Book of the Week: ‘Ghosts of a Tsunami’
Ghosts of the TsunamiRichard Lloyd Parry2017, 295 pagesSetting: Northeast Coast of Japan A huge earthquake hit just off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. It was “the fourth most powerful earthquake known in the history of seismology. It knocked the Earth 10 inches off its axis.” The 120-foot-high tsunami it created slammed into northern Japan obliterating everything in its path. There were at least “18,500 people (who) died in the...
Book of the Week: ‘Young Jane Young’
Young Jane YoungGabrielle Zevin294 pagesFiction Young and naïve college student Aviva Grossman makes the biggest mistake of her life when she has an affair with a married congressman. After the affair comes to light, Aviva’s once promising career in politics is over. She just wants to put the whole mess behind her but no one will hire her. Aviva takes drastic measures: changing her name, leaving her family and moving thousands of...
Book of the Week: ‘The Sleepwalker’
The Sleepwalker Chris Bohjalian 2017, 284 pages Fiction Analee Ahlberg is a sleepwalker whose affliction manifests itself in ways both devastating and bizarre. She has spray-painted the hydrangea bushes silver and has been seen walking along the bridge over the Gale River at night pretending to be a statue. For the last four years through medication and the sleep center she has managed her behavior. Then one night she disappears. Her...
Book of the Week: ‘Furthermore’
FurthermoreTahereh Mafi2016, 401 pagesChildren’s fantasy When her 12th birthday arrives, Alice Alexis Queensmeadow lives in a town where magic is farmed, carefully controlled and turned into currency. Each child there has her own magical gift, and at the age of 12 is assigned a task that uses that gift. Alice meets Oliver, a much disliked older boy who is still on his own quest, and he convinces her to come with him to the land of...
Book of the week: ‘Wishbones’
WishbonesVirginia Macgregor2017, 384 pagesYoung Adult Tucker is a skinny young teen who loves her family and loves swimming. She’s never cared that her mother is overweight. She thinks that her mother is beautiful; as beautiful as a movie star. Feather and her Dad take care of her Mum, who is so overweight that she will not go out of the house. Her Mum is scared of going outside, running out of food, hospitals and the water. So she...