvellous contemporary novel that enchanted me from the start.

The novel is about female friendship as a group of women bond over open water swimming in the sea at Brighton. They are various ages with differing life experiences. As they meet over swimming, they soon become a support network, championing each other and offering love and friendship.

Life impacts us all differently but we all need female friendship to offer advice – ladies who have more experience of travelling down the road of life. The ladies range from mid thirties to seventies and have a wealth of experience – from a lost love to a widow to a mother of two.

We see how women’s roles have changed over the years and how it is important to share how we are feeling with those around us. Our sons need educating in women’s life cycles so they can sympathise with what we go through.

As family relationships have broken down, we witness the desperate love of a mother searching for her son.

Continue reading →

Old Friends Reunited by Maddie Please

Jul17

Grab Life With Both Hands

 Old Friends Reunited by Maddie Please is a delightful contemporary novel that will put a smile on your face.

The leading characters are three sixty year old women who have been friends since school. It is lovely to get glimpses of the girls they once were as they reminisce. It is refreshing to have leading characters who are not in the first flush of youth. They were very easy for me to relate to.

We see that life is for living. While we are still breathing, we can still grab life with both hands. We may retire from our jobs but we do not need to retire from life.

A jaded life is given a new lease, fresh inspiration and the opportunity to try new things. Life opens up after accepting an invitation to travel from Britain to reunite with school friends in France. Life in Britain seems grey in contrast to the vibrancy of France.

As the novel progresses it is a joy to see a life blossom.

Our children always need us no matter how old they are. Too often they see us as their mum and not a person in our own right with a life to live that is ours alone.

Continue reading →

The Extraordinary Deaths Of Mrs Kip by Sara Brunsvold

Jul12

Hidden Warriors

The Extraordinary Deaths Of Mrs Kip by Sara Brunsvold is the most charming and heart-warming Christian novel that will sink into your soul. Every now and again a novel comes along that just completely swamps you with love and beauty – and this is that novel. It overwhelmed me with its love, care and beauty.

The novel shows us that “so long as we have breath, the Lord calls to our hearts.” There are no retirement plans in the kingdom of God as demonstrated by the leading lady, seventy nine year old Clara Kip. Her outlook is friendly and chirpy. Her spirit is alive with the love of God. As her body fades, her spirit becomes more alive than ever.

Age has no boundaries to friendship as we view the beautiful bond between Mrs Kip and a young newspaper reporter. Time is short but friendship runs deep.

Much of the setting is in a home for people dying of cancer. It is far from gloomy as Mrs Kip injects life and love. As she enters, “she clung to the belief that the Lord had something for her here.” We are called to serve the Lord wherever we are.

We see the dream to help those who cannot help themselves. The desire is to show the love of Jesus to all. “Show me how I can serve you today among these people.” Mrs Kip had a huge capacity for love which she spread everywhere.

Continue reading →