The Photograph- Penelope Lively

An overall well written, easy to read, easy to understand and pleasant novel. However, for a young girl of 19 years old, it is not really suitable for my age group, this is due to the fact that it revolves around 60+ characters who have gone through events I can only imagine. The husband of the woman who is dead, finds a picture in which gives evidence of his wives infidelity with her sisters' husband then comes to surface. The whole novel focuses on a catalyst of emotions expressed from all the characters involved. Each of the chapters revolve around one character or the relationship between two characters in the book. Mary who we meet at the end of the book, brings all answers to the surface, and instead of a cliche happy ending. The book ends on a realisation of  how to deal with these particular situations- some forgive and forget, some don't care anymore and some forever hold onto it's pain and suffering.

Overall Rating- ** two star rating

The Slap – Christos Tsiolkas

This particular novel explores the modernization of every day Australian life. It takes deep plunges into the Australians culture, and the changing times of multiculturalism in the 21^st century. The novel is based on a small incident that takes place at a friendly barbeque, which leads to the exploration of eight of the characters who witnessed this- 4 women, 4 men.

These characters all interact with one another throughout the developing character based chapters, however each of the characters are of different ages and backgrounds. For example, it begins on Hector’s chapter who is having an affair with 15 year-old Connie, and whose wife is Aisha. Each of these characters have there own chapter, so the book does allow you to explore things from all kind of different perceptions.

I did enjoy this book overall, as I like the idea of reading about a new character per chapter, however, I did not feel that the book came to an overall conclusion. It left the ending on a particularly strange way of celebration, but I would recommend this book to people who enjoy quite contrasting subjects.