Purple Coo Book Club Spring Read 2014

Only 5 suggestions this time, so choosing your favourite two should be really easy. As always, to vote for your favourite, please make your 1st and 2nd choices in the comments box below then, after a count up, the title of the most popular book will be posted on the Purple Coo main site. It then becomes our Purple Coo Book Club Spring Read for 2014

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

An old man is seduced into marriage by a gold digging glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcee. Needless to say his grown up family totally disapprove and do their utmost to interfere. Expect some wry smiles, a few out and out laughs and a timely reminder of some parts of Ukraine’s tragic past.

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri

A multilayered story of twin sisters in Iran and what happens when their paths separate. Un-put-down-able and beautifully written, though it comes with a warning of being rather cruel in parts.

Stoner by John Williams

Despite the title, this isn’t a book about drugs. It’s a profoundly moving story about the life of an unhappily married man - an English professor in a Midwestern university - who’s unlucky in love and frustrated in his career. Doesn’t sound that promising does it? But rest assured it’s a brilliant read.

Tainted Angel by Anne Cleeland

An exhilarating Napoleonic adventure in Regency style. Vida Swanson, both notorious and beautiful, is working as an ‘angel’, trying to coax incriminating secrets from powerful men who may be traitors of the crown. A gripping historical tale of double agents, intrigue and romance.

 The Ghost of Alice Fields by David Cameron

The adopted daughter of a Balkan’s scholar had been killed by a blow to the head. Jude Oswald is profoundly affected when he chances upon the crime scene reconstruction near his Edinburgh home. When he then uses his newspaper column to accuse the murdered girl’s adopted father of her murder, his already troubled life going into free fall.

 The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer

A creatively told tale dealing with mental illness and grief (winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2013)

‘I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.’

 (The paintings by Miro but unfortunately I can't remember what it's called.)