BOOK REVIEW - FORTY DAYS WITHOUT SHADOW

Olivier Truc – Forty days without shadow

A debut novel by this young French writer now translated into English.  A journalist based in Stockholm who produced a TV documentary called The Reindeer police and it is Reindeer Police officers that feature in this new novel.

Set in the frozen north of Lapland amongst the taciturn, isolated, hermit like reindeer herders of the Sami people.

A gruesome murder and a stolen priceless Sami drum seem to be unconnected crimes until Detective Klemet Nango and his new recruit assistant Nina Nansen start investigating.

The icy landscapes and lonely nomadic lifestyle of the Sami herders is so well described that you feel yourself reaching for a fur rug to snuggle into and feel some comfort.

The modern advances in technology and transport are starting to appear but many of the old school herders stick to the old ways and herd with skis and little or no communication.

There is a dream like quality to the vast wasteland descriptions and the gripping crime details are sharply in contrast.

The modern police officers and the age old traditional peoples are both struggling to keep the old culture alive.

Sub plots include a UN conference on indigenous peoples and shady gold mining deals but it is the Sami peoples and Lapland itself that star in this novel.

Wolf Strait is to be the next instalment of Detectives Nango and Nansen.

 *"Forty Days without Shadow" is now available in the shop.

Meryll Williams

Rainy Day Books

1301 Mountain Hwy, The Basin

Catch me on my blog www.rainydaybooksofthebasin.blogspot.com

CHRISTMAS TIME

This year there is an amazing window display at Rainy Day Books where only used recycled pages and books have been used to make decorations.

There were no useful books harmed in the making of the display, just Reader’s Digest condensed books and some old music scores that had fallen apart.

A huge 1.2 metre Christmas tree, small trees and also chains of hearts, birds and stars are all made from paper.

Christmastime, that season of excess, over packaging and waste.

Why not try second hand books as a present and use the purest form of recycling that there is.

No changes needed to the books that I stock, they go out of the shop in the same form as they come into it.

Come in and look at the window and I will help you find the perfect gift for the most difficult people on your shopping list.

Thanks for your support during this year and I wish you a healthy, holy and happy Christmas and all the best for 2015.

Happy reading

Meryll

MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS

It's that time of the year again.  Melbourne Cup Weekend.   So much going on that it's hard to decide what to go to, and where to visit.

Here's a suggestion for book lovers everywhere.   Get your maps out and plan a visit to Ferny Creek in the Dandenongs.   It's less than an hour east of the CBD.   It's beautiful up here at this tme of the year (in fact it's always beautiful!) and there is so much to do, should you decide to spend the entire weekend in this part of the world.  There are restaurants to drool over and opportunities for great photos around every bend.

Meryll from Rainy Day Books has been busy arranging the Mountains of Books Bookfair at Ferny Creek Recreation Hall opposite the Sherbrooke Forest.  There is ample parking wth playground and picnic facilities on the site.   Free entry, and there's wheelchair access.   Great food is planned for this year's event.

There's be book covering demonstrations and workshops on Saturday (bookings essential by ringing Meryll at 9762 0862) for using recycled books as Christmas Decorations.  

Don't miss out.   Make sure you have a carton or two in the car ready to collect your special book "finds".   There'll be plenty to choose from amongst the thousands of used and out-of-print titles, including an eclectic range of fiction and non-fiction titles and collectibles in genres such as children's books, cookery, art, fashion, Australiana, gardening and militaria.