DECEMBER 2021 OUR FAVOURITE BOOK IN LOCKDOWN

SHEILA: MARRIED TO BHUTAN by LINDA LEAMING

Bhutan is a tiny land locked country at the Eastern end of the Himalayas.  It is very remote and the people are happy with very few possessions.  Linda, an American woman lived there for a time.  She learned the language, customs and religion.  Instead of GDP, the country measures the happiness levels of it's people.  Sheila really enjoyed this book.

 

JOAN: THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE

 This book is non fiction.  It is about Elizabeth Packard born 1816 and died 1879.  She lived in Illinois and was a mother of 6  who was married to a Minister of Religion.  The women's rights convention was held in 1848.  Elizabeth, who was a highly intelligent woman, was inspired and started to challenge her husband on political issues.  He then started a campaign to have her committed.  When  she was there she met other women in the same situation who were sent there because they were strong willed or had annoying behaviour.  Elizabeth worked on rights to free these women.

 

DIANN:  A RIVER TOWN BY THOMAS KENEALLY

This is an historical fiction novel.  It is set in summer in a country town bonded by discrimination.  A young Irishman and his family settle there. They had hoped to get away from those attitudes.  There are lots of twists and turns and Diann really enjoyed it.  She said it was a good read.

 

CONNIE:  THERE IS ONLY ONE RAFFLES BY ILSA SHARP

Connie was fascinated as she was there for the 100th anniversary.  Raffles is an iconic hotel in Singapore.  A lot of  famous people have stayed there.  Connie thoroughly enjoyed it but wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless you were interested in the history of the hotel.

JO: GONE GIRL BY GILLIAN FLYNN

On a married couple's 5th wedding anniversary the wife disappears.  It's a thriller with lots of twists and turns.  Jo said it was a good book, a real page turner and there was a good finish.

 

PAMELA:  I SHOT THE DEVIL BY RUTH McIVER

Pamela said it was a strange book.  Five people went into the woods and only two came back.  The setting is a fictional town in Long Island where two boys are killed sixteen years earlier.  Pamela thought she would not have read this book but the writing was so good.  It was a thrilling and riveting read until about half way through.  It then became absurdly complicated and unbelievable.

 

KRIS:  ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE BY ANTHONY DOERR

This is a story told in alternating chapters  One is set in an orphanage in Germany where a white haired young boy and his sister are in care.  The other story is about a six year old girl who is blind and living in Paris with her father. The story is mostly set during World  War II and weaves back and forth from Germany to Paris as we follow the lives of the two children.  It tackles the question of survival and moral obligation.  It's a beautiful novel.

 

JUDY D:  THE LAST HOURS BY MINETTE WALTERS

This is historical fiction.  It is a story about the plague in England.  Judy said the author is a good writer and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

ROSEMARIE:  THE FAMILY DOCTOR BY DEBORAH OSWALD

Deborah Oswald is an Australian author.  It's set in Marrickville where Paula is the family doctor.  The story is about family violence.  A female friend and her children were staying with Paula to escape family violence but Paula could not protect them. There are lots of twists and turns. Rosemarie said it makes you wonder what would you do in the same circumstances.

 

JUDY J:  RED ZONE, CHINA'S CHALLENGE AND AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE by PETER HARTCHER 

Peter Hartcher writes for the Sydney Morning Herald.  Drawing on interviews with politicians and other key policymakers this book is a gripping look at China's power and Australia's future.  There are a lot of little incidents and Judy said it was quite scary.  She said the book was very interesting.

 

JULIA:  WHEN YOU ARE MINE BY MICHAEL ROBOTHAM     

This was published in 2021 and it is a stand alone book.  There is no blood.  It was a different type of book to his usual.  Julia said she really enjoyed it and it was good for a change.

 

BEV:  NELLIE'S VOW BY LEONIE BINGE 

This is a true story set during the depression.  It's about an Australian family who who live on a rich property in Nyngan but are plunged into poverty when the husband dies.  His wife sells the property and remarries but the husband is abusive to the daughters.  Two daughters go to a Narellan orphanage.  The eldest girl wants to get the family back together.  Bev was very interested because she is related to them on her father's side.

 

PRUE:  THE SHADOW CAMPAIGNS BY DJANGO WEXLER

This is a series of four books, 1000 pages each.  They are fantasy novels. The Queen is ill and the magicians try to cure her.  It means she will never die.  Prue said it was excellent and she could not stop reading it.  The characters are well defined and it moves quickly.  It is also quirky.

 

JUDY A:  THE PROMISE BY DAMAN GALGUT

The story is set in South Africa.It's about a rich white dysfunctional family.  They have a ten year old daughter Amor.  She overhears her dying mother saying to their long time black servant,Salome that she wants to leave a house and some land to her.  It becomes a broken promise.  It's an allegory of the broken promises to the black people of South Africa.  Daman Galgut is a very good writer.

CLAURENE:  THE SATURDAY BOOK

They were an annual published from 1941 to 1973  This was the 11th one published in England.  There are lots of photos of the time as well as snippets of information.  Claurene said it was a fascinating book which she really enjoyed reading. She also read a few fascinating autobiographies and biographies of politicians.

Kris

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.  We'll be back together on the third Thursday in January, 2022 to discuss one of the books we got for Christmas. Stay safe and stay well.

 

 

 

 

 

JUNE: Books by Jhumpa Lahiri

 

Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London to Bengali parents and then raised in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA.

