A Thousand Splendid Suns

In Khaled Hosseini's second novel A Thousand Splendid Suns portrays life in Kabul as a woman. Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of a rich man who grows up in squalor with her mother. After the loss of her mother, Mariam is forced into a marriage to a cruel man who beats emotionally and physically. Laila is the daughter of a teacher who looks forward to a future with education and achievements. In a moment her life takes a turn and she too finds herself in a marriage where domestic violence is frequent. The two become close friends through an unlikely situation.

I must admit, I loved this book. If I had to choose, I would say that I preferred it to The Kite Runner.

Mercy

Jodi Picoult explores the balance of relationships and just how far will one go for the person they love.

Cam MacDonald is Chief of Police in Wheelock, Massachusetts where honour and tradition are upheld. Cam's world is turned upside down when two strangers come to town. The first, Cam's cousin, Jamie MacDonald confesses to murdering his ailing wife. The second, Mia slips into town and becomes an assistant at his wife's floral shop and begins to infiltrate his heart. What follows is a story that explores the notions of euthanasia, undying love and betrayal.

Where normally I can't put Picoult's book down and am challenged to face my own beliefs on the issues, Mercy fell flat for me. I didn't really like any of the characters and did not feel any empathy for their conditions or situations.

Saturday

Ian McEwan deftly portrays the uncertainties of our post-9/11 world. Saturday follows Henry Perowne, a highly respected neurosurgeon, one full day. Perowne awakes in the very early hours of the morning to see an airplane in flames making an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport. In post-9/11 days the perception of a burning airplane making an emergency landing is disturbing and upsetting. The day continues with a series of intertwined events lead to a family crisis ending the day.

I enjoyed McEwan's writing and his insight into a world that struggles to find balance post 9/11. However, I dragged through the book, which I think was more representative of how tired I was at the time, than how much I liked the book.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

Lorna Landvik created five fascinating women of Freesia Court who find each other one fateful snowy evening during a snow ball fight. What seemed like a chance meeting turns into a monthly book club where Faith, Audrey, Merit, Slip and Kari share everything from their dreams and fears. All aspects of life are bared from children, marriage, Vietnam, political protests, domestic violence and homophobia.

I wanted so much to enjoy this book, but it fell flat for me. I have reflected for a few weeks on why I did not love the book the way I thought I would. I have wondered if it is because of a busy life that does not allow me to read longer than two minutes before falling asleep. Or, if it was the way the narration of the novel skipped from character to character with each chapter. Either way, the book was alright for me.

Plain Truth

Plain Truth is a story of relationships. Katie Fisher is a young, unmarried Amish girl who is accused of smothering her newborn infant. Ellie Hathaway is a lawyer attempting to take a sabbatical from her career when circumstances bring the two of them together. Ellie begins to represent Katie who not only claims did not smother her infant, but swears she was never pregnant in the first place. To meet the bail stipulation Ellie moves in with the Fisher family. Through the court scenes and the scenes on the Amish farm Ellie and Katie's relationship builds and heals them both in ways that neither thought would ever happen. In true Picoult fashion the story raises many questions as one reads on and tries to find the twist that will inevitably come.

I enjoyed the book, but am beginning to wonder if I have read too many Jodi Picoult books. I love how she shows me all the gray in situations that I judge black or white, but I spend the novel trying to guess the big twist rather than enjoying the characters. Plain Truth gave me a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle in such a way that I gained respect for living Plain.