#22-24
#22 Ken Follett: Winter of the World (audio)
I enjoyed this second installment in the trilogy no less than the first, although the narrator has occasional problems with Russian names and foreign words such as "jugend". It was interesting to see WWII through the eyes of different people from different countries. I have no doubt that the background was meticulously researched, but I found it surprising that after describing Pearl Harbour, D-Day, Battle for Moscow, concentration camps and hard post war conditions, there is not a word about the siege of Leningrad. I could not help but notice that the author mentions several times that in post-war Berlin, the rations were measly 1500 kcal a day. At the height of the siege, the rations were 125g of bread a day, but somehow that part of the war got entirely dropped from the story.
#23 John Grisham: Sycamore Row
In Clanton, an old man kills himself and leaves all his considerable fortune not to his family, but to his black housemaid. Jake is asked to defend the will. In the process ancient history comes to light to explain the surprising decision. A good fast-paced court drama, although I found some characters, in particular that of Lettie, the housemaid, to be too sketchy.
#24 Essie Fox. Elijah's Mermaid
I guess, this would qualify as a gothic novel. Difficult to say anything about it - a wonderful mix of fairy tale, mystery and Victorian cruelty. Absolutely loved it!
I enjoyed this second installment in the trilogy no less than the first, although the narrator has occasional problems with Russian names and foreign words such as "jugend". It was interesting to see WWII through the eyes of different people from different countries. I have no doubt that the background was meticulously researched, but I found it surprising that after describing Pearl Harbour, D-Day, Battle for Moscow, concentration camps and hard post war conditions, there is not a word about the siege of Leningrad. I could not help but notice that the author mentions several times that in post-war Berlin, the rations were measly 1500 kcal a day. At the height of the siege, the rations were 125g of bread a day, but somehow that part of the war got entirely dropped from the story.
#23 John Grisham: Sycamore Row
In Clanton, an old man kills himself and leaves all his considerable fortune not to his family, but to his black housemaid. Jake is asked to defend the will. In the process ancient history comes to light to explain the surprising decision. A good fast-paced court drama, although I found some characters, in particular that of Lettie, the housemaid, to be too sketchy.
#24 Essie Fox. Elijah's Mermaid
I guess, this would qualify as a gothic novel. Difficult to say anything about it - a wonderful mix of fairy tale, mystery and Victorian cruelty. Absolutely loved it!