Quality street

The People on Privilege Hill and other stories by Jane Gardam

Abacus 2008, 224 pages

A luncheon party attended by old rivals; an elderly women’s college reunion;  a Victorian mansion converted into a home for unmarried mothers; a woman in love with a gorilla: the fourteen stories that make up this collection are by turns comic, tender, sad and surreal.

In the run up to Christmas my attention span resembles that of a goldfish.  With cards to write, presents to wrap and a leaning tower of ironing to rival that of Pisa, there is little room left for reading.  Short stories are perfect for this time of year and Jane Gardam is, in my view, a perfect writer of them.  This is a wonderfully quirky collection with a very English feel to it.  You are certain to find your own particular favourite (mine’s the purple one The Milly Ming) and there is something in this quality assortment to suit all tastes.

Identity crisis

Nina Todd Has Gone by Lesley Glaister

Bloomsbury 2008, 288 pages

Nina Todd has an ordinary life with a steady job and a reliable boyfriend (Charlie) whose house she shares with his mother and her budgie (Charlie Two). But when she is sent on a course from work, she ends up in bed with the gorgeous Rupert. Thinking of it only as a stupid mistake, she hopes never to see him again, but Rupert has other ideas.

Wave a book by Lesley Glaister under my nose and I will pounce on it like a cat on a squeaky mouse toy. As this story slowly unfolds she skillfully teases and plays with us – no one is who they appear to be and everyone, including the “real” people, seems to have something hidden. Lesley Glaister’s books are not for the faint-hearted, being as they are dark dramas populated by damaged characters and I wonder what it says about me that I cite her as one of my favourite authors. This is her eleventh novel and it did not disappoint.

That’s what friends are for

The Spare Room by Helen Garner

Canongate 2008, 180 pages

Helen is preparing her spare room for Nicola, an old friend of fifteen years standing. The bed is freshly made with pillows aplenty and there is even a new rug; she visualises congenial evenings reminiscing and playing the ukulele. But Nicola has cancer and she is coming to Melbourne for a course of alternative treatment: intravenous injections of vitamin C and coffee enemas. In the weeks that follow, Nicola’s battle against her illness will turn into Helen’s battle to make her friend accept the inevitable.

I have a reputation among my friends and colleagues for a taste in dark books. When I tell them what I’m reading, they smile and shake their heads: they do not understand what draws me to these stories and sometimes neither do I. So yes, it’s a book about death and how we approach death but it is also a book about friendship and how our friendships can greatly enrich our lives. This time, I’m the one who’s smiling and shaking my head because everything about this novel speaks quality and to dismiss it simply as doom and gloom means that they are missing a treat.