THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY by Patricia Highsmith

A classic tale of evil, a young man with no morals, completely indifferent to those around him, using murder as a means to an end, even if he may not like what he is actually having to do. The wonderful thing about the writing of this novel, is that there are many aspects of Tom's personality and general behaviour that you actually like and warm to. It is just unfortunate that people keep getting in Tom's way as he goes about his life.

And what is his life? This is the first in a series of five novels about Tom Ripley. Set in the early 1950s, when the war is well and truly over, people are starting to have money to spend again, a little hedonism even is creeping back into daily living. Tom is a young man,  an orphan, a drifter, wanting a big life, envious and desirous of the well-heeled and pleasurable lives he sees around him. The father of a wealthy young man he met some months previously tracks Tom down, asking him, begging him  really to go to Italy and see if he can persuade the son - Dickie Greenwood, to return to New York, work for the family business, and generally get his life sorted out. What an opportunity! Tom naturally accepts - all expenses paid trip to Italy, who wouldn't accept.

Due to the only mode of transport between New York and Rome being a passenger ship, Tom has plenty of time to plot a strategy, figure out a way to insinuate himself into Dickie's life, because he knows Dickie will have no idea who he is. So it begins. Putting it simply Tom wants Dickie's life, and he sets about getting it.

Life moves at a slower pace in these times - ships and boats, lots of walking, letter writing, public telephone boxes. The setting on the coast somewhere between Rome and Naples is idyllic, languorous with its warm still days, little to do other than swim, paint, sail, drink, laze around. As a result at all times I felt like I was holding my breath, every part of Tom's thought processes. his plotting, his incredible talent of deceit and manipulation on show, almost as if we can see inside his brain and his soul. If there is one.  Patricia Highsmith has created a monster in this young man.

There is plenty on line about the novel, the character of Tom, interviews with the author - all intriguing and fascinating. There are also study guides so it must be on curriculums in school/college/university. You could read all those, but read the book instead then go to these other sources. I saw the movie, but that is now 20 years ago, somewhat hazy. Despite the time gap, it is still easy for the characters of the movie to colour the characters in the novel. Matt, Jude, Gwyneth - I think they did their characters proud. So looking forward to reading the next 4. 

THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty

Greek myths and legends - there is a very strong lesson in each that we ignore at our peril. We all know what happened when Pandora just could not stop herself opening that box, and letting all that badness out! Similar scenario here. Modern day north shore suburbs of Sydney, Cecilia finds an envelope in the attic addressed to her from her husband, with the words that it is only to be opened in the event of his death. Oh, what to do. Those itching fingers.

This whole story centres on guilt, confession, and atonement. St Angela's School is the centrepiece for the characters in this story. So already you see that  this is not ordinary guilt etc but very Catholic guilt, confession, and atonement. The main characters either all went to the school as children themselves, and/or now have children/grandchildren going to the school. 

The unsolved murder  of a teenage girl some 15 years earlier continues to haunt her mother Rachel who works in the office of the school. She is convinced that a teacher at the school who was then a teenage boy and friend of her daughter is somehow responsible. We also have Tess, who has left Melbourne with her young son, deep in betrayal following her husband and cousin/best friend declaring their undying love for each other. And we have Cecilia immersed in  her perfect life, perfect marriage to John-Paul, perfect children as well as being the Queen Bee of the school mums, plus a successful Tupperware distributor. You get the picture.

The story takes place over the few days of the Easter period - how coincidental I hear you say - death, rebirth, and so on. Ripe for sin confession, guilt, Catholic doctrine filtering through, secrets to be revealed. And despite my slightly subversive and cynical tone, this is a great story. I found the characters believable, relatable. The very suburban family oriented physical setting is instantly recognisable, as are the characters themselves. There is a touch of Jodi Picoult with the envelope plot device - the moral and ethical repercussions of opening the envelope, then dealing with what the contents are. My only criticism is at how the climax of the story takes place, and it is not the opening of the envelope. I found this part of the story horrifically unnecessary, quite out of place and far too dramatic. For those who believe in some sort of divine retribution, this may be quite an acceptable and likely outcome, but for me, immersed in the ordinary day to day life of the characters, I thought it pushed the boundaries too much. Good read though.  

