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This autobiography was first published in 1999 but this is the new revised edition. This is a "must read" for Daniel O'Donnell's legions of fans. Indeed, anyone with even a passing interest in the phenomenally popular entertainer will find it worth a read. Those who have followed his career will know what to expect and it will certainly live up to their expectations.

A lot of the information won't be particularly new as Daniel's life and career have been so well covered by the media. However, this is rather less true of his childhood and growing-up years. Many will be interested to learn of the mystic powers attributed to his father as a result of being a seventh son. In the only section of the book not penned by Daniel himself, his mother, Julia gives an account of her extremely hard life. Also, there are fascinating personal glimpses. Here is an example. It would be easy to assume that practically everyone owns a watch. Not Daniel. His attitude to money is unusual too.

Anyone hoping for the disclosure of dark secrets will go away disappointed. The only thing that springs to mind is missing Mass a very odd time. It is possible to think that Daniel is too good to be true. However, if `there are any skeletons skulking among those exquisite suits of his, they have yet to be de-closeted. His detractors will find grounds to mock. Yet perhaps if they persisted in reading his book they'd experience something of a conversion, albeit reluctantly. He is not averse to making jokes at his own expense. What is more, he writes with almost disconcerting honesty.

Daniel's style of writing echoes his manner of speech. He is a born communicator. Perhaps this is the key to his success. In some ways, he is a man of paradoxes, curiously blending naivety and wisdom, humility and confidence, sociability and self-sufficiency. His dedication to his fans is ever apparent. He is more than an entertainer. He describes movingly his contact with the children at a Romanian orphanage and his mission to give them a better life. Perhaps he could have written in greater depth on this aspect of his life.

It isn't true to say that My Story holds no surprises. Daniel's account of his experiences in Medjugorje is certainly strange. His faith is clearly central to his life.

No More Tears In My Eyes - The Story of Kathleen Kilbane

Bro, M. A. Conway

This jewel of a booklet (just 40 pages in all) is as beautiful as it is sad. This is the story of a friendship, even a love story in the broadest sense of the term. If you're in search of excitement, this isn't for you. A simpler and perhaps more innocent time is recalled here. On the other hand, if you like to read something you'll always remember, look no further.

On 12 July 1946, Katherine Kilbane, not quite twelve years old, very much alone in the world and seriously ill with TB, arrived at the sanatorium in Creagh two and a quarter miles from the town of Balllinrobe in Co. Mayo. Brother Anselm Conway would be virtually her only visitor. After her death the following year, he wrote No Tears In My Eyes. He went on to make at least six copies in his own handwriting, none of them quite the same. Now, it has been published. The editor, Fr Brian McKevitt has included his own notes on the text. There are also two letters from Kathleen to Brother Anselm. The book's charm stems largely from its personal nature.

It soon become evident that Brother Anselm believed Katherine to be a saint. She may have been. She comes across as being both saintly and ordinary. She knew moments of frustration and weakness yet her generous spirit, cheerfulness and courage are an inspiration to all. Brother Anselm may have been a saint too. His compassion shines from the pages.

No More Tears In My Eyes is certainly sad but there are happy moments too, such as when Kathleen receives Christmas presents for the first time in her life. These have been sent to her by the pupils of the local boys' school.

This booklet also serves as a social document, showing what outcasts those who contracted TB were.

No More Tears In My Eyes can be ordered for €5 (includes postage) from Alive Publications, St Mary's Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Nothing Green

Evelyn Doyle

This is the sequel to the hugely popular Evelyn. Those who have read Evelyn or seen the film of the same name will already be familiar with the plucky daughter of Desmond Doyle who ultimately succeeds in his struggle to regain custody of his children. Unfortunately, this proves far from the "happy ever after" it seems. Indeed, one must wonder at times if the children mightn't have been better off left to the mercies of the institutions. There are good times but these are few and far between. Still, Evelyn Doyle and her brothers are close and manage to have a laugh despite everything.

Poverty is a word that is not used by poor people is the striking opening sentence of Nothing Green. However, grinding poverty is the lot of the Doyles. Desmond Doyle's halo slips sharply when he is confronted by the harsh realities of life. The burden of making ends meet falls largely to Jessie, his new partner. There are good times but these are few and far between. Jessie is hostile towards Evelyn from the beginning. The reason for this isn't revealed for many years.

The family move to England in search of a better life, which does not materialise. Evelyn's school-friends, who generally come from much more comfortably off families, show her considerable generosity even though the fact that she is going to a Protestant school causes her some anxiety for the salvation of her soul. Despite displaying academic ability, she is forced to leave school before her fifteenth birthday to work in Woolworths. She enjoys the companionship of her colleagues.

Evelyn's marriage to Derek Stones turns out surprisingly well despite the most inauspicious of beginnings. However, she wants children while he does not. She accepts the situation and finds fulfilment in making a career for herself, first as a psychiatric nurse, later as a police officer. Even so, the future doesn't turn out quite as she plans it. Fate has still a few tricks up her sleeve.

Nothing Green makes for bleak reading in places. However, all is not doom and gloom and there are happier times. Occasionally, the swift changes of mood give the reader a sense of being on an emotional roller-coaster. Evelyn Doyle's immense courage and boundless optimism see her through when a weaker person would have given way to despair. Her spirit of generosity, compassion and forgiveness always shines through.

One More Chance

Liz Ryan

Coronet

€8.99

Charm, insight, depth, humour, atmosphere, the element of surprise and worthwhile characters, One More Chance has everything. It is especially aptly named in that many of the characters do get one more chance in life. It resembles a fairytale in ways yet it is all achieved quite realistically.

Aileen Hegarty is rather bored with life. While she still loves her husband, Joe, she feels that they are very much stuck in a rut. Her B&B business has suffered badly due to the events of September 11. Their 20-yr-old son, Finn seems resigned to never succeeding at anything. Yet she has big dreams. She desperately wants to give them all a new life. To Joe and Finn's dismay, she decides that moving to the continent is the answer, setting her sights on France.

Shona Fitzpatrick is beautiful and intelligent. Yet she finds herself losing her job and her boyfriend all at once. Brendan Wright is only the last in a long line of men to come and go in her life but she was very much inclined to believe him to be the one she would spend the rest of her life with. At a loose end and nursing a broken heart, she finds herself accompanying Aileen Hegarty, whom she knows from her work in tourism, to the south of France to help her search for a suitable property

There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns in One More Chance. Liz Ryan certainly can't be accused of predictability. All of the characters grow through their experiences, giving it an optimistic feel although there is plenty of conflict. Throughout the story, they show previously unsuspected aspects of their personalities.

Much of the novel is set in the South of France. Therein lies some of its charm. While this portrayal of that country is critical in certain respects, the over-all impression is rather alluring

One Room an Everywhere

Catherine Phil MacCarthy

Given her lyrical style of writing, it is not surprising to learn that Catherine Phil MacCarthy has two volumes of poetry to her credit. She held the position of writer-in-residence for the City of Dublin in 1994, and also for University College Dublin in 2002. One Room an Everywhere is an impressive debut novel. She explores the problems and complexities of relationships with sensitivity.

Eve, from Dingle, Co. Kerry, has moved to Dublin and then London in search of a new life. Twenty-six years old, she finds work as a reader with a publishing house. She quickly falls in love with her South African boss, Patrick, eighteen years her senior and divorced. The age gap makes itself `felt in unusual ways. She is aware of the vast difference in their life experiences.

Then, there is the problem of Patrick's teenage daughter, Kate, who is fiercely jealous of him. She certainly isn't prepared to countenance the presence of another woman in his life.

Actually, Eve can readily empathise with Kate's feelings, coming from a broken home herself. As well as complicating her and Patrick's romance, the young girl's hostility evokes memories from the pass, forcing her to come to terns with unresolved emotions, particularly towards her own father, now dead.

A crisis develops. Eve and Patrick's relationship is severely tested. Can it survive against such odds? There is also the question of whether she is yet ready to give him the total commitment he wants from her. Within her, a conflict rages between her love for him and her desire for freedom and independence.

Eve makes a journey of self-discovery, often painful but ultimately enlightening and fulfilling.

The author displays a capacity for humour. There is an incident where one of Eve's colleagues expresses affection for Cromwell of all people. Imagine that! Catherine Phil MacCarthy pays attention to the minor details that so often give life its flavour. This is a novel one can easily imagine being made into a film. Many readers will look forward with interest to further novels from her.

Pilgrims; Two unlikely friends unravel the mystery of Life

Paul McDermott

Ryder

€14.89

The author, Paul McDermott has little idea of what to expect when he commits himself to visiting Val Hall, an elderly woman with terminal cancer once a week. One might consider that he would be unlikely to be able to help someone in such a position as he himself is haunted by past events. Yet it seems they are fated to help each other. This is a love story of sorts though theirs is a love and friendship that evolve gradually. Paul makes mistakes along the way and Val isn't always the easiest person to get on with. Indeed, she uses her illness as an excuse to insult people and be confrontational. Paul is both delighted and mortified when, displaying a childlike streak of mischief, she remarks to a visiting nurse, "My! You have got a very large bottom, haven't you?"

As fearful as Val is of the future, it seems to be her discontent with how her life has been until now that weighs most heavily on her mind. She did not adapt well to motherhood and is estranged from her only daughter, Christine. Also, her husband, Tom was in love with a Polish woman although he broke off contact with her when Val gave him an ultimatum. These areas of her life are not explored in detail but it is not necessary to do so. Tom was diagnosed with cancer at the same time as Val though he was expected to outlive her, but it has not worked out that way.

