Dark Highways by Megat Ishak

Dark Highways
Megat Ishak
2013, Fixi Novo, Malaysia
9789670374406
265p.

A collection of short stories set in Malaysia - I picked this up at a Borders on my recent trip to KL.  The main themes of these stories are horror, magic, violence, and betrayal.

I quite enjoyed reading these stories as an insight to Malay culture.  My favourite stories were 'Mr. Bolero', about two professional killers and set in the near future; and 'Cloud Sparkle', which is a horror story about killer clouds!

Overall I found the theme of betrayal, specifically female lover betrayal, to become a little tiresome but it's just a part of the collection.

The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson

The Star of Kazan
Eva Ibbotson
2004, MacMillan, London
0330418025
388p.

Annika was abandoned as a baby in a little church in Austria and taken home by servants of a great house in Vienna. Shortly after an old lady leaves Annika a trunk full of fake jewels in her will, Annika's mother - a noble woman - returns to take her home.

This is an interesting children's book. I don't think I've ever read a children's book so full of the history of pre-WWI Europe. It was fascinating to real of the old noble families and the social structures. The story was predictable, but it is only meant for children.

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The Bloody Wood by Michael Innes

The Bloody Wood
Michael Innes
1966, 2001, House of Stratus, Thirsk
1842327259
171p.

Sir John Appelby, a senior detective inspector, is visiting his friends, Grace and Charles Martineau, as Grace is near the end of a long illness. When Grace turns up dead prematurely, and Charles soon follows, Appelby investigates their deaths.

The dialogue in this book is a little stilted and loquacious, but when you get used to the writing style, it is rather witty and charming. I love old English manor murder mysteries, and this was a good example of the genre. Innes writes with intelligence and subtle humour - it's very British!

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The Cider House Rules by John Irving

The Cider House Rules
John Irving
1985, 1986, Black Swan, London
055212724
719p.

Set in rural Maine, this is the story of an orphan named Homer Wells. He grows up in an orphanage run by Dr. Larch who takes cares of unwanted babies and gives abortions for unwanted pregnancies.

This is a glorious book - I was moved to tears a few times. It is written in a lovely prose, the transitions in particular are beautiful. And the characters are drawn to perfection.

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