July 2011 - Book 18

The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble

At the beginning of a new year, a group of five woman meet to form a reading group. Through the course of the year and the books that they read, we get involved in their lives. It turns out to be a most eventful year all round and the choice of books strangely reflects the twists and turns the lives of the characters takes.

The story is told in wonderful, easy to read language without being too simple. I loved the wonderful woman created for this story- each one unique and charming in their own way. Each developing and growing through the year in their own way. Wishing that I could be friends with every single one of them.

A truly charming and gripping read this is a great bookclub choice as most woman will find a like minded  friend in at least one of the characters. I also loved how the writer suggests books at the end of the book for reading groups and I intend to read some of these suggestions as well as the books read in the book during the course of the next year.

A totally charming 8 and a half/10

March 2009 -Book no 10

My apologies to my English readers - this book has not been translated, hence I will do the review in Afrikaans as well.

Fortuin deur Chanette Paul
Die verhaal speel af in 'n retreat vir siele wat soek na verdieping of verandering in hule lewe, Of Eva 'n heks of 'n engel is, is elke een se eie opinie, Dan word die eerste gas op die plaas vermoor en die nimlike Fortuintjie raak betrokke by die saak.

Hierdie is 'n heelike spanningsverhaal wat verras op elke bladsy. Die karakters is ryk geklee  en werklik interessant en die skrywer wek deernis met interessante gewone mense se lewens. Ek kon nie wag om haar volgende boek te lees nie.

Chanette het aanvanklik hygromans geskryf en daarvoor bekend geword - nie 'n genre wat ek enigsens lees nie. Maar hierdie is ware spanningsverhale - as jy van Deon Meyer hou, sal jy hiervan hou.

Hierdie boek kan alleen gelees word, maar ek sal aanbeveel dat jy eers "Springgety" lees - die eerste boek in die Kruisbaai trilogie. Die boeke volg nie op mekaar nie, maar sommige karakters is in almal teenwoordig en daar word tog verwys na die vorige boek. Ek sal ook weldra "Boheem", die derde boek in die reeks resenseer.

Cat se opinie: 'n Lekkerlees 8,5/10

March 2009 -Book no 8

Learning to Fly by Roxanne Henke
I am not a huge fan of Christian  fiction type books but we seem to have quite a few in the Book club. I would never have bought this book or even lend it from the library, but it caught my eye in the Book club box, and I took it home. An wow, what a great read!

It is a well written simple story of two girls growing up in the same town in two very different households with very different discipline and parenting rules. The message of this book has been in the back of my mind ever since I read it (which is more than a year ago), and I often stand back and think about a situation that is playing out in our home and weighing the consequences according to the stories in this book.

A must read for every Christian mom - and entertaining too.

Cat's rating: A well deserved 8,5/10

July 2009 - Book no 23

In stead of trying to catch up on books from January, I would rather review them as I go along and catch up on the rest as I go on. As you can see, I am right on track with my target - actually 2 books ahead of schedule, but believe me with what I am busy at present, I am going to need that bit of play.

Book 23: The Secrets of the Notebook by Eve Haas.
I can not find this book at Amazon, but it is published by Harpertrue in the United Kingdom.

Imagine fleeing before the Nazi's and leaving your aged Grandmother behind, hoping she would go unnoticed. Imagine not hearing from her after 1943. Imagine being shown a notebook by your great grandmother on your 16th birthday, just to be denied reading it until you mothers death. And imagine finding out that you are the decedent of one of the biggest war heroes and wealthiest princes to have ever lived. And that you are not even Jewish. And that your Gran was murdered by the Nazis who was one of this prince's biggest admirers.

Yes, this is what Eve Haas finds out in a long search for her origins. It is a well written and fascinating story exploring the Prussian, Nazi era and cold war eras at the same time. What is even more amazing is that this is a 100% true story. I have not told you half of what happens, so do read this little book, it is a great read.
A fascinating 8,5/10