Paul is instrumental in Val's coming to terms with her illness and imminent death and achieving self-acceptance and learning at last to live life to the full. In turn, she helps him by sharing her new-found enlightenment. Although Pilgrims is much more concerned with life on earth than the paranormal, Val, though not at all religious, does have a few intriguing supernatural experiences. Particularly captivating is her description of a city of light.

There are certainly moments of pain and despair but Pilgrims has more of joy than of sorrow. This is a book to bring peace to troubled minds.

Political Bollocks

Aubrey Malone

Powerfresh

As may be gleaned from the title, no politician without a finely developed sense of humour will be impressed. Otherwise, this is for anyone looking for a good laugh, scornful of politicians or in search of a merciless put-down for a rival. Irish, UK and US politicians past and present get a roasting in this comprehensive collection of quotations and jokes. (Mind you, politicians are often the ones inflicting the roasting as well.) They are savagely lambasted for their hypocrisy, greed, arrogance, foolishness and other undesirable traits. There are also witty observations on politics in general. Here's one included in one of the joke sections. Capitalism is survival of the fattest.

Bill Clinton could easily have been given a chapter to himself. Hilary isn't forgotten. Monica and Paula each get a look-in also. Ronald Reagan., Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, George Bush jnr and Dan Quayle. also feature prominently. Here's a sample George Bush joke. What did George Bush say when his wife blew into his ear? Thanks for the re-fill, honey? Now, Dan Quayle's turn. Dan Quayle had an idea the other day but it died of loneliness. Still, Margaret Thatcher must top the polls as the most hated politician. In the words of comedienne, Jo Brand, Margaret Thatcher surprised everyone by buying a house in Dulwich instead of moving to Bolivia with the rest of the Nazis.

Charles Haughey isn't neglected. One example of his biting wit is his advice to a woman pleading for an increase in the widow's pension. Get married again. This quotation is from Liz O'Donnell of the PDs 's. My husband said that if I became a politician, it would be grounds for annulment. Most of these quotations won't be familiar to the average reader but one that may well be is Alice Glenn's assertion that a woman voting for divorce is like a turkey voting for Christmas.

There is plenty more in this vein and something to put a smile on every face. You'll reach for Political Bollocks time and time again.

Pompeii

Robert Harris

This is a most unusual tale, set in the time of the Roman Empire. On the evidence of this book, few would wish to have lived during this famous historical era. Apparently, it was considered cool to feed disobedient slaves to the eels - obviously a rather larger species than we in Ireland are familiar with. What makes it all the more horrible is that this unthinkable cruelty is perpetrated by a former slave.

Hipponax is the hapless slave whose fate is outlined above. Ampliatus is his sadistic owner. The alleged crime is allowing Ampliatus' expensive red mullet to die. Poor Hipponax pleads his innocence to the bitter end, (When one is eaten alive by monster eels the end is guaranteed to be bitter indeed.) calling out for the aquarius - the engineer in charge of the great aqueduct which brings fresh water to a quarter of a million people in nine towns around the Bay of Naples. Corelia, Ampliatus' daughter, unlike her father, does have a heart. She takes pity on Hipponax's mother, Atia and accompanies her in her search of the aquarius - Atrilius.. Atillius arrives on the scene too late to save Hipponax but he does vindicate him, making an arch-enemy of Ampliatus, a very powerful man.

Attillius is new to the position of aquarius, his predcessor, Exomnius having disappeared without a trace. He is intent on finding out what happened to Exomnius. He is an honest man, a dangerous thing to be when the powers that be are thoroughly corrupt. A crisis develops and the aqueduct is in need of repair. He has had terrible troubles in his personal life too. He is haunted by the tragedy in his past. However, romance springs up between him and Corelia, a romance that seems doomed. What no one knows is that a far worse fate awaits the people of wealthy Pompeii than the threat to the water supply.

The events of Pompeii take place over a period of four days.

QUENTINS

Maeve Binchy

Orion

Maeve Binchy's legions of fans were disappointed at the news that Scarlet Feather was to be the last of her novels. However, this will add to their delight that she has written another. They will not be disappointed at her latest offering. Quentins is Binchy at her best. It holds the attention from beginning to end.

The central character, Ella Brady is a most likeable young woman. Unfortunately, she becomes involved with the first-class cad, Don Richardson. As slimy charmers go, Richardson is the slimiest and most charming. One possible flaw is that Ella may be perceived as more gullible than any woman could be. However, this detracts little from what is an entertaining and absorbing read.

Quentins gets its name from the restaurant, Quentins, which has become such an established feature of Dublin life that it is the subject of a proposed television documentary. The stories of patrons and staff who have had life-altering experiences at Quentins would be aired. There is the question of whether some of these will ultimately prove too personal for public consumption. There is a large cast of realistic characters with interesting tales to tell. These include a few old friends who will be well known to Binchy fans such as the Signora from Evening Class and those unforgettable twins, Maud and Simon from Scarlet Feather but there are plenty of new faces as well.

When her love-life falls apart in the most dramatic way. Ella Brady, partly to take her mind off her troubles, goes to New York in a bid to persuade philanthropic second-generation Irish entrepreneur, Derry King to finance the proposed documentary on Quentins. He proves something of an enigma. It turns out that he has expressed an interest in providing funds in the belief that the documentary will portray the Irish in a negative light. Haunted by an unhappy childhood, he has resolved never to visit his father's native country. Still, a friendship springs up between Ella and Derry. When she receives distressing news of her faithless lover he agrees to accompany her on her return home.

A few more twists of fate lie in store before the dramatic climax and satisfying conclusion.

Quotable Quotes for Quoters

Aubrey Malone

Clarion

€2.97

My only problem with reviewing this is that my uncle, nicknamed One-Liner, kept poaching it whenever I turned my back. The quotes are divided into categories such as Religion, Politics, Literature and Men and Women. This collection is ideal for dipping into whenever one fancies a chuckle. There are plenty of humorous gems here, which may also be produced to amuse family and friends. Some more serious quotes are included. Probably one of the more practical uses for this entertaining book, as Aubrey Malone points out, is selecting material to use in speeches. One word of warning to you intrepid speech-makers. The speeches to be wary of are those that begin, "I'm just going to say a few words".

Here is something to bear in mind. Santa Clause has the right idea: visit people once a year. Victor Borge This one is for the ladies. The only way to get rid of cockroaches is to tell them you want a long-term relationship. Jasmine Birtles The following is rather cynical. The richer the relative, the easier it is to remember their birthday. Lawrence J. Peter Gloria Steinem makes a serious point. The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn but to unlearn. The next sounds lofty until you absorb its full significance. Truth is a rare and precious commodity so we should be sparing in its use. C. P. Scott W. Somerset Maughan makes a wise observation. However harmless a thing is, if the law forbids it, most people will think it wrong. Typically Mae West is To err is human, but it feels divine. Myrtle Reed reflects wryly, Many people think they are being charitable when they give away things they don't want. This quote from Ted Turner comes from the category aptly titled Life's Vagaries. Life is like a B-movie. You don't want to leave in the middle of it, but you don't want to see it again either. As does this pessimistic piece of graffiti. Nostradamus was an optimist. The following samples are classed as General Observations. The closest to perfection we ever get in life is when we fill in a job-application form. James Simpson Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week. W. D. Howells

Quotable Quotes for Quoters contains an abundance of entertaining, amusing and enlightening quotations.

Saints and Sinners; A History of the Popes

Eamon Duffy

Yale Nota Bene

€14.89

Although originally published in 1997, this updated edition coming out in 2002, Saints and Sinners has been made topical by the recent death of the much-loved Pope John Paul II and the appointment of his (from early indications) controversial successor, Pope Benedict XVI. The papacy of the former is covered in depth and the latter receives more than one mention. One must marvel at the extensive research required for such a tome. Eamon Duffy is to be congratulated for writing such an educational yet absorbing book. It will be enjoyed by all, believers and non-believers alike, who have even the slightest interest in the history of the papacy and the Catholic Church - even a vague curiosity evoked by recent events. Duffy's judgement seems objective and balanced. Although many unsavoury episodes are documented, over all, he takes a positive view. For all its sins, and despite its recurrent commitment to the correction of "error", the papacy does seem to me to have been on balance a force for human freedom and largeness of spirit.

Fascinating glimpses are offered into the early development of Christianity. St Peter, the first pope, certainly seems to have been a charismatic figure. However, it was probably St Paul, being a Roman, who contributed most to the early spread of Christianity, those being the days of the great Roman Empire. As documented in Dan Browne's The Da Vinci Code, the emperor, Constantine also played a leading role. (This much, at least, is true.) Indeed, throughout, the connection between the Roman Catholic Church and politics is striking.

Saints and Sinners seems a particularly apt title, the 261 popes who have reigned have included classic examples from both categories. (That is to say nothing of the antipopes - those who have held the elevated position wrongfully or, at least, without proper authority.) Interesting insights are given into many of the contrasting characters involved. Pope John XXIII with his unprecedented willingness to examine old preconceptions is definitely one of the heroes. For a work of fiction, this boasts a remarkable cast. Historical personages such as Charlemagne, Martin Luther and Napoleon Bonaparte feature also. There is the added attraction of reading about long ago times and faraway places.

Remember Me

Lesley Pierce

Remember Me, set in the late 1700s, tells the story of Mary Broad, its heroine memorable for her courage, endurance, resourcefulness and generosity. Remarkably, there actually was such a person and this novel is based on events from real life. A word of warning, it often makes for harrowing reading.

