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ClareR (6162 KP) rated People Like Them in Books

Jan 29, 2024

People Like Them

Samira Sedira | 2021 | Contemporary, Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller

6.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

How could a seemingly normal person commit an atrocious crime? How could that persons loved ones ever come to terms with it afterwards? And how well can you ever really know your own spouse? Are you as much to blame for their actions? Should you have seen it coming?

These are all questions that Anna Guillot asks herself about her husband, Constant.

It all starts so innocently: Constant and Bakary Langlois are good friends, even if the differences in their financial statuses are vast. Bakary starts to help other neighbours with their investments, and Constant is upset that he doesn’t seem to want to help him. Perhaps this should have been Constant’s warning.

Relationships change between the two families when Anna starts to work as the Langlois’ housekeeper/ cleaner, because how can they stay the same under these conditions?

It’s just one thing after another, until the final denouement where Anna is left to pick up the pieces of her family’s destroyed life, her guilt driving her? Was Constant racist? Were his actions based around those thoughts?

This was really disturbing and quite a distressing read. It was well worth it though.

Kudos

ClareR (6162 KP) rated Light Over Liskeard in Books

Jan 31, 2024

Light Over Liskeard

Louis de Bernieres | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

I should have felt sad when the inevitable happened at the end of this book, but I really didn’t.

Q, the main character in Light Over Liskeard, has been preparing for this event from the first page. He knows that the collapse of society will happen, just not when.

Q is a man who has never had to do anything for himself, but in order to prepare, he learns how to build, grow and work with others with the help of his very capable neighbours.

It’s a fascinating landscape, mixing the familiarity of Cornwall with the unfamiliar wildlife: lynxes, aurochs, wolves and more. I loved the sound of them all. Whilst it’s sad that no one really sees them (because they all live in their convenient, encapsulated, electronic worlds), the lack of visitors is probably why the wildlife thrives.

This is full of observations on: modern life and how it’s not as great as it’s cracked up to be; the beauty of nature; and the importance of relationships and human connection. And ultimately what I read Louis de Bernières for: his fascinating, quirky characters. I loved them all!