Archive | June 2023

The Girl From Venice by Siobhan Daiko

Jun13

So Powerful, So Brave

The Girl From Venice by Siobhan Daiko is a powerful dual timeline novel that has its roots in fact.

The tale is set in 2010 and also during World War II in Italy. It is a search for roots after a grandmother has passed away. All her life, her upbringing has been kept secret for fear of re-living the past. “A painful past still too raw to re-live.” Finding a photo, leads to a trip of discovery that reveals not only the past but also sheds light on roots for the present.

Italy 2010 was very different from war torn Italy. In 2010 the reader ‘feels’ the light, the heat, the food and the welcoming atmosphere. All of which spring to life under the artistic pen of Siobhan Daiko.

In complete contrast Italy during the war years was a terrifying place to be especially if you were Jewish. After Italy’s ceasefire with Britain and America, the Nazi’s marched in, rounding up the Jewish people. Bitter battles with partisans followed, with severe reprisals. Siobhan Daiko has captured the fear and also shown the bravery of the ordinary citizens.

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All Creatures Come & Sing by Kristina Schoette

Jun10

Simply Beautiful

All Creatures Come And Sing by Kristina Schoette is a simply beautiful Christian book for the under fives. I think adults would appreciate its beauty too.

The story surrounds the hymn All Creatures Of Our God & King by William Henry Draper. It is a hymn that I am familiar with which enabled me to sing along in my head.

The message of the story is that we need to share our praises with all. It reminded me that Jesus said to go into all the world to make disciples, and also to not hide our light under a bushel.

We have the Good News of Jesus and it is too good not to share. We need to give the hope we have to a world in desperate need of hope and good news.

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The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh

Jun10

A Field Of Four Leaf Clover

The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh is a most delightful contemporary novel that I adored.

The tale is about community, love and friendship. The reader drops in to glimpse friendships formed fifty years ago in primary school, remain. The village is community-minded. They laugh together, love together and provide support where it is needed.

All the characters are well drawn and realistic. They are an eclectic bunch, such as you would find in any close-knit community. They have very differing traits from Dangerous Dave to a pig named Nadine who is very much a character in her own right. Their interactions are wonderful to witness. There were times when I literally laughed out loud.

I also enjoyed the fact that the majority of characters were over sixty with the former teacher being ninety years old. Growing old does not mean we cannot have fun. The former teacher still had the authority to put her former pupils in their places too!

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The Price by Darren O’Sullivan

Jun8

Totally Gripping

The Price by Darren O’Sullivan is a fabulous contemporary crime thriller that I just could not put down. It consumed my every moment.

Darren O’Sullivan has created an exciting, well thought out and executed plotline. As the action heated up, so my pulse rate rose… and just when I thought the action couldn’t get any more tense… it did!

The story is written from alternating points of view and in the first person and as such, we appreciate and experience the action from different viewpoints. I identified with the female lead. I could sense her desperation and desolation at times, as well as the hope she held on to. “Amongst the grief and the worry was hope.” If hope dies, it is an awful wasteland to inhabit.

We follow parents through a terrible diagnosis for their child. The support group sessions are as vital as breathing. “There were no words to help, but having people to listen meant everything.” We all need people to listen when we feel alone. It helps to hear positive words, giving us something to cling to. Conversely if we hear negative situations and words, our hope shrivels.

A mother’s love is fiercely protective. There is nothing a mother will not do in order to help her child – no matter how young or old they are.

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