Judy D: SO ANYWAY BY JOHN CLEESE
This is an autobiography. It mainly focuses on life as a comedian. He studied as a lawyer before he went into comedy. Judy enjoyed it.
Tam: LAND BEFORE AVOCADO BY RICHARD GLOVER
This book is about nostalgia and the feeling that growing up in the 60's and 70's was a better time. In reality it probably wasn't better. It is a good book to read when you feel life was better. There have been a lot of advances today, for women especially. It made Tam think. She also found it quite funny.
Jo: THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB by NINO CULOTTA
This is a comic novel written by John O'Grady under the pseudonym "Nino Culotta". It was written in 1957. Nino is an Italian journalist just off the boat from Italy to Australia. He gets a job as brickie's labourer. He writes about the Australian way of life. Jo said it was absolutely hilarious.
Diane: SMALL MAN IN A BOOK by ROB BRYDON
Di revealed Rob Brydon came from the same town as her and he started on local radio. She likes him but thought this book wasn't an easy read. There was no characterization. He was pedantic and she didn't enjoy it. She also read Inside Little Britain by David Walliams and Matt Lucas. She really enjoyed this book.
Charis: RADIANT SHIMMERING LIGHT by SARAH SELECKY
The story is about a woman who is trying to sell pictures of dog's auras. Her cousin is involved in the marketing of these on the internet. Charis found it quite amusing. She also read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. It's about a lecturer who discovers he has Aspergers. He is eccentric. His early behaviour is funny but the rest of the book is predictable. Charis said it was a good book to read.
Joan: THIS IS GOING TO HURT by ADAM KAYE
After 6 years of medical training and another 6 years of 97 hour working weeks making life and death decisions, the author resigned. This book has some very funny stories from diary notes he kept while working in the UK National Health Scheme. Joan enjoyed this book.
Val: THE CALIPH'S HOUSE, A YEAR IN CASABLANCA by TAHIR SHAH
The author is a British born travel writer from a wealthy literary family. This is the story of how he and his family went on holidays to Casablanca and survived a year in a house being renovated. Arabs have an entirely different way to the British when it comes to renovation. The workers use the jinns (invisible spirits) as an excuse for not getting work done. The Morrocan's were almost perfect workers but have one major fault. They are virtually incapable of ever finishing a job. Val found it very readable and had a quiet humour.
Ed: THE TOUR by DENISE SCOTT
This is a memoir. The story mentions school, boyfriends and parents. Ed said it wasn't hilariously funny but it was okay.
Connie: LOVE AMONG THE CHICKENS by P. G. WODEHOUSE
This was published in 1906 and rewritten in 1920 to improve it. Connie enjoyed it but found it a bit ridiculous. She also read Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse. Wodehouse started writing about Jeeves in 1915. This story was published in 1960. It is a fictional story about a highly competent valet and a wealthy bumbling young man called Bertie. The writing is beautiful and it ends happily. Connie enjoyed it more than the first book she read, although she did find his books sillier than when she read them when she was young.
Diann: HOW TO KISS A CROCODILE and OTHER SNAPPY STORIES by MAX WALKER
These are stories from the life of a former Australian cricketer. It is the third in a set of 3 books. It's set in the Northern Territory where four mates took out $50,000 in insurance on being eaten by a crocodile. Diann said it was a very enjoyable book.
Anne: THE LAND BEFORE AVOCADO by RICHARD GLOVER
It's set in the late 1960's to 70's. Glover is looking at it in a nostalgic way but proving it wasn't true and that things weren't necessarily better. One example is that there were lots of children drowning in backyard pools before pool fences.
Judy A: A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES by JOHN KENNEDY TOOLE
This novel is set in New Orleans. The main character is a 30 year old college graduate who thinks he is superior intellectually to everyone else. He lives with his mother and he has deplorable dress sense. Judy said it was considered a very funny book when it was written but she stopped at page 101 because it irritated her.
Prue: I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER by SOPHIE KINSELLA
This is a British novel about a young lady engaged to a doctor who is very academic. She can't follow the conversations. She loses her engagement ring and then her phone is stolen. She finds a phone in a trash bin and starts communicating with the person who owns the phone. It's like a soap opera. Prue got to page 81 and couldn't read anymore. She said she couldn't even crack a smile.
Pat: LEAVE IT TO PSMITH by P.G. WODEHOUSE
The story takes place in Blanding's Castle, home of an Earl, a doddering old plant loving character. He has his whole household turned upside down when he is looking for his glasses. The sister, husband and son are also living there. There is a plan by visiting poets to steal a precious diamond necklace. Pat said it was a silly book but a good light read. It was witty and she found herself laughing.
Wendy: THE HAPPIEST REFUGEE by ANH DO
This is the account of Anh Do's background and sad journey coming to Australia from Vietnam. There are some humorous bits throughout.
Bev: A GRAND OLD TIME - LIFE BEGINS AT 75 by JUDY LEIGH
This is a funny and heartwarming debut novel, although not laugh out loud. It's the story of a 75yr old woman whose husband dies and her children think it's a good idea to go into a nursing home. She decides to run away and doesn't tell anyone. She has lots of adventures. There's a romance and a happy ending.
Rosemarie: THE ROSIE RESULT (BOOK 3) by GRAEME SIMSION
Don, the lecturer from the Rosie Project is now living in New York and learning the protocol about becoming a father. He comes back to Australia with his wife and son, Hudson. His son begins to exhibit similar traits to his father, possibly autistic. The story deals with a sensitive subject. You can't help but laugh at Don's little idiosyncrasies.
Judy J: THE COLLECTED SHORT STORIES by ROALD DAHL
This is the 1991 collection for adults. Judy presumed it would be funny but it wasn't particularly funny. The stories were strange with little bits of humour. One of the stories was The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. Henry goes to India to find a man who is meant to be able to see without his eyes.
Julia: THE WOMAN WHO WENT TO BED FOR A YEAR by SUE TOWNSEND
Sue Townsend is an English author who wrote the Adrian Mole series. It is the story of Eva, Brian, her husband who is an astronomer and 17 year old twins who are gifted. When the twins leave home to go to university Eva takes to her bed for a year. She also gets rid of her possessions. Her husband is having an affair. At times it is bizarre and a bit stupid but still a really good read. Julia also read So Anyway by John Cleese. She really enjoyed it and said it was funny.
Kris: MRS QUEEN TAKES THE TRAIN by WILLIAM KUHN
The author normