Bestsellers for May 2010
1 Solar Ian McEwan Random House $32.95
Climate change is the background theme to McEwan’s latest novel. However, despite the scientific backdrop, this book is anything but serious and is a largely a romp through the life of the middle-aged, Nobel prize-winning physicist, Michael Beard, a man who has got through 5 wives and has spent the last two decades living off the work he did in his youth. Now Beard thinks nothing of stealing the ground-breaking work that his present wife’s young lover is working upon and as such embodies everything that has brought about the current climate change crisis – greed, heedlessness and a wilful refusal to think about consequences. McEwan provides us with a satirical and often hilarious look at a serious subject.
2 Trespass Rose Tremain Random House $32.95
Rose Tremain has tried her hand at many different genres, with huge success. Her ability to take us into another time and place is outstanding and she does it again with this psychological thriller set in the South of France. From the very first paragraph we know that we are entering dangerous territory and the suspense doesn’t let up. Her cast of characters – two elderly French siblings trying to hang on to their family home, whilst hating each other at the same time and two elderly English siblings trying to make a new home in France, are set on an inevitable collision course. The French countryside is described as both inviting and inhospitable at the same time and the title “Trespass” resounds through the book on many levels. Fantastic writing.
3 The Legacy Kirsten Tranter Harper Collins $32.99
This is Australian writer, Kristen Tranter’s debut novel, but is written with great assurance and individuality. She was inspired to write the book after experiencing New York during September 2001 and thinking how easy it would have been for a crime to have taken place during that tragic and chaotic time and for it to have gone completely unnoticed. So the idea for “The Legacy” was born. Recently orphaned Ingrid is adopted by her wealthy uncle and goes to live in his affluent home in Sydney. Her presence disrupts the relationship between her cousin Ralph and his adoring girlfriend Julia. Ingrid ignores Ralph and goes to New York to marry an older, sophisticated art-dealer. When Ingrid is presumed dead during the 9/11 attacks, suspicious Ralph sends Julia to investigate….At once a thriller and a homage to Henry James, “The Legacy” is an intriguing and satisfying novel.
4 Martin Westley Takes a Walk Andrew Humphreys Random House $32.95
When Martin Westley takes a walk he is hit on the head by a kite. He wakes up in hospital and quickly realises that although he can count to three, he has no memory of his personal circumstances. Quick-thinking Martin realises that he does not want to admit to this and endure months of neurological testing, so he pretends that all is well and goes home with his wife, whom he has no memory of and takes an instant dislike to! So commences a hilarious course of events, chronicling Martin’s attempts to re-write his life and re-invent himself, without people realising what has happened to him! Thought-provoking – what would you do if you suddenly saw your life, family and friends with completely fresh eyes?!
5 Bride Flight Marieke van der Pol UWA Press $32.95
“Bride Flight” tells the story of three young Dutch women, who are selected to join an epic KLM flight from London to Christchurch in 1953. They are to join their fiancés in New Zealand and start new lives, leaving behind war damaged Europe and all it means to them. On the flight they meet each other for the first time and are accompanied by the affable Frank der Rooy. The book opens fifty years later, with the news of Frank’s death on a wine estate in New Zealand and over the course of the book we realise the effects of their chance meeting and the aftermath of decisions made by young people desperate for a fresh start. Beautifully translated from the Dutch, this is a book to savour and to enjoy the wonderful evocations of time and place.
6 So Much for That Lionel Shriver Harper Collins $32.99
Lionel Shriver is back on form with this incisive look into the American Health system. Shep Knacker is all set to embark on his Afterlife – he has saved up a million dollars to escape the rat-race and start a new life on the tropical island of his choice. But unfortunately, on the very day that he buys the tickets, his wife announces that she is seriously ill and they will need all the health insurance that they can get… so poor Shep has to carry on working. This is a masterful expose of what happens when people are stuck in a system with no flexibility or humanity. Full of irony and feisty characters, this is a very memorable read and an ideal Bookclub choice.
7 Good to a Fault Marina Endicott Allen & Unwin $27.99
Marina Endicott won the Canadian and Caribbean section of the Commonwealth Writers Prize for 2009 for this clever and insightful novel. Clara Purdy, a middle-aged middle class lady is popping out to the bank in her lunch-hour, when she accidentally hits another car. The family in the other car are taken to hospital and it is discovered that the young mother has a serious illness and needs to be kept in for treatment. As the rest of the family are homeless (they have been living in their car), Clara is riddled with guilt and decides to help them. She decides on the extreme remedy of letting them stay at her home. What ensues is a roller-coaster ride of emotions - guilt, blame, revulsion, love and ultimately we are left wondering about the motives behind trying to “be good”.
8 The Swan Thieves Elizabeth Kostova Little Brown $32.99
Elizabeth Kostova’s new novel tells the story of the enigmatic artist Robert Oliver, who has tried to slash a painting in the National Gallery in Washington. He is taken into the care of Andrew Marlowe, a psychiatrist, who becomes fascinated by his taciturn patient. Marlowe’s quest to find a motive for Robert’s behaviour takes him to various destinations in America and a revisiting of the world of the French Impressionists. This is a fascinating examination of the artistic temperament and the power of an image to become an obsession. Well researched and with an intriguing array of characters, this is a great novel with which to start the year.
9 Recipe for Life Nicky Pellegrino Orion $32.99
A delightful tale of friendship between two generations, set in Italy, with lots of recipes and feel-good feelings!
10 Reading by Moonlight Brenda Walker Penguin $29.95
Really this is every woman’s fear: being diagnosed with breast cancer and working out the best means of coping. Brenda Walker turns to books. At each stage of her treatment, outlined in her book, she surrounds herself with past novels. For her, as for many of us, each book is like re-reading a diary entry. Brenda can recall what she was doing and feeling at the time of her first encounter. The chosen books offer her an opportunity for self-regard and for hope. This is a poignant book about a woman heading into the unfamiliar, holding on to what she does understand. Given that Brenda is the Associate Professor in English and Cultural Studies at UWA, she does know her writers. Reading by Moonlight also offers insights into an impressive line-up of writers from Dickens to Dante. This would make a great gift for any women reader.
Previous Bestsellers Lists
View the previous bestsellers lists by selecting the date of the list you'd like to view
3 September 2010
3 August 2010
4 July 2010
3 June 2010
5 May 2010
6 April 2010
3 March 2010
2 February 2010
28 October 2009
29 September 2009
3 September 2009
30 July 2009
Book of the Month
September 2010
Freedom
by
Jonathan Franzen