The daughter of a sailor and coming from a poor family, Mary longs for adventure, never dreaming that her life will contain rather more by way of adventure than anyone could ever want. She leaves her hometown of Fowey in Cornwall and goes to Plymouth. Many years will pass and the inconceivable will happen before she is finally reunited with her family. Illiterate though sharp-witted, she fails to find work and falls into bad company. She and her two companions are arrested for the theft and sentenced to death by hanging but their sentences are commuted to transportation for seven years. She is understandably grateful for her life being spared. However, there will be times when she will believe that death would have been a blessing after all.

For Mary, the months and years bring unimaginable suffering- squalor, near-starvation, degradation, terror and bereavement. On the voyage to Australia, finding that desperation can drive one to the otherwise unthinkable, she becomes the lover of Officer Spencer Graham in return for small material benefits such as extra food and water to wash in occasionally. Another officer, Watkin Tench, a man of high principles, is also destined to play a major role in her life. Despite his own feelings for her, he encourages her to marry fellow convict, Will Bryant.

Despite many hardships, Mary finds happiness of a sort. Nevertheless, she is driven by the need to escape and return to England. Masterminding a breathtakingly daring plan, she and her chosen companion carry it out in the face of immense dangers.

This is an inspirational if sometimes shattering tale of the triumph of the human spirit over scarcely imaginable adversity. The characters, particularly Mary, are bound to live in the mind long after the last page is turned..

Scribbles

Mary Foyle

Trident Press

€9.50

This collection of poetry, prose, stories and charming illustrations is a celebration of life. Mary Foyle, having no literary pretensions, prefers to describe her verse as doggerel. However, it might be called poetry at its most accessible. She certainly has a way with words and a talent for capturing the ordinary yet special moments in life. Enthusiasm, interest in all aspects of life, warmth, compassion, courage and humour all shine through in abundance. Events from her own life and those of her family and friends all come to life on the page. We meet Buster, the cuddly toy dog given to Mary's mother by an old boyfriend and always treasured. We learn of her cheerful grandmother, Margaret who, uncomplainingly, sacrificed a musical career for a life of drudgery. Mary introduces kindly Dr John who brings so much kindness and humour to the lives of his patients. There is the little girl who, on Christmas morning, secretly exchanges her gift from Santa of roller-skates for her younger sister's doll and pram. This story is aptly titled Original Sin. Outings, first love, forgotten birthdays, nights on the town, foreign trips - no occasion is too big or too small to merit putting pen to paper. Scribbles certainly has something for everyone.

Mary Foyle was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease ten years ago. Clearly, she hasn't wasted a moment on self-pity. All the proceeds from Scribbles go to charities caring for people with neurological diseases. The publishers, Trident Press also deserve credit here. Over €7,000 has been raised to date. Anyone with the slightest experience of either book-publishing or fund-raising will appreciate what a remarkable achievement this is. It's not often that one has the opportunity to contribute towards a worthy cause and get such an enjoyable read into the bargain.

Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor

This is an unusual novel. Not least in the unusual manner in which it is constructed. It is, as it were, a novel within a novel. Grantly Dixon is an American journalist and aspiring novelist travelling home from famine-torn Ireland. He is a character in his own novel as well as the author. As well as reading his novel based on his eventful voyage, peopled by his colourful fellow-passengers, we have access to various materials, such as the captain's ledger, that he uses as research. This isn't as complicated as it sounds although O'Connor's attempts to make the book appear factual can be somewhat confusing.

Star of the Sea is an epic tale of love, hate, revenge and forgiveness. Although the events described are often harrowing, there is an underlying sense of hope for the human condition. Leading characters include both first-class and steerage passengers. The gulf between rich and poor is sharply highlighted. However, the author is careful to avoid blanket judgements.

The Star of the Sea's passengers include Pius Mulvey, a farm-labourer, driven from the land by the Famine. First, he makes money as a ballad-singer, later turning to a life of theft. The plot resolves largely around his dark secret. David Meredith has inherited his landlord father's estate. He, too, has more than his fair share of skeletons in the cupboard. What he doesn't know is that his life is under threat. Mary Duane, once a maid, has been forced to turn to prostitution just to eat. The aforementioned Grantly Dixon is in love with Meredith's wife. Relationships between these four leading characters are often complex.

Star of the Sea has plenty of drama and suspense. There are surprises to hold the attention right to the end. Joseph O'Connor is an author of immense talent. He has a rare understanding of the workings of people's minds and hearts. His gift for vivid and distinctive description is striking.

Talk Nation - The Irish on Everything and Anything

Aubrey Malone

Currach Press

€12.99

As one might guess from the title, this is a collection of quotations from Irish people on a wide range of subjects including literature, politics, alcohol and religion to name but a few. Each subject is given a chapter to itself. There are nearly 2,500 quotations from around 700 sources. These pages are packed with opinions, observations, witticisms and insights from television personalities such as Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny, politicians such as Eamon de Valera and Charlie McCreevy, writers such as Edna O'Brien and Roddy Doyle, sports stars such as Roy Keane and Barry McGuigan, comedians such as Hal Roach and Ardal O'Hanlon, singers such as Mary Coughlan and Sinead O'Connor, film-stars such as Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson, poets such as Paul Durcan and Seamus Heaney and journalists such as Nell McCafferty and John Waters. Humour features strongly but there are serious observations as well.

Many of those quoted have interesting things to say about themselves. Can you guess who said, Ultimately I want to be the purest creature in the world. It was Sinead O'Connor. Christy Brown conveyed much in the following words; Through painting I made articulate all that I saw and felt, all sthat went on inside my mind that was housed within my useless body like a prisoner in a cell. Given the long established relationship between Irishness and the drink, it seems appropriate that a chapter is dedicated to the matter. George Best once said, I once became a partner in a wine business, primarily a sleeping partner. Someone unkindly said I was sometimes more of a comatose one. Maureen Potter is known to have observed ironically, God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world. Turning to another relationship, sometimes equally fraught, W. B. Yeats had a rather unusual insight to offer on marriage. I have seen more men destroyed by the desire to have a wife and child and keep them in comfort than I have seen destroyed by drink and harlots. On a lighter note, here's a quip from the late Noel Purcell, actor and comedian. A woman I know has had seven husbands, including three of her own.

Talk Nation contains many more gems, witty, wise, surprising, comical and thought-provoking, sufficiently diverse to appeal to all tastes.

Ten Eternal Questions

Zoe Sallis

Duncan Baird Publishers

€16.50

This is a wonderful idea for a book. Zoe Sallis has interviewed international celebrities from the spheres of music, literature, art, cinema, media, religion and politics, putting to them questions such as what is their concept of God, is there an afterlife, what advice they would give to loved ones and who they most admire. The interviewees come from a wide range of racial and religious backgrounds. If anything, the responses are even more diverse than one might expect. Occasionally, views are expressed that one might not even think of. Strange though it might seem, the notion that we all live numerous lives, past, present and future, simultaneously in different universes is expressed a few times. It's probably safer not to think about it. Don't let this put you off, most of the opinions given make a lot more sense to the average person.

When it comes to people most admired, Gandhi features strongly, as do Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela, the latter numbering among the interviewees for this book. He himself chooses no one individual but takes the chance to honour all those who work to combat poverty. Bob Geldof is among those who nominate Mandela. He asks, How many of us would be prepared to sit in jail for what they believed in? He also observes, Some of the things he says I profoundly disagree with, but you can argue the toss with him, which is great. Ireland is ably represented by Bob and Bono. The following comes from Bono's answer to the question on an afterlife. I love the idea of hell as a flame that will burn away all the crap and only the precious stones will remain. Ten Eternal Questions is a book one may return to time and time again for, to quote the cover, wisdom, insight and reflection for life's journey.

The Amateur Marriage

Anne Tyler

€13.50

This novel is essentially the story of a marriage - Michael and Pauline's. It is the story of their lives too - they have three children, one of whom rebels with shocking consequences; yet it is their relationship which always holds centre stage, eclipsing actual events.

If love were the be all end all, our hapless hero and heroine would be the happiest couple around. It is certainly a case of love at first sight when, directly following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour, Pauline makes her dramatic entrance at the Anton family grocery store in the Polish quarters of Baltimore with a cut on her face. Almost at once, young Michael, known for his reticence rather than his boldness, enlists for army service just to impress her. When he returns home, having been shot in the hip supposedly accidentally by a comrade bearing a grudge, they wed without delay, hasty marriages being the order of the day.

Sadly, their marriage turns out to be a monumental mistake, one which might well had been averted if they'd taken the time to get to know each other properly. Pauline and Michael are just too utterly different. She is impulsive, hot-tempered and unpredictable. He is cautious, practical and utterly predictable. Both are likeable people, but often anything but nice to each other. Their fights are legendary. So also are their reconciliations.

There are huge questions. Can the marriage survive? Will they ultimately destroy each other? What will the impact of their tumultuous relationship be on their children and even their grandchildren? Will love prevail over everything? And there is a great deal for it to prevail over.

Anne Tyler has a rare talent for getting inside her character's skins so that it is easy to feel that one actually knows them. She also captures distinctive qualities in a way that appeals to the imagination For example, Michael's mother is described thus. She had a way of looking past her customers' shoulders while she dealt with them, as if she hoped someone else would show up, someone less disappointing. There are many poignant moments and many instances of wry humour. The conclusion is satisfying though reached by the most unexpected and unconventional of means - definitely not your traditional happy ending.

