Anatomy of a Scandal … a review

I picked up this book because I was travelling a lot and looking for something fast-paced but also not too taxing to read. This fit the bill perfectly in the form of a travel read. One of the first things that struck me about this book was the number of female characters in it. There’s the protagonist’s wife and ‘the other’ woman, but also the prosecuting and defence attorneys who are both women.

The novel follows the high profile case of a politician, James, who is accused of rape. It turns into a classic ‘her word against his’ type case where as soon as the trial starts, it is easy to see that all fingers are pointed at the victim. Case is reminiscent of the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal which basically destroyed her life and career, but did almost nothing to Clinton. This, event though he was the perpetrator and should have been the more responsible adult.

But back to James, the book does a great job at portraying the ramifications of the trial on his marriage and his relationship with his wife. The prosecuting counsel Kate is our other powerful woman, who is convinced James is guilty and has a single-minded determination to end him and his career. What will happen of James? Will there be justice? And how will his marriage cope with it?

This is a really enjoyable read and I would recommend it if you are looking for something to get you through all your summer travels.

Cartes Postales from Greece … a review

I was only meandering through the aisles of my local library and chanced upon another Victoria Hislop novel – since I had enjoyed The Sunrise a lot, I thought I’d borrow it. I wasn’t disappointed – set in Greece and Hislop’s easy style is very engaging.

The story follows the travels of a young English woman as she goes on a whimsical journey around Greece, guided by random postcards that appear in her London flat from a man only known as A. The overall plot is rather incredulous and doesn’t touch upon practicalities of undertaking such an adventure. However, that doesn’t take much away as this story is actually interwoven with fictional short stories from each place. My favourite was the one with the Oracle from Delphi and also the one that featured Lord Byron.

I was quite pleased that this book didn’t take me long to read at all, as at one point I was starting to tire a bit of the repetition in some of the themes, which made the short stories somewhat predictable. And the ending of the book, with Ellie finally meeting A is completely absurd too. But, it’s strange, it was still enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend The Sunrise more vehemently, however, if you are going to Greece or have been, you’ll definitely enjoy this read. It is definitely perfect for summer travels across the continent. Best consumed with some feta and olives!

Mad About the Boy … a review

Bridget Jones returns. Need I say more? I genuinely thought that with Bridget getting married and with a baby, things had more-or-less reached a head. And boy, was I wrong? Somehow, in true Bridget fashion, she has managed to land herself in a situation where she is still self-critical, under-confident, single and on the market. Oh, and she got nits!

The fact that I write about Bridget like she’s my friend is testimony to Fielding’s great talent. The character remains relatable, lovable, and totally flawed in a way we all are. And yet, as life goes on and we are all older and none the wiser, there is a certain sense of misplaced maturity even in Jones. Motherhood adds a special extra dimension, and the old friends and the ever charming sleazy ex-boss Daniel bring familiarity.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I had no idea it had come out, I just happened to pick it up from the local book swap shelf. You’re probably wondering about Mark Darcy but I won’t tell you or it will spoil it. But rest assured, it won’t be as you expected and the ending is quite heart-warming too. Enjoy!