Near Edinburgh: Lennox is 16 years old and living in a children's home - one night, making his way home, he is confronted by a gang of bullies from his school who set about him. Then they all hear a strange noise and see flashing blue lights in the sky, Lennox gets a strong smell of biscuits - and then nothing... Sara Cox says: “Cannot wait to welcome more witty, wise and wonderful guests in to the world’s friendliest book club as we delve ‘between the covers’ for the sixth time!”

Bhima takes on two new jobs; one with a crazy old Parsi woman who makes her do bizarre rituals every time she leaves the house, and the other with a young businesswoman called Sunita. As they are coming to terms with this bizarre situation, they hear a huge cephalopod has been found on Yellowcraig Beach. All three are drawn to it, as they are to each other. Lennox calls the creature "Sandy", but it's not a single entity, more part of a hive mind - when he touches Sandy, he finds out they are telepathic. They want to reconnect, they tell Lennox - with themselves. A powerful, urgent novel that wields issues of gender and class like a blade. . . . This intergenerational novel asks hard questions about who we are, who we can become, and what awaits on the other side of our becoming. Thrity Umrigar is known as a bold and generous writer, and The Secrets Between Us only further establishes her reputation.” — Wiley Cash, author of The Last Ballad The Space Between Us reminded me of one of my favourite sci-fi movies Arrival, and although I don’t think it’s quite as brilliant as that movie, I still really appreciated what it did. The story shines in its portrayal of these three protagonists, and the interweaving of their storylines. There’s a deep sense of loneliness to all of them at the start, and their journey of connection to each other, themselves and the humans around them is a wonderful one to witness. Ironically wonderful, as it took an alien visitor to begin with. Without spoiling any of their story- and character-arcs, Heather, Ava and Lennox were all well-rounded and memorable character, and I enjoyed their arcs equally. When it comes to sci-fi, I’m very good at suspending my disbelieve. Squid-aliens touching down on earth? Sure. Telepathic communication? Hell yeah.The gap that is the space between us has to close if we are ever to realise the true potential of the human race. Ewan is a journalist who is following the story as it unfolds. However, whether he likes it or not, he gets entangled with Lennox, Ava, and Heather, and he ends up helping them in their quest. BBC Arts has announced the initial line-up and the six exciting new books chosen for a new series of Between The Covers, a six-part series on BBC Two designed to bring the nation together by sharing the enjoyment of reading. Pssssst. It is no secret that Thrity Umrigar is one of our best novelists, as she keeps proving, again and again and again. You are in for a satisfying read with The Secrets Between Us, as it boasts engaging characters, a moving story, and significant content on power, class and gender relations in India, old and new. But don’t let anyone know I said so, ok? It isn’t the words we speak that make us who we are. Or even the deeds we do. It is the secrets buried in our hearts.”

It is not the words we speak that make us who we are. Or even the deeds we do. It is the secrets buried in our hearts.” This is a favorite author and her tales are never boring. And they highlight Indian cities and life during the most modern times of change. Parvati has nothing except a large mass growth to call her own. Her secrets lay deep within the darkness of her past where only she alone can find them. Her health and life depend on selling six old cauliflower at the fruit market until Bhima and her develop a business plan. Tougher than nails, Parvati relies on her past to gather strength and courage in her present. She challenges religion, the culture, and her newfound companion Bhima. In The Space Between Us, by Doug Johnstone, an unlikely trio of heroes have medical episodes that defy unexplanation, then go on the lam to help an extraterrestrial cephalopod evade those who wish to harm it, and reunite with the larger organism it belongs to. I hope everyone is coping with this crazy COVID-19 situation and hopefully none of you or your loved ones has been affected. About 18 months ago I bought an iPad with the express intent of reading some eBooks. But I never got around to trying it. I just kept on borrowing the printed versions. The closing of our local council library has seen me finally putting the iPad to use and the two eBooks I have read so far, This Tender Land and The Secrets Between Us, have been real gems.The quartet soon discover that they have Ava’s husband on their heels, followed by local police, and the government officials… Can they help Sandy? Truthfully, I would give it 3.5 stars rounded up for the excellent depiction of a personality with one set of values being made massively and most usually invisible or completely irrelevant by the sensibilities and standards of another time. And so having to adjust. Somehow. I rounded it up for her two principle women characters and how well she defined their conversations with each other. That was 5 star. In her time, she has known the evil that men do. But nothing matches with the evil of the Gods, who, having created humanity, now spend their days teasing and testing it.” On multiple occasions, the book pulls the “magical healing” trope that I hate. I could overlook it in the case of the alien-induced stroke, but I was not OK with the “twist” at the end where Sandy magically removes Heathers tumor and cures her cancer. From a disability-standpoint, ánd that of a cancer-survivor; this trope has always been a slap in my face. If you chose to make cancer a part of your story, you have to commit to it. There are no magical cures, ánd I strongly resent the idea that the only way to write a fulfilling ARC about illness is to cure it. Usually, this trope is a deal-breaker for me. Considering it came so late in the book and I already enjoyed the rest of it so much, it’s surprising that it didn’t impact my experience more. Plus of course our guests bring in their most treasured tome to wax lyrical about - so get ready for your teetering TBR [To Be Read] pile to be topped with more brilliant books.”

The narrator is excellent. I particularly liked her 'Parvati voice' for the poor old lady. I already knew it was a great story and I loved it even more as an Audiobook. Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes... The Space Between Us works on so many levels. It is full of humanity. I suppose technically it is sci-fi, but it is also so much more. Doug excels in looking at the human race in relation to the rest of the universe, giving a real sense of perspective as to who we are and how our actions impact on each other, as well as making us think about how we treat each other. I loved the new characters. I got choked in all the right places. I hurt for the sad times and burst with joy at the happy outcomes. After the almost unremitting sadness and poverty of The Spaces, The Secrets Between Us is all about the good that can come out of the bad and it's such a fabulous book that I wanted to read it every spare moment I had, but I also feared coming to the end and knowing there was no more.

At her age, time has stopped flowing in a linear fashion; rather, it ebbs and swirls, creating a whirlpool at its center that on most days swallows her whole. Her yesterdays have lost their bite; it is her todays that come bearing down with fangs and claws that she has to watch out for.’