APRIL READING

APRIL BOOKS

Haunted Ground – Erin Hart – Finished 04/09/2011 – Pages 326 – The second book of Hart’s I’ve read, and the first in her series. This also tells of the finding of a bog person in Ireland and the archeology involved in discovering why the body was buried and who she was. There is the other story of a missing wife and child and the suspicion falling on her husband. Nora Gavin and Cormac Maguire are the investigators as they were in the Lake of Sorrows. These are interesting stories in that they give a lot of information about delving into the past of Ireland.

The Draining Lake – Arnaldur Indridason – Finished 04/12/2011 – Pages 312 – Another winner from Indridason. I really like his main character, Erlendur, who is such a laid back detective. He has an agenda – missing persons – as a result of losing his brother in a blizzard. A skeleton has been found in a lake bed, and the book sets about discovering the identity of the body. The Cold War and spies are a part of the story. I hope to read more of these Icelandic tales.

The Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett – Finished 04/22/2011 – Pages 974 – Hefty good book about the building/erecting of a cathedral in Kingsbridge in the 12^th Century. The major players: Tom Builder, who designed the cathedral and built most of it; Ellen, his fey wife; Aliena, the daughter of an earl; Jack, Ellen’s son – also  a builder of the cathedral; Tom, Tom Builder’s son; Martha, Tom Builder’s daughter; Prior Philip who saved the cathedral, Ellen, Aliena and many others. The bad guys – mainly William, pretender to the earldom, and various prelates. Even Thomas Beckett appears late in the story. A “sweeping” tale of the people of different classes at different stages in their lives. Something of a bodice-ripper, but very enjoyable!

Hanna’s Daughters – Marianne Fredriksson – Finished 04/27/2011 – Pages 345 – Quite good story about three women – grandmother, mother and daughter – as they tell of their lives in Sweden. They all bear sadness, and are striving for love.  The stories unfold through a hundred years of living – from very humble and harsh beginnings up to the present with a much easier life led by the granddaughter and her daughters. 

I've started another book, but doubt I'll finish it before the end of the month. "The Pillars" was really several books, so I read more than the four titles would tell you!