SEP[TEMBER, 2026 AUTOBIOGRAPHIES AND BIOGRAPHIES

 

JO:  THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL LIFE BY JESSICA ROWE (2015)

This is Jessica Rowe’s story. She was a Channel 9 presenter who is married to Peter Overton. Jo said she was a beautiful girl.  Jo said that you wouldn’t realise she had so much sadness.  The stories are lovely.  Jo enjoyed it. She said it was a well written beautiful story.

KERRY:  TITANIC, STORY OF EVELYN BY LISA WILKINSON

There were six Australian on board the Titanic and only one survived, Evelyn.  Lisa got the original documents and did the research on Evelyn.  Her story would fit onto a pamphlet.  She was a stewardess, not a passenger.  She was born in 1883.  She learnt to ride and to row.  She loved the physical life.  She rowed against the tide on the Murray River.  She studied nursing and was also employed as a companion to a lady doing a trip on a ship.  In London she started her career and married a doctor. They travelled the world on a ship watching the Titanic being built.  She gets accepted as a stewardess/nurse on the Titanic. The themes of the book are rowing against the tide and women’s roles. There were suffragettes on board. The story highlights class differences, heroism and sacrifice, survival and its aftermath. Kerry enjoyed it as she has always been interested in the story of the Titanic.

VAL:   BLOWING MY OWN TRUMPET. THE ADVENTURES OF A VIRTUOSO MUSICIAN BY JAMES MORRISON

Val had seen him at a twilight concert at Taronga Zoo.  She was very impressed.   He was in a school band at primary school playing the cornet.  They were astounded by his playing.  There are many amusing stories.  He played with Ray Charles and Quincy Jones and he travelled extensively.  He married Judy Green, a former Miss Australia and actress. They had three boys.  He is a pilot, a sailor and a triathlete.  It’s “tongue in cheek” all the way through. Val said he is a very good storyteller.  He has a wonderful attitude to life and Val enjoyed reading the book.

 

DIMITY:  THE HAPPIEST REFUGEE BY ANH DO

She decided to read the book as she had been to see his show. She liked the book.  Some parts are sad and some are funny and he always has a bit of a cliffhanger.  It filled in a few gaps for Dimity about what was going on in the 70’s and the trip over on a boat from Vietnam to a new life. The family were saved by a cargo ship. The rest of the story is about growing up in Australia in the 70’s and 80’s.  She said it was an inspiring book.

MARGARET:   AIN’T NOBODY’S FOOL, LIFE AND TIMES OF  DOLLY PARTON BY MARTHA ACKMANN

The title comes from a song she sang (but did not write) This Dumb Blonde Ain’t Nobody’s Fool.

She had an impoverished childhood in Tennessee growing up in a large family.  There was a lot of fun amongst the hardship and she was the first to graduate from high school. She was very ambitious to be a singer/songwriter from a very young age so when she met her long-time husband, Carl, they agreed she would pursue her career.  Record companies turned her down, so she did duets and harmonies on television for 7 years.  After financial ups and downs, she became quite astute and built a fortune. When Colonel Parker wanted her song “I will always love you” for Elvis Presley, she held on to the rights of it and other songs she wrote.  She was also a philanthropist, giving to many worthy causes.  It’s not brilliantly written and a bit heavy, but her life was very interesting.

JUDY A:  GHOST STORIES: A MEMOIR BY SIRI HUSTVEDT

This is quite a moving memoir about Siri Hustvedt’s 43 year long relationship with her husband, the writer, poet and filmmaker, Paul Auster, who died in April 2024 from non small cell lung cancer.

This book is a patchwork of memories interspersed with emails to friends from the time of diagnosis, letting them know of his progress, as well as other letters, poems and seven letters Auster penned to his grandson Miles, born on New Years Day, 2024, 4 months before Paul died.  There are also musings about the current state of the U.S.  Siri Hustvedt is a well known novelist in her own right.  She is quite an intellectual writer, but Judy did like this book. She liked reading about their relationship which is steeped in the world of books and other writers.  These sorts of books always make me ponder and appreciate my own marriage.

 

BEV:  WOMAN IN THE MISTS BY FARLEY MOWAT

This story traces Dian Fossey’s journey from an American hospital worker to a solitary figure in the Rwanda’s misty Virunga mountains, where she built trust with elusive gorillas.   They accepted her and put their arms around her.  She made a lot of enemies, including the police.  There were a lot of poachers in the area. She was very protective of the gorillas in the nineteen years she was there.  It was very cold in the mountains and there was a lack of food. Bev said it was very interesting but dragged on a bit.