The Apothecary's Daughter

Patricia Schonstein

Bantam Press

€19.36

Patricia Schonstein, who grew up in Zimbabwe and now lives in South Africa, graduated from the University of Cape Town with a master's degree in creative writing. It may be said that she is better qualified than most to write fiction. This shows. Her third novel is both lyrical in style and imaginative in plot. The setting is an unspecified location in North Africa. The story belongs to a long past age. This makes it seem more realistic even if the events are unlikely,

Theodora is raised in a convent, her upbringing so sheltered that she has never seen the night-sky. When she is nineteen years old, nobleman, Leonardo Capelutto comes to take her to his faraway castle and marry her. The marriage is a strange one in many ways. Also, despite her opulent surroundings, there is a sense of her being as much of a prisoner as in the convent. Yet she knows contentment of sorts. Leonardo, a merchant, travels to far-flung places to acquire valuable and exotic commodities for trade. He also explores new and uncharted territories, drawing maps of them. Indeed, he is the Queen's cartographer. He trains Theodora to draw maps from his notes so that she can share in his work. Their one friend, Balthazar, an elderly and learned Jew, shares with them his knowledge of the universe. He also has interesting insights on religion and prayer. This is a world in which there is danger both in being Jewish and in claiming openly that the earth is not the centre of the universe or that the stars are anything other than the lights of the angels. Events unfold against a backdrop of bigotry, intolerance and religious persecution.

Theodora and Leonardo's contentment is disrupted when a jeweller, also a poet and a villain, comes in Leonardo's absence to do business with him. He charms and takes Theodora into his confidence so that she invites him to stay at the castle until Leonardo's return, causing Halla, her faithful old black servant grave foreboding. There are many surprises along the way and great secrets to be revealed. This is a novel which will be much enjoyed.

The Apothecary's House

Adrian Mathews

Macmillan

€19.36

Ruth Braams is an art historian in Amsterdam. Her job at the Rijiksmuseum's research library involves processing claims on artworks looted by the Nazis. Although the public is not allowed in, an old woman gains access. Lydia van der Heyden alleges that a certain picture was painted by an ancestor of hers. She is escorted from the research library. However, Ruth's curiosity is aroused. It turns out that there is a rival claim for the van der Heyden painting although if one were to judge from appearances it is something of a mystery why the Nazis should have considered it worthy of attention in the first place.

Ruth and Lydia's paths are destined to cross again. An unlikely friendship springs up between them. Lydia asks Ruth to stay with her when her house-boat is flooded. This is ironic for it is through her involvement with the strange old woman that she has acquired an enemy who anonymously sends her threatening texts and emails couched in biblical terms. Lydia's tendency to wander makes it all the more difficult to piece together the story of her eighteenth century artist ancestor and his clearly coveted painting. Ruth persists however and an intriguing tale unfolds.

There is more than one mystery to be solved. Just why is Lydia so obsessed with her incapacitated neighbour with whom she has not spoken for years? There is also the question of why Ruth's own personal life is so unsatisfactory. This is a tale with a number of twists. An absorbing story, interesting well-developed characters and Adrian Mathews' evocative and stylish writing make this a memorable read.

The Ballroom on Magnolia Street

Sharon Owens

Poolbeg

€15.99

Sharon Owens' second novel lives up to her debut, The Tea House on Mulberry Street. It is full of warmth, colour and humour. Larger than life Johnny Hogan, otherwise known as Hollywood Hogan, owns a ballroom in his native Belfast. His one regret is not having married the love of his life, Marion. He'd spoken of making her his wife, but never proposed. After five years of waiting for Johnny to pop the question, she'd agreed to marry her childhood sweetheart, the ever faithful Eddy Greenwood.

Twenty years have passed. Nineteen-year-old Shirley Winters falls for young Declan Greenwood long before he asks her out. She is soon pregnant. Although matters progress quickly, there is little doubt that their love is the real thing. Plans for the wedding get under way immediately. Still, Marion and Eddy worry that Declan will abandon his medical studies for his love of music..

Kate Winters, is twenty-nine years old and has gone through a long list of boyfriends. Bouncer, Alex Stone is her latest fancy. As well as having big muscles, there are rumours of a considerable inheritance coming his way. The only fly in the ointment comes in the formidable form of Louise Lowry who also has designs in Alex's direction. The ensuing fierce rivalry gives rise to some hilarity. Kate is ultimately driven to seek solace in the arms of the besotted Kevin McGovern. The big question is does she love him.

For entertainment value, Sharon Owens excels. There is plenty of fun, drama and activity along the way. The characters are somewhat caricature-like yet no less engaging for that. Even the less heroic ones are portrayed sympathetically. Although a light read, there are some worthwhile insights offered.

The Blank Slate

Steven Pinker

Allen Lane

Many will find this the most fascinating book they've ever read for a while, then grow slowly disenchanted and reach the end with relief. It could certainly benefit from being shorter. Yet it is definitely a worthwhile read. The subject matter is of universal interest though the degree with which people will wish to study it will vary on account of its complexity. It will take more than one reading to assess its true value.

The title comes from the idea that we are born with minds resembling blank slates to be filled in by our life experiences. While understanding the reasons why the notion has been cherished by so many, Pinker argues strongly against it, holding it to be ultimately both foolish and dangerous. Even though the subject is rather academic, his conversational style renders it accessible to the lay person.

Modern science interprets the human mind differently. Pinker explains that while it is easy to think of it as separate from the body and non-physical in nature this is actually not so. His revelations on the workings of the brain are absorbing. He also tells of the important role our genes play in the development of our individual personalities as well as that of the human species as a whole.

According to Pinker, the replacement of the "blank slate" theory has encountered vehement opposition from numerous and various sources. Far from dismissing this opposition, he explains it yet refutes it convincingly. The revelations of modern science have been seen as endangering such sacred concepts as equality and personal responsibility. This is not Pinker's reading of the situation. He argues passionately that correct understanding is vital to building a better world.

Pinker illustrates how the central theme of his scholarly yet readable work reflects on all aspects of life - politics, crime and punishment, economics, the equality of the sexes, child-rearing, morality and culture. The exploration of so many serious and weighty subjects can become tedious. This is not necessarily a criticism as it may be considered important to explore the theme from all angles. It should be said that Steven Pinker occasionally introduces a humorous note. This would not generally be considered ideal reading for bedtime or the beach. However, it must be recommended strongly as a book from which we all can learn a great deal.

The Book of 1000 Beautiful Things and Other Favourites

Hugh Robinson

Ballybay Books

The title suggests hidden treasure and this book lives up to that promise. Fact and fiction are combined here; the first section is comprised of short stories, the second, of reminiscences of the author's travels. Hugh Robinson is famous for his contributions to the BBC Radio Ulster programme, Love Forty. Now, some of his most popular offerings have been collected in book-form. His fans will rejoice while his work is also reaching a brand new audience.

Robinson has a most distinctive voice and unique talent. He has a special place in his heart for the downtrodden. He writes about tramps and street urchins with a respect rarely afforded to them. Nostalgia features strongly in his work, but not in such a way as to make it irrelevant to the present. Old-fashioned values such as generosity, hospitality and compassion are applauded. His love of nature is also evident, particularly in Long Ago and Far Away, a tribute to autumn.

Robinson's writing is often quite magical. Christmas features in a number of the stories. There is even an encounter with Santa Clause himself. Sometimes, the line between pure fantasy and that which belongs to the realm of the possible is delightfully blurred. Dreams coming true is a recurring theme. The author has had many dreams come true and he affords a few of his fictional characters the same luxury. The title story relates a poor boy's Herculean struggle to own a second-hand book so alluringly named.

Much of the second section of this book is devoted to Robinson's Russian travels. He depicts enchantingly both the urban and rural charms of this vast country. Having achieved a degree of fame there, he was invited to speak at a couple of schools. His comments on the educational system are interesting, as are the range of insights he gives into Russian life in general. What strikes one most is the hospitality of the people.

There is also a charming piece on Hay, the town of books and an account of Hugh Robinson's friendship with Frankie Laine and the time he spent with the singer at his San Diego home.

The Book of 1000 Beautiful Things and Other Favourites is generally available. It can also be ordered on-line post free at www.cottage-publications.com

The Brightest Day, The Darkest Night

Brendan Graham

Harper Collins

€15.99

This follows The Whitest Flowers and The Element of Fire, completing the trilogy that, historically speaking, takes us from before the Irish Famine to the end of the US Civil War. Having made the ultimate sacrifice for her family in a bid to earn forgiveness, Ellen, although ill and in danger of losing her sight, has after many years, been miraculously reunited with her daughters, Mary and Louisa, both nuns. They take her back to the convent to care for her. There, she recovers her health and her sight with the help of glasses. When her identity is revealed, all three are turned out. They nurse soldiers wounded in battle, Ellen acquiring considerable surgical skills. They witness the savagery and futility of war at close quarters, nursing young men and even boys to be injured again or even killed. Despite being a nun, Louisa falls in love with a young soldier. The relationship seems doomed from the start. Mary, who seems infinitely suited to her vocation, contracts small pox. When Ellen goes to great lengths to acquire treatment for her critically ill daughter, she discovers that the doctor involved is behaving most unscrupulously.

