In no particular order:
(1) ANNABEL – Kathleen Winter
4.5 STARS
Wayne has never felt right in his own body and how he feels about the things around him. His inclination towards the feminine clashes with his father’s view on normalcy and what defines a man. His mother loves him for who he is but often finds herself in a tug of war of telling Wayne the truth of who he was born as. What Wayne does not know is that he was born with both genitalia and his father chose male (this is what the medical profession deems should be his gender), while his mother thought he should be a girl.
This is an incredibly beautiful haunting novel written with such grace and compassion that I could not put it down. I first heard about this novel on BBC radio where they had adapted it for radio. I was totally blown away by it! A must read!!!
(2) A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES (Book 1) – Deborah Harkness
4 STARS
See review from previous post: https://anoveladdiction.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/how-twilight-s…e-been-written/
(3) SILENT IN THE GRAVE (Book 1) – Deanna Raybourn
4 STARS
See review from previous post:
https://anoveladdiction.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/victorian-ladies/
(4) THE CONDITION – Jennifer Haigh
4 STARS
Wow, this is her third book and I STILL LOVE HER WRITING!!! It is an amazing story of a family that has been coming apart for years. When they discover their daughter Gwen has Turner’s Syndrome – Frank retreats to science to cure his daughter and Paulette focuses on her appearance as if nothing is wrong. Billy their eldest son is distant and struggling with his sexuality as he is trying to date women but they are never enough for him. Scott the young rebel is married with children in Burbs and hating every minute of it. As the Holidays approach the McKotch family will either break or make it. Each family member has their own distinct voice and at times you find yourself loving and hating the same characters
(5) THE GREAT DELIVERANCE (Book 1) – Elizabeth George
4 STARS
A wonderful old time detective mystery story that keeps you engaged at every step. This is the first book in the Inspector Thomas Lynley series that teams up the Oxford educated Inspector with Barbara Havers, a working-class Sargent. They argue their way through the case as their opinions of one another clash with their theories.
An older man is found butchered with his spinster daughter standing above him with the weapon. He was newly engaged to a widow in the village, his nephew and heir is back in town but are butting heads and there is his other daughter who ran away from home many years ago.
Part II of this list will appear later this week just in case I read a mind-blowing book in the meantime 😉
anoveladdiction 