The testament of Gideon Mack - James Robertson

You'd think that not believing in God would hinder someone wishing to become a Minister of the Church of Scotland - but it never stopped Gideon Mack. This book, supposedly written by Mack, tells the story of his life, from his early years, his marriage, disappearance, his meeting with the Devil and the events following this meeting.

I guess the story is about believe, or non-believe - and about people's ideas about the truth. Mack is ostracised but the village, the church and his friends, when he decides that it is important for him to 'tell the truth' about is disappearance and subsequent meeting with the Devil.

This is one of the most wonderful, folk/fairy tales that i've read for sometime - a modern folk tale with engaging characters and a storyline that you just can't help being dragged along by. Told mainly by Mack (his 'testament') the story starts with a prologue from the publisher setting out how the book came to be published, and then ends with an epilogue including 'interviews' with the key people of Monimaskit.

I heard a tiny snippet of this book on Radio 4 a couple of years ago, as it was book of the week - and it tweaked my curiosity - although it's taken me a while to get round to reading it, it was well worth the wait. Although slow to get started, it's a satisfying yarn, well worth the effort.

Bought on Green Metropolis.
5th - 13th February 2009

The Dogs of Riga - Henning Mankell

Having read the first Wallander book and very much enjoyed the descriptions of Sweden and the characters, I was looking forward to the second book.

However, it wasn't as good as I'd hoped - and maybe that's because much of it is actually set in Latvia.

When two well dressed dead bodies wash up in a life raft on the Swedish shore, Wallander becomes involved in a confusing Eastern Block/Russian mafia world - one that he's not at all comfortable in and certainly doesn't understand.

The characters are interesting and I'm certainly warming to Wallander himself, the story kept me interested and reading, but it just didn't have the same feel as the first.

I won't be put off, and will return to the series - but I'm glad this wasn't the first otherwise I might not have continued. There are only nine available so I will pace myself and spread them out.

Bought on Green Metropolis.

25th January - 4th February 2009