Ellen constantly seeks information on her husband, Lavelle and her son, Patrick, like so many others, always hoping for the best yet fearing the worst. What she doesn't know is that they are fighting on opposite sides. We view Southern life with its fascinating mixture of graciousness and treachery through Patrick's eyes. His sweetheart comes from a plantation-owning family. Patrick's best friend bears the unlikely name of Oxy Moran, his father being at odds with the Catholic Church. Despite completely different temperaments, they form an abiding friendship, fighting side by side when the time comes. The story has some arresting twists and turns. Ironically, it is Ellen's former lover, Stephen Joyce, who is responsible for reuniting her with Patrick. Her husband, Lavelle has never abandoned his search for her even though he has no idea of the reason for her disappearance.

The Brightest Day, The Darkest Night is an epic tale of love and sacrifice.

The Catalpa Tree

Denyse Devlin

Penguin Ireland

€14.90

Hopefully, this powerful and original debut novel will be the outstanding success it deserves to be. It is rare to find a work of fiction that can be compared with no other but this is such a work. No one who reads it will ever forget Jude Feehan or Oliver Sayle.

Jude, at the age of fourteen years, finds herself as alone as anyone can be when her father, Michael loses his life in a boating accident in Spain, her mother. Catherine having died of cancer nine years before. At least, she'd have no one but for Oliver, Michael's best friend, Michael having once asked him to be her guardian should anything ever happen to him. Oliver and Michael's has been a special friendship. Oliver has always been an important part of Jude's life too.

Jude and Oliver are the best of friends but their friendship will be sorely tried. There will be many ups and downs through the years. To begin with, on top of the trauma of her father's death, there is the shock of learning that he'd been with a woman, unknown to her, with whom he'd fallen in love. Still, she copes well with her bereavement. Too well perhaps. There will be ghosts to be laid to rest much later on. She and Oliver become dependent on one another yet the day comes when they seem destined to destroy each other. For both of them, all other relationships are affected.

As well as being a storyteller supreme, Denyse Devlin has a wonderful way with words, not exactly poetic but definitely effective. Wouldn't anyone love to have a smile that would light up black holes? Another example is when Oliver compares his mother to a frosty morning that will eventually thaw out while Jude prefers to describe her in terms of the Ice Age.

The Catalpa Tree is profound yet surprisingly readable. The themes it explores are universal although few find themselves in such complex situations as Oliver and Jude. Love, friendship, loss, guilt and the quest for independence and personal freedom all feature strongly. Often poignant, sometimes humorous, occasionally shocking, it cries out to be read..

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon

David Fickling Books

€15.60

This Whitbread Award winning novel certainly holds the attention. Perhaps its attraction lies in its curious blend of simplicity and complexity. The central character is fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone who suffers from Asperge's Syndrome, a form of autism. (The condition is never actually mentioned in the book itself though it is named on the jacket.) He is also the narrator. It is an immense achievement to write from the viewpoint of such a person.

Highly intelligent, Christopher is something of a mathematical genius and has a great interest in and understanding of science. His powers of observation put the vast majority of us to shame. He also has a photographic memory. However, his condition presents overwhelming problems for himself and those close to him. He finds it extremely difficult to relate to people. Facial expressions are largely a mystery to him and he hates to be touched. He is averse to change of any kind. He is unable to cope with emotion.

Christopher likes to go out walking after dark when there are few people about to bother him. This is how he comes to be the one to discover the corpse of his neighbour and friend, Mrs Shears' dog, Wellington with a pitchfork stuck in him. When a policeman arrives on the scene, he finds Christopher's behaviour distinctly odd and arrests him. Christopher copes surprisingly well with this and the police finally realise their mistake with the help of his distrait father. However, this is just the beginning of an often frightening adventure for the boy.

Christopher resolves to discover the identity of Wellington's killer. He also decides to write a true murder mystery, telling the story as it unfolds. Murder mysteries are the only type of fiction he likes. Sherlock Holmes is his favourite fictional detective even if he is unimpressed by his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle's belief in the supernatural.

Christopher states that his will not be a funny book as he doesn't understand jokes. Yet there is much humour as well as sadness. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is suitable for older children as well as adults. It is a novel that we can all learn from. It certainly offers a greater understanding of how people with learning disabilities perceive the world around them.

The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown

Corgi

€10.40

This incomparable novel goes beyond all expectation. It is a murder mystery, a thriller and an adult fairytale, yet so much more than. It must surely rank among the greatest stories ever written. It also provides much food for thought. Powerful, fascinating, inspiring and ultimately beautiful are just a few of the superlatives that spring readily to mind. It is also highly entertaining.

Jacques Sauniere, the curator of the Louvre Museum is murdered. Yet he manages to leave behind clues. No, not to the identity of his killer but to the solution of a greater puzzle. He has been a life-long devotee of the Holy Grail. Legend has it that the Holy Grail is the chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper. However, a revolutionary alternative possibility is presented here. Brown offers quite a convincing argument for this. How seriously he intends to be taken remains open to question. Some will be offended by what will be perceived as his blasphemy. Still, a respect for the religious beliefs is conveyed.

US lecturer, Robert Langdon finds himself intensely and dangerously embroiled in the mayhem following Sauniere's murder, along with Sauniere's granddaughter, Sophie. The hectic action is interspersed with glimpses of Langdon's world of art and religious icons and symbols. This may sound rather dreary, but rest assured, it is anything but. There are surprises galore along the way.

For a truly magical read, look no further.

the five people you meet in Heaven

Mitch Albom

Little Brown

€18.50

The novel opens on Eddie's eighty-third birthday. He still maintains the rides in an amusement-park, as he has done for many years. Despite being active, he does not feel that he has the happiest of lives. Indeed, he is dogged by a sense of never having achieved anything much.

What Eddie doesn't know is that his time on earth has just about run out. Something goes terribly wrong with one of the rides and, in his struggle to save a little girl's life, he loses his own. He doesn't wake up in a plush Garden of Eden.as he might have imagined. Instead, he finds himself a young boy on Ruby Pier, where he has worked for so many years and close to where he has lived all his life. There, he meets the Blue Man, one of those who had been on display to the general public in the "Freak House" of the amusement-park in the days before the advent of television.

It emerges that when you go to heaven you meet five people who have had a major influence on your life. These could certainly include loved ones but they could also include people with whom you've had the briefest of acquaintances or even virtual strangers who, quite unknown to you, have affected your life greatly. It is their job to help you to make sense of your time on earth.

Another important point is that everyone gets to choose their own personal heaven. For example, the Blue Man's is Ruby Pier. Seemingly, he'd been very happy there although one would not initially expect this to be so. Perhaps the most interesting of the six personal heavens depicted consists of a seemingly unending series of rooms, in each of which a wedding reception is in progress. The couples getting married are of all different nationalities. The personal heaven concept has serious limitations. Obviously, constructing heaven is no small task.

For this reviewer at least, the five people you meet in Heaven is a considerable disappointment. The story is quite dull in places and it never fully absorbs the attention. It lacks real emotion, excitement, suspense, colour. If that's heaven, one's inclination might well be to stick around a bit longer. However, this novel does contain some wisdom. Perhaps its chief quality is that it provides food for thought. Its heart is in the right place even if it lacks imagination. The point is to show that ordinary lives can be worthwhile. The problem is that it's too banal to achieve this.

The Frozen Lake

Elizabeth Edmondson

HarperCollinsPublishers

€10.42

The year is 1936, the setting, Westmoreland in the north of England. The local lake is set to freeze, rendering it a skater's paradise. In anticipation, the Richardson family gathers for Christmas. This is the first time in sixteen years they've all been together. Old friendships are rekindled and new ones are born while ancient rivalries thrive. This novel boasts a cast of varied and colourful characters. The conservative, the rebellious, the mercenary, the generous, the creative, the eccentric all mingle. The scene is set for fireworks of an immense nature. Descriptions of a winter wonderland beguile yet, in contrast, it soon becomes evident that dark secrets lurk beneath the surface for this family engaged in seasonal enjoyment. Matriarch, Caroline Richardson rules with a rod of iron. Why is she so indifferent to her children and grandchildren and even positively hostile towards her youngest granddaughter, Perdita.

Alix is on a quest for knowledge. A cloud of mystery surrounds the deaths of her parents and her older sister, Isabel fifteen years earlier and she is determined to establish the true facts. Why is the family so reticent on the subject? Why has all of her mother's jewellery disappeared? Why is her Uncle Jack's death the only one her grandmother, Caroline seems to care about? More puzzling questions emerge as she delves more deeply. It emerges that little is as it seems. This is an absorbing tale of intrigue and misguided loyalty.

The Lovely Bones

Alice Sebold

Picador

Suzie Salmon is the dead heroine of The Lovely Bones. Yes, that's right. She has been brutally murdered by a neighbour called George Harvey who makes dolls' houses. She is now in heaven. Everyone has their own personal heaven. What one wishes for appears as soon as one thinks of it. Susie's heaven resembles a school-playground. (You'd think she could at least have gone for a Disneyland style theme park.) She has friends. The one she sees most of is called Holly, the result of Holly's heaven being closest to her own. She and Holly have a counsellor called Fanny to help them adjust to their new lives. However, she cannot have the one thing she wants most, which is to be reunited with her family.

What Suzie can do is watch her family and friends. She does this a lot. She can read people's thoughts. She can watch anyone she likes. She even watches her murderer. It emerges that he is a serial killer. Her father comes to believe (rightly of course) that George Harvey has killed his beloved daughter but there is no evidence to support this conviction.

Suzie views helplessly the impact of her violent death on her family's lives. They each cope with their grief in their own way. What has happened has a disastrous effect on her parents' once happy marriage. Her loved ones each make their individual journeys towards eventual acceptance. She witnesses the good and bad times in their lives.

