The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Seventeen year old Alton Richards isn’t thrilled when his blind, elderly Uncle asks him to be his card turner when he plays bridge. But Alton doesn’t have much choice; Uncle Lester is rich and Alton’s parents are determined that the family will inherit some of his wealth. Helping Uncle Lester soon turns out to be more interesting than Alton anticipated, especially when a pretty girl appears on the scene.

I am not really interested in bridge so took the author’s advice and occasionally skipped the explanations about the game.

From the author of the best-selling Holes, this is a gentle and engaging novel for young adults.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager

Down River by John Hart

Five years ago Adam Chase was acquitted of murdering a local man in Rowan County, North Carolina. Even his father hadn’t seemed convinced of his innocence. Adam moved to New York, cutting all ties with his family and leaving behind the woman he loved.

In response to a friend’s plea, Adam returns home to find tensions in the community are running high and before long the nightmare of accusations begins all over again.

This is a tense and atmospheric thriller, exploring forgiveness and the strength of family ties.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager

Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith

This is another gentle book from the author of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. It features the interwoven stories of the people living in a four-storey building in Pimlico.

The author’s assured, light touch results in an engaging and witty read. Some of the stories are left unresolved and I hope there will be another instalment soon.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager

The Siege by Helen Dunmore

Life for most people in communist Russia is full of fear and suspicion, with people disappearing because of a careless word. Young Anna Levin shoulders a lot of responsibility as she juggles working in a nursery and taking care of her father and young brother. She must also worry about whether they are prepared for the coming winter. Has she planted enough food? But the encroaching Germans are going to make this winter in Leningrad harder than she can possibly imagine.

The Caldicot Library Reading Group recently discussed this book. With such harsh subject matter it is hard to say that you “enjoy” reading novels like this but it was a wonderful reading experience, surprisingly uplifting, very moving without being sentimental, and beautifully written.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager

Hustle by Will Ferguson

Nineteen year old Jack McGreary’s life seems to be going nowhere. He lives in a small town, the optimistically named Paradise Flats, in the back of beyond. His mother has died and his father is being swindled out of what little money he has. Jack is in a dead-end job and even his love-life is turning out to be very frustrating. Then Virgil and Rose ride into town in their Nash Ambassador and Jack becomes entranced by the life of the con artist.

As the trio travel around America’s South West performing various con tricks on who ever they meet, life suddenly seems much more glamorous and rewarding. But how long can they stay one step ahead?

This fantastic book is set just before the Second World War and is so vividly written you can almost feel the heat of the jazz clubs and smell the greedy sweat of some of the con victims. This is a very entertaining and absorbing tale.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager

Mr Rosenblum’s List by Natasha Solomons

The minute Jack Rosenblum stepped onto British soil in 1937 he wanted to be a proper English gentleman. He was given a pamphlet entitled “While you are in England: Helpful Information and Friendly Guidance for every Refugee” and has spent the last fifteen years trying not only to follow it’s rules, but also annotating them in the hope that he and his wife Sadie will be truly accepted into their new country.

Now a successful London businessman, Jack feels that only membership of a prestigious golf club prevents him from achieving his dream. But the exclusive golf clubs don’t seem to want any Jewish members and Jacks decides he must build his own. He purchases some land deep in the Dorset countryside and begins to construct it with his bare hands.

The blurb for this book calls it “utterly charming” and for once this is no exaggeration. The two central characters really come alive on the page; Sadie and her determination to remember the family they left behind, and Jack equally determined that they forge a new life in England.

This is a lovely, witty and warm story.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager

The Lighted Rooms by Richard Mason

Eloise is a confident, highly successful career woman. Her eighty year old mother, June, is becoming increasingly frail and the only sensible solution seems to be to move her into a residential home. Partly to assuage her guilt, Eloise takes June on a “holiday of a lifetime” to South Africa but then things begin to unravel.

Following a chat with an ex-lover Eloise has invested millions of Derby Capital’s funds in osmium but it now appears that there is a major problem with it’s development. Eloise is called back to London and has to deal with the worst crisis of her career. As Eloise faces financial ruin, June tries to settle into her new home but is haunted by visions of her family’s experiences during the Boer War and memories of her own past.

I absolutely loved this book; Richard Mason is certainly a very talented storyteller. The two threads of this touching and moving story were equally gripping.

Fiona Ashley, Community Library Manager