Ha Jin “Waiting”

This is the story of Lin Kong, a man living in two worlds. Every summer once a year he visits his family home in village, where his wife nurses first his mother and then his father, and takes care of Lin’s daughter. Caught in a loveless marriage, Lin has been in love with an educated, clever, modern woman, Manna Wu.  According to local Party rules, Lin cannot divorce his wife without her permission until they have been separated for 18 years.  Every summer, his wife agrees to a divorce but then backs out…

This touching story about love, honor, duty, and family.

Simple prose, simple plot, very complex characters.

Lena.

 

John Banville “The Sea”

“The Sea” is one of the best novels I have read. This novel is about love, loss, regret and the role of memory. John Banville introduces us to Max Morden. After his wife’s death he returned to the seaside town where his family had vacation in his youth. Something happened there, and the novel only reveals what that was at the end. Max went back to events of his childhood, he needed of going back in his life in order to go forward.

It's a strong and a good book, beautifully written.

Olga.

David Baldacci “Stone Cold”

Baldacci's books are great and this one is no exception. The book carries you along with different stories, fun characters, and, of course, Baldacci's very clear writing style. In this book there are several plots and subplots going on.  Baldacci, as a good storyteller, brings all of these plots into riveting thriller.  In one plot we find Oliver Stone, who is an ex-government assassin who now lives and works in a small graveyard outside of Washington D.C. with a terrible mistake that he made years ago……

A good story full of revenge, conspiracy and murder.

Highly recommend it to anyone who likes action and great characters.

Ann.