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The Wren, The Wren
The Wren, The Wren
Anne Enright | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a beautiful story of 3 generations of women, all affected by the same man: poet Phil McDaragh. They have very different relationships with him. Carmel is his daughter and when he leaves the family, it’s up to Carmel and her sister to care for their mother with terminal cancer. Carmel loves her father, but is conflicted with their abandonment And how what he writes in his poems is at odds with the way he treated them.

Carmel’s daughter Nell, a Trinity College graduate, discovers just how difficult life is without her mothers help when she strikes out on her own. She meets a man who is abusive towards her.

This is a story that highlights multi-generational family trauma, and probably why both Carmel and Nell have such poor relationships with men. Running alongside this, is the love these women have for one another.

I get that not everyone will like this novel, but I’ve read two of Enright’s novels now and really enjoyed both of them. I read this as a part of the Women’s Prize shortlist, and whilst I realise they can’t all win, The Wren, The Wren really did deserve to be on that list.
Recommended.
  
A Daughter's Choice (The Heart of the Amish #10)
A Daughter's Choice (The Heart of the Amish #10)
Kelly Irvin | 2025 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
We meet Henrietta. And her family is somewhat mentioned at the beginning of this book. We also met her dad. A new veterinary assistant has come to check on the Millers' horse, Jack. Could there be a romance in the making as Nickloas and his sister come to town to help their grandfather?

We also meet Rosy, and she is seeing someone special, who is a friend. Will they get married or not? But this book seems centered on Hen, short of Henrietta. But Will Nickolas and Henrietta happen to fall in love? Bylers need some help and some friends in the area. Will Leorna find love for what she does, and will Nickolas find love with the fiery girl?

Leorna wants to make some friends in the new area, and Hen may be one of them. Is there a reason for Hen's father to be so disappointed or harsh with his oldest daughter?

We see Nickolas cross paths with Hen quite a bit. But will they seem to understand each other?
Adam thinks he knows what's best for his daughter, Heneretta. But does know her. Or does he think he knows Hen and make her happy?
Hen seems to be missing her mom, and she seems to be clashing with her father.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2672 KP) rated Buried in a Good Book in Books

May 25, 2022 (Updated May 25, 2022)  
Buried in a Good Book
Buried in a Good Book
Tamara Berry | 2022 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Life in the Wilderness Proves to be Deadly
In an attempt to bond with her teenage daughter after a divorce, bestselling thriller authors Tess Harrow decides to spend some time at the rustic cabin she’s recently inherited. But it turns out the lack of running water, electricity, and Wi-Fi aren’t the worst things there. Tess and her daughter haven’t even gotten in the door before there is a horrible boom followed by a rain of fish parts and a human arm. When the sheriff shows up, he is the spitting image of Tess’s main character. What has Tess stumbled into?

If that description sounds a little wacky, that’s because it is. But this book fully embraces it, and is better as a result. I was laughing the entire way through the book at the banter between the characters. The characters are strong and relatable if a bit broad to make the comedy work. I did feel the plot got a little convoluted as we neared the end, but that was my only complaint. Everything made sense in the end, and I was drawn in the entire time I was reading. If you are looking for laughs with your mystery, you’ll be happy you picked up this series debut.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated In The Dark in Books

Jan 15, 2023  
In The Dark
In The Dark
Claire Allan | 2023 | Crime, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A compelling and addictive read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Seven years ago, Nora walked into the woods with her daughter Daisy but walked out of them alone. She has no recollection of what happened and there has been no sign of her since. Did Nora murder her little girl or was she taken for a fate worse than death? Theories abound but nothing can be proven.

Izzy is making a documentary about Daisy's disappearance and whilst Nora has agreed to be a part of that process, she is understandably worried about the repercussions ... she continues to be plagued by people who believe she killed her daughter and the documentary is only going to inflame this but she is desperate to remember but at what cost to her, her new marriage and Luca, Nora's second child.

The more Izzy delves into the past and snippets of memories come back to Nora, the more intriguing the story becomes.

Full of tension, twists and turns and with great characters, this is a book that had me reading on into the night desperate to find out what happened to Daisy and I wasn't disappointed.

My thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of In The Dark.