JULY - FEMALE BIOGRAPHIES OR AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

CONNIE:   "NEVER SAY DIE" BY DR CHRIS O'BRIEN

This book is about the life and work of Sydney brain surgeon, Dr Chris O'Brien.   Connie said it was an excellent read.

JOE:   "WOMEN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD"
This book is a compilation of pocket biographies of great women.  Joe said it was excellent.

PAMELA:  "GOD IT'S A WOMAN" BY NANCY BIRD WALTON
This book is about the youngest commercial pilot in the Commonwealth and the wonderful tales of the early days in aviation.  She flew from the age of 19 and died at 93. 

SHEILA:  "THE HOSPITAL BY THE RIVER" BY DR CATHERINE HAMLIN

This is the excellent story of Dr Hamlin and her specialist husband setting up and maintaining a fistula hospital for women in a third world African country.  It was inspiring.

 ED:  "BY MYSELF AND THEN SOME" BY LAUREN BACALL

This is the life story of highly acclaimed American actress, Lauren Bacall.  It was interesting and a good read.

TAM:  "PLEASE STOP LAUGHING AT ME BY JODEE BLANCO

This book is about school bullying.  It is set in the U.S.A.  It was a bestseller.  The story is about the author's lectures and workshops to prevent/handle bullying.

CLAURENE:  "GEORGETTE HEYER"BY JENNIFER KLOESTER

This is an account of the author, Georgette Heyer's life.  She doesn't come across as a nice person.  The reader would continue to love Georgette Heyer's books but his biography falls short.

ANNE:  "STORY TELLER" BY ZOE DANIEL

An ABC's foreign correspondent's stories from her assignments in South East Asia.  Anne felt it was poorly written.

DIANE:  "GREAT CATHERINE" BY CAROLLY ERICKSON

This book is about the life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.  It is a great story but poorly written.

PAT:  "DON'T WAKE ME AT DOYLES" BY MAURA MURPHY

This story is about a woman's trials in a loveless marriage with many children.  It is set in Ireland in the 1950's. There is crude language but good insight into family hardship and Pat said it was well written.

LAURA:  "THE FOSSIL HUNTER" BY SHELLY EMLING 

This book is set on the UK coast. It is poorly written.  ? wrong genre.

BEV:  "RAELENE" BY RAELENE BOYLE AND GARRY LINNEL

This is Boyle's story on her running career.  It was an enjoyable read.

ROSEMARY:  "DUCKS ON A POND" BY ANNE SUMMERS

This is the story of the personal family life and good works by the author.  It was an enjoyable read.

ROSEMARY O:  "JANE GOODALL" BY LISA KOZLESKI

Enlightening but "too much animal"!

JULIA:  "DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I USED TO BE" BY JULIA NORRIS

Julia found it disappointing and would not recommend the book.

JOAN:  "DESERT QUEEN" BY JANET WALLACH

This is the story of Gertrude Bell, an English woman (1868-1926) and her outstanding achievements as an adventurer, archaeologist, British spy and more.  It is an excellent biography and historical read.

KRIS:  "JULIE AND JULIA"  BY JULIE POWELL

 Julia Child, born in 1912 is an American chef, author and television personality.  She is recognized as bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". This book is about Julie, a young bored woman who feels a bit of a failure, taking on the challenge of cooking 524 recipes in a year from that cookbook. She decides to write a blog detailing the event.  She swears a lot throughout the book.  It wasn't a great book and I really would have liked to read more about Julia Child.