The National Year of Reading theme for August was Question. Here at Nowra Library we chose to look Behind the Veil for our question reads, focusing on the way that others – particularly women- live in other parts of the world. We decided to question the ideas and perceptions about how women live in cultures that are different to our own and the experiences that we may not know about. Of course, we made this theme an optional one. We don’t like being bossy, and so we ended up (as we usually do!) with a lovely mixed bag of genres and authors.
Here’s the list:
A Beggar at the Gate by Thalassa Ali
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden world of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
Three Moons Over Sedona by Sherry Hartzler
While We’re Far Apart by Lynne N. Austin
Golden Earrings by Belinda Alexander
Autumn Laing by Alex Miller
The Heart Garden by Janine Burke
Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Best Magnolia Hotel by Deborah Moggart
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak
The Spare Room: A Novel by Helen Garner
The Silent Girl (A Rizzoli and Isles novel) by Tess Gerritsen
Agatha Christie novels
In Session: Dr Morgan Snow with Steve Barry’s Cotton Malone, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher & Barry Eisler’s John Rain by M.J Rose
Still Life With Crows (Pendergast 4) by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (Gruesome!)
The Angels’ Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally
The Hunter by Julia Leigh
Bad Signs by RJ Ellory
Talulla Rising by Glen Duncan
Oswald’s Ghost by Norman Mailer
Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs Oscar Wilde by Franny Moyle
Most talked about reads
The Angels’ Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon- by all accounts an amazing read. Quirky, gothic, ironic, humorous and beautiful… Many of our members and staff also love Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind.
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks- While working in the Middle East as a journalist, Brooks was in the position to better understand the cultural, political and religious forces that shape life behind the veil. ‘Written with a journalist’s eye for detail, this is an insightful and revealing read.’ – Janet
Talulla Rising by Glen Duncan ‘Fast paced and easy to read with no wasted words. At first this novel was hilarious and erotic, but it became too perverse and blood thirsty and I found myself barracking for the vampires.’ Elaine : )
‘On the other hand, I loved it almost as much as I loved it’s predecessor, The Last Werewolf. I can’t wait to read the next instalment in the series.’ – Kelly
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini ‘Depicts the suffering of women in Afghanistan, born into poverty and circumstances which are impossible to get out of, without education. Dtories of incredible hardship, mentally and physically and the endurance that humans have- the capacity to hope and to survive.’ Janet
Golden Earrings by Belinda Alexander ‘The granddaughter of Spanish refugees discovers flamenco dancing, delves into her fanily’s past to discover present truths. The truth can only be found by digging up the past.’ – Joan
Bad Signs by R.J Ellory – ‘This is Ellory’s latest novel and it is a chilling page turner. As always the author doesn’t disappoint his readers. This book is loosely based on real events that took place in the early 1900’s in the same location. As always will be eagerly awaiting Ellory’s next novel!’ – Elaine
Happy reading everyone!!
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