Inbetween Days

by Vikki Wakefield

Since I loved 'Friday Brown', I couldn't resist reading another by the same author. Without being unkind, I am 200pages in and struggling to smash through the last 100 or so pages. It is an easy read but I am finding the conflict is underwhelming.
So there's Jack (a girl, short for Jacklin) who is grubby, promiscuous, confused, unemployed... even her dog is deaf and nearly blind. What's not to like? The sister that she moved in with to escape her domineering mother (and her stupid father) has suddenly turned all sensible and is echoing her mother's words and behaviour. Jack has taken to being in a relationship with a lovely neighbourhood friend (Jeremiah) as she was rejected by her friend-with-benefits Luke. You can't help but feel she is using him - he is a bit asperger's, and clearly has genuine feelings of affection for Jack:

   Jeremiah monitored my expression. 'You don't have to lie,' he said. 'I called. You got the message. You didn't call back. You've filled the gap in my logic.' He got up and pushed his chair under the counter. 'Look, I'm no good at trying to read body language and subtext or between lines - all that guff. Just tell me up front, okay? Now, do you want a drink? Would you like something to eat?'
   'I'm sorry... I would have...'
   'I changed the subject. It's terribly rude to change it back.' He flashed a smile that let me off the hook, 'Shall I put the kettle on or do you want something else?'  (p.208) 

I will chuck another post up once I finish the book. It will simply read, 'Thumbs up,' or 'Thumbs down.'

Miss ^__^

So here's the final entry. Thumbs up, but bleak. Not a very uplifting book but well written. And I've gotta hand it to Wakefield. There's closure on every front.

 

Intruder

by Christine Bongers


I'm still working my way through the short list of titles from the Children's Book Council Awards for 2015 - Young Adult category. That said, here's a title for the very young adult, say, 13 year olds. A tidy story with an engaging plot.

Kat's mum died recently. An only child, her dad is doing it tough, struggling to push through his grief and working a few jobs on night shift. Consequently, Kat is often left alone and sadly, she is taken advantage of by an intruder. The story is really about solving this crime. She meets a soul-mate, Al, at the park, and he is more than happy to step in and support her:

Al surveyed the front fence line. 'So the prowler must have simply walked in through your front gate the other night. And if he returns, that's still his only entry point. But Herc, noble beast that he is, has now plugged that gap for us with his operatic barking. So, what else have we missed?' (p.164)

Well, I'm only half way through the novel, so we'll both have to keep reading if we want to know how the story ends!

Miss ^__^

The Secret Chord

written by Geraldine Brooks

This work of fiction turns the Old Testament of The Bible on its head in regard to the famous King David. Brooks takes several liberties with her new novel. The classic tales are faithfully included, such as 'David and Goliath' but the contexts each have a cheeky yet plausible adaptation. I almost had to skip the parts where David and soul mate Jonathan (son of King Saul) are bonafide bed buddies. No matter. This is the 21st century, and I can hack it!
And who but Brooks would have the guts to state outright that Bathsheba was not so much a willing adulterous lover but rather a victim of rape. Hmmmmmm.
Yes, David writes poetry, fights wars, takes lovers and worships The Name. I was entertained, no doubt, but it was a work of fiction. If you are not familiar with the original text you may not be as entertained as I was. Worth a look - definitely older readers.