THE LAST HOURS by Minette Walters

A dystopian novel that isn't was the predominant thought going through my mind while reading this. A dystopian society or state is imagined rather than real, follows some catastrophe, injustice, suffering or total disaster wiping out the normal way of doing things. This novel ticks all of the above except for the imagined society. Because the Black Death did exist, it did wipe out 50% the British population in the mid-14th century, it's origins at the time were totally unknown, superstition and religious dogma explaining how and why it randomly seemed to descend, wiping out villages, communities, towns, generations overnight.

In this novel, long established crime thriller writer Minette Walters turns her hand to historical fiction, her impetus apparently being learning that where she lives in Dorset is very close to a plague pit. Her setting is the fictional community of Develish, with the manor house occupied by land owner Lord Richard, his wife Lady Anne and their 14 year old daughter Eleanor. The land is farmed by peasants - serfs, effectively slaves to the land owner, with no say or control over their destiny - everything they do and have is owned by, in this case, Lord Richard. Not a nice man. Serfs are treated like the lowly, dirty, uneducated, subservient creatures they supposedly are.

Lady Anne, however, is a most exceptional woman. Brought up by nuns, she can read, knows how to care for the sick, understands the importance of basic hygiene, managing and caring for communities. During her 15 years at Develish, she has worked ceaselessly behind her husband's back teaching the serfs to read, and basic sanitation all resulting in Develish being a local success story with its healthy serfs, and productive fields. Not much of which goes back to the peasants.

Following the unfortunate demise of Lord Richard, by default Develish is in Lady Anne's hands. Fortunately for Develish, there is a moat separating the castle from the surrounding fields, assisting Lady Anne with her immediate removal of the entire community and livestock to the castle, and thus isolating it from the rest of the world. A woman in this medieval world has no power, but Lady Anne's careful nurturing of her relationships with the peasants has given her a powerful support base, and she uses this to establish and maintain order within the castle while chaos rules outside.

Religion and the plague being God's punishment for sins, superstition around why some get sick and others don't also dominate daily life. Living in such close confines too, conflicts and trouble soon appear, the prospect of food running out, the ever present threat of invasion, all create big challenges to Lady Anne. Plus it wouldn't be Minette Walters without a murder.

Really good book, and very much look forward to reading the sequel 'The Turn of Midnight'.

HOT PINK SPICE SAGA by Peta Mathias and Julie Le Clerc

So many reasons to give this 5 stars! Everything Peta Mathias writes is totally fab to read - her enthusiasm, her sheer joy, her perseverance in sometimes trying circumstances all come shining through. The photographs by fellow author Julie Le Clerc of food, scenery and local people are beautiful and complement Peta's  often-over-the-top prose. The recipes, and I did try some, are easy, delicious and look pretty much what the picture shows. It is a travel book as well as a food book, they two working seamlessly together - lots and lots to love.

Having lived in India for a year, plus just finished a nearly 4 week trip through much of the north of the country, I have been to a number of places this book travels through. It both brings back memories and adds to the new memories made over the recent trip. She has a wonderful chapter on Darjeeling, which was the impetus for one of the others in our group insisting that we go to Darjeeling and stay at Glenburn Tea Estate. Everything about this part of India I adored, and it was by far my favourite place. Glenburn is a place of tranquility, wonderful hospitality, plus tea, tea and more tea. Peta captures it perfectly.

If you want to be further inspired to go to India, or think it may not be the place for you to go to, read this delicious travel/cook book/memoir, and just get out there and do it. It is country that will confront you in many ways, but if you go with an open mind, you will be rewarded. And eat the local food - it is the best. This book will sure help in that regard.