J. M. Coetzee

#2

After crossing oceans, a man and a boy arrive in a new land. Here they are each assigned a name and an age, and held in a camp in the desert while they learn Spanish, the language of their new country. As Simon and David they make their way to the relocation centre in the city of Novilla, where officialdom treats them politely but not necessarily helpfully. Simon finds a job in a grain wharf. The work is unfamiliar and backbreaking, but he soon warms to his stevedore comrades, who during breaks conduct philosophical dialogues on the dignity of labour, and generally take him to their hearts. Now he must set about his task of locating the boy's mother. Though like everyone else who arrives in this new country he seems to be washed clean of all traces of memory, he is convinced he will know her when he sees her. And indeed, while walking with the boy in the countryside Simon catches sight of a woman he is certain is the mother, and persuades her to assume the role. David's new mother comes to realise that he is an exceptional child, a bright, dreamy boy with highly unusual ideas about the world. But the school authorities detect a rebellious streak in him and insist he be sent to a special school far away. His mother refuses to yield him up, and it is Simon who must drive the car as the trio flees across the mountains. The Childhood of Jesus is a profound, beautiful and continually surprising novel from a very great writer.

#3

When loved ones leave you, it's time to change your life. A poignant and uplifting new novel about love and loss, for fans of Nora Roberts.Recently widowed March Cantrell must deal with her beloved husband's death while trying to escape the constant interference from her well meaning grown-up children.All her children that is, apart from Molly. March discovers that the new man she's dating, Spider Olsen, is 23 years older than her daughter - and believes the relationship is doomed to failure. However, any attempt to talk to Molly only drives them further apart. Meanwhile, March's sons are fighting for control of the family business.In order to heal the growing rifts between them all, the family decides to spend Christmas at their mountain home in Lake Tahoe. Whilst skiing one day, March finds herself stranded with a young man called Rio and is surprised to discover that she is attracted to him.A few weeks after the holidays, March returns to the mountains. One lonely night, whilst dining alone, March is joined by Rio. What starts as a one-night stand becomes something much more.Her children think March has lost her mind. However, somewhere in this tangled chaos, in the betrayal and competition and the innocence of new love, is the answer for all the Cantrells.