The Garden of Evening Mists

by Tan Twan Eng
This story moves between three time periods-the second world war, the early 1950's and today.
The story is that of a Chinese malay woman who survives a Japanese slave camp in the second world war and goes on, in part driven by revenge, to become a high court judge. Her sister-who adored Japanese gardens-died in the camp. Hating the Japanese, but wanting to fulfil a promise made to her sister she sets about making a Japanese garden. The book is the story of how she tries to do this-thrown into direct contact with Aritoma-a man who used to be the Emperor's gardener. They work together on Aritomo's garden and this part of the story is set against the backdrop of the civil war in Malaya that led to independance.
The book is beautiful to read and almost sings of the beauty of the garden while at the same time telling a tale of utter despair and hopelessness. Fantastic 8/10

Middlemarch

by George Eliot

This was my first ever audio bookand I loved it-the story and the format. This is a long book where not a great deal happens but the humour and the drama of small town life against a background of national changes is gripping. It is full of heroes and heroines, villains and crooks, all painted with a reality that allows you to recognise them as people you may have come across.
I listened on my way to work and found myself looking for longer routes so I could squeeze a bit more in on each journey.
Was Dorothea too good? Well maybe, but her sense of humour and her mistakes in marriage make you love her anyway. And I am sure am not the only person willing Mr. Casaubin to die! 9/10