AMSTERDAM

The winner of the 1998 Booker Prize AMSTERDAM is a wonderful tale told with assured literary style by one of England's greatest writers. Clive Linley is a classical composer desperately trying to finish his "Millennial Symphony." Vernon Halliday is the editor of a London newspaper called the Judge and is facing an up hill fight to rescue the broadsheet from falling victim to declining circulation. These two old friends are brought together by the death of old friend and former lover, Molly Lane. Molly was a glamorous, sexually adventurous woman who died, unexpectedly of a debilitating illness that left her helpless and unable to comprehend what was happening to her. Two men make a solid vow to end the other one's life should either of them ever find themselves in the same condition as their former lover. What follows is a terse well-written story that delves deep into the inner workings of these two men, as their friendship takes a deadly turn. Filled with twists, turns and betrayals it all comes together in a startling climax. A book worthy of its awards and accolades.


NON-FICTION:

A YEAR BY THE SEA, by Joan Anderson
Broadway Books,
$12.95 (paperback),
$32.00 (audio)


A touching memoir, A Year by the Sea is the story of a woman reflectively facing the second half of her life. Joan Anderson, a loving wife, supportive mother and well regarded author of children's books shocks both herself and her family when she declines to accompany her husband when a job opportunity takes him to a new city. Instead she retreats to the family cottage on Cape Cod in an effort to come to terms with a life she feels has become stagnant and unfulfilling. The following year is what is recorded in this book. Over that time Joan came to realize that her life was filled with possibilities. Her year by the sea help her to revitalize her perceptions of herself, her family, her marriage and her life. This is a wonderful book of self-realization that will help anyone looking to find what is truly important in our lives.