THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES by Elizabeth George (fiction/mystery)

Faithful readers of Elizabeth George will be happy to meet up once again with Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his sidekick Sergeant Barbara Havers. It is hard to believe this is the 20th book in which this duo has appeared.  Most of this book belongs to Barbara Havers who is the star in solving a crime in Shrewsbury, a market town on the border with Wales. Besides the local crime they are sent to solve, a large chunk of the book is devoted to the drinking habits of their superior, Chief Inspector Ardery. It is always fun to witness the relationship between Lynley and Havers who couldn’t be more unalike.  Though I must admit while I was wild about George’s earlier detective fiction, by the end of this too long book, I was becoming weary of both characters.  The last few books in this series have disappointed me.  Perhaps it is time for George to move on and begin a new series.

NOTES FROM THE HYENA’S BELLY by Nega Mezlekia (NF)

A memoir of growing up in Ethiopia, this book was written early in 2000.  If you are unfamiliar with Ethiopia and its history, this book will send you to your computer looking for more information on one of the oldest societies in the world.  Nega Mezlekia describes growing up as a mischievous boy who often got into trouble with his friends.  We learn about his schooling, his rebellious teens, and as the country falls into chaos and revolution, his experience of joining a terrorist militia group.  His family’s life falls apart after the murder of his father and the tale of their survival falls on Nega’s shoulders and forms him as he grows into manhood.  Reading this book, piqued my interest in a country rich in tradition and history. It is a fascinating look into a land that is among mankind’s earliest civilizations.

ASYMMETRY by Lisa Halliday (fiction)

I enjoyed this first novel by a new writer.  It is intelligently written, and as its title infers, it involves two disparate stories leading the reader to ponder on their connection.  The first section takes place in Manhattan just as American is becoming involved in the Iraq War, and is reflective of Halliday’s own life experiences, though the author denies it is anything more than fiction.  An aspiring writer meets  a famous and respected older author, falls under his spell and begins an affair with him.  The older author resembles Philip Roth with whom Halliday was at one time involved.  Alongside this is the story of an Iraqi-American man who is detained at Heathrow Airport in London while on his way to see his brother. The contrast of two different cultures and the experiences of the two main characters form the central issues of the novel.  Both stories illustrate unequal powers between men and women, war and its victims. The clever way the stories connect is brilliant and thought provoking. I highly recommend this novel for its originality, outstanding writing and thoughtful issues. It would make a good choice for a reading group.