APRIL Michelle de Kretser

Michelle de Kretser is an Australian novelist who was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Australia in 1972 when she was 14. Her books have won many awards including the Miles Franklin in 2013.

THE ROSE GROWER:

Leslie

This first book by the author begins around the time of the French Revolution. An American hot air balloon falls out of the sky into a small farming community. The story highlights problems of rural towns and those involved in the Revolution. It contrasts politics in Paris and small communities and unrequited love. It also brings in some of the problems behind the Revolution.

Sophie is a plain single nobody who creates the rose hoping to feel special and be remembered.

Leslie described the book as being written gently and tenderly. It was long, slow, nicely written but not gripping and didn’t hold her interest.

Comments from other readers:

Connie:

Too long and too many complications, but did enjoy reading about the times.

Diane D:

Waiting for something to happen, but couldn’t finish it, although found fascinating some of the detail around the Revolution.

Pauline:

Couldn’t get into it, so not finished. Confusing as it changed from 1st to 3rd person. No flow. 

 

THE LOST DOG:

Judy J:

Tom Loxley, an Indian-Australian professor is trying to finish his book on Henry James while staying in a remote bush hut. When his dog goes missing he and his friends search for him. Meanwhile there are many reflections about his father, relationship with his mother and new friends.

The fact that the dog is lost forms the framework for all these other narratives.

Judy found it tiring and draining to read.

Comments from other readers:

Ed:

Found the writing very convoluted and over descriptive. With this book, at times, she felt lost.

Prue:

The author has fantastic word power, and great sentence structure.

Prue liked the book for the English, not the characters or story.

Joan:

The writing is spectacular in places but too long. The characters are not convincing.

Charis:

Found this book a difficult read full of seemingly irrelevant prose pieces.

The author’s philosophical ramblings took precedent over character building.

Dissatisfied with a weak ending.

 

SPRINGTIME:

Kris:

This is a very short (85 pages) and quirky ghost story.

Frances, who is in her 30’s meets Charlie and his young son at a party in Melbourne. Charlie leaves his wife and he and Frances move to Sydney with a rescue dog called Rod. The story explores the difficulties Frances faces with Charlie’s young son when he comes to stay.

Frances walks the dog each day and on one of these walks she sees a woman and a dog in a garden. Believing she has seen a ghost she wants to find answers.

Comments from other readers:

Diann F:

Too descriptive, but didn’t like it.

Sheila:

On re reading the story found it more interesting.  Author brought in many memories from childhood in Sri Lanka Her short sentences were descriptive but very irritating.

Pamela:

She liked it. As a ghost story it did not have the usual setting. It was springtime, sunny, Australia and nothing frightening about it.

Val:

Beautiful presentation of the book.

Felt a bit like an exercise in beautiful English. She didn’t feel any attachment to any of the characters. The author is very clever and observant but sometimes too academic and over the top.

 

THE LIFE TO COME:

Judy A:

5 short stories with different characters but linked by one character, Pippin.

There is no central plot but it is a book about the characters. Judy loved it.

The author has an eye or detail, a brilliant wit and an ability to satirise first world problems.

Comments by other readers:

Pat:

Found it so monotone, didn’t like the characters and nothing happened.

Didn’t finish it as she ‘reads for enjoyment’.

Jo:

Read about half the book, but had no idea what she was reading. A very forgettable book.

Natalie:

Didn’t like it, hard to follow and confusing. She felt it didn’t flow. With each story you started again and difficult to find a connection. Characters were unlikeable and uninteresting.

 

THE HAMILTON CASE:

Claurine:

Set in Ceylon in the 1930s with the main character being Sam Obeysekere, a Ceylonese born but Oxford educated lawyer. When an English plantation owner is murdered, Sam sets out to find who is responsible. This changed his life in many ways.

The writing is beautiful and mixture of murder, mystery, descriptions of the jungle, treatment of the Tamils, and Sam’s treatment of women make it a very interesting book.

Need to read it slowly, but Claurine enjoyed it.

Comments by other readers:

Denise:

Didn’t like it, the characters were horrible and the plot escaped her.

Wendy J, Julia and Bev were unable to finish it.

QUESTIONS OF TRAVEL

Wendy L:

The novel tells the story of 2 very different lives, Laura an Australian girl and Ravi from Sri Lanka.

Each chapter builds up their stories, the characters are well drawn and finally in the later part of the book it all comes together.

There are many contrasts told beautifully in little chunks of writing – Ravi an immigrant from a war torn country, his wife and child murdered, why and the way he is travelling.

Laura is aimless, comes into money and travels overseas and suffers from first world problems.

Wendy described it as a ‘hard read’.

Recommended reading by Tam

Breaking the Spell by Jane Stork – a riveting read about life in the Ashrams in the 70’s. She couldn’t put it down.

 

BOOKS FOR THE COMING MONTHS

May ~ Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

June ~ Danielle Steele …..your choice

July ~ Alex Miller

            Lovesong               The Passage of Love

            Journey to the Stone Country        Autumn Laing