In the same way as her family and friends find it difficult to let go of her, her involvement with them prevents her from finding true happiness. Perhaps she cannot be free until they are.

Unfortunately, The Lovely Bones fails miserably to live up to the concepts behind it. The first half wavers between being vaguely interesting and slightly boring. After that, it becomes more tedious. Alice Sebold's version of heaven makes the idea of eternal oblivion curiously attractive. There are brighter moments, hinting at Sebold's potential as a writer, but these are much too few and far between to make this novel a worthwhile read.

The Ringmaster's Daughter

Jostein Gaarder

This book is aimed at older children/young adults but will be enjoyed by anyone with a taste for the unusual. Magical, dark, entertaining, absurd, original and complex are all words that can be aptly used to describe it

The Ringmaster's Daughter's opens with Peter Spider hearing voices in his head. We quickly learn that this is more or less a constant state of affairs for him. His hyperactive brain is teeming with ideas. Writing them down is a form of relief. It emerges that he believes that his life may be under threat from an unknown source. Indeed, there are many with possible motives for murdering or having him murdered.

Having found refuge in an Italian hotel, Peter, a Norwegian, begins to write the story of his life. His parents were separated and he soon mastered the art of playing one off against the other. From childhood, he has had a curious sense of being alienated from others, a victim of his own wild imagination.

Peter's mother dies when he is eighteen years old. He is heartbroken. Yet he embarks on an endless series of brief relationships. Then, he meets Maria. They are soul-mates. Nevertheless, the romance seems doomed right from the start. She is fascinated by his stories but frightened at just how much he lives in a fantasy world. Inevitably, they part, but not before she makes a strange bargain with him.

Peter devises a truly novel way of earning a living. He sells his idea to writers, both established and aspiring. Naturally, part of the deal is that his involvement remains a secret. Each if the authors believes themselves to be the only one. It works like a dream for many years. However, when things finally start to fall apart, they do so rather dramatically. Fate plays a most unexpected card. The consequences are startling far beyond what even Peter himself could imagine.

The characters are far from as well developed as they might be. One does not have the feeling of getting to know them very well. On the other hand, this could well be deliberate as the plot is much more important than the characters. This is certainly a novel that clings to the memory.

It may well take more than one reading to absorb the full significance of The Ringmaster's Daughter.

The Speckled People

Hugo Hamilton

Fourth Estate

Anyone with a taste for autobiography and the unusual should seriously consider reading this memoir. It can also be highly recommended for young people. While not hugely entertaining or even immediately gripping, it weaves a slow spell over the reader. Although undoubtedly well-written, its true value lies in its wisdom. One is tempted to believe that if everyone was to read it at an early age it might be a better world. It contains lessons for all of us. This is the story of one family but there is so much in it that is relevant to the whole of humanity.

Hugo Hamilton was born in Dublin in 1953 yet his childhood strikes one as belonging to a different era. It is as far from the average Irish childhood as it is possible to be. His father is Irish, his mother, German. His father truthfully claims never to have carried a gun in the cause of Irish nationalism. However, he is obsessive about the Irish language. Although intelligent and idealistic in many ways, he is prepared to resort to drastic measures to keep English out of his home. This does more to alienate the family than the prejudice against Germans prevalent following World War I. The author's mother, a woman of great gentleness and humour, is the source of much of the wisdom in The Speckled People.

Hamilton tells his parent's stories as well as his own. (It is interesting to note how one's individual experiences contribute to the development of one's character. More importantly, one can choose to learn from these rather than merely react to them.) His father's childhood was marred by a limp and a deformed ear - mainly because he is not accepted by other children. To make matters worse, he has always been ashamed of his father being in the British navy. Hamilton's mother's experiences in war-time Germany were harrowing.

It has been claimed that The Speckled People is about language. It is about life itself. Much of it is written in the present tense, which is effective though slightly disconcerting at first. He writes very much from a child's point of view, illustrating how his understanding grows as the years pass. There are humorous interludes such as when the author's father gets stuck in a bucket which serves as a toilet while on holiday in Connemara. Interestingly, Hugo Hamilton describes his childhood as being filled with happiness and fear.

The Speech of Angels

Sharon Maas

Harper Collins

Perhaps this novel, so filled with magic and music, is in some respect and to some degree relevant to all our lives. It is the story of a life-journey, certainly a most unusual one, but one that just may have something in common with all other life-journeys.

Fate finally smiles on six-year-old Jyothi when she is rescued from the slums of Bombay by a charitable Western couple. Jack and Monika adopt her, having longed for a child of their own but been unable to have one. They take her to live in Germany with them. Newly orphaned and barely coping with grief, it is hardly surprising that adjusting to what is really an entirely new world to her proves difficult. The discovery that she suffers from dyslexia intensifies her sense of isolation and even unworthiness.

However, Jyothi isn't destined to be what might be called an ordinary disadvantaged child. Not for long anyway. She has received a special gift which prevents this from happening - an immense musical talent. This becomes evident when she learns to play the violin. Music becomes her salvation. She derives self-worth from it.

Sadly, tragedy has not yet finished with Jyothi. Once again, her world is turned upside-down. Once again, she is uprooted. England is to be her new home. As before, it is through music that she finds purpose in life. She is discovered and achieves international fame, performing under the name of Jade. Yet it is as if she wears a protective shell. The only person whom she will allow to get truly close to her is unworthy of her devotion - a man of course. She has a sense of having a dual personality. Which is she, Jyothi, the shy child of the slums or Jade, the sophisticated superstar?

Ironically, it is on returning to her native India to perform that disaster strikes. She finds herself on stage before an audience, suddenly unable to play a note. Imagine it! Can she salvage her music or, more importantly, herself from the ruins of her life?

The Tavern on Maple Street

Sharon Owens

Poolbeg

€12.99

In many ways, Lily and Jack Beaumont have led fairytale lives. Very much in love after twenty years of marriage, they run a genuine Victorian tavern. They could have expanded the business greatly had they wished to but they have chosen to keep it small, just the two of them working in the tavern with its small but loyal clientele. However, matters are about to change radically. Much to their dismay, property-developer, Vincent O'Halloran proposes to buy out all the premises on Maple Street and transform it into a shopping-mall. The other traders are keen to sell up and retire. While prepared to fight for their tavern, the Beaumonts realise they may be forced to concede defeat.

Lily, having been devastated at first, decides that it is time for drastic measures. In a bid to raise as much money as possible in the short time that may be left to them, she employs four pretty waitresses to attract the punters. Music is also laid on courtesy of the handsome tight-trousered Devaney brothers, David and Michael. Soft-hearted Lily offers pint-sized angelic-looking newly homeless full-time barmaid, Bridget O'Malley accommodation in her exquisite sitting-room. Bridget eats them out of house and home, flirts with everything in trousers, leather or otherwise, and is alarmingly accident-prone. She also has an alcoholic psychiatrist former boyfriend who phones her up in the middle of the night. To a lesser extent, part-time barmaids, lazy Daisy, neurotic Trudy and chronically shy Marie also disrupt Lily and Jack's once tranquil lives. Yet they all come to regard each other as family.

The Tavern on Maple Street has lots of humour and never a dull moment. It is bound to win new fans for Omagh-born Sharon Owens who now lives in Belfast, also author of The Tea House on Mulberry Street and The Ballroom on Magnolia Street.

The Touch

Colleen McCullough

Century

€18.85

The year is 1872. Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Drummond is sold into marriage by her puritanical yet parsimonious father, James. Her husband-to-be, Alexander Kinross is her first cousin even though she's never met him. James hasn't always thought well of his nephew but Alexander has struck gold spectacularly in New South Wales, becoming so powerful as to be able to name a town after himself. Elizabeth is shocked and apprehensive but hopes to learn to love her husband in time.

Despite many fine qualities, Alexander turns out to be someone Elizabeth cannot love. He tells her very little of his past. He forbids her to go to Kinross so that her new home becomes a luxurious prison. Although he is kind to her, he allows her little freedom. She isn't lacking in spirit but she is a product of her harsh Presbyterian upbringing. (Indeed, many of the difficulties between them stem from this.) The world portrayed in The Touch is very much a man's world. In time, she discovers the reason for her virtual imprisonment. Hr doesn't want her to find about his mistress, Ruby Costevan.

Despite great wealth and power, Alexander, too, is a prisoner of the times in which he lives. He won't go against convention by marrying Ruby as she would be deemed an unsuitable wife. (Surprisingly, Elizabeth and Ruby become best friends.) Alexander and Ruby's son, Lee are very close. Despite Ruby's place in his life, Alexander comes to love Elizabeth, enough to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure her happiness.

Alexander and Elizabeth have two daughters, Nell and Anna. Her life having been endangered by both pregnancies, Elizabeth is advised to have no more children. All of this is a huge disappointment to Alexander who longs for a male heir. Nevertheless, he loves both his children. Nell is a child prodigy while Anna who is mentally-handicapped though exceptionally beautiful. Both are destined to suffer and bring suffering to those who love them as a result of the way they are.

To further complicate an already complex web of relationships, Elizabeth is irresistibly drawn to Ruby's son, Lee, and he to her. Yet it seems that their feelings are destined to remain a secret, even from each other.

If The Touch has a defect, it is that Colleen McCullough devotes too much time to the technical details of mining. This can be somewhat tedious for those with little interest in such matters. However, this is a novel not to be missed by those who enjoy an epic story. The central characters survive adversities that would crush weaker individuals. There is tragedy yet triumph of the human spirit. Perhaps most of all, this is a story of love, in all its forms.

