6 Thursday, March 26, 2009 www.whitehaven-news.co.ukCleator Crack
Desperate struggle against
starvation, brutality and fear
H
ERE'S the latest pick
of the books
recommended by
Cleator Moor Library.
Emotional Geology, by
Linda Gillard: The main
character, Rose, has decided
to go and live on a remote
island in Scotland and try
to escape her problems.
A middle aged artist who
suffers from manic
depression, Rose is neurotic
and emotionally frustrated
and at first finds she wants
to just hide away from
everyone and be alone.
She is a troubled and
complicated soul. The love
of her life, Gavin, left her
for another and she has not
been able to get over it, or
to trust anyone else. So she
throws herself into her
work and all seems to be
well.
Until, enter stage right,
the handsome, curly-haired
poet who teaches at the
local school. It turns out
that he has problems of his
own and something more in
common with Rose than
artistic tendencies.
The story develops
further when Rose's
daughter turns up out of
the blue in February and
Rose is puzzled as to why
Megan didn't wait for better
weather to visit the Islands.
To say more will spoil the
story...
The way Gillard
describes the scenery
encourages the reader to
visit Skye and see the
Cuillin Mountains for
themselves. This is a good
read, written with a real
sense of understanding of
the human state.
Under The Knife, by Tess
Gerritsen: This is a fast-
paced and gripping thriller
from a bestselling author.
For David Ransom, it
begins as an open-and-shut
case. Malpractice. As the
lawyer for a grieving family,
he is determined to
prosecute a negligent
doctor.
Then Dr Kate Chesne
storms into his office,
daring him to seek out the
truth � that she is being
framed.
First it was Kate's career
that was in jeopardy. Then,
when another body is
discovered David begins to
believe her. Suddenly it's
much more.
Somewhere in the
Honolulu hospital, a killer
walks freely amongst
patients and staff. Now
David finds himself asking
the same questions that
Kate is desperate to have
answered.
Who is next and why?......
A fascinating story with a
gripping plot and believable
characters.
Having read other novels
by this author I felt that the
only drawback of the book
is that perhaps, it is too
short!
A Thousand Splendid
Suns, by Khaled Hosseini:
This is a compulsive and
fiery tale that is both
moving and real.
Mariam is only 15 when
she is sent to Kabul to
marry the troubled and
bitter Rasheed, who is 30
years her senior.
Nearly two decades later,
in a climate of growing
unrest, tragedy strikes 15-
year-old Laila, who must
leave her home and join
Mariam's unhappy
household.
Laila and Mariam are to
find consolation in each
other, their friendship to
grow as deep as the bond
between sisters and as
strong as the ties between
mother and daughter.
As time passes, the
Taliban rule over
Afghanistan, the streets of
Kabul explode with the
sound of gunfire and
bombs.
Life becomes a desperate
struggle against starvation,
brutality and fear. The
women's endurance are
tested beyond their worst
imaginings
Yet love can move a
person to act in unexpected
ways, lead them to
overcome the most
daunting obstacles with a
startling heroism.
In the end it is love that
triumphs over death and
destruction.
This is one of the best
books I have ever read.
Hosseini's writing is so
powerful that you can
believe that these
characters truly exist, in
fact I developed a strong
dislike for the character
Rasheed. This is certainly
one book that I will
remember for a long time. It
deserves its place in the top
10 Cumbria Libraries' most
borrowed adult fiction.
CUMBRIA Libraries'
current most borrowed
adult fiction:
Quickie - James Patterson
Road Home � Rose Tremain
Overlook � Michael
Connelly
Book of the Dead � Patricia
Cornwell
Bad Luck and Trouble � Lee
Child
A Thousand Splendid Suns
� Khaled Hosseini
Cross � James Patterson
Judge and Jury � James
Patterson
Loner � Josephine Cox
Skeleton Coast � Clive
Cussler
Fancy a change � why not
try a talking book?
As a promotional offer
talking books are FREE to
borrow from all libraries
during March. There are a
variety of formats, which
include cassette, CD,
Playaway and the latest
MP3CD.
For further information
contact your local library or
visit the website at
www.cumbria.gov.uk/
libraries
On The Bookshelf
FIERY TALE: A Thousand
Splendid Suns
THRILLER: Under the Knife
GOOD READ: Emotional
Geology
Feeding
time for
ducks
on River
Ehen
OVER 100 YEARS OLD:
This picture was sent to us
by Tom Duffy. It is of the
River Ehen showing people
on the river bank along with
a family of ducks.
"It could have been taken
with a camera last week,"
says Tom.
However, it was actually a
postcard he has recently
purchased, dating back to
1908!

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