DEBRA read Angela Merkel’s biography.  She enjoyed it.  She said Angela Merkel was very intelligent and resilient, a very interesting woman.  She would recommend this book.

ED:  DANCING IN SMALL PLACES BY LESLIE A. DAVIDSON

Leslie and her partner Lincoln were great adventurous travellers, spending more than two years travelling the world, hiking, kayaking and canoeing.  Eventually they returned to Canada, got married and bought a house.  She was a teacher; he was a librarian.  They had two daughters and four grandchildren. Even after Lincoln retired, he was still adventurous.  He then develops night terrors, which over the next few years descends into Lewy Body Dementia.  He has bouts of paranoia. Eventually he is placed in care. Leslie is also diagnosed with dementia and has her own struggles.  It is a lovely heartwarming story and sometimes funny.

JUDY J:  I AM MALALA: THE STORY OF THE GIRL WHO STOOD UP FOR EDUCATION AND WAS SHOT BY THE TALIBAN BY MALALA YOUSAFZAI, CHRISTINA LAMB (PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR)

For nearly 75% of the book, it covers the history of Pakistan from its beginnings in 1947.  What a sad and unsettled story it is. Prime Ministers were murdered, there were uprisings in the army, waring between the political parties and religions. With Afghanistan on their border they were involved in anything that happened there – the takeover by the Russians, the rise of the Taliban and then American occupation. Malala was born close to the border in in they idyllic Swat Valley.  She was born in 1997.  Her father was a schoolteacher and insisted she was educated the same as the boys. Malala joined his campaign in fighting for the rights of girls to have equal opportunities.  She had regular interviews on the BBC and published a diary, under a pseudonym, about life under the Taliban. In 2012 she was shot by the Taliban.  She was 15 years old.  She was lucky to survive.

In 2013 the Malala Fund was co-founded with her father to champion safe, quality education for girls worldwide and in 2014 Malala, at the age of 17, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A very interesting book.

KRIS:  MEMORIAL DAYS BY GERALDINE BROOKS A MEMOIR

This was published in 2025.  After the sudden death of her 60 year old husband, Tony Horwitz in Washington DC on Memorial Day, 2019, Geraldine has no time to properly grieve.  There was so much to organize.  Their two sons were away, one in boarding school.  The memoir alternates between the time just after his death in their home of Martha’s Vineyard and Washington DC and the time three years later, on Flinders Island, Australia where she retreated to mourn, reflect and work through her grief.  Flinders Island was a place she loved, and it was isolated enough to reflect on their life. It’s a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to her husband and the story of their deep love for each other and their sons.  I enjoyed the read as she is a wonderful writer.

 

LYN: DETENTION BY RALPH JACKMAN (2026)

When Ralph Jackman swapped his career as a sports reporter for life as a teacher, he expected yard duty and parent teacher nights.  Instead, he found himself behind the razor wire of Melbourne’s Parkville Youth Detention Centre, teaching literacy and numeracy to some of the nation’s most vulnerable and damaged boys. Lt is a compelling memoir by a real insider of how Australia is failing some of its most vulnerable kids by locking them up. Lyn said it wasn’t an enjoyable or easy to read.  It brought up so many emotions, confronting and sad, but worth reading as she learnt a lot.

JUDY DE:  ONE LIFE, MY MOTHER’S STORY BY KATE GRENVILLE

This is the story of Kate’s mother Nance Russell. Her mother left behind fragments of a memoir.  These were the starting point for One Life, the story of a woman born in 1912, whose life spanned a century of tumult and change.  She was exceptional. She trained as a pharmacist and had two successful businesses while looking after a family and raising children. Judy enjoyed the story.

HELEN:  MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME BY ARUNDHATI ROY

This book was published in 2025. This memoir examines her complicated relationship with her mother, Mary Roy who was a trailblazer in education and fighting for women’s rights, but as a mother, she could be cruel and violent.  She died in 2022. Arundhati is a highly acclaimed fiction writer, essayist and political activist. Helen said it was a fascinating read, full of information.  It gave a good history of India. Helen enjoyed the book. It was shortlisted for Women’s Prize for non-fiction.

ROSEMARY:   NED KELLY BY IAN JONES

Rosemary is a Ned Kelly fan and loves colonial history, although this book is not a light read.  It’s an academic tome. It is a thought provoking look at the underclass of Australia.  The Irish and the Catholic convicts were transported to Australia for very minor offences. Ned Kelly had hard labour at age 14.  There was police corruption and all of them had a difficult life. Rosemary absolutely loved it.