Lahiri's mother wanted her children to grow up knowing their Bengali heritage, and her family often visited relatives in Calcutta (now Kolkata)

After winning the Pulitzer Prize for her first book, the collection of short stories The Interpreter of Maladies, published in 1999, and publishing three other books (The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth and The Lowland), she decided to move to Rome and begin writing in Italian.

 

 

IN OTHER WORDS: Published  2014

Diann found the setting out of this book made it difficult and disruptive to read, with every alternate page being in Italian. She thought the author was reflecting on the difficulty of learning another language.

 

Pat mentioned that it was the author’s 4^th novel and it was more about her thoughts and meditations.

 

Prue’s first comment was that much of the author’s fiction is autobiographical. She was already bi-lingual but wanted to learn and live another language. She has a gift for languages and her choice of words is beautiful. The book is a reflection on the process of learning Italian.

Prue enjoyed reading it, although it was not her usual choice of style.

 

THE NAME SAKE: Published  2004

Connie found this an easy read about a newly married couple from Calcutta who move to America for the husband to take up a scholarship. Although it is an arranged marriage, they do grow to love one another.

But the wife finds life in America very difficult and in Connie’s opinion, didn’t make any effort to change or adapt to the culture there.

The clash of cultures and generations is evident when they must choose a name for their newly born son.

 

Ed explained the reason for his unusual name (Gogol) and the burden this put on him. As the son grows up he is constantly in conflict with his parents about his lifestyle. He wants to live the ‘American way’.

 

Kris enjoyed the book and was particularly interested in the differences in the cultures between not just the two countries, but the different generations.

 

Julia loved it! It was a very different type of story from that she usually reads.

 

Jo also expressed surprise that she liked it from page 1!

 

INTERPRETER OF MALADIES: Published 1999

This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 (Book of 9 short stories)

 

Judy J really enjoyed all the stories and the settings, both in America but particularly in India. The themes were varied from loneliness, arranged marriages, sadness of a still birth, infidelity and the difficulty of life in India. The characters were so well written and the endings were not always happy ones.

Wendy had also read this book and was particularly enamored with it. Her favourite was the Interpreter of Maladies, where the tourist guide is driving an American/Indian family around for the day. Because of his good English, his other job is to interpret for the local doctor. Delightful story.

 

Lyn had a very different opinion of the book. While preferring to read a full length novel, these stories didn’t interest her, so she only read a couple.

 

THE LOWLAND: Published 2013

 

Joan outlined the story of two brothers in Calcutta, born 15 months apart who have always been very close but have contrasting personalities and their lives go in very different directions.

The younger joined the Naxalite movement, a rebellion waged to eradicate inequity and poverty, while the older brother moves to USA to continue his studies.

When his brother is killed by the police, he returns to look after and marry his widow and raise their young child.

Joan described her writing style as straightforward, her characters very realistic and the background of Calcutta and USA was detailed and accurate. Wonderful book.

 

Tam also loved the book, especially the descriptions of Indian culture and the traditional life style. There were also themes of forgiveness, isolation and tragedies large and small.

It was terrific read that she couldn’t put down.

 

WHEREABOUTS: Published in 2018

 

Judy A read the author’s latest book, which she had first written in Italian and later translated into English. It tells of a lonely 40s unnamed woman in an unnamed city and university in Italy.

The language is beautiful but there is nothing to the story, no plot.

Judy thought that these ‘internal’ novels can be aimless and  exceedingly tedious to read.

 

Reminder for next month: Topic is Air Fiction. Books can be either fiction or non-fiction.

 

We will also be celebrating Christmas in July with lunch at the café just outside the library, “The Hidden Hive”. All welcome.

 

🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄🤶📚📚📚📚🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄🤶📚📚📚📚🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄🤶📚📚📚📚

 

 

MAY, 2021 - NOVELS BY SULARI GENTILL

Sulari Gentill is an Australian author, born in Sri Lanka.  She initially studied astrophysics before becoming a corporate lawyer.  She gave up law to become an author.  Sulari is the author of the award winning Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, a series of historical crime fiction novels set in the 1930's about Rowland Sinclair, the gentleman artist-cum-amateur detective.

PAVING THE NEW ROAD,  A ROWLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL 

KRIS:   This is Book 4 in the Roland Sinclair novels.  It is set in the 1930's. Eric Campbell, an Australian fascist has travelled to Germany in the hope of meeting and making an alliance with Adolf Hitler.  The clandestine armies of the establishment have been mobilised to prevent Campbell from meeting Hitler but the man sent to do the job has been murdered.  Wilfred Sinclair is meant to go to Germany to sabotage Campbell's efforts.  As Roland, Wilfred's younger brother, speaks fluent German and is more expendable, he is asked to go instead. The story is well researched and based on real events.  It was a very interesting and entertaining read.

WENDY:  She has read all the Roland Sinclair novels.  Roland, an artist cum amateur detective always travels with his loyal companions, Milton, a poet, Clyde an artist and Edna a brazen sculptress.  This time they go to Germany under the guise of buying artworks. They befriend Nancy Wake. Wendy enjoyed the read.

JO:   The story about pre World War 11 Germany was very interesting.  Jo enjoyed the read.

 GENTLEMEN FORMERLY DRESSED, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL

BEV:  This is Book 5 in the Roland Sinclair novels. Roland is the black sheep from a very conservative and wealthy Australian family. The story is set in the 1930's. Roland Sinclair, with his three companions, have been spying in Germany.  After being shot at and having his arm broken, Roland, with his companions, flees to London with the help of Nancy Wake.  A member of the aristocracy is stabbed to death in a hotel and once again, they are compelled to find the killer.

