Reading on the plane

One free checked-in bag, that's what they allow on trips to England. So I packed lightly, checked it in, and carried books and kindle in my computer case. The books were for reading in crowded lounges and on planes during that period where "electronic devices" are turned off. The kindle was for the long long hours of flying, though I actually watched quite a few movies as well, and even slept some of the time. And the space in the bag was for bringing back presents (and books!). So now I'm back, and here's some book reviews I wrote on the computer but didn't post due to blogger's read-only down-time coinciding with my English, hey-let's-try-the-internet time. As usual, click on the blue links to read full reviews on Gather.

Literary fiction:

The Girl in the Garden, by Kamala Nair is a beautiful story, filled with mystery, the scent of flowers and the wonder of a child. The writing's as rich as the tale--definitely one to read with a 4-star, rich, complex cup of coffee.

Children, by Maggie Clark, is an oddly unsettling novellette told with richly poetic language. The children of the title might be those in danger, the kidnapped, the killed, or maybe just the people around us who haven't quite grown up. The story's dark and gritty, wrapped round a haunting mystery--to be read with a 5-star bold dark intense cup of coffee.

Megan’s Way, by Melissa Foster will soon be coming out as a movie and it was a finalist in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. It's one of those books that defies genres, part paranormal, part family drama, part spiritual and magical, even part mystery. The characters all become very real and the dialog's excellent. Meanwhile the mysteries of truth and lies leave haunting echoes in the mind. Take a 3-star balanced coffee with this one.

Mystery:

Revenge Served Cold, by Jackie Fullerton reminded me of Randall and Hopkirk deceased--a childhood favorite on TV. Anne Marshall's a part-time law student and the ghost of her father helps investigating crimes. In this novel, a law professor has died and his wife's accused of murder. Anne and friends come to the rescue. Great to read with that 3-star balanced coffee balanced on your knees at the beach.

Children's Books:

Redheart, by Jackie Gamber, sets up an intriguing medieval world of people and dragons, where greed has overwhelmed the old order of mutual assistance and battles loom. There's great dialog, fun characters, pleasing themes of friendship and honor, and a nice completeness to the tale despite this being the first ina series. If kids get to drink coffee I'll offer them a 2-star bright and lively cup with this read.

Effie at the Wedding, by Tracy Marchini, tells a delightful tale, interspersed with hilarious lists, from the point of view of a bride's little sister who just might prefer hiding in the bathroom to revealing her hideous pink dress. Take a 2-star living cup of coffee with this one too, and be careful not to spill it when laughing.