**************************

Flights of Love by Bernard Schlink

I’ve never read The Reader which Schlink is probably best known for but I will now that I’ve read these short stories. Sometimes short stories leave you wanting but not these. Each felt complete and had it’s own shape and rhythm. I particularly liked SugarPeas, it ended completely differently from how I was expecting – very enjoyable.

 *****************************

Rough Music by Patrick Gale

The book I have most enjoyed this year. Patrick Gale takes you into the confidence of a grown man, Will and a small boy, Julian. We get to know the family members involved and the relationships, the public and the private faces.

His prose is compelling. He seems to understand the moods, thoughts and motivations of men and women, young and old. I adored this book. I was drawn in by the mystery that is hinted at and the several romances that are revealed. Mostly I was drawn to Will’s Mother who has early onset Alzheimers and whose thoughts started and ended the story, beautifully.

 *******************************

The Point of Rescue by Sophie Hannah

I found this psychological thriller quite compelling. Some things irritated me – the names of the characters and places didn’t stick with me and hence I got the people muddled some of the time. I also wasn’t sure how convinced I was by the actions of the main story teller that had occurred before we joined the story. However, I had to know what happened, I couldn’t put it down and there were couple of plot twists that were really clever.