Juice by Tim Winton

A lengthy story revolves around a man and a girl, both unnamed, who travel together in search of a remote and sheltered settlement. Along the way, they encounter a stranger armed with a crossbow. At this point, the man decides to share his story alone, beginning with his origins and the people who lived in the hinterland. He grew up with his mother, who taught him everything he needed to survive as a responsible citizen and encouraged him to embark on journeys as a means of education. Through his travels, he gained a wealth of knowledge, symbolizing confidence, trust, and freedom.

In his community, there was no caste or hierarchy. Life was marked by challenging weather and epidemics, making it unsafe to remain in one place for too long. He asserted that he was not an ordinary person. Upon coming of age, he joined the Service with a specific mission. This transition changed his life, introducing him to routines and a world that was more complex than he had ever understood.

While the exact timeline isn't specified, it is likely set in a dystopian future several decades from now—a post-apocalyptic world devastated by climate change, violence, and chaos. The author also portrays the old world as dirty and rotten. It is now the task of the new generation to learn from the past and make sacrifices to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again.

This narrative spans over 500 pages and is a thought-provoking read that tackles themes of grief and loss while addressing the global effects of generational trauma. I spent nearly two weeks engrossed in this imaginative tale, reflecting on our responsibilities, our understanding of identity, humanity, and technology, and grappling with the question of who is to blame. 😅😅

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

Erin Gillford has been charged with the murder of her partner, Lyle Pearse. Lyle, the head of the Pearse Foundation and a local philanthropist, was found stabbed in their home, and Erin has no memory of how she ended up covered in blood. Strangely, the first person she called after discovering the body was her ex-husband, Ernest Cunningham.

Ernest, a fan of golden age murder mysteries who has solved two relatively high-profile cases in the past, has gained celebrity status as a detective. While searching for clues, tragedy struck again when Lyle's business partner was killed the following day. With Erin’s shaky alibi and six suspects potentially connected to both murders, Ernest compiled all the deductions he could gather, even though he lacked solid evidence.

I enjoy a good cozy mystery filled with quirky characters and typically no earth-shattering plot involved. If you’re looking for something fun this holiday season, what could be cozier than a Christmas-themed murder mystery?

 

 

The Crash by Freida McFadden

Tegan Werner is twenty-three years old, eight months pregnant, and unmarried. Unfortunately, she has become a cliché: she got pregnant while drinking and doesn’t even know who the father of her child is. A month later, an unexpected event occurred—she saw a man on TV, identified by the caption as Simon Lamar, a successful businessman in real estate. He had no interest in marrying her, as he was already happily married.

Tegan signed a contract that would have provided her with a significant sum of money, enough to set her up for life. However, before she could sign, unsettling memories began to resurface. She recalled feeling drugged and assaulted the night they met.

Ultimately, Tegan chose to report the incident to the police, believing it was the right thing to do, and lost the opportunity for the money. She decided to leave everything behind to be with her brother, who lives in another state, before the snow arrived. Unfortunately, she had an accident that injured her ankle. She was rescued by a man named Hank, who has a wife named Polly. Although he saved her life, Tegan felt uncomfortable around him. She felt helpless, trapped, and stranded in Hank's basement.

The story is told from both Tegan and Polly's points of view. This is just the beginning of Tegan's difficult journey. Surprisingly, this is the first book by Freida that I read, and I can understand why her works are so popular in our community.