ALL THE TEARS IN CHINA, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL

ROSEMARIE:  This is Book 9 in the series.  It is set in Shanghai in the 1935.  When Wilfred Sinclair cannot go on the wool buying trip to Japan, his younger brother Roland goes in his place.  While he is in Shanghai there are two murders.  He and his usual travelling companions try to solve the murders. Rosemarie really enjoyed the book, especially the historical part dealing with the Japanese prior to World War 11.

 JOAN:   Soon after arrival in Shanghai, Rowland befriends a Russian dancer who shortly after their encounter is found murdered with Rowland becoming the main suspect. Rowland, his mates and a culturally diverse collection of locals then embark on a "WHO DUNNIT" to snare Alex's killer. They get caught up with Chinese gangsters, corrupt police and officials with vice thrown in. The whole thing reminded me of a "Five go Adventuring Again" tale but with these adults, not kids, frantically running around getting further into trouble and totally out of their depth in a foreign land.  If the purpose was to impart the political, moral and cultural aspects of life in Shanghai at the time, this attempt felt shallow and far fetched. It proved disappointing.

A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL

JULIA:   This is Book 1, the first book where she introduces Roland Sinclair. It is set in Australia in the great depression of the 1930's.  It is researched really well and Julia enjoyed reading about this era as she didn't know much about the depression. As Julia loves crime fiction she enjoyed the mystery of this detective story.  There are interesting newspaper snippets at the beginning of each chapter.  Julia also liked the headings at the beginning of each chapter eg. Chapter 5 - Filth and Hate. At the beginning of the book there is an article about the murder of Roland Sinclair.  It is actually the uncle of the Roland in this series.  Julia enjoyed the read. 

PAMELA:  She found the news snippets at the beginning of each chapter not relevant to that particular chapter and quite annoying.  The story was interesting but by the time she got to a certain page she was so annoyed by the excessive wealth and behaviour of certain characters she decided not to read anymore.

LYN:   Roland Sinclair has opposite views to his family.  Sinclair was a respectable and well known name.  Roland uses his extensive wealth to support himself and his 3 artistic friends in a wonderful life.  Lyn enjoyed the writing style.  She learnt a lot about the history of the time.

TAM:  The story was set in the Snowy Mountains around the 1930's.  Tam liked the book, although sometimes it was a bit over the top.  It was almost liked two plots were happening, one being cattle rustling.  It was a bit overwhelming.  Other than that it was a good book.

CROSSING THE LINES

JUDY J:  This is a work of meta-fiction. The story is about an author writing about an author who also writes about an author. Madeline d'Leon is a lawyer who writes part time.  She has a brilliant idea about a character, Edward McGinnity who is a serious writer.  He wants to differ from his usual writing and writes about Madeline d'Leon, a writer of detective fiction.  There is a mystery and near murder.  Judy said it was a good read.  The name of the book has been changed to AFTER SHE WROTE HIM.

A TESTAMENT OF CHARACTER, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL

VAL: This is book 10 in the Roland Sinclair series.  It's like a Boy's own Adventure.  It's set in Boston in the 1930's.  A murder of a wealthy American happens on the first page.   Roland Sinclair and his three companions go to deal with it.  They found out he was actually shot.  Val thoroughly enjoyed it even though it's a bit over the top.

A MURDER UNMENTIONED, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL

CONNIE:  This is the sixth book in the series. Roland is accused of shooting his father when Roland was only 14yrs old.  He is now 28.  The whole book is about finding the killer of his father.  It is set in Yass in the 1930's on a big farm.  There are plenty of servants.  Roland and his three companions are now adults.  Their friend, Charles Kingsford Smith is going to teach Roland to fly a plane.  Connie didn't like the way they lived or the portrayal of the Aussie slang.

A DECLINE IN PROPHETS, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL was also read by Connie.  This is Book 2 in the series. The first murder takes place on a boat.  The boat is returning to Australia from England via New York.  She enjoyed the bits of news at the beginning of the chapters. Connie didn't think the foursome made very good detectives.

MILES OFF COURSE, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL

ED:   This is Book 3 in the series. When Ed first started reading it she didn't really like it. Roland's friend Edna is recovering in the Blue Mountains.  An Aboriginal stockman disappears from the Snowy Mountains property.  Roland goes to investigate.  Someone is trying to kidnap Roland and when he gets captured, the Aboriginal man is found to be held prisoner by them.

THE PRODIGAL SON, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVELLA

JUDY A:    After publishing seven books in the Roland Sinclair Mysteries Sulari Gentil wrote this prequel.  When Roland first returns to Australia his home seems conservative and dull but then an old friend persuades him to go to Art school.  He is drawn into an avant-garde world of art.

RAGTIME BY E.L. DOCTOROW

CLAURENE:    She did not read a Sulari Gentill novel but instead read Ragtime.  She just loved it.  She said it was impossible to do it justice.  It is set in America covering the decade before the 1914-1918 war.  The story begins with a rich family.  Houdini's car breaks down in front of the family home. It was chosen as one of best 10th novels.  Claurene enjoyed it very much.

 Kris

JUNE:       We will be reading books by Jhumpa Lahiri including The Namesake,                                                       Interpreter of Maladies and the Lowland.                 

                    

 

APRIL: American Authors

 

Although Toni Morrison and James Baldwin were suggested authors for this month, several Book Club members chose other well-known American writers.

