These two novels are why I go to book club. I would never have read them otherwise, and both were good choices. "Room" was nominated for the Booker prize, and is narrated by five year old Jack. The author, Emma Donoghue, admits it was inspired by the Joseph Spritzel case but it was in thinking about how she and her young son might cope in similar circumstances that brought about this story. There are only hints early on as to how mother and son arrived in their predicament, and this makes for a fascinating but unsettling introduction. The middle section changes completely into a thrilling action piece which is quite shattering. I was unprepared for the last half of the book, and again found it quite provocative as Jack and Ma have different problems to overcome. But all through, the writing and storytelling were very good, surprisingly so given what could have been a bland and awkward tale.
I have never read anything by Kate Mosse. "Labyrinth" and "Sepulchre" are long historical novels that are definitely not my thing. But I was interested in a short novel based in the south of France between the wars and telling the story of Freddie, still grieving for his brother, as he tours the foothills of the Pyrenees. The author knows the location intimately and it shows. The description of one village that Freddie arrives at after his car breaks down is as good as it gets. The whole story has a great atmosphere and a tantalising twist. Good stuff.
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