The Voices

Susan Elderkin

Harper Perennial

€12.00

Realism and fantasy meet in this wonderful novel which has depth, magic and humour. The characters will live in the memory long after the last page is turned. Susan Elderkin vividly depicts life in the physically harsh Australian outback. Much of the story is set in a small town, the population of which is divided between whites and Aborigines. The author deals with the savage treatment the native people received at the hands of the white settlers yet her tale is sufficiently entertaining to appeal to those not normally drawn to historical and political themes.

Billy Saint is a thirteen-year-old white boy who loves kangaroos. His mother, Crystal feels that she was too young when she gave birth to him and has always resented him for stealing her youth. His father, Stan is altogether more loving yet, trapped in a loveless marriage, is not half the person he should have been. One day, Billy hears a young girl singing. It turns out to be Maisie, an Aborigine. What he doesn't know is that she has "sung him up" and so he is destined to love her forever more. Where will this lead to? With the passing of time, she proves to be wilder and more mysterious than he could ever have imagined.

The voices in the title belong to the spirits of the Aboriginal dead. They have always communicated with their people but no one believes in them anymore and only Billy and Maisie hear them now. Yes, they have singled Billy out for special attention although he is white. They are desolate when he leaves home suddenly. (They are invisible and can read minds and, interestingly, some of the story is told through their eyes.)

Billy wakes up in hospital, having uncharacteristically been involved in a fight with a US tourist. As he has spoken of hearing voices, he is thought to be schizophrenic. Largely, due to the care of Cecily, an Aboriginal nurse with something of an unusual way about her, he slowly recovers from his injuries, which are of a rather strange nature although it is only at the end that all is revealed. Still, he is haunted by Maisie's memory even though he has become good friends with Janelle, ice-skater supreme, and her four children.

The story shifts back and forth in time without warning, which can be somewhat confusing. Yet events are always so absorbing that the reader is never unduly perturbed by this. For an enchanting yet educational read, look no further.

The Wisdom of the Irish

Suheil Bushrui

Oneworld

Foreword by Brendan Kennelly

This collection of quotations compiled by Arab, Suheil Bushrui contains much to treasure and enjoy for readers with any interest at all in Irish literature or culture. Each chapter explores a different subject. Ireland, the Irish, nature, religion, music, literature, humour, life death, love, friendship and politics are all covered. Shaw, Wilde, Synge and Goldsmith feature along with many other literary luminaries and lesser known names. There are several quotes from The Genius of Ireland by George Townsend. It was this book which first inspired Bushrui's enthusiasm for Ireland and Irish literature in particular and, after reading it, he went on to study the subject extensively. Translations from the Irish language from Douglas Hyde, Lady Gregory and others are included. For this reviewer, there are more worthwhile verses here than in many a poetry anthology. Here is an example.

Erin! thy silent tear never shall cease,

Erin! thy languid smile ne'er shall increase

Till, like the rainbow's light,

Thy various tints unite,

And form in Heaven's sight,

One arch of peace!

Thomas Moore, "Erin! The Tear and the Smile in Thine Eyes"

From the selection of quotes on nature and the sea, here's one from Brendan Kennelly.

"Why do you like the evening tide?"

"It's like walking into a picture," she said.

Here's a quote on God from George Berkely's The Christian Idea of God. God is perfect in knowledge, his understanding is infinite. He is the Father of lights. He looketh to the ends of earth and seeth under the whole heaven. The connection between God and light is drawn on a number of occasions. James Stephens' poem, Irony is rather humorous.

Thus spake a man in days of old:

I will believe that God can be

The kind, the just, that we are told,

If He will throw down here to me

A bag of gold -

But when his wife rose from her bed

To see what kept her man away,

She found him, with a broken head:

And on the ground beside him lay

…A bag of lead!

This is a somewhat surprising observation from Oscar Wilde. A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats his breast, and tells all the sins of his life.

The following is a wry line from J. M. Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows. It's many times there's more sense in madmen than the wise. Also in the wit and humour section, Jonathan Swift's The Vowels is unusual.

We are little aìry creatures,

All of different voice and features;

One of us in glass is set,

One of us you'll find in jet,

T'other you may find in tin,

And the fourth a box within.

If the fifth you should pursue,

It can never fly from you.

One word of warning, there are some quotes at the beginning and the end of the collection which may well seem overly patriotic. However, in view of all that it has to offer, this is a small complaint.

Tides of Change

John Curran

Kerry-man, John Curran and his family have much reason to celebrate the publication of his autobiography, Tides of Change. He tells of growing up on a farm in a large family in the 40s and 50s. Times were hard and the Currans were far from wealthy. Yet John describes his childhood as idyllic although there is no sense that he is looking at the past through rose-coloured glasses. Anyone who enjoyed Alice Taylor's To School through the Fields will love Tides of Change. It is largely a tribute to his parents and the great love they had for their ten children. His mother, Mary died in 1974. She was just sixty-three. His father, Jim died in 1995.

To fully appreciate John's literary achievements, one must go back to April 1978. It was then that his world came tumbling down when, while helping out a friend, he fell from scaffolding and was paralysed from the neck down. It took him some time to realise the full extent of the huge impact this would have on his life. At thirty-six years old, he had four children aged between 10 years and 5 weeks. A lengthy stay in the National Rehabilitation Centre followed. His wife, Margaret made the journey from Kerry to Dublin each weekend. Such appalling injuries could easily have signalled the bleakest of futures. However, John's indomitable spirit prevailed. Not only did he learn to operate an electric wheelchair with a device attached to his chin, but also to type.

John Curran's first book, Just My Luck was published in 1993. It told the harrowing but ultimately inspirational story of John's accident and struggle to come to terms with extreme disability. That year, he was honoured with the Kerry Person of the Year Award. He has a couple of scrapbooks filled with letters from a whole range of people telling what his book meant to them.

Tides of Change has taken John six years to write and is proof that the human spirit can triumph over bodily infirmity. John's courage, tenacity and sense of humour are an inspiration to all, young and old, able-bodied and disabled. He seems the type of person to be happy in any circumstances. He says Prior to my accident I was like many more people people worrying about trivialities. But now I am looking at life through different eyes and I can see the world filled with many beautiful things I never knew existed.

It is impossible to write about John Curran without further mention of his wife, Margaret. As well as being his wife and carer, she is his best friend. He describes her as the light of his life. He also speaks highly of their four adult children, Carmel. Michael, Claire and Catherine.

Tides of Change costs €18.99 inc postage. Write to John Curran, Toor, Waterville, Co. Kerry. For further information, see www.curranpublishing.ie. Or phone 066 9474297 or 087 6997130.

Time in a Bottle

Denise Deegan

Tivoli

€9.99

Jennifer is unusually self-sufficient. As the single mother of four-year-old Charlie, she has needed to be. Since ending her engagement to Dave on learning of her pregnancy, she has been estranged from her parents. She lived with her grandmother who seems to have been as different from her daughter, Jennifer's politician mother as it is possible to be but the old lady is dead now. By night, Jennifer works as a freelance journalist to support Charlie and herself. It is as if she has closed a door on the past, refusing to allow disturbing memories to intrude on the present.

Then, Jennifer's world is turned upside-down when Charlie develops a life-threatening illness. She experiences fear, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness and a sense of isolation. She soon begins to realise that she may not be as self-sufficient as she has thought. It turns out that she can no longer bury the past but must confront it.

This is an absorbing story. Denise Deegan handles the subject of serious illness in children sensitively yet avoids the pitfall of over-sentimentality. There are humorous moments to lighten the emotional intensity. There is intrigue as well. Although Jennifer has little time for romance, quite suddenly, there seems to be two men with whom she has a possible future. Her ex-fiancé, Dave flies home from the US to support her and Charlie in their time of need. Then, there is Simon, Charlie's doctor and father of his beloved babysitter, Debbie. Which, if either, does she love? Which, if either, loves her? Of course there are the added complications of Dave being engaged to Fiona and her belief that Simon has not recovered from his wife Alison's death from cancer.

Time in a Bottle illustrates how serious illness makes one so much more aware of what truly matters in life. It also shows that things aren't always how they seem. Denise Deegan combines a worthwhile story with interesting and likeable characters.

Two for Joy

Patricia Scanlan

The leading characters in this novel certainly lead dramatic and complicated lives.

Noreen's new husband, Oliver is kind and reliable. Unfortunately though, she has two jealous sisters and a hostile mother-in-law to contend with. However, the darkest cloud on her horizon is her failure to conceive. To make matters worse, she has a dark secret from the past, which haunts her. Eventually, her and Oliver's relationship deteriorates so much that she goes to stay with her friend, Kay in London in order to give herself space to consider the future. Fate and other factors take a hand and the situation develops rather alarmingly. Ultimately, matters resolve themselves in a most unconventional fashion.

Following her break-up with her boyfriend, Neil, Heather is persuaded by her cousin, Lorna to move to Dublin with her. However, a country girl at heart, she soon returns to her home-town of Kilronan, making up her differences with Neil. Romance blossoms strongly. She is invaluable to him in sorting out the clerical side of his car sales business. But the question is does he appreciate her enough. Suddenly, his behaviour indicates otherwise. To her horror, he begins to compare her to Lorna whom he has never liked until now. Her more sophisticated and assertive twin, Ruth talks her into visiting a psychic who tells her things that she has no wish to hear. (Interestingly, the psychic, Anne Jensen is the one character in the novel who is actually a real person.)

