What we read in March
In the Garden - Essays on Nature and Growing
Another entry in the Daunt books series of glorious and random essays (other topics include kitchens, rivers and swimming) this time on gardening. From family fruit orchards in Provence to aphid biology these are fascinating and delightful even for the gardening novice.
Gunn's unsettling and disquieting collection of short stories has been shortlist for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for fiction at this year's Ockham book awards. Set across the UK and New Zealand, the stories dip their toes into the horror genre with blood soaked gardens, mutant fish and the very human responses of jealousy, disgust and moral cruelty. Blood Knowledge was my favourite.
Spanning Singapore, Sri Lanka, and contemporary Aotearoa, "Amma" traces three generations of women—Josephina, Sithara, and Annie—whose lives are irrevocably shaped by a single, traumatic event in Josephina's past. De Silva crafts nuanced, deeply human portraits, revealing their resilience as they strive to build better futures despite inherited pain. This is a vital contribution to Aotearoa's literary landscape.
Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings
When Deidre was a teenager her brother Ross, a budding terrorist and bomb builder blew up their home, leaving Deidre with half a leg missing. Now, with her daughter Monica living overseas and little to occupy her time, Deidre's day revolves around the local pub's opening hours and waiting for the water truck in their drought stricken township. When two police show up at her door claiming that black babies were buried alive in the back garden of her childhood home, Deidre's carefully balanced life begins to topple. Jennings portrays a bleak future for a South Africa gripped by drought, social unrest and corruption in this depressing and brutal read.
The Bookshop Detectives - Dead Girl Gone by Gareth & Louise Ward
Garth and Eloise are former police officers who left the UK for NZ after being involved in the case of a serial killer who targeted up and coming authors. They now run a bookshop in Havelock North, own a rescue dog and play D&D. One day a mysterious package turns up on their doorstep, inviting them to investigate the cold case disappearance of local school girl Tracey Jarvis over 20 years earlier. Naturally, they can't help but get stuck in. At the same time a book rep as told them that a world famous author wants to launch her newest book in their shop in less that 2 months. A quirky cast of characters and a few red herrings makes this an unpredictable mystery that will appeal to those who like their crime on the cosier side.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
In this retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, Kingfisher introduces Alex Easton, a 'sworn soldier' who comes to the aid of their childhood friend Madeline Usher a woman plagued with a mystery disease. As Madeline worsens, her brother Roderick, American doctor Denton and redoubtable mycologist Miss Potter (aunt to the equally redoubtable Beatrix) search for an answer which may very well lie in the crumbling mansion itself. A creepy, clever and humourous take on the original and I especially enjoyed the way she plays with ideas around gender.
A lot like Soldier Sailor did last year, Nightbitch hit home as a mother who is also trying to retain her humanity. Both novels are visceral in their content, but Nightbitch tips over into the horror territory with animal killings and mutilations which may put some readers off! Yoder captures the inner wolfness of all women who struggle to find themselves again after having children in a world that is not set up for it. Disturbing and very clever.
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
On the eve of her daughter's wedding, Gail Baines finds her feet swept out from under her - she quits her job after a professional insult, her daughter doesn't want her at her pre-wedding spa day, and her ex-husband and his rescue cat invite themselves to stay for the duration of the festivities. In typical Anne Tyler fashion Gail and her family are utterly human characters who reflect the best and worst of human nature. Her writing style is understated yet penetrative and will appeal to those who love the styles of Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett.
When the body of a cyclist is found in an abandoned shed, DS George Cross and his team must untangle a messy mix of drug dealers, gym bros, restaurateurs and shady family members to find a killer. Cross' unorthodox and oftentimes bizarre investigation methods adds a layer of complexity to the case and keeps the pages turning nicely.
Somewhere Else by Jenni Daiches
In the heart of a 1901 Polish shtetl, Rosa, a young Jewish girl, witnesses the loss of her family in a brutal pogrom. Transported to Edinburgh, she finds refuge with a kind, childless couple, forging an enduring bond with the neighbouring Mackintosh brothers. The narrative unfolds over a century, tracing the intertwined lives of Rosa's descendants and the Mackintoshes through two world wars, political upheavals, and personal tragedies. Daiches masterfully portrays the humanity of this sprawling cast, grounding the sweeping historical backdrop in the intimate lives of two families, creating a quietly powerful saga.
