By: Ayesha faruqui, FW Writer

The Lemon Cake

Judith Stafford

Abigail Milhouse is one of the four beautiful Milhouse sisters who are all making their debut in 19th century London society (although if left up to Abigail, she considers herself only a chaperon for her younger sisters). The introduction of four young women from one family was heretofore unheard of, but their aunt, Lady Jeffery, whose idea it was in the first place to take the girls and their little brother Jonathan to London for a season, is not worried. She has a secret up her sleeve, a secret that will ensure the success of her nieces in seeking husbands for themselves; she has her magical Lemon Cake! Abigail considers herself too old to be a debutante, but always finds herself in the enjoyable company of the elusive Mr. Russell. She begins to nurture feelings she never allowed herself before. Her sisters, Phoebe, Mary and Kitty have their hearts set on three handsome and rich bachelors but it is up to Abigail to make the final decision regarding her sisters’ domestic felicity. Fraught with difficulties regarding her family and trying to hush up rumours flying about her aunts love potion or else they may be banished from society completely, Abigail is doing the best she can. Which of the Milhouse ladies will make successful matches? Will Abigail finally understand that she too can be loved and cherished? These are questions that can be answered by picking up this light, little, feel good back by Judith Stafford. Stafford’s language is very simple, the story to the point and succinct. The depiction of the laws and decorum of 19th century London are to the mark also. There is nothing I can criticize about this book mainly because it is so short yet fulfilling one will not feel that much time has been wasted even if it is not liked much by the reader. So if you have a short flight to kill time on and do not want to lug around a 500 page hard cover book, pick up a copy of this romantic comedy and while your time away pleasantly. Three or four hours ought to do it!

Accident
Danielle Steel

Page Clarke has everything; a beautiful home near San Francisco, a successful and handsome husband Brad Clarke, and two amazing kids, Allyson 15 and Andy 7. She has everything she could ask for and takes both pride and joy in caring for her family. One Saturday evening Allyson, beautiful and vivacious, lies to her mother and goes out with her best friend Chloe and two senior boys from her school (she tells her mother she is going for a dinner and movie with Chloe’s father, Trygve). The kids go off in one of the boys’ cars and have some innocent fun not knowing that this could be the last night they ever have fun. Her lie almost costs Allyson her life when their car crashes into another in a head on collision. This accident not only lands Allyson up in an indeterminate coma but also destroys her mother’s life. Page, uponsearching frantically for her husband (who is away on business) accidentally stumbles onto his dirty secret. Brad Clarke is cheating on Page and has no qualms in admitting it to her when she needs his support most. At this time Page has just one friend, Trygve Thorensen. With her daughter’s life in danger, her little son Andy’s confused questions and misery over his parents’ fights and a need to establish herself in order to build a new life without Brad, Page has found herself in a crisis she does not think she will ever be able to overcome. Accident is the story of the fragility of human life against fate and how a moment’s work can reform one’s life and perspective irreversibly. Ms. Steel is a master storyteller without a doubt, and she anchors her stories on the reality of life. She bares human emotions effectively if not proficiently. Her writing style can be tiresomely repetitive as far as the emotions are concerned. Page is continuously lamenting over how much her life has changed since the accident, but this repetition is unnecessary seeing as the novel is based on exactly that. Overall the story is good and the outcome gratifying. The conclusion is that if you want to read Accident, do it if there is little else on the shelf.

The Tesiament
John Grisham16

Troy Phelan is a multi-billionaire, he’s almost eighty, has a cancerous brain tumor and is about to sign his last will and testament. He has three ex-wives and six estranged, legitimate living children (one dead), all hoping to snag a. hefty sum of money at the demise of their loathsome father. But Mr. Phelan has a different planAfter having a successful interview with three separate psychiatrists (one for each family) to ascertain he is in his right mind to sign his will, Mr. Phelan produces a new handwritten will, signs it and jumps off the top floor of his tower. This new testament when disclosed to the members of his family, states that Mr. Phelan in all his senses has bequeathed his entire estate to his illegitimate daughter Rachel Lane. Mr. Phelan’s lawyer, Josh Stafford, is now responsible for locating Rachel Lane, showing her the will and asking her what she wants to do. But Rachel Lane is not just any other American woman. She is supposed to be in one of the remote wetlands of Brazil doing missionary work and living among the natives in their jungles. Stafford employs his friend and colleague Nate O’Riley for the job. Nate is a recovering alcoholic and is also estranged from his two ex-wives and four children (two per wife). He takes on this next to impossible task, tries to locate Rachel Lane putting his life in danger several times in the process and is astonished by the outcome when he finally finds her. The most important thing Nate finds out in this quest is himself, his own strengths and finally a realization of his failures. The Testament is a masterpiece that Grisham has created. One may sit back and question many deep rooted assumptions about life upon reading this fabulous novel. The characters portrayed are so flawed, so blameworthy, yet appealing that it puts the reader in a quagmire regarding one’s own notions of good vs. evil. This is a compelling page turner and a definite read. From America to Brazil and back, Grisham portrays a world that cannot be cured of its fever for money and celebrates those few people who realise that it is this greed, which eventually destroys relationships, life and humanity.