 

LESLEY: The Colour Purple by Alice Walker

Published in 1983, the book is written as a series of letters, firstly from Celie  to God and later between Celie and her sister Nettie. Through the letters she describes the pain and the struggles of her life, the segregation she and other coloured folk have to endure and the abuse of power, among many themes.

While it was disturbing to read, Leslie found it very worthwhile.

 

JULIA: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

This is the author’s first novel, set in 1941 in their home town in Ohio.

The story is of a 12 year old African-American girl who regards herself as ugly because of her dark skin. She prays every night for blue eyes like her white school fellows. Her very unstable, sad and violent home life tells a very disturbing story.

 

JOAN: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Beloved, the first book in a trilogy, won The Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and is a mixture of magical realism and historical fiction. Set after the American Civil War, it tells the story of a former slave whose home is haunted by a spiteful spirit. It is based on the true story of an escaped slave who fled from Kentucky only to be recaptured. She then killed her own children so that they would not be returned to slavery, but be always free.

Joan found it difficult to read, but it did have a happy ending.

 

PAT: God Help the Child by Toni Morrison

Pat was relieved that it was a short book, as the subject matter was very harrowing. A light-skinned black woman gives birth to a blue black child. The child is unloved and all but ignored. The trauma of her upbringing shapes her life as an adult.

 

ROSEMARY: Home by Toni Morrison

An African-American veteran from the Korean War, suffering from PTSD, returns home to find his sister needs his help. He has to look past his problems and take his medically abused sister back to their home town, a place he had hated all his life.

The situations were so extreme that Rosemary found the  story ended very abruptly, and many aspects could have been further explored.

 

PAMELA: The Unvanquished by William Faulkner

Published in 1938, the book is set towards the end of the Civil War and the story is told through linked and amusing short stories.

KRIS: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

The story is set in 1930 America, beginning with the suicide of an Insurance Agent. Jumping off a building, while attempting to fly, he lands in front of a pregnant young negro woman called Ruth. She is immediately taken to a nearby hospital to give birth, the first negro baby to be born there.

The young boy is brought up by his father to revere the white world. As he  gets older he tries to escape his domineering father.

Kris was unable to finish the book, because she disliked the characters so much and found the book difficult and depressing to read.

 

Judy A: Sula by Toni Morrison

Off all the books by this author that Judy has read, she describes this one as the easiest, the most enjoyable and there’s not a word wasted. It tells of the friendship between two black women who live in a mostly black neighbourhood in the hills above a mainly white, wealthier community. It charts their friendship from childhood and the intense bond they have even though they have very different personalities and come from radically different households.

 

VAL: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Val described the book as being very strange, she was intrigued by it, but didn’t really enjoy it.

The author had been captured during the war and spent time in Dresden. The title comes the building where prisoners were kept and were safe from the bombing. So the story is partly autobiographical, and certainly anti-war and also anti-Christ. It is crude, gruesome, sexually explicit but also has humour that is very black but funny. The author has a very clear style of writing, although the story line is very complicated.

 

CONNIE: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

The story has a happy beginning with a young black couple living in Harlem in New York. When he is falsely accused of rape by a hate-mongering white policeman, their families try to find out the truth. Their situation was hopeless as they battled against racial prejudice and systemic injustice.

The story was  hard to read because it was so sad, and so powerful that it stayed with you long after finishing.

 

ED:

She also read the book and mentioned that it had been made into a film in 2018.

 

Jo: W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton

The author was born in the USA in 1940 and is best known for her ‘alphabet series’ of books featuring a private investigator Kinsey Millhone. Jo reckons they are all great stories, but unfortunately the author died in 2017 before she could begin writing her final book, Z is for Zero.

 

JUDY De La T: The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power

The book is a memoir of this remarkable woman’s life so far. She was born in Ireland but emigrated to USA as a young child. Her motto was “what can one person do”. She has been very involved in human rights issues  and genocide, particularly in Bosnia. During the Obama Presidency she was US Ambassador to the United Nations among her many achievements.

Judy described her as a very forthright and domineering person, the book was well written and very interesting.

 

TAM: The House Next Door by James Patterson

The book has 3 short stories, each one written by Patterson and a different co-author and involving a different crime. Not having read anything by this author before, Tam really enjoyed the book.

 

JUDY J: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Written in 1876, this well-known book tells of the adventures of Tom and his friends during one hot summer. He witnesses a murder, runs away to be a pirate, attends his own funeral, rescues an innocent man from the gallows, searches for treasure in a haunted house and discovers a box of gold. The author Mark Twain also has many of these adventures as a young boy before becoming a journalist and later a writer.

An enjoyable read and certainly a book of its time.

 

 

 

Indigenous Authors

Our focus for this month was Indigenous Authors. The group were quite enamoured with this topic and plenty of discussion took place.

SHIELA - BABY BUSINESS by Jasmine SEYMOUR. Shiela presented 2 childrens pictures books, both award winning, written to help young children learn the language and words of the Dharug people. Charming, beautifully presented and naive. COOEE MITTIGAR, Jasmine SEYMOUR also - stories and song lines for children.  Again gorgeous drawings and wonderful presentation. Great as gifts.     

LYN - TALKING TO MY COUNTRY by Stan GRANT. Stan grew up poor and in difficult circumstances. Through hard work and journalism, he rose to become a successful and well regarded commentator, journalist and a voice         for many indigenous. His book is quite disturbing in parts - he talks about the way Adam Goodes was treated by many (during his AFL days), and other incidents concerning race. Lots to ponder.

