The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal

264 Japanese wood and ivory carvings, none of them bigger than a matchbox: Edmund de Waal was entranced when he first encountered the collection in his great uncle Iggie's Tokyo apartment. 

When he later inherited the 'Netsuke', they unlocked a story far larger and more dramatic than he could ever have imagined.

From a burgeoning empire in Odessa to fin de siecle Paris, from occupied Vienna to Tokyo, Emund de Waal traces the netsuke's journey through generations of his remarkable family against the backdrop of a tumultuous century.

It is possible that our group has found a new favourite non-fiction author in the guise of Edmund de Waal. His prize winning The Hare with Amber Eyes (Costa Biography Award 2010) impressed us on many levels.

Of course the historically accurate tracing of his family history through their nestsuke collection was well written and researched, but we also found the read to be informative and compelling on the Jewish culture and their struggles during the Nazi occupation of Austria.

We all lamented the quality of the writing, although some would have preferred the vocabulary a little less academic … then again, some enjoyed the discovery of new and somewhat tricky words!

It was mentioned by a few of our group that it took a little while to get into The Hare, but once snared (pun intended) it is a trap you are happy to be caught in. In fact, one member is in no hurry to finish and is purposely taking it slow and extending the enjoyment.

Everyone found themselves researching ‘nestsuke’ in an attempt to learn more about these miniature carvings, and we all hoped to discover the secret of the little hare with amber eyes. But to our disappointment, this cute little critter, although in his family’s collection, was no more special than any of the others. Why the title reference? We are none the wiser!

We then went on to have a lively discussion on a few related topics … collecting of trinkets and the familial attachment they can hold, the history of Jewish culture and anti-Semitism, and the fate of classic art during WWII, its survival and destruction.

Though there were some of us who found the timing for this subject was slightly off for them personally, the scope of material for discussion was more than adequate for yet another interesting monthly meeting, in which we all came away smiling. Thank you ladies!

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

5th January 1800. At the beginning of a new century, Alma Whittaker is born into a perfect Philadelphia winter. Her father, Henry Whittaker, is a bold and charismatic botanical explorer whose vast fortune belies his lowly beginnings as a vagrant in Kew Gardens. Alma's mother, a strict woman from an esteemed Dutch family, is conversant in five living languages (and two dead ones) and her knowledge of botany is equal to any man's. 

An independent girl with a thirst for knowledge, it is not long before Alma comes into her own within the world of plants and science. As Alma's careful studies of moss take her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, the man she comes to love draws her in the opposite direction - into the realm of the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. 
Alma is a clear-minded scientist; Ambrose is a Utopian artist. But what unites this couple is a shared passion for knowing - a desperate need to understand the workings of this world and the mechanisms behind all of life.

It would be a safe bet to say that most of our group were surprised by Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest novel. With her Eat Pray Love reputation preceding her, Gilbert’s Signature explores a completely different take on writing style. Most found the botanical history very interesting and loved the inclusion of Banks and Darwin within the pages. There was plenty to learn here, both historically and for the naturalist. To learn from a novel is something our group always happy to do.

It is also safe to say that the majority of us found the novel itself too long, that became quite exhausting in the end. Characters Alma and Henry were strong and clear, but so much energy was given to plants that there was little left for the other characters.

Regardless of these rebuffs, the scores were on the high side, with nothing below a five out of 10. So it cannot be said this book was a failure in the enjoyment stakes. If anything, we believe it worth the read, even if only to confirm that Gilbert is not just about fluffy, self affirmation (my words entirely!).