Hastings Library Book Chat Summer Reads

Soon we'll be turning the clocks back and summer will just be a memory, but maybe not those books that left a lingering impression. Here's a glimpse of the more memorable titles read over summer by members of Hastings Library Book Chat.

The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton: The setting is as much a character as the people in Tim Winton's novels. In his new book, Jaxie Clackton must cross the saltlands of Western Australia when a life-changing event forces him to run. A novel about resilience in a tough environment that perfectly captures in its tone the hard decisions forced on the protagonist. A wonderful read.


Circe by Madeline Miller: Miller brings classical            mythology to life in this imagining of the story of Circe, the witch banished to a deserted island by Zeus. It is here she perfects her occult craft and finds herself battling both men and the gods - but is it for what she does or what she represents? That is, a powerful woman alone.

The Body Lies by Jo Baker: A superb thriller that follows a writing lecturer making a fresh start. When a student's work features her as the main character, things begin to look a little creepy. But when he includes for her a terrible fate, should she feel truly afraid? A page turner with a literary feel - the perfect book really.

Someone's Wife by Linda Burgess: A collection of memoir pieces and observations from this well-known NZ writer. From what it's like to be married to an All Black, to living overseas, or house hunting in Wellington, there are stories to strike a chord, make you laugh, make you cry. A charming and fairly quick read.

How to Measure a Cow by Margaret Forster: This is Forster's last novel and follows Tara Fraser as she leaves London for a new life in Cumbria. She yearns for solitude, but a new neighbour and old friends decide otherwise. An intriguing novel with an even more intriguing title and a few surprises.

Fall of Man in Wilmslow by David Lagercrantz: A new slant on the Alan Turing story, this novel follows Leonard Corell, the detective tasked with investigating the famous mathematician's apparent suicide. Corell is torn between admiration for Turing's work and the horrors of his downfall. A clever, engaging novel.


Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellman: A novel shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and at 1000 pages but a single sentence, this may not seem appealing. It's stream of consciousness taken to new heights. But told from the point of view of an Ohio woman, it is oddly resonant as she worries about her family, elephants, Weapons of Mass Destruction, the state of America and everything in between. Well worth the effort.

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves: A new departure for Cleeves, the novel features a North Devon setting and a new police team - plenty to get excited about. Detective Matthew Venn returns to his home town to mourn his father as well as to take charge of new case - a stabbing victim whose body is washed up on the beach. This case will drag up the past Matthew'd thought he'd escaped. A really good, fast read.

Posted by Hastings Book Chat