JOAN:  WOMEN AND THE PIANO BY SUSAN TOMES

This book was published in 2025, written by the Scottish author and celebrated pianist, Susan Tomes.  She has written eight books.  In this book she traces the piano’s history via potted biographies of fifty extraordinary women pianists in their times.  It is a timely celebration of women’s music – well researched and written.

PAT:  STRANGERS: A MEMOIR OF A MARRIAGE BY BEL BURDEN 2026

 “Great love story – speed of beginning and speed of ending.  He wanted me and then he didn’t”

During COVID at their holiday place in Martha’s Vineyard Burden finds out her husband is having an affair.  Her husband admits to it and walks out on their 20 year marriage and their children. She didn’t have a chance to know why. She got sympathy from female friends but not male friends. Pat didn’t enjoy it.

TERESA:  DEAR FATTY BY DAWN FRENCH

It is a funny and touching memoir written as a series of letters to all her friends and family. Dear Fatty refers to her longtime best friend and comedy partner, Jennifer Saunders.  The stories are very descriptive. Although a little crazy, it is very enjoyable. She had a wonderful childhood, but her father committed suicide when Dawn was 19.  She was devoted to her mum. There are moments of humour and sadness.

 

Kris

 

OCTOBER IS CLASSIC CORNER

 

AUGUST, 2026 -- A CHOICE OF THREE FROM THE LIBRARY BOOK KITS -LIFE AFTER LIFE BY KATE ATKINSON, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED BY JONATHAN SAFRAN AND FRAGILE MONSTERS BY CATHERINE MENON

 

AUGUST 2026.

A lively discussion was had today! 3 books were chosen – Life After Life (Kate Atkinson), Everything is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran) and Fragile Monsters (Catherine Menon). A very enjoyable morning spent with an articulate, happy group.

Life After Life.  Kate Atkinson.   2013.

KERRIE, DEBRA, KELLIE, BEV, JUDY D., LESLEY. Timelines that went back and forth, a ‘sliding doors’ novel. A woman born in 1910 England relived her many lives, during world changing events, with no knowledge of her past lives. Ursula had just vague thoughts and feelings of having done something or been somewhere before. Kerrie loved it and thought it was rich and evocative with great characters. PALIMPSEST – where an old parchment could be scraped and reused, but there are always remnants that may remain. Kerrie felt this term applied to the main character – Ursula. Debra particularly liked certain sections (eg the WW2 experiences) and was glad she read it. Kelly had enough of the War and was pleased when that section finished but thought the overall book came together well at the end. Judy D. very much liked the book. Lesley enjoyed the book once she understood the premise of ‘what if a moment in time could change the future’. She liked the ‘Englishness’ and experiences of life for those from a certain class. Bev said she was the ‘fly in the ointment’ as there were too many different scenarios and too much going back and forward.

Everything is Illuminated. Jonathan Safran.  2002.

JOAN, JO, PRU, MARGARET, DIMITY. Set pre the current war in the Ukraine, a young man has a photo of a woman whom he wants to trace. He believes she may have saved his grandfather from the Nazi’s during WW2. Deep intergenerational trauma leaves many scars. Joan began the book, read little and decided she had better use of her time. Jo was irritated by the way language was used in the novel so only read a few pages. Pru persevered but found the story made no sense. Margaret thought the use of language was like a game that had to be decoded. Tedious and confusing. Dimity finished the book, so she was the star of the day! She agreed also with others about the complex writing and use of language.

Fragile Monsters.  Catherine Menon.  2021.

ED, ROSEMARY, KRIS, LYN, HELEN, JOAN, PAT, THERESE. Set in Malaysia during 1920s to 1985, a young woman returns to her sharp-tongued grandmother to untangle the secrets of the past. Difficult relationships, love, redemption, family trauma, ghosts, demons, disappointments. Ed found it confusing. Rosemary read most of the novel and thought it was OK. Kris didn’t like the characters and only read part of the story. Lyn couldn’t ‘get into’ the book so let it go. Helen said it was hard work but did finish! Evocative account of families living on the banks of rivers, but nothing was resolved. Joan commented the ‘war part’ held her interest however the characters were not inspiring. Pat thought the story was boring and disjointed. Therese commented there was no structure, no point and didn’t care what happened to the mother.

Next month is ‘biography or autobiography’.    Enjoy.  Lesley

JULY 2026 “FOOD FICTION”

Helen:  Vianne by Joanne Harris  (2025)

 

This is the prequel to the author’s beloved book ‘Chocolat’ published in 1999. It follows a 21-year-old penniless Vianne who arrives in Marseille to escape her nomadic fugitive past.

