Our Author this month was RUTH PARK.
Tammy - POOR MAN'S ORANGE. Easy to read but the story was filled with hardship and not much communication.
Rosemary - MISSUS. Written in 1985 the story was quite disjointed. It was about the courtship and romance of the main characters of Harp in the South. Set in outback NSW with shearing sheds, pubs and rural town life.
Jo - PLAYING BEATTIE BOW. The story is about the very difficult times of a young girl and her family. The father leaves the mother and daughter (Abigail). The daughter finds a way back to 1873 and lives with other people. Absolutely marvellous.
Ann - PLAYING BEATTIE BOW. Fantasy - Abigail chases another child (Beattie Bow) & finds herself in another time zone - 1873. Descriptions of The Rocks at that time. The intrigue is that in every 5th generation a stranger appears, and the family that Abigail goes back to think she is the stranger - so they wont let her travel into her own real time zone.
Diane - HARP IN THE SOUTH. Story of and Irish family, their neighbours and their simple but challenging lives. The characters hardly move away from their own street. Their existence is enclosed by the Pub, the SP Bookie and the Church. Grinding poverty is clearly depicted. They are a good family despite their challenges. Wonderful language.
Lesley - HARP IN THE SOUTH. Written in 1948 was a huge success for Ruth Park. The story is set in the slums of Surrey Hills.The themes cover domestic violence, prostitution, alcoholism, crime but also deep love, forgiveness, faith, resilience, stoicism, support for ones own class and acceptance. Some sections of society at the time of publication wanted it banned as it clearly displayed many facets of human life that weren't openly discussed at the time. A good read.
Pamela - HARP IN THE SOUTH. Graphic details and slum life. It truly depicted Paddy's Market and was evocative of Haymarket at the time. Well written - the language, whilst easy to read, disguises the complex language structures Ruth Park was so good at penning.
Connie - THINGS IN CORNERS. 5 stories for young readers age 12-13. One story is about a child living in a block of units that had a lift. This child had a strong fear of the lift and the story reveals how the child overcame this fear. Perhaps the stories all end a little quickly, the conclusions settled in short time. Maybe this devise is because the stories are aimed at younger readers.
Claurine - THE SYDNEY WE LOVE. Needed to sit and read this with the UBD opened beside her. Book is full of interesting and factual information. Gov.Philip suffered from sea sickness. The Harbour Bridge was nicknamed the Ironlung as it kept 1400 people alive through the Depression. Hotel called Golden Cobb in Essex St had a viewing window so patrons could watch hangings in the street. Lots of artwork, lots of reading and was very much enjoyed.
Beth - SYDNEY. Interesting factual book, a chapter on the Hawkesbury. Map with walks, information about historical buildings in Sydney, early Sydney people. Fascinating. Also read The Muddle Headed Wombat - not enthralling in the modern day. Beth's grandchild read it as well with her mum but was neither delighted nor engrossed with the story. (She liked the time spent sitting with Mum much more).
Rosemary - FISHING IN THE STYX. Vol. 2. Life story of Ruth Park from when she was married. Lots of pictures. Her husband - D'arcy Niland - wrote the Shiralee. This became somewhat of a burden to her as his success gained more attention and allowed him to pursue his writing completely whereas she was still tied to the family and the pressures of looking after everyone
Judy - FISHING IN THE STYX Vol 1. About Ruth Park's early life, growing up in NZ. Very poor, a harsh mother, little affection. Revealed some familiarity with the Maori language.
Pauline - FISHING IN THE STYX Vol 1 and Vol 2. Enjoyed both. Talked about her marriage, 5 children, husband died when only 50, having to really pull self together to cope. Had amnesia through the shock of D'Arcy's death. Ruth resented the freedom D'Arcy had to follow his career when she was tied much more closely to the family. Ruth won a SMH competition and was offered 20 pounds a week to write for the paper but she turned it down as she had the family to manage.
Pat - SWORDS AND CROWNS AND RINGS. About a dwarf rejected by his father but deeply loved by his mother. He had a tough life, always judged by his looks, struggled to gain employment. His mother gave him confidence and good values and he was able to overcome his burdens. Set in the Rocks, a good story. Won the Miles Franklin Award in 1997.
Bev - MY SISTER SIF. Aimed at young adults, an easy read, well written and very descriptive. About a family who lived on an island in the Pacific - the mother is a mermaid, the father a human. There's romance, science, environmental issues, pollution, nuclear testing. Quite enjoyable.
Shiela - POWER OF ROSES. Set in The Rocks 1948/52. Slums, privies, grey houses, reveals the lives of Sydneysiders at the time. Descriptive language wonderful, the characters are given life and are believable. Different type of poverty revealed, not like todays. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Julia - CALLIES FAMILY. Family story, many arguments within the family, Callie made up a castle to hide in (really the attic in the house). Story is about how she grew up and continued to live with the castle.