VAL - TALKING TO MY COUNTRY by Stan GRANT 2016. Stan comes from Wiradjuri land, Cowra/Bathurst. With his humble beginnings he managed with encouragement, whilst working as a mail boy, to attend university, pave a career in journalism and include time working for CNN. There are angry undertones in his book. It seems he feels diminished by his background and a victim. Stan sees Adam Goodes as a good role model. Not an enjoyable read but thought provoking.

JUDY J - REMEMBERING THE MYALL CREEK MASSACRE by Mark TEDESCI.  Whilst many know of the Massacre when an entire village, of mainly women and children, were viciously murdered by white men, this book provides the history from 1830's (expansion of white settlement moving local tribes off their lands) and builds till the slaughter in 1838. The ring leader, a young man called John Henry Fleming, was originally from the Hawkesbury. He wasn't arrested after the massacre - but 11  others... convicts and stockmen were. 7 were ultimately hung. Fleming disappeared and later moved to Sydney and back into society. He married, had a family, became a church warden and a JP. Flemings parents ran the Macquarie Arms hotel for a while. Tedesci writes that this and other incidents of racial atrocities are the same as modern day war crimes - the systemic extermination of the indigenous, ethnic cleansing, sexual violence and targeted violence and punishment.   

JO - COMMON PEOPLE by Tony BIRCH. A collection of stories about 'common people' - many troubled, in difficult circumstances, struggling for some reason. Single mums, homeless men, old/young - good people and good stories.

CLAURENE - RONNIE; THE TASMANIAN SONGMAN. RONNIE SUMMERS. Ronnie was born on Cape Barren Island, Tasmania, a very mixed race island, many European sealers lived there, intermixed with local women, the Aboriginal men had been wiped out. Estimated by 1850's there were about 50 sealers with 100 indigenous women and children, regarded as Islanders not indigenous tribes. Great life for Ronnie whilst young but when moved to Flinders Island trouble began. Had disliked school, couldn't read, into trouble. Associated with white women, fighting, jail, alcohol, downward spiral.  Managed to pull himself up, sing and tell stories of the Indigenous, raise their identity, spread positivity.

JOAN - DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN by Ruby LANGFORD.

Autobiography. Ruby was raised, among other places, in missions. She recalls memories of her mum - both good and bad. When Ruby was 6 her mother left, taking the baby, and never was seen again. This was the time when the Aboriginal Protection Board could take children into their care. The remaining family lived in a tent. A tough life. As an adult she raised 9 children, moved to Sydney, began writing and became an activist. Ruby was truthful in her writing style, very caring and a much loved matriarch of her family dying in 2011. Engrossing.

PAT - SWALLOW THE AIR by Tara June WINCH. Growing up in Wollongong little May and brother Billie only know their father was gone cane cutting, but never saw him. Their mother died so they went to live with Auntie. She was an alcoholic with a series of male, often abusive, companions. Whilst providing basic needs to the children their quality of life was poor. Billie left, moved to Redfern into squats and got into drugs. May followed to Redfern to be with her brother. Jump to the end of the story and eventually May returned home. A very depressing story.

JULIA - AFTER THE CARNAGE by Tara June WINCH. 13 short stories. Much swearing, dark themes, drugs, focussing on dark deeds. Awful.

TAM - AFTER THE CARNAGE by Tara June WINCH. Tam thought the characters were shadowy, the drifters of society. Poorly written.

DIANN - NOWHERE PEOPLE by Henry REYNOLDS. Diann grew up in Redfern and so could relate to the situations of the characters. She had witnessed some of the  experiences of the Indigenous and found it a very sad book. Personally moving. '1/2 castes' were assumed to be unstable, ineffective.

JUDY De La - QUESTION OF COLOUR by Pattie LEES. Pattie and her 4 siblings were removed from their mothers care, becoming state wards, 2 sent to Palm Island ( rife with sexual and physical abuse), awful early life. Pattie recounts her journey and survival through the years. Presented in a forthright and clear manner her story is told without bitterness.

PRUE - BENANG:FROM THE HEART by Kim SCOTT. The author is a well educated and important figure in Australia today. Originally from the Kimberley's, as an adult Kim lived with his family in different areas so his children could really learn the language and the culture. He believes learning the language helps redevelop "belonging to the family and settlement". In the book Harley, main character, relates a series of stories, facts, atrocities - some good, some bad - and is non linear. It is difficult to read as it jumps characters, some stories are told in song. The stories are blunt, emotional and with a lot of depth.

BEV - THE PROMISE - TONY BIRCH.  A common theme - death. Narrated by different people, some shady characters, some poor, unemployed, with alcohol and other issues.

JUDY A - BLACK CHICKS TALKING by LEAH PURCELL. 9 Indigenous women, from a range of backgrounds, recount stories of their lives and influences. (Actor, activist, community police officer, business, dancer, a mum, lawyer etc). Some were well informed of their indigenous heritage, others had family who wanted it hidden or denied. Poor spelling and grammar made it frustrating to read. 

KRIS - DARK EMU by BRUCE PASCOE. A nonfiction book about what Australia looked like before white settlement and expansion. Our modern day views and interpretations of what the structure of life was like pre colonisation. Subjects include housing, fire, food growing, laws. Well researched. Makes you reflect on the past and consider that the idea of a hunter/gatherer society back then may not be correct.

