Lawrence - The Fox/The Captain's Doll/The Ladybird

I read this for work, although reading Lawrence feels a bit like coming home to me. I was first introduced to Lawrence by my Year 12 Lit teacher in 1996, and it seems only fair that I begin to introduce Lawrence at my own school now.

One of the most unique and compelling things about Lawrence's writing is his exploration of female sexuality - and that is certainly a theme of this collection of novellas. Many feminsist criticise Lawrence for the way he portrays them - he often casts them in sexual thrall to some masculine entity, a dark attraction (often one they know is no good) that they can't deny. But I say, at least he was acknowledging women as sexual creatures in a time when we still liked to keep them as covered and docile as possible.

This runs through all three of the novellas in this collection. They also concern men and women before, during or after the First World War. The first concerns two women who have set themselves up alone on a farm (I'd be interested to hear if anyone else picks up definite homosexual undertones here - which again would not be out of character for Lawrence) only to have their solitude disturbed by two 'foxes'. The first fox is actual - a crafty creature that they cannot manage to keep away from their henhouse. And yet March, the more masculine of the two who does most of the physical work on the farm, cannot help but be drawn to the creature. The second fox is symbolic, although the situation is similar. A young man returning from war and seeking relatives who left the farm years ago, arrives to also 'prey on their henhouse'.

The Captain's Doll in my opinion is the weakest of the three. A Countess is attracted to a Scottish soldier, despite the fact that she knows he is no longer capable of loving her. But his sexual magnetism is apparently too much to resist.

The third story, The Ladybird, is the most compelling, especially towards the end of the story where there are several beautiful quotes. A young English woman begins to visit a German prisoner of war, and again finds herself strangely drawn to him in ways that will turn her world upside down when her husband returns from war. This romance is dark and almost gothic with declarations of love such as "In the dark you are mine. And when you die you are mine. But in the day you are not mine, because I have no power in the day. In the night, in the dark, and in death, you are mine. And that is forever".

I think I feel some swooning out there in cyberspace, as I felt myself!

Lawrence is always amazing, and these three (particularly the last) are wonderful examples of his liberated genius.

Harris' Holy Fools a Hit

Again, I can blame my reading of this one on the whole Talking Book thing.

However, it was lovely after my last reading of Harris, to revist her at her best. Holy Fools has a lot of the magic of Chocolat, but as darker and more mysterious.

Set in 17th century France, Juliet (once a actor and tight-rope walker) lives in a remote abbey where she is raising her five-year-old daughter, Fleur. But the abbey of Sainte Marie de la Mer is about to receive a visitor - one who knows Juliet far too well.

When Guy LeMerle arrives disguised as a cleric, Juliet realises this costume can only hide his most dazzling and malicious performance of all. And when Guy realises his old companion Juliet is there, he feels compelled to draw her into his schemes through any means necessary.

Harris pokes a bit of fun at religious fanatacism here, which always sits well with me, and tells a thrilling and engaging story. This is definitely worth looking at - you are guaranteed to enjoy it.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

This was an 'it' book a few years ago, and my new fondness for audio books while I am driving or exercising is forcing me to diversify a little. In this case, finally reading such a recognisable book was really a good thing.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is an interesting blend of fact with a little bit of fiction... very Truman Capote.

Berendt himself narrates the story of Jim Williams, a Savannah native accused of the murder of one of his employees - a young attractive man called Danny Hansford. There is a strong suggestion by the prosecution that Hansford and Williams were lovers. Williams was a wealthy older bachelor in the antique business who seemed to employ Hansford to live with him for spurious reasons.

The case was interesting - Williams claimed self-defence, but no gunshot residue was found on Hansford. It took four trials before Williams was finally cleared. But more importantly, the novel paints a fascinating portrait of Savannah itself, a place Berendt had a growing passion for. He came on a short trip, and ended up returning for gradually extending periods of time, until it was clear that he really lived in Savannah, and only made the most necessary trips back to New York.

Berendt, a journalist by trade, approaches the story as it unfolds in much the same way. However, whereas in the book Berendt claims to have been in Savannah and acquainted with Williams and the action of the book long before the shooting, in reality he had only met Williams a year after he was arrested. He has fictionalised and added himself to aspects of the story that he was told of later, to paint a better picture.

