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THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

November 11, 2024 November 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

 

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By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop

“Costanza” by Rachel Blackmore

This is a debut novel of historical fiction based on the sketchy details known about a real woman living in mid 1600s Rome. This is not my usual choice of genre, but the book was recommended to me by its sales rep as a good book club choice. It sparked one of the best discussions our book club has had to date.

Costanza is young, maybe not even 20 at the opening of the book. Married, as yet childless and optimistic even though her life hasn’t been all easy. Her husband, Matteo is a sculptor, one of many working under the auspices of the maestro Lorenzo Bernini. 

The dime upon which the story turns is a chance meeting at a social gathering between Bernini and Costanza. He is a powerful man accustomed to having anything and anyone he wants, and he quickly decides he wants Costanza. She in turn is flattered and ultimately intoxicated by the combination of desire and proximity to power. So far it could be any historical romance, but wait, there’s more.

The author draws the reader deftly into Costanza’s affair detailing her social and economic rise that is only matched by her utter delusion of its permanence and trustworthiness. Power inequalities between classes, genders, families, violence and exploitation all slip into the room unseen until they slice Costanza’s life into shreds. 

The writing is so good that even when you feel the danger lurking it shocks and dismays the reader when it arrives and immediately demands that the question be asked, has anything changed in 500 years?

I am so pleased I stepped out of my reading comfort zone for this book – if historical romance is not your thing but you love a story with some substance that will leave you asking some big questions – then this is for you. 

Available at your local bookshop.

THE STAR  BOOK  REVIEW  

October 7, 2024 October 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on THE STAR  BOOK  REVIEW  

By Brenda Channer – 

Martinborough Bookshop

“All the Colours of the Dark” by Chris Whittaker.

First and foremost this is a story about people: Patch, Saint, Grace, Misty, Charlotte, Chief Nix, Sammy, Tooms, Eli _ and then it is about the horrifying crime that shaped and shadowed their lives. This is the aspect of Chris Whittaker’s writing I like the most. 

His books are driven almost equally by plot and character development, and this makes reading the book a rich experience. So, you will find this book in the Crime and Thrillers section of the bookshop but don’t expect a Jack Reacher style formula. It offers much more than that. … Continue Reading

EVENTS – October 2024

October 7, 2024 October 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on EVENTS – October 2024

Discover Te Muna 

WHEN:     Saturday, Sunday, October 19 – 20 

TIME:      10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. both days

WHERE:  Te Muna Wineries: Craggy Range,

Escarpment, Big Sky Wines, Blue Earth Estate.

PRICE:  $275.00; tickets at Eventfinda.                                                  

South’s Library hours restored

From 30 September, library hours are:

WHEN: Weekdays 9:30 a.m. –  5:00 p.m;

              Saturdays  9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon. … Continue Reading

FROM THE MAYOR

October 7, 2024 October 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly

As you will know the Council recently changed some of its rating formulas so that a section with two or more houses pays additional rates for each extra house. This has resulted in several vigorous

challenges on social media. One claimed that the change is “an attempt to claw back money that

they (the Council) are not getting from new builds because there are no new sewage connections.”

This is not the case, and I will explain why. … Continue Reading

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THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

    By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Costanza” by Rachel Blackmore This is a …

THE STAR  BOOK  REVIEW  

By Brenda Channer –  Martinborough Bookshop “All the Colours of the Dark” by Chris Whittaker. …

EVENTS – October 2024

Discover Te Muna  WHEN:     Saturday, Sunday, October 19 – 20  TIME:      …

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