LESLEY - THE YIELD by TARA JUNE WINCH.  3 Parallel stories -         a - August, living in London, absorbing European culture, seems aimless, returns suddenly to home country town as Poppy dying. Massacre Plains, dreadful atrocities here during early white settlement. b - before dying Poppy recorded and wrote a dictionary of Wiradjuri words, linked them to English, gave egs of what terms/phrases meant. Wanted August to have it. c - Mission letters written by German Missionary who set up mission late 1800's, into 1900's. Gave details of events, attitudes of whites, treatment of indigenous,  way of life for them. Background story - a tin mine bought most of the land and about to dig up the earth. Mob cannot claim native title unless can prove link to land plus evidence of structures, long term use, ties. All comes together towards end. Was hard to follow at times, many themes touched upon. Difficult reading in parts.

FEBRUARY - STORIES ABOUT CATS

 JUDY DE:  RED LEAD by Roland Perry, The Naval Cat with 9 Lives

In 1942 the renowned cruiser HMAS Perth was sunk by Japanese.  There were 681 men aboard and the ship's cat.  328 men survived and one cat.  Judy said it was a really interesting story.  Judy also read a Lilian Jackson Braun novel.  She did not like it.

PRUE:  THE GUEST CAT by Takashi Hiraide

The author is a poet.  He has written many books of poetry and he lives with a cat.  The story is about a mid 30's couple who are both writers.  They live in a guest house. The descriptions of the guest house are beautiful.  A cat wanders in and out, sharing life with them and their neighbours.  Life suddenly has more promise as they play with the cat.  It's a beautiful gentle story with subtle humour.  It is well written.

CHARIS:

Although Charis did not read a novel about cats she had read some interesting facts about cats.  She told us Turkish people love cats with two different colour eyes.  She also spoke about cats being heraldry symbols in the U.K. The lion is on the British Coat of Arms.

JOAN:  A STREET CAT NAMED BOB by James Bowen

This is the story of the author, London street musician and recovering drug addict.  In 2007 he takes in an injured ginger street cat.  They become inseparable healing each other's pasts.  Joan found it interesting to learn about the life of a busker and the selling of the magazine called the Big Issue

BEV:  THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW'D by Alan Bradley

This book is a Flavia De Luce mystery.  The 12 year old Flavia de Luce, after a strange sojourn in Canada, is back in England.  Her father is ill.  Flavia makes a macabre discovery of a corpse of a reclusive woodcarver.  There is also a tortoiseshell cat at the scene.  The local constabulary are perplexed.   Bev enjoyed the book.

JULIA:  GARFIELD by Jim Davis

Julia loves the Garfield comic strip and books.  She told us a some facts about the author, Jim Davis. He is an American cartoonist. When he started, his boss decided comic strips were over saturated with dogs and Jim should do something different.  He decided to do cats and in 1978 Garfield was born.  Jim has won lots of awards for his Garfield cartoons.

CLAURENE:  THE CAT'S TABLE by Michael Ondaatje

 The story is narrated by an 11 year old boy who travels by liner from Colombo to England.  His mother has been in England for four years and he is going over there to finish his education.  He is put on the lowly Cat's Table with two other boys going to school in England, as well as an odd group of other people. The table is the furthest away from the Captain's Table. The three boys get together and act like absolute monsters.  The narrator talks about their lives when they grow up.  Claurene said Ondaatje is a wonderful writer and she would like to read more of his books.

ROSEMARIE:  DALAI LAMA'S CAT by David Michie

 The author was born in Zimbabwe but now lives in Australia.  The story is about the kitten rescued from the slums of Delhi.  The kitten goes to new surroundings in beautiful Himalaya. It is a warm hearted story, reverent and wise.  It has insights to find happiness and meaning and will put a smile on your face.  It is gentle and humorous and has subtle influences.

JUDY A:  THE LEOPARD by Jo Nesbo

Nesbo is a Norwegian writer who has a character named Harry Hole who is a brilliant but troubled detective fighting personal issues of alcohol and depression.  According to the author, Harry is inspired by and a tribute to Michael Connelly's character, Harry Bosch.  This is the 8th book in the series.  He's on the trail of a serial killer.  It was ok but far too long.  Judy had also read another book called The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.  It is reputed to be one of the finest works of 20th century fiction but it wasn't for Judy.  She said it was tedious and gave up at page 50.

PAT:  BONO by Helen Brown

The author was born in New Zealand but now lives in Melbourne.  This is a memoir of a part of her life.  She had three children who are now grown up.  She had written a book called Cleo and it gave her the opportunity to go the New York.  It was exciting and although she wasn't close to her daughter she came with her mother to New York. While she was there, Helen adopted a cat.  It helped repair the mother/daughter relationship.  The daughter really loved the cat.  Anybody who loves cats will really enjoy this read.

DIANN:  MATTHEW FLINDER'S CAT by Bryce Courtenay

This is the story of a solicitor mentoring a young man.  Diann said it was a very good story.

ED: THE LAST LIONS OF AFRICA by Anthony Ham

The author travels to different areas in Africa as he is very concerned lions are becoming extinct.  He is haunted by the fact that lions might disappear from the planet so he tries to do something to save them.  Ed said the plight of the lions is very sad. There is outrage by the public when an American dentist and hunter murders a much loved lion called Cecil.

CONNIE:  CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE CAT LOVER'S SOUL by Various Authors.

There are different stories about cats.  One that touched Connie was about a ten year old girl who had a cat from a kitten.  It came in for dinner, she played with him and the cat slept on a cushion in the bedroom.  One day he went missing.  She was very sad and put a notice in the local post office with a photograph.  Another girl was putting up a photo of her cat when they realised  it was the same cat and he was leading a double life.  The girls became good friends.  Connie enjoyed it.