With lyrical writing  and described as a delicious book, Helen enjoyed the focus on food and chocolate. There was also lots of magical and mystical themes not really enjoyed by Helen as she is not a fan of mystical realism.

 

Ed:  Chocolat by Joanne Harris  (1999)

 

Set in the French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes between Mardi Gras and Easter Sunday, it follows the story of Vianne Rocher, a single mother who  arrives with her six-year-old daughter Anouk to open a chocolaterie opposite the church.

She has a talent for cooking with chocolate and can choose chocolates that suits the personality of her customer.

The priest does not approve thinking she maybe a witch or a sorcerer and a threat to  the people’s faith.

Every page offers a description of chocolate and recipes, picturesque French villages, colourful gypsies and crazy old ladies.

A wonderful read.

 

Lyn: The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens  ( 2025)

 

This story is centred around the history of the Tasmanian jam industry. The writing is very descriptive, particularly of some of the ‘special jams’ made by Harriet Brown, almost ‘tasteable’.

Harriet was sent out to work in the factory, disguised as a boy, when she was only 12. Her friend Henry Jones had started in the factory on the same day. 

When she was 16, she was forced to  marry an older man who taught her every aspect of jam making. 

Harriet and Henry maintained their lifelong friendship including when Henry owned and managed the biggest jam factory . His life motto was “I EXCELL” becoming I X L, the brand names of his products.

A fascinating story, well researched, great characters and many twists and turns.

 

Judy J: Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul  by Deborah Rodriguez (2017)

 

The author had first gone to Afghanistan in 2001 as part of a group offering aid after the fall of the Taliban. She founded a beauty school that trained 200 women in the art of hairdressing etc, many of whom went on to run their own salons.

She also opened a coffee shop.

Return to the Little Coffee Shop is set in the time when the Taliban are increasing their control, many NGOs have left and the local people are beginning to lose many freedoms they had once enjoyed.

The coffee shop is now run by several locals and tells the story of their daily struggles to accept the life being forced upon them.

Unfortunately the coffee shop only sells chocolate brownies, choc chip cookies and the local honey cake.

An interesting read to get a feeling of the times.

 

Judy De la T: When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison (2012)

 

Gemma is 37 years old, has a successful business as a private chef cooking for different ones each night. Her life feels full and secure . Recipes are certain and  successful when you follow the directions and use good ingredients

But when her life takes on unexpected changes, how will she cope?

Judy described it as chic lit, mildly amusing and a good quick read.

 

Leslie: The Hope Flower by Joy Dettman (2021)

 

Lori Smyth- Owen, is the only girl in a family of twelve. Her father is a weak man who commits suicide to escape his bed-bound wife, Mavis, who is morbidly obese, volatile and mentally unstable. Upon their father’s death, the children, not wanting to be split up in the welfare system, plan to raise themselves. They can now take charge.

Food almost has its own personality in the story, feeding 12, including preschoolers, teenagers, young adults, always chaos, always a challenge.

Central to the story is the dining room table around which so  much discussion happens and plans made to keep the family together.

The underlying theme is hope. Hope their situation will change and their mother will return to the person that only the older children can remember.

Lesley enjoyed it and wanted the kids to come out on top.

 

Val:  The Second Worse Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith  (2019)

 

Val described the book as faintly amusing , light weight and easy to read.

The author always includes many facts and knowledge in his books.

Paul Stuart, a renowned cookbook writer is researching his new book when his domestic arrangements change. His partner moves in with 2 cats who become quite the nuisance.

His cousin invites him to visit her in France, where they meet people running the local restaurant. They don’t really know what they are doing and Paul and his friends are encouraged to take it over.

 

Pat:  The Prodigal Daughter by Prue Leith  (2023)

 

Angelica Angelotti is a chef who also wrote cookbooks although Pat didn’t find her writing very convincing. Her parents had run successful Italian restaurants and so she had grown up in this life. 

She wants to learn French cooking and so her parents agree that she can attend a cooking school in Paris. This also is a way of getting away from her dominant cousin Mario.

But to her parents’ dismay, the plan backfires in more ways than one.

Pat said she wouldn’t highly recommend it saying that the author’s writing style didn’t excite her.

 

Theresa:   A Gift from the Comfort Food Café by Debbie Johnson

 

Katie has had an unhappy childhood; she is now pregnant and has separated from the father of her child.

