Suite Francaise - Irene Nemirovsky

This is the incomplete book written by Ms Nemirovsky. She had left Soviet Russia after the revolution as a 'white Russian' taking refuge in Paris. Before she could finish the book she was interned as a stateless/former Soviet citizen and a Jewess taken to camp then transferred to

Auschwitz where she died shortly after. Her husband suffered a similar fate, but their children as they were born in France and became French citizens survived. This is important background information when reading this novel, as it colours and overshadows the plot.

This book consists of two substantial parts plus the outlines and notes for a further two or three sections. The first part follows several characters, residents of Paris, as they deal with the arrival of the German Army and the fall of Paris. It illustrates how close a supposedly civilised country is to anarchy and disintegration. The second section follows a few of the characters as they live through the early months of the German Occupation of a rural community. It describes how easily people become collaborators to some degree or other once they come to know, and accept individual Germans. Others try to resist with whatever means they have at their disposal.

Certainly this writing would have been more polished before publication had Irene lived, and some things may have been lost in translation, but even in its' present existence this is a worthy volume, though provoking and good on descriptions and characterisations. It still can't be denied though, that Irene's fate overshadows the book, and tinges any reader's feeling towards it. Rating 7/10

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

One of the real problems about all Dickens books is the multiple cinematic depictions of all his stories.

Probably more films of A Christmas Carol exist than any other novel by the prolific Victorian writer. My favourite is the one starring Alastair Sims, with The Muppets (featuring Michael Caine in the lead role) a close second! No film though can really reproduce Dickens ability to prouce the atmosphere of suspense, fear, menace and horror. We probably all know this tale - indeed the very name Scrooge has become a synonym for haters of the spirit of Christmas. Mean minded financier Scrooge begins the story openly hating every aspect of Christmas - he despises those who try to dispense joy and charity at this season. On Christmas Eve night he is haunted first by the ghost of his dead partner Marley who portrays the fate of those who lead a mean life - doomed to wander the worls clad in the chains of their own making. Marley's ghost is follwed by three spirits, Christmases past, present and yet to come - each bearing a message of the fate of Scrooge if he doesn't mend his ways. When Ebenezer Scrooge awakes on Christmas morn he is a reformed character and rewards his downtrodden clerk Bob Cratchett, gives money to the needy, and assists Tiny Tim, saving his life in the process. Excellent writing - but probably only worth reading at this time of the year! Rating 8/10

Rosebery - Statesman in Turmoil - Leo McKinstry

This book is worth reading if only for the following passages - they echo so powerfully from over a century ago and sum up Britain's continuing dilemma in foreign policy. They contrast Gladstone - Liberal leader in the 1880s, described as a Little Englander, but Internationalist, with Rosebery Liberal Prime Minister a decade later, and an Imperialist. Gladstone commenting on Afghanistan said 'there is no duty so sacred and incumbent upon any government in its foreign policy as that careful and strict regard to public law,' and 'remember that the rights of those savages, as we call them, and the sanctity of life among the hill tribes and the happiness of their humble homes amid the winter snows... are sacred in the eyes of Almighty God as are your own'. Rosebery writing to Queen Victoria about French aggression in Siam wrote 'The behaviour of France to Siam has it appears been base, cruel and treacherous. Perhaps nothing so cynically vile is on record. But it is not our affair. We cannot afford to be the Knight Errant of the World, careering about to redress grievances and help the weak. If the French cut the throats of half Siam in cold blood we should not be justified in going to war with her.' Which side would we be on in the twenty first century?
Of course shortly after Gladstone's pious declaration he ordered the bombardment of Alexandria in retaliation for the massacre of Europeans by rebel Egyptians. In yet another parallel with modern life the newspapers believed that both Gladstone and Rosebery were fervently in favour of the action because both had large holdings of Egyptian government bonds - worthless if the rebels had succeeded.
Rosebery also invented the term 'Commonwealth' to describe the successor organisation to the Empire of colonies - but it was only intended for the Dominions (i.e. white Anglo-Saxon settler communities in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada).
Fabulously wealthy (and adding further to his fortune by marrying Hannah, heiress to the Mentmore and the Rothschild millions), he became known as the coronet socialist for his espousal of the causes of the poor and needy. But what a man of paradoxes - seemingly anti-Semitic he married into one of the most orthodox of Jewish families - having two marriage ceremonies to cater for both religions. He was amazingly ambitious, but made a career of refusing office. A voracious and eclectic reader he gave up his degree at Oxford in order to own and run race horses.

The Saint John's Fern - Kate Sedley

Off Minor - John Harvey

Another pretty average detective novel, fine if you like that sort of thing - but this is a routine police drama, ideal for turning into a TV series. I find it difficult to gain empathy with most of

John Havey's characters, but he is competent at police procedures and there is always a nice twist in the tale. Rating: 6/10

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham - MC Beaton

I probably read this book too quickly after my first taste of M C Beaton and Mrs Raisin.

This volume centres on Agatha encountering crimes and misdeeds at a hairdressers' in Evesham. She really is an egotistical heroine and amateur detective - always imagining that every man with a pulse is either in love with her or suitable for ensnaring into her clutches. In fact she comes close to becoming insufferable. However, this is a light tale and an easy read, lots of red herrings, a believable story line (apart from the incredible number and variety of real or imagined romances Agatha encounters) and so deserves a rating of 6/10

The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder

Well an interesting notion - telling the Christmas story in 25 daily chapters, to co-incide with

the Christian festival of Advent. However, I don't think it really works. I can't imagine that it really can be read to a child on a daily basis - the language seems to be aimed at no age range in particular. Of course I have no religious beliefs,so perhaps it does go down well with that audience. I thought it was over sentimental, and holds no real mysteries or surprises. More of a travelogue than a rattling good yarn, and would this reveal anything new about the nativity?

Rating 5/10