JO: THE CAT WHO COULD READ BACKWARDS by Lilian Jackson Braun

It's the story of an investigate journalist who adopts a Siamese cat called Koko who jumps on top of his bookcase.  Jo loves these books.

VAL:  TRIM, THE CARTOGRAPHER'S CAT  -  Matthew Flinders, Philippa Sandall and Gillian Dooley

This book is in two parts.  The first part is a tribute to Trim, the cat.  The second part is a fictional version of various incidents written from the cat's point of view. He swam, he climbed up the rigging and he went overboard.  He was a beautiful cat and quite a character.  He accompanied Matthew Flinders when he circumnavigated Tasmania.  Flinders was meticulous in his map making and charts. When the ship needed repair he pulled in to Mauritius not realising the French were at war with England.  Val said she found out a lot about travelling in that era.

JUDY J:  STREET CAT NAMED BOB by James Bowen

Judy said it was a delightful and incredible story.  The only money James received was from busking.  He was born in London to well-to-do parents.  He moved to Australia with his mother after his parent's divorce.  He had ADHD and he was bullied at school. He went back to England to live with his father.    The stray cat James adopted gained celebrity status.  The Spanish loved the cat.  James is now worth over 2 million pounds.

LESLEY:  WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson (1962)

The story has an idyllic, rural setting in a large, well kept country home near the local village.  It is narrated by Kathleen Blackwood (also called Mericat), an 18 year old who lives in the home with her older sister Constance and a wheelchair bound uncle plus her cat, Jonas. 6 years previously, Mericat's mother, father, aunt and uncle were all poisoned by arsenic in the sugar bowl. Only the uncle survived and is now wheelchair bound. Constance was arrested, tried but found not guilty.  The girls become reclusive as the villagers, believing they poisoned the family, relentlessly persecute them.  Jonas, the cat gives them comfort.  Their cousin Charles comes to stay and tension builds as the dynamics of the family change.  Lesley said the story was well written, short and moves in a timely fashion.  A creeping sense of foreboding develops.  Sinister and disturbing, you aren't quite sure what will happen next, but you know something will.  A good read.

LYN:  JAMES HERRIOT'S TREASURY FOR CHILDREN

One of the stories was about Moses, the kitten. It is snowing and it's freezing when the vet is called out to the farm because of a calving problem.   A tiny black kitten is  found freezing.  The farmer's wife puts it in the oven with the door open.  The farmer and his wife want to keep it.  When the vet calls to the farm again the black kitten is enjoying life in the pigsty with the piglets.  Lyn enjoyed it and said "I guess we never really grow up".

SHEILA:  CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL by Various Authors

She did not really enjoy it.  She said it would be great if you loved cats.

PAMELA:  OLD POSSUM'S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS BY T.S.ELIOT, PUB.1939

This is a collection of whimsical light poems about 15 different cats.  Some of them are The Song of the Jellicoes, McCavity, the Mystery Cat and The Ad Dressing of Cats.

KRIS:  THE CAT WHO SMELLED THE RAT by Lilian Jackson Braun

This is a light hearted mystery thriller with a touch of humour.  It features a reporter named Jim Qwilleran and his 2 Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum.  KoKo senses trouble before it happens. It is set in Moose County.  The town is in the middle of a record breaking drought. There have been a number of fires at historic mine sites and Qwilleran thinks it's arson.  Then there is the murder of the local bookseller.  Qwilleran is looking for answers.  It was a light, easy read.

Kris

 

MARCH:              We will be reading Australian Indigenous authors   -   e.g. Tara June Winch,                                   Bruce Pascoe, Melissa Lucashenko, Kim Scott, Tony Birch  

                          

 

 

 

 

January 2021 ~ "Santa Sack" Holiday reading

 January 2021 saw our book club members discussing a variety of books they had read over the Christmas break; something from the "Santa Sack".

Pamela - "HOUSE KEEPING". by Marilynne Robinson. 1980.

A lengthy book that took a long time to read. Set in Montana, 2 young girls are left with their grandmother, expecting their mother to return. She never does. Not plot driven. Looks at relationships, personal growth, very much about character development. Narrated by Ruth, one of the orphaned girls it's a sad story. The children are concerned about issues of abandonment, instability and intransience. A dense story that requires deep thought.

Kris - "THE LADY IN THE LAKE". Raymond Chandler.

Philip Marlowe, an experienced PI from LA, is called to solve the disappearance of not 1 but 2 women.  Whilst published in 1943, it's very well written and a good read.

Judy A - "THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH". Eddie Jaku.

Eddie, a Jewish and living in Germany in 1939, was arrested, imprisoned in a concentration camp and survived. He overcame incredible hardships and cruelties but tried to focus on positivity and hope. Eddie made a promise to smile every day. In this memoir Eddie, nearly 100, recalls how he dealt with life's struggles and lived to become the happiest man. Eddie still gives talks at the Sydney Jewish Museum.

Pat - "WHAT ALICE FORGOT". Lianne Moriarty.

Alice, on a treadmill in her gym, falls and hits her head. When she recovers consciousness Alice has lost 10 years of her memories. She thinks she's pregnant with her 1st child, happily married and living in a different time. Alice slowly discovers her 'current' life - with 3 children, a separation from her husband and a very different lifestyle. Changing and evolving relationships, societal changes over 10 years and failed hopes and expectations are now Alice's life.

