Category: Other 5 out of 5s

Naomi Alderman’s — The power *****

Naomi Alderman’s — The power *****

Roxy, the powerful, Margo, the politician, Tunde, the journalist and Allie, Mother Eve are the key characters who witness and are part of a new era exploding all over the world. Young girls develop a power that sends men rioting because they can’t accept they are now the weaker sex.

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Rachel Joyce’s — Miss Benson’s beetle *****

Rachel Joyce’s — Miss Benson’s beetle *****

Frumpy Margery Benson is a middle-aged English spinster who works as a home science teacher. Her three older brothers are killed in WW11. Her parents die. And her remaining two aunts die. Her life is lonely and boring, until she discovers a note with a comical caricature of herself being passed around her sniggering classroom. She storms out of the school stealing the head mistress’s boots, and is determined to leave England still suffering from rationing after the war. Margery decides to chase the dream she abandoned after her father’s suicide, and discover the golden beetle of New Caledonia .

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Sophie Perinot’s — Medicis daughter *****

Sophie Perinot’s — Medicis daughter *****

This novel has an average rating from my local library readers, but I found it a fascinating insight into the Valois dynasty seen through the eyes of Marguerite de Valois during the 16th century. Although King Charles heads the French dynasty, his mother, Catherine de Medicis, is the one who makes all the political decisions. Her schemes to maintain and increase her family’s rule include marrying her off to any man if it will increase the family’s power. The Queen’s desire to maintain a stronghold on its kingdom culminates in the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre when thousands of Huguenot are slaughtered.

Will Margurerite realize what kind of a person her mother really is, and overcome her desire to please her?

Sadie Jones’s — The outcast *****

Sadie Jones’s — The outcast *****

In 1950s England, Lewis’s mother drinks a bottle of wine, and drowns while out on a picnic with her son. Because of his failure to save his mother, Lewis’s response to his guilt becomes unruly and he lands in jail. On his release, he discovers the past is ever present within both his remaining family and his village community that no longer trust him.