I read this over two days as it was fairly un-put-down-able. Most of the stories are linked by the characters of Bette, whose home of many years is condemned after the Christchurch earthquake of 2011, her daughter Bronwyn, her granddaughter, Flick and some other relatives.

There are also some stand alone stories. But they all focus on the long lasting damage that the earthquakes created, both physically and mentally.

A difficult book to read as it was very sad in places. About lost opportunities and the pressures on people to mould to what they think is society's norms.

It's interesting that the white American woman we met is Mrs Richardson and that's who she stays. She thinks she's done everything right to conform to the ideal American dream but her family is fractured, her children damaged or selfish.

What a collection of wonderful stories. They are at times a little out of order jumping from the present to the past and back with impunity. This did need some tougher editing but perhaps why it was being written, when it was being written and who was doing the writing, allowed the unedited 'chaos' to be left as is.

The stories are delightfully honest, yet careful with other people's lives, at times outrageously funny and at others you have to close the book and swallow to keep the tears at bay.

This is an interesting idea, to write a memoir using photos throughout your life. This is divided into chapters: family, theatre, etc but it works very well. There is enough information with each photo to give a complete discussion of its importance in her life. An enjoyable read from a talented lady.

It is difficult to write a review without dealing with the plot. The theme of the book is very interesting, considering the present (Jan 2024) turmoil in the middle east and the flaring of long held hatreds between Muslims, Jews and Christians. So I found the idea intriguing.

This is a book about the choices we make in life and what if we made another choice.

The author gives choices to Marie Curie (nee Marya Sklodowska) as her given name in Poland in the first chapter in 1934 and alternates to her younger self Marya whilst growing up in Poland in 1891 and how each choice she took could change her from an ordinary individual to the famous female scientist of her time.

If you liked Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' you will love this - it is a sequel of sorts.

Victor Frankenstein's great niece (significantly named Mary) needs a project to occupy her after a tragedy in her life. She decides to follow in her great-uncle's footsteps and crete a 'creature' - not human, but reptilian.

The book covers the period from the end of World War 2 to 1970s. The author wrote it in 2021 at a time when she saw overriding uncertainty & division in societies world-wide. Her aim with this book is to tell a story full of joy (despite any hardships) and which is a testament to the power of friendships and close community.

First published in 1915, this was a big success in its day but I would have to concede that Buchan is now out of fashion, for a number of reasons that are easy to understand – but there may be a revival – who knows?

A modern reader would be struck by the ‘cast’ of this performance ...

This Swedish thriller grabs you on page one and just doesn't let up.

Working from a police station in Stockholm, a likeable detective is haunted by a cold case he attended 17 years before. When several current murders appear to link up to the cold case, DS Grens enlists some of his colleagues to help him solve the case.

Paul Cleave is one of NZ's top thriller writers - he has won the Ngaio Marsh award three times. His is his latest and he doesn't disappoint.

The son of a husband and wife crime-writing duo goes missing. Has he run away or has he been kidnapped? And if so, who is responsible?

This is the twenty-first book in the delightful series of No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.

It is set in Botswana, but the characters will feel familiar to us all. McCall Smith has a gift for putting his finger on the quirks of human nature and it is laugh-out-loud funny in places.

I really enjoyed this book. It is large print which I don't usually read.

Set in America.

Nicole, a Korean adopted child; Cindy, her long lost sister; Dan her husband.

This is a great first novel by a NZ author.

The action alternates between Australia, the Indian Ocean and the Seychelles.

Two beautiful sisters, mirror twins, are reunited.

With a gift voucher burning a hole in my pocket and two half-read tomes on my bedside table, I was on the hunt for something light and fantastical - this was it! A dream-like story that takes it's time, though at times, too much.

John Carreyrou is a French/American reporter and received the 2018 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award for the investigative reporting, culminating in this publication of this book. Theranos a start-up bio-tech company, headed by Elizabeth Holmes claimed to be developing high tech, blood testing technology that would revolutionise blood testing in third world countries as well as making blood testing through simple technology available at chemists.

As part of Britain’s’ mobility Anne Glenconner’s early life was spent at Holkham Hall in the company of the landed gentry and her royal relatives and friends. She was asked to be part of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the second, the links to the royals very much part of her long life.

The debutante season and her coming out did not result in the engagement and marriage that was expected so Anne was encouraged to learn the retail pottery trade allowing her the freedom to travel and interact with all sorts of people.

This is a debut novel by Delia Owens however as a retired wildlife biologist her background enables her to write with exquisite detail of the birdlife, sea life and marshes which are the fabric of this novel set in the Northern Carolina swampland.

The main character is Kya Clark called by the locals ‘Marsh Girl’ and she lives a solitary life but a rich life with the wildlife around her providing the essentials for food and nourishment.