Peter Goldsworthy grew up in various Australian towns, finishing his school in Darwin. After graduating from Medicine at the University of Adelaide in 1974, he worked for many years in drug and rehabilitation. Since then he has divided his time equally between writing and general practice. He has won many literary awards.
MAESTRO:
This was his first novel, written in 1989. Maestro is the coming of age story of Paul Crabbe. The novel is written as a memoir and focuses on his relationship with his piano teacher.
VAL: Val said it was being read at school when she was teaching. The descriptions of Darwin were beautiful but felt it became a young adult book. That's when it lost her. She liked the piano teacher and the boy, but more when he was older and married. She said it was a good book - not great and a bit patchy.
ROSEMARIE: She discovered it's called Bildungsroman which is a literary genre of youth to adulthood where character change is extremely important. She also loved the Darwin scenes. Rosemarie also liked Paul's parents. It draws on biographical details of his life. She also said it was a good book but not great.
CONNIE: She thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the descriptions of Darwin. Connie didn't mind the 16 year old version of Paul. She felt it was typical of his age. She said it was beautifully written and would like to read more of Peter Goldsworthy.
WENDY: She liked the way the boy accepted he would be a 2nd rate pianist and also the truth about the piano teacher. Wendy really enjoyed it and said it was a good book.
PAT: She thoroughly enjoyed it as well and will read more of Peter Goldsworthy's books. Pat would have liked to have known more about Paul when he was older.
JOAN: She felt she was there in Darwin. The descriptions were great. She felt that he didn't round off the ending so it was a bit rough. She wanted to read more of his books.
JUDY 1: She also enjoyed the book.She appreciated the length of the book and said it was just enough to tell the story. There were lots of contrasts, Darwin, Vienna, Adelaide. Judy hadn't read this author before. She particularly liked the bits about Adelaide as she grew up there.
CHARIS: Student was searching for answers and the answer was in one line at the end "You don't understand, they were our friends". Charis sensed it was a high school theme with the boy reaching a sexual crescendo.
PAMELA: She said the other theme to consider was that of belief, judgment and reality. His style interested her. First impressions were misleading which is what the whole book is about with Paul making terrible judgements about Keller, the piano teacher. Pamela said she loved the irony and the style made the book for Pamela
PAULINE: She felt the same. Pauline loved the wit between the parents and Paul. They came across as eccentric. The descriptions of Darwin were spot on. The ending was abrupt. It felt like he didn't know where to go but she said it was a good read and beautifully written.
THREE DOG NIGHT:
This book was published in 2003. It is set in Adelaide. Martin Blackman, a psychiatrist returns to Adelaide after 10 years in London. He has never been happier but a shadow falls across that happiness when he introduces Lucy, his English wife to his childhood friend, Felix and finds Felix changed beyond recognition. It's a story of love and jealousy which takes them into the central Australian desert. It was shortlisted for a Miles Franklin Award.
DIANE: She did not like the book but had to read it all to find out how it ended but she didn't find out anything. Diane said the three dog night referred to an aboriginal saying about how many dogs you need to sleep next to just to keep warm - 2 dogs or 3 dogs depending on how cold it was.
JULIA: She did not like it all. Julia enjoyed the writing but didn't like the theme.
ED: She really enjoyed the style. She said it was descriptive. Ed started to like the characters but eventually didn't like them.
TAM: Tam said it was a good read but she was annoyed with the characters.
BEV: She said there were weird things all twisted in together. She did not finish the book.
KRIS: The book was well written and difficult to put down but the characters became very unlikable and very frustrating. The ending was also a bit disappointing, leaving you up in the air.
WISH:
This 1995 controversial novel has a story like no other. It explores the relationship between animals and humans - how different are we?
JUDY 4: The story is about a teacher who was born to deaf parents. He learns sign language. As an adult he gets divorced and then lives with his parents. He meets a couple who have a mute girl under their guardianship. He is invited to their home and finds out their daughter is a gorilla. She read it through to the end but couldn't believe it was going to be that bad. She is finished with the author.
DIANN: She found it very difficult as there is a lot about signing - so disruptive. She found it extremely frustrating. The main character is an "oddball". Diann said it didn't involve the reader. She found it depressing and gave up after 30 pages.
HONK IF YOU ARE JESUS:
This book was first published in 1992. It is set in Adelaide in 1994. Infertility expert and gynaecologist, Mara Fox is disillusioned with her work, her life, everything. Mara soon gets a top job that proves to have dire consequences.
JO: At Adelaide Hospital where Mara works, abortions are performed like a production line. She decides to go to Bible College. An American couple with plenty of money run the college. They keep experimenting with cloning. Jo said it had a science fiction feel and it was over the top.
CHARIS: She also read it and thought Mara was brought in to fertilize the religious leader's wife with DNA collected from the cross of Jesus. The religious leader was sterile. Charis said it beautifully describes the rainforest.
JESUS WANTS ME FOR A SUNBEAM:
This novella was published in 1998. It is a moving tale of loss and the relationship between a parent and a child. It poses moral and spiritual issues when the daughter of a religious couple gets an incurable disease.
JUDY 4: The story is about a couple, Richard and Linda who met as teenagers and married at University. They were considered an ideal couple, white middle class with a charmed life until their daughter aged 3 has to have treatment for leukemia. At 6 years old it returns and she has to have palliative care. Judy liked his writing, his directness and simplicity. Judy found the decision at the end of the book horrific. The book explores suffering and pain.
JOAN: She said it was a beautiful book and easy to read.
IN APRIL WE WILL BE READING BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR MARGARET ATWOOD
