Raynor Winn: Landlines, hardback 9780241484562, Michael Joseph /Penguin Random House UK,

Raynor Winn's autobiographical  book "The Salt Path" was one of those true book finds, just blew me away and i wanted to know what became of her and husband Moth.

 Her third book "Landlines" has them walking the Cape Wrath Trail, an ancient gruelling path through Scotlands lochs and mountains which is started for the same reason as their other hikes, Moth neurological degenerative disease which seems to improve whenever they start arduous walking.  Winn's prose has some incredibly beautiful nature writing in "Landlines" which is topped by her recounting the hardship they put up with to reconnect with their love for Scotland and their hope that Moth's worsening illness might go into reverse. While hiking the Sheigra Trail, Moth's health seems to become steadier and they take the decision to carry on walking the Westhighland Way, The Borders, the Pennine Way and even further..

I cannot fathom the conditions they endured on these hikes.
Winn is an excellent chronicler of their emotions, love and trust in each other but The Salt Path remains my favorite of her writing,

Kali Fajardo-Anstine: Woman of Light, One World/Penguin Random House Usa, 9780525511328, hardback

Kali Fajardo-Anstine's short stories "Sabrina & Corina" made it to the finals  of the National Book Award and where a true discovery  for me. I knew she would be someone to watch, her writing  is exceptional. 

But i really fell in love with her latest book, "Women of Light".  The novel just tugged at my heart with all the betrayal, heartbreak and injustice that befell  Luz Lopez, the main character, and generations of her mixed Native American and Latino family. The story switches between the voices of her anchestors beginning in 1868, following her Native American grandfather Pidre and her grandmother Simodecca and finishes in 1934 Denver, Colorado. 

All the characters are strong and stuck in my head whenever I stoped reading but Luz, who has the gift of seeing like her aunt Marie Josefina and her grandmother Simodecca,  shines particularly as does her brother Diego and her aunt Marie Josefina. The novel reminded me of Julia Alvarez's or Louise Erdrich's storytelling but Fajardo-Anstine has her very own distinct voice.  "Women of Light" is one of my favourite books of the year so far and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next...