Berendt, openly gay himself, paints us many interesting character portraits. The most notable (the one that "got to him" most), was the Lady Chablis, a pre-operative transsexual who never planned on actually having the operation. This feisty Southern Belle is one of the most memorable characters in the story, although not central to it.

Fascinatingly, Berendt openly explores the aura of voodoo and black magic that surrounds the south, and describes in detail the woman of power Williams hires to help him with his case. The title comes from a particular excursion she takes Williams and Berendt on, to a cemetary. She says she must work in the half hour before midnight to do good, and the half hour after midnight to do evil.

This was more enjoyable than I expected, and well worth a look. The Talking Book only goes for about three hours.

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult's books are usually worth a look (The Pact is pretty good) and people have raved and raved to me about My Sister's Keeper.

The premise is pretty interesting. Anna, a thirteen-year-old girl was conceived after doctors told her parents that cord blood might be a useful tool in helping to save their elder daughter Kate who has a very rare form of cancer.

But it doesn't just stop with cord blood. Anna has donated blood, bone marrow and now they are asking for a kidney.

One day, Anna marches into lawyer Campbell Alexander's office, filing suit for medical emancipation. She no longer wants to be a donor to her sister - for whom a kidney transplant is a last (and only a small) chance.

It is an intriguing case - does Anna have the right to make these decisions? Are her parents acting in her best interests? And is Anna ready for the backlash if she is successful - and her sister dies?

The book creates interesting character relationships, particularly between Anna and Kate, who are so similar as to be mistaken for twins. The reader is led to question, why would Anna do this to a sister she loves so much?

Ultimately, just when you think there are no easy answers and you wait with bated breath to see what Picoult will do, she takes what I feel was an "easy way out". The web of ethics, morals and repercussions fades as the narrative twists in not altogether unexpected ways at the end. I am a little disappointed that Picoult didn't feel there was a resolution to the issues at hand - I was kind of looking forward to seeing where they would go.

Not bad overall, but don't expect the ethical debate to go all the way up to the deep end of the pool.

Harlan Coben

I’ve read two Cobens now – a stand alone recommended to me by a friend called The Woods, and one of Coben’s famous Myron Bolitar novels, Promise Me.

I always say to my students, if you can plot a mystery – you can plot anything. Structurally and in terms of writing, in many ways mysteries are simple texts. The focus of the writer appears to shift solely to plot. How do you keep your readers guessing for as long as possible?

If this is the measure of a good mystery, the Coben does have some success. Promise Me was less predictable than The Woods – there was a nice spin at the end. And while these are fun once in a while, I prefer something with a little more focus on character. Still, I would recommend Promise Me if in the mood.

Eragon...Can it replace Harry Potter?

A student gave me Eragon to read, and I took it knowing that it has captured the imagination of so many teen minds. I have thought about reading it so often that I figured it was probably time!

When approaching this novel, I could not help but think about Harry Potter. While Paolini’s series is by no means the “new kid on the block”, I think a lot of people are just waiting for the next series that is going to become part of the vernacular the way that Harry has.

So, is Paolini up to the task? It took me a little while to get into it, but ultimately I did enjoy my reading experience. It answers just enough questions to make the novel satisfying, while leaving just enough mystery for one to be motivated to chase up book two.

Eragon is a young man (late teens?) who finds a strange stone in a deserted part of the country. It is little surprise to readers that this is in fact a dragon egg. Dragons were thought all but extinct, as the last remaining dragon is in the power of the evil king Galbatorix. However, the fact that the egg hatches for Eragon, places a huge responsibility on his shoulders – for it marks him as a “Rider”, one destined to fight for truth and justice. This puts him inevitably at odds with Galbatorix even before he really understands what is going on.

Eragon grows up and develops amazing abilities in this first book (which of course, all the teenage readers lap up), and while much of his hidden past is revealed, there is still so much more.

So will I read book two (Eldest)? Probably, yes. Is it the new Harry Potter? I am unsure. But it took a few books before I really loved Harry too.