So moving to a new area, and in particular a quiet little country town gives her a new start.

The centre of the town is the café. It is where everyone meets and talks and helps each other. She gets a job in the local chemist and a new romance beckons.

Theresa described it as a simple read, light and happy with some humorous scenes.

The relationship between Kate and her little boy was just beautiful and she was able to rise above the sad life she had left behind.

 

Jo: Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke (2017)

 

This is one of a series of books featuring Hannah Swenson, a baker of cakes and cookies in her café. But she also investigates murder on the side. In this book a person is found murdered in her downstairs condo. Hannah gets involved in solving this crime.

Recipes are included throughout the book and Jo loves them but agrees they wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

 

Kerrie: Toast  The Story of a Boy’s Hunger by Nigel Slater (2023)

 

Nigel Slater’s memoir explored his growing up from 9 years old to 16. Kerrie “gobbled it up’ in little bite sized pieces. His life during these years is told through his memories of  food.

His mother suffered from asthma, dying in front of him when only 9.

His memory is the toast she always burnt but made with love.

His father cooks for ‘performance’ and power over Nigel. 

The beautiful writing made you feel and taste the food he is describing.

In many ways, the book mirrors the social history of post war England through the food  highlighting class differences and what they ate.

Parts of the book were very sad but there were also many funny moments.

 

Joan: The Farmers’ Wife Country Cookbook

 

To Joan this old book was a treasure having been given it many years ago.

The recipes were chosen from those that appeared in Midwestern America’s Farmers Wife magazine between 1893 and 1939.

 

Rosemary W: Butter by Asako Yuzuki  (2017)

 

This novel, inspired by a real-life serial murder case in Japan, follows a Tokyo journalist who starts interviewing a woman accused of tricking and possibly killing men seducing them with her cooking, believed to be poisoned.

Other themes in the book include:

Feminist literature for Japan highlights the patriarchal nature of society and the social expectations of women. It discusses what is perfect.

The habit of modern society for eating bland and unhealthy food.

Rosemary commented that there was so much in the book and it was gloriously written.

 

Michelle also read the book.

While agreeing with everything Rosemary had mentioned, she had appreciated the descriptions of food and the recipes. So much of the book was about food and waste.

 

Dimity: A Year at Hotel Gondola by Nicky Pellegrino (2018)

 

Kat is a food writer who travels the world, eating unusual things. But after she begins a new relationship and agrees to settle down with him, they start to run the Hotel Gondola in Venice.

So Kat sets up a book deal to write about their first year in the hotel, the food and the people of Venice they meet while working out their relationship.

Food is very prominent in the book, every meal is eaten out, described and recipes sent back to England. Food comes first and conversation later.

The book is rich in friendships and relationships with a backdrop of Venetian life. A nice read.

 

Judy A: Be Ready When the Luck Happens  by Ina Garten  (2024)

 

This is the personal memoir by one of the USA’s most well-known food personalities, Ina Garten. She is aka the Barefoot  Contessa, the author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, and a beloved Food network personality, an Emmy Award winner, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon.

 

She had a difficult up bringing with cold and distant parents, but they were wealthy and she has never wanted for resources when the ‘luck’ arrived.  The Barefoot Contessa tag came from the first little café she operated, and all her cookbooks follow that title.

 

A lot of it is not just food and her life  but about buying and selling properties and renovating both in the US and in Paris and name dropping the people  she had spent time with.

 

It was an interesting read but forgettable.

 

Bev: Naked Chocolate by David Wolfe and Shazzie  (2011)

 

The book describes the history of chocolate, where it comes from and how it is processed.

It explains the scientific properties and health benefits of eating chocolate and elaborates how you will lose weight, sooth your heart, nourish your intellect and attract prosperity by eating.

The ‘naked chocolate’ is the raw cacao bean and information is given on how to prepare it.

60 original and mouth-watering chocolate recipes are shared.

 

Kris: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg (1987)

 

The story is told over two timelines. Its 1985 and Evelyn Couch , a middle-aged, menopausal woman struggling with her weight and self-worth meets Ninny Thredgoode in the Rose Terrace  Nursing Home. While in the waiting room, Ninny tells the story of her life in the 1930s.

 

One of these stories is of Ninny and her sister-in-law, Idgie opening the Whistle Stop Café in the 1930s. The cooks were two coloured women. The café becomes central to the town in rural Alabama.  One of the favourite dishes was green fried tomatoes. Times were tough in the depression, racism was everywhere but  people made the best of their life.

Kris described as a heartwarming and funny book, although there were a few gruesome moments, it is well worth the read.