Pru - "THE WIFE AND THE WIDOW". Christian White.

A good title that intrigued Pru immediately. Written in alternate chapters, there are 2 separate stories and one wonders how they are linked. A big surprise is in store. An easy read and very imaginative by an Australian author.

Julia - "FAIR WARNING". Michael Connolly.

Crime, fiction. The main character is Jack McEvoy who becomes a suspect himself in a missing person case. A real life new site that reports on very tough  issues is part of the story. Jack uses current detective practices to solve the case.

Bev - "THE SURVIVORS". Jane Harper.

 Set in a small, seaside town in Tasmania, a young backpacker is found dead on the beach. At the same time, a previous resident returns after many years to help his mother pack up the family home. Her husband, with increasing bouts of dementia, needs increased care so they must leave. Old wounds and secrets come to the surface. The case of a girl, missing 20 years, is recalled. Suspicions and theories abound.

Wendy - "SOURDOUGH'. Robin Sloan. 2017.

Satire, sci fi, fantasy..... Lois is a computer programmer, gamer, nerd. Living in San Francisco she lives for work, has long hours and a poor diet. She arranges for delivery of soup and sour dough, becomes involved in the process of cooking and joins a 'secret' market that brings technology to food production. A weird and funny story with themes of automation, progress, traditions, high ideals and food snobs.

Judy De La - "THE GIFTS OF READING".

An anthology of essays, including Robert MacFarlane, about books, poetry, reading, sharing, the importance of books.

Rosemary - "COMMONWEALTH". Ann Patchett. 2016.

Family saga, moves forward and backward. A kiss followed by an affair then divorce sees 2 marriages dissolve, then the families blend. Complicated relationships with humour and tragedy. Very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable.

Claurene - "HOW TO MAKE GRAVY". - Bio of Paul Kelly.

Well known Australian song writer and performer. For one Christmas he was asked to write a book. He chose 100 of his songs and placed them in alphabetical order. Each song has the words on one page and then Paul's thoughts, comments and inspirations written on the facing page.

Connie - THE GIVER OF STARS. Jo Jo Moyes.

A book given to Connie by her granddaughter. 1932 - A well to do English city girl meets American man, falls in love, marries and moves to his farm in Kentucky. Appalachian Mountains the back drop. A huge culture shock, ignored by busy men in the family, staff look after the home - she's bored and unhappy. She meets a group of women from the farming district, very different to her usual friends. They form a book club (access to books so rare and difficult to obtain so treasured). Travel by horse, over hills, through snow to meet. Many in the community very poor so cannot afford to buy books. Women bond deeply, value each other, good friendships form. Very enjoyable.

Charis - "HISTORY TODAY". A magazine.

Such a variety of topics - slavery, politics, economics, Trump and the election etc.  Charis is enjoying the variety of subjects presented and finds enthusiasm in many of the articles.

Jo - "THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES". Stef Penney.

Fiction crime. A 17 year old boy disappears in a forest. Upon investigation there have been a number of children who have d isappeared over time. Someone from Hudson Bay Co. investigates. Book looks at aspects of Indian culture as its revealed a tribe had found a child in the wilderness and helped raise it.

Joan - "BREAKER MORANT". Peter Fitzsimmons.

Historical recount of Boer War and the story of Harry 'Breaker' Morant. Harry was used to life in the bush, hardy and capable. Somewhat of a larrikin. Boer War 1899 - 1902. Harry in Carbineers - tough, rough soldiers. After a revenge patrol he is arrested, tried and along with Hancock executed. The man behind the myth. Last words - "Shoot straight you b....." Accessible history, an honest recount. 

Lesley - "BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE". Trent Dalton. 2018.

Eli Bell, 12 years old, lives in chaotic circumstances. His mother, whom he loves very much, had a drug addiction, his father is an alcoholic, his brother Gus is an elective mute caused from a near catastrophe in earlier life and Eli's best friend is an ex con. They all live in the western suburbs of Brisbane, very working class, full of struggles and endemic challenges.But Eli is bright, sensitive and wants a better life. He looks to men and asks' "are you a good man?" A series of bizarre situations follow including selling drugs, violence, crime etc. The many themes include first love, poverty, class struggles and the  drug underworld. Eli has hope, his coming of age sees him rise but still retain his love for his family. Difficult sections so not an easy read.

Judy J - "H IS FOR HAWK". Helen Macdonald.

The world of Falconry with all its terms, the processes and rituals of owning and training a hawk is the basis for this book. A women, Helen, bereft with inconsolable grief after the death of her father, immerses herself in the world of falconry. Determined to train a goshawk, Helen slowly sees, and gains strength, from the power and determination of the hawk. Depression, grief - not an easy read about a woman's journey. 

Lyn - "ANXIOUS PEOPLE". Fredrik Backman.

Full of sliding door moments. A robber fails to finish his crime. Strangers enter the narrative and their brief encounters changes the course. Really about character development rather than plot driven.

Sheila - "THE MUSEUM OF FORGOTTEN MEMORIES". Anstey Harris.

Around 120 years ago, in Victorian England, there was a museum. Now it's dusty and dilapidated. A woman and her son, (her late husband being a descendant of the original owner) move into the museum. They are not really welcomed into the home but the dusty exhibits, beautiful gardens, views etc enchant the women. She wants to restore it and, as this happens secrets are revealed. The house is filled with clever people and hidden secrets. Sheila knew it was going to be a good read from the first page.