Mr Wilder and Me

by Jonathan Coe

Viking Press

   Billy Wilder is nearing the end of a fantastic career; Calista is a young Greek woman whose career as a film composer hasn't begun. She's hired as a translator for Wilder's latest production and becomes a small part of a big motion picture, meeting people who are kinder but not nearly as happy as she would have them.

    Told from Calista's much later perspective, there is much reminiscence of a simpler time for her, but also Wilder's own memories of the War and what the Holocaust took from him and the world.

   This is a deceptively straightforward story with many great layers.

If you would like to know more about this book, or own it, please try your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org

 The Lock-Up

by John Banville

Harper Collins

    John Banville is a literary, Booker prize winning author who also has written several wonderful mysteries. This is the latest. In his usual way, Banville brings together traditional mystery elements with much larger concerns and leaves the reader with much to think about, and his characters are delightfully difficult.

If you would like to know more about, or own this book, please visit your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org.