 

Rosemary S: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan    (2022)

 

This is a warm, uplifting historical novel set during World War two in rural England when food rationing  is a part of everyday life.

The story centres on a BBC radio cooking competition, The Kitchen Front, where four contestants must create delicious meals using limited wartime products.

Four women from very different backgrounds enter the competition to become the first female co-host of the programme. Although each hope to win for personal reasons, the competition ultimately leads them to friendship, self-discovery, and the courage to change lives.

 

Some of the recipes which are included in full in the book:

Curried Salt Cod

Mushroom Soup using locally foraged ingredients

Sardine Rolls, using canned sardines

Whale Meat and Mushroom Pie using 1 pound of whale meat steak.

 

AUGUST BOOK CLUB : A book from the Library Kit

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

Fragile Monsters by Catherine Menon

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

JUNE 2026 -- ANY BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR HELEN GARNER

 

All the books read this month were written by the acclaimed Australian writer, HELEN GARNER, both fiction and non-fiction.

 

THE MUSHROOM TAPES

ROSEMARY S:  She did not finish it.  It was tricky with three people talking, but Rosemary gave us some interesting facts about Helen Garner.  She is an acclaimed Australian writer who is as interesting as her books.  She won an award for her first novel, Monkey Grip – fiction mixed with fact. She is also a passionate AFL fan following the Western Bulldogs.  Helen keeps extensive diaries renowned for her honesty and detail.  In 2016 she was sent an email telling her about a life changing prize of $100,000 which originally went into her spam folder.  She is considered a great writer of non-fiction.

SELECTED NON FICTION TRUE STORIES ( PUBLISHED 1996)

TAM:  One of the stories was about going to the morgue.  She uses very descriptive language.  The story about the unscheduled sex education class was quite funny.  There were Greek boys in the class.  It caused a lot of controversy and she lost her job.

LYN:  Although the print was very small, she thoroughly enjoyed what she read. It was wonderfully descriptive. A few of her favourites being“At the morgue “– Her descriptions of the autopsy procedure providing a read understanding of the process.“Won,Tew,Three,Faw” - A non musical family organizing and celebrating a completely different family Christmas celebration.  Lyn felt as if she was actually there in each of the stories. She also started reading House of Grief.  It is a difficult read.

THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF (2014)

JUDY J:  It was considered one of the Guardian’s 100 best books of the 21^st century.  On Father’s Day2005, just after nightfall, Robert Farquarson drove his three young sons back to their mother, his ex-wife.  He was a pathetic figure, lowly paid job, unable to maintain relationships, always babied by his older sisters, never really grew up and take on adult responsibilities.  On that dark country road, barely five minutes from the children’s home, the old white car swerved off the highway and plunged into a dam.  He freed himself.  The court case that followed became Helen Garner’s obsession, one that would take over her life until it’s final verdict.  She describes the court proceedings, including 2 trials, appeals, sentencing etc.  Some of it is tedious to read. 

ROSEMARY W:  She also read this book.  She found it incredibly boring.  She felt all Helen Garner was doing was writing about the boring facts and she is not sure why she is reading it.

JOAN:  All of this stuff has to come out where you must count every little detail.  I am not a fan of her non- fiction style because of her personal musings and revelations.  All sorts of facts come up.  They dunked the car three times. It was reported that “Her personal investment in what she is witnessing is compromising her notational style”.

THE CHILDREN’S BACH

JUDY A. :  First published in 1984.  The story follows Dexter and Athena Fox, a husband and wife who live with their two sons, one who is severely disabled, in the inner suburbs of early 1980’s Melbourne.  Dexter runs into a friend from his college days named Elizabeth who has taken care of her younger sister Vicki now that their mother has died.  Elizabeth has an on again, off again relationship with Phillip who has a 12 year old daughter named Poppy.  The book is about the interplay of all their relationships.  PROS:  Garner’s inciteful asides on her characters.  Her voice and style come through strongly, just like her writing.          CONS: the descriptions and attitudes around Billy, the disabled child,  made for uncomfortable reading for me.

PAMELA:  She said the writing was wonderful, but she was not interested in the characters and did not finish reading.

DIMITY:  She appreciated the opportunity to read Helen Garner.

EVERYWHERE I LOOK (pub 2016)

MARGARET:  This is a collection of essays, diary entries and true stories spanning more than 15 years.  It’s a portrait of a writer’s life and a particular way of seeing the world.  It includes a moving tribute to her mother, her joy in discovering the ukulele and a famous and controversial essay called “The Insults of Age”(2015).  There are also the beginnings of her fascination with reporting in court cases and what it revealed about human behaviour.  She also writes stories about some of the writers she knows including eight views of Tim Winton in eight paragraphs over many years of their friendship. Her writing is beautifully descriptive.

