The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant

Set in 15th century Renaissance Florence, it's evocative, colourful, thrilling and rich. This is my first time with Sarah Dunant, in fact I was looking for her latest book In the Company of the Courtesan but found this first. The story of Alessandra Cecchi, a young, precociously intelligent girl from one of the wealthy families in Florence - her talents, loves and fascination with the arts and a particular painter. I was beguiled from the first page with the mystery and exoticism in the writing and settings. Feeling melancholy & in bed with the flu, I was transported to another world.

Set Yourself Free - Shirley Smith

This book came to me as a gift from a stranger, someone who met Kurt at a course and gave this book to me. Thanks Robert! How serendipitous! I'm not unfamiliar with Codependency, having read John Bradshaw & Melody Beattie etc, but that was a long time ago. Codependency originates from the denial of the true self in order to survive within a dysfunctional system - as adults co-dependents are either attracted to addictive types or have an addictive personality. It's good to revisit with fresh eyes.

We need to talk about Kevin - Lionel Shriver

I expected much, with all the glowing reviews. I don't know where I got the idea from but I had thought it was based on a true story, but I realised once I started that it was fiction. I struggled at first with the verbose writing style - I found myself starting on a half dozen other books (diversion?) during the early part. The pace quickens to a horrific climax, but I thought that Kevin was too out and out evil to be believable - hard to imagine a 4 yr old child with such malice and cunning, who's so consistently evil as he grows up, and on the other hand, hard to imagine a more stupid father who so blindly sees only the best in his malignant son. Still, I did enjoy this book overall for its dense emotionality and complexity.