Hi Everyone,
Please read the list below and type your 1st and 2nd choices in 'comments' . Once everyone has voted, I'll collate the votes and announce the Purple Coo Winter Read on the Purple Coo main site.
Antimacassar City by Guy McCrone
(The first book of the Wax Fruit Trilogy) The chronicle of the life and times of the Moorhouse family as they rise from the obscurity of a family farm in Kilmarnock, to prosperity in Victorian Glasgow.
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
(Currently to be seen on UK TV – Channel 4) The fictitious intimate journals of a writer, lover, art dealer and spy during the defining years of 20th C ie 1906 -1999)
Dissolution by C J Sansom
Intricate murder mystery set in Tudor England. The year is 1537 and the country is divided between those faithful to the Catholic Church and those loyal to Henry VIII and the newly established Church of England. A real thriller of a book.
Napoleon’s Master by David Lawday
A biography of Talleyrand, and an excellent read (It might be interesting to go for nonfiction for a change)
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
The story of Estomia’s long occupation by the Russians underpins a tale of sex trafficking, abuse and betrayal.
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
Re-write of the Snow White and Rose Red fairy tale – very suitable seasonal reading
The Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
The third title in the Tiffany Aching part of the Discworld series, with all Sir Terry’s usual zany wit and charm – a satire on teenage behaviour and a cheeky reworking of the Orpheus myth.
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani
In a similar genre to ‘The Glass Room. Set in 1930’s this book captivates the mood and atmosphere of Italy as an aristocratic Jewish family move inevitably towards doom. The family invite a number of young people to join in with tennis at their home after city clubs ban them due to racial laws. There is a love theme also running through the story.
The Help by Catherine Sockett
(Okay I know it was on the list last time – but it’s back again by special request and as I’ve just read it myself, and loved it, so it comes thoroughly recommended.)
A story of three very different women who are prepared to take huge personal risks to change the way folks think in a southern American town. Considering the seriousness of the topic – racism at its apartheid worst – this is a very heart warming and at times very funny book.
The painting is 'Two Cats' by Elizabeth Blackadder