REGIONS OF THICK RIBBED ICE (2015)

PRUE: It’s only about 36 pages. It is comprised of short stories, essays, travelogue, memoir and autobiography all rolled into one.  She is on a cruise to the Antarctic with a group of photographers.  She did not take a camera. Her descriptions of the photographers are morose.  Helen Garner didn’t like the penguins, but she was very descriptive about the ice.  She has a journalistic style of writing.  Prue quite enjoyed it but was glad it was only short.   It was quite entertaining and the Antarctic was interesting, but she doesn’t think she will read any more Helen Garner books.

THE SPARE ROOM (2008)

DEBORAH:  She won’t say she liked it.  Deborah said she didn’t want to read about a lady who was dying of cancer and getting alternative treatments.  I am not sure she will read anymore.

KRIS:  Also read this book.  Helen is the narrator and her friend, Nicola who lives in Melbourne has cancer.  She comes to Sydney to stay in Helen’s ordinary suburban house at Helen’s request.  Helen thinks it will be a short time in palliative care but, although Nicola is terminally ill, she will not admit failure and is trying all sorts of experimental and expensive treatments which are making Nicola very ill and requiring much more care from Helen than she imagined.  This is a novel based on her own experience with a terminally ill friend and Helen Garner’s  need to explore her own unflattering and raw emotions during that time.  The themes are ageing, death and friendship.  It’s a heart wrenching story, but it is a very honest story with touches of humour as it confronts painful realities we all face at some time.  I loved the read.    Helen Garner has a very conversational voice in her writing.

JO CINQUE’S CONSOLATION (2004)

KERRIE:  She read it once and ten years later read it again. This is a true story. It is a revelatory read because of her style.  She is a witness to what happens.  In 1997 A young man in Canberra is killed by his fiancée and her friend.  Many people are around at the time.  It’s about grief and loss and families of Jo and the 2 girls.  The law is complex and terrible. The young woman is described as having narcissistic personality disorder. Kerrie loved the writing but not the story.

TERESA:  The story is absurd.  The girlfriend planned the death of Jo because she wanted to commit suicide.  Instead, she killed her boyfriend. Teresa was very impressed with Helen Garner’s writing and how she expresses herself, but the story is so sad.

THE FIRST STONE (1995)

JO:  In the Autumn of 1992, two young women at a Melbourne University were indecently assaulted at a party by the head of the residential college.  Pat didn’t really like it.  Men felt entitled to do what they wanted with the women.  She didn’t feel comfortable reading it but it was interesting.

ONE DAY I’LL REMEMBER THIS (1987-1995) AND HOW TO END A STORY DIARIES 1995-1998

VAL:  This is the story  of a disintegration of Helen Garner’s 3^rd marriage in one of her diaries 1992 to 2000.  She writes about her third marriage to the writer “V”, Murray Vale.  She explores her feelings about him, why he needs constant admiration.  He has a relationship with a young painter and Helen finds out.  He lies constantly and counselling doesn’t help.  Val feels Helen is a very complex person.  She went to the Turkish baths.  She said all the women were rude and very outspoken.  Val liked the descriptions but not the author. Val read MONKEY GRIP years ago but couldn’t get into it.

MONKEY GRIP (1997)

MICHELLE:   This novel was set in Melbourne, where single mother, Nora narrates her tumultuous relationship with a heroin addict while trying to bring up her daughter. Michelle had heard about Helen Garner and wanted to read this book.  She grew up in the 1970’s and had experienced little bits of what was going on at the time. Michelle enjoyed it and said it felt very real. She would like to read more of Helen Garner’s books, maybe the Mushroom Tapes.  She documents what she sees and explores the dark side of life.

Michelle is a new member to book club.  This was her first day with us.

Kris

 

Next month, July we will be discussing the books we have read – the topic is Food fiction.

 

 

MAY 2026: Three Books from the Library Kits

This month we had the choice of three books -

Educated by Tara Westover,   The Feel - Good  Hit of the Year by Liam Pieter   and The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna.

 

 

Educated by Tara  Westover

 

Summary:

Born to survivalist in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from the mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over overseas and to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d travelled too far, and if there was still a way home.

 

Comments from Book Club members:

 

Rosemary: She enjoyed the book, found it interesting but thought the narrative was written leading to a movie.

