Labyrinth - Kate Mosse

I bought this book at Whitcoulls whilst in New Zealand on holiday. Interesting for its historical detail and a good holiday read. I'm a bit tired of the Grail with all the non-fiction and fiction I've read on the subject. I enjoyed this book in spite of it. The atmospheric detail is good, but there was something missing in the connection between present day Alice and long-ago Alais. Reincarnation is implied but somehow the link left me unconvinced. A good holiday read nevertheless.

The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler

Funny,wry,heartwarming writing which slowly draws you into its circle of human and idiosyncratic group of people. While exploring Jane Austen's books through the club, one also gets to know the members, their histories and connections. It's a subtle, quiet book and as I was on holiday in New Zealand, I read it alongside a contrasting book Bergdorf Blondes, which was louder, brighter. I will re-read this book after I've re-read the Jane Austen books.

Bergdorf Blondes - Plum Sykes

Not your average chick lit. Witty take on New York high society and its self-absorbed princesses. The writing is as intelligent as the characters are air-headed (in my estimation anyway). The author being a contributing editor on fashion and society at Vogue NY explains the fascinating details! Wonderfully entertaining and I look forward to reading the author's latest The Debutante Divorcee.

The Ghost Writer - John Harwood

Very atmospheric and engrossing book. Ghost stories are not my usual fare, but this one has a hauntingly mesmerising style which kept me reading page after page, as the scenes moved between Australia and England. It's thrilling, funny, and the stories interspersed in the narrative are also very good. Normally I am impatient with stories within a story, but these stories flowed well with the bigger story and are cleverly intertwined. On a side note, I could relate to the protagonist's experiences with ubiquitous millipedes in his Australian country life!