Lorna is thoroughly self-centred and shallow. She uses Heather shamelessly. She despises Neil until she recognises that he has become a successful businessman. When life in Dublin fails to live up to expectations, she sets her sights on New York. Watch out, Lorna, pride comes before a fall. To be fair, her life has been over-shadowed by a disturbing childhood memory. Perhaps, (and it's a big perhaps) she isn't so totally despicable that she can't learn at least a little from her mistakes.

The ending of Two For Joy is the best part. It is hardly giving too much away to say that Patricia Scanlan can be relied on to ensure that everyone ultimately gets their just deserts.

Unweaving the Thread

Monica Tracey

€10.95

This unusual debut novel is absorbing if slightly downbeat. Monica Tracy's writing is so realistic that it is easy to forget that it is fiction even if the central character's life is rather more dramatic than most. The characters are distinctive and totally credible. These are largely products of the era and environment in which they live. Much of the story is set in Ulster in the middle of the 20^th century. There is plenty of humour to lighten the depiction of the harsh realities of life and these are not dwelled on.

Marianne Reed returns to her native home with her youngest child, having lived in England for many years. Her world has been shattered by the discovery that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. She finds herself taking stock and reliving the past. There are ghosts to be laid to rest. The word, ghosts is used figuratively here although the supernatural does feature somewhat in these pages as something many people believe in in its various aspects.

Mary Ann Ward, as she was known then, was raised by an overly devout yet inspiringly generous mother and a loving though pig-headed father. The view of the Catholic Church portrayed is quite critical. Mary Ann is destined to experience tragedy more than once. There are more sinister experiences too, which do more permanent damage and contribute to the break-up of her marriage.

In due course, romance comes along in the form of Alan Reed. It makes no difference to Mary Ann that he's an English Protestant. If only everyone's attitude were so simple! The odds are against the young couple right from the beginning.

Monica Tracey has proven herself an accomplished novelist.

What I Know

Andrew Cowan

Sceptre

€22.34

Mike Hanna is the loving father of two young boys. He is happily married but has begun to wonder if he could be happier. Sarah, one of the young students he once shared a house with, has been on his mind a lot lately. His job as a private investigator is satisfactory but not as exciting as it sounds. Putting his back out on his fortieth birthday gives him a lot of time for thought, intensifying what is definitely a mid-life crisis for him. Mike's most salient feature is his ordinariness. He also has a somewhat inquisitive streak. One empathises readily with him even if he irritates at times. He has no major faults - just all too common weaknesses.

Mike has never considered being unfaithful and he trusts his wife, Jan completely and can scarcely imagine her cheating on him either. Then, his neighbour, Anna confides in him her belief that her husband, Will is in love with Jan. He puts little credence in this. Still, when, shortly afterwards, Will leaves Anna, Mike starts to wonder if Jan could be involved with Will after all. He determines to find out if there is anything untoward going on. He begins to use his skills as a private investigator in his private life - a dangerous notion if ever there was one. Yes, it's bound to blow up in his face although maybe not as one might expect.

What I know is not always an absorbing read but, for the most part, it holds the interest. The ending is both poignant and thought-provoking.

What God Wants

Neale Donald Walsch

Hodder Mobius

€16.99

What does God want? Think about it for a moment. It seems safe to say that much of what happens on earth is contrary to the wishes of any Higher Authority one chooses to espouse. Neale Donald Walsch argues forcefully that the reason why so many of us appear to have gone so far wrong is that traditional interpretations of God's requirements have been gravely mistaken. War, religious persecution, discrimination against women and abuse of homosexuals have all been executed in God's name.

This is as extraordinary a book as one is ever likely to read. Some of Walsch's assertions are outrageous. He can easily be accused of arrogance, professing as he does to be the ultimate expert on the nature of God. Essentially, he alleges that God is life, everyone and everything. It's all rather strange. Yet he is oddly convincing. The idea is that religion separates people and that if we realised just how connected we all are we'd all apply the Golden Rule automatically. Walsch is either insane, a con-man supreme or a prophet. One must judge for oneself. Prepare to be inspired, outraged or disturbed, perhaps a combination of all three. Not everyone will read What God Wants right through. It will have vigorous opponents and perhaps a few loyal converts.

When the Bough Breaks

June Considine

€9.99

This is an impressive debut novel. June Considine captures the attention with her opening line, Her father was a magic musician. Mr Music Man, and holds it right up to the last page. A master storyteller, she weaves a complex and absorbing plot. She has a wonderful way with words. The following is an example of the lyricism of her writing. Fairies lived under the rocks where they spun the magic gorse blossom and covered the mountain in a coat of gold.

Little Beth Tyrell loves her father and his music. Yet her childhood is far from happy. Her mother clearly favours her younger sister, having a stick that she calls Charlie, which she uses to beat Beth. Beth's uncle, Tom Oliver is a successful businessman who, later, enters politics. The image he portrays is one of generosity, respectability and integrity. Beneath the surface, the reality is very different. He and Beth share an evil secret. Beth's life becomes bleaker still when her father leaves his wife and children.

In her mid-teens, Beth runs away, but not before breaking the loathed Charlie. She finds a home with her father, his warm-hearted mistress and her children. She is much happier in her new life. However, the shadows of the past prove inescapable.

Eva Frawley is the second central character in When the Bough Breaks. Secure in the love of her adoptive parents, although she has always known that she was abandoned as a new-born baby, it is only when tragedy strikes and her marriage is under serious threat that she is beset by a driving compulsion to delve into her origins. What dark secrets will be unearthed?

Apart from the leading characters, When the Bough Breaks has an interesting and colourful cast. This includes Beth's beautiful yet tragic sister, Sara who is a talented photographer, Jess O'Donovan, a somewhat unlikely candidate for a religious vocation, the handsome and enigmatic artist, Peter Wallace and the rebellious and troubled teenager, Lindsay McKeever.

The stage is set for a truly dramatic climax. Will Tom Oliver's crimes ultimately be revenged? Can Eva's marriage be salvaged against great odds? These and other crucial questions hang in the balance. When the Bough Breaks is an epic tale of love, hate, lost innocence, guilt, revenge and forgiveness.

Wish Me Well: Notes on My Sleeve

Mick Hanly

Gill and Macmillan

€16.99

Mick Hanly's renowned song-writing skills adapt well to the task of penning his memoir. Honesty, courage and humility abound. The result is an inspiring read. His family was close and loving even if life wasn't always harmonious. His childhood might have been happy but for the generally rather violent input of the Christian Brothers. This left enduring scars. He writes with sincerity of his disenchantment with organised religion while showing respect for the beliefs of others. Yet his agnosticism is so filled with awe and wonder at the miracles of nature, including the coming of the swallow in the spring and the stars at night, to name but two, that it seems worthy being called a faith in itself. His willingness to march to a different drum also shows in his persistence in pursuing a musical career even though for a long time the financial rewards were small to say the least.

The shadows that have darkened Hanly's life have been self-doubt and addiction. His biggest battle has been with alcohol but he has struggled to give up cigarettes and drugs as well - successfully on all scores. He has made mistakes, which he freely admits to. He's certainly not proud of the break-up of his first marriage. However, he knows that, today, his priorities are the right ones; his family comes first, his music second.

For someone not conventionally religious, Hanly delivers a sermon second to none. There is the sad story of Mrs Malone, poorer than most and saddled with a drunken husband. She was treated as something of an outcast. During the extended bitterly cold spell of early 1963, by some miracle, Mrs Malone was the only one in the neighbourhood in whose pipes the water didn't freeze. For weeks, the neighbours converged daily in numbers to obtain their water requirements. Mrs Malone fulfilled her duties as hostess with grace. Yet when the water flowed from the pipes once more, she was relegated to her former outcast status.

The chapters are named after the songs on Mick Hanly's new album, also called Wish Me Well. The book may be seen as extensive sleeve notes for the album, which also can be described as autobiographical. Each chapter closes with the lyrics of the relevant song. It is written with eloquence and feeling.

Without Blood

Alessandro Baricco

Canongate

€12.99

This strange and powerful literary novella begins with a revenge attack in the aftermath of war. Four-year-old Nina's life is spared when her family are killed because one of the attackers takes pity on her. Many years later, when they are both old although he is sixteen years her senior, she tracks him down. That he now sells lottery tickets highlights in ironic fashion the arbitrary nature of life and death. Alessandro Baricco is a master of meaningful imagery. He also condenses much into few words. The major themes of war, revenge, forgiveness and redemption are explored in this thought-provoking tale.

The opening is distressing and sinister. Having just been introduced to Nina, it is particularly shocking to discover that, even though she herself has no idea of the atrocity about to take place, her very life and those of her father and her brother are at risk, her father having just spotted an old enemy approaching their home. It is somewhat difficult to follow when the reader knows so little of the background to the horrific scene unfolding. Some of this is gradually revealed but the details remain sketchy. The violence is graphic yet not drawn out

When Nina finally confronts the man who spared her life all those years earlier, who is also the last surviving member of the group who slaughtered her father and brother, you may be sure that she has some difficult questions to put to him. His responses are enlightening if less than inspiring. The notion of going through life bearing such a combination of bitterness and gratitude, both feelings so intense, for one person is a difficult one to conceive of. The encounter finally develops in the most unexpected of ways. The conclusion is a promise of redemption, somewhat shocking - certainly unconventional - yet oddly touching, for both these old people whose lives have converged in the strangest of ways.

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