 

Val: Val described it as a troubling book, she was interested but didn’t enjoy it. It appalled her that people in society got away with the treatment of others. Tara’s brother Shawn should have been arrested for his sadistic behaviour.

 

Kerrie: It was important to keep in mind that not all Mormon families behave the way these did. But the father was way beyond any religious figure. 

Part of the author’s healing was to tell her story. People had always lied to her and denied what had happened to her.

 

Kelly: While reading, her emotions went up and down. She was shocked at the abuse and the isolation in which they lived.

 

Cindy: Cindy couldn’t finish it and felt validated after listening to other people’s opinions.

 

Judy A: Generally agreed with the previous comments.

 

Tam: Echoed other people’s comments but added that the mother annoyed her because she didn’t protect her children.

 

Judy J: Tara was able to educate herself as were 2 of her brothers. All finished with PHDs! Those children who stayed behind, continued to live and work with the parents. There wasn’t any more contact with the family.

 

Judy A: Even though she knew her family relationships were deeply unhealthy, even dangerous, yet she still yearned to be accepted within that group.

There were things she didn’t find credible, chief among them being the list of injuries this family suffered and recovered from.

 

Joan: Joan was unsure what Tara Westover was doing now and thought she would have difficulty in having ‘normal’ relationships.

 

 

The Feel-Good Hit of the Year by Liam Pieper 

 

Summary:

Liam Pieper was raised by his bohemian parents to believe in freedom and creativity, and that there's nothing wrong with smoking a little marijuana to make life easier. Nothing if not precocious, he used these lessons to develop a fledgling drug habit and a thriving business selling pot from the back of his pushbike. This lifestyle taught him much.

But from these highs (chemical and otherwise), Liam's life began to spiral down to some striking lows. After a family tragedy and then his arrest on several counts of possession and trafficking, Liam had to pause and ask himself: How the hell did I get here and how would he find some way out?

 

Comments from Book Club members:

 

Ed: Ed thought the book was well written and the young man was very enterprising in making money through selling drugs. She was astonished by the amount of money involved in the drug trade.

The author eventually sorts himself out and becomes a freelance writer.

She wouldn’t rave about it.

 

Lyn:

She didn’t find the book ‘achingly funny or heart splittingly tragic’ as said in the  reviews. Heartbreaking – yes! Frustrating – a definite yes!

Lyn chose the book because of the subject, pleased she had read it, but not a book she enjoyed.

 

 

The Eye of the Sheep  by Sophie Laguna

Summary:

Told from the mesmerising point of view and in the inimitable voice of Jimmy, this is an extraordinary novel about a poor family who is struggling to cope with a different and difficult child.

He's not like other kids. He finds a lot of the adult world impossible to understand - especially why his dad gets so angry with him. Jimmy's mother Paula is the only one who can manage him. She teaches him how to count sheep so that he can fall sleep. She holds him tight enough to stop his cells spinning. It is only Paula who can keep Jimmy out of his father's way. But when Jimmy's world falls apart, he has no one else to turn to. He alone must navigate the unfathomable world and make things right.

 

Comments from Book Club members:

 

Theresa: She described the book as depressing, sad, offensive and the undiagnosed autistic Jimmy, reminded her of Rainman.

He was loved by his mother who idolised him and puts up with the horrible husband.

 

Pat: Pat found the book hard to read, too depressing but needs to be read because this is happening now in society. She felt sorry for all the characters, all had their own problems.

 

Margaret: The book puts you in the mind of one of these children and how they see the world. It’s exhausting, the mix of depression, poverty, levels of sadness. Some moments of hope were brilliantly written but also exhausting.

 

Sheila: You could hear Jimmy’s voice all the way through the happenings with the family. She thought the author had done a lot of research or had close contact with a dysfunctional family.

She didn’t enjoy it, but glad she had read the book.

 

Joan: Jimmy’s first-person narrative through the book was outstanding. There is anger, judgement, understanding, compassion, hope and trust. But this is balanced with humour in the ending.

Joan described the book as one of the best written and challenging books she has read.

 

Debra: She didn’t like it, in fact she hated it. But she understood and appreciated the needs of the child.

The redeeming thing was the hope at the end. Jimmy was going to get help and support. Book Club can challenge what you read.

 

Cindy: She couldn’t finish it but appreciated it more after listening to other’s comments.

 

Jo: When Jo started the book, she hated. But with perseverance, she continued and eventually, ‘couldn’t put it down’. 

 

Judy J May 2026

 

 

 

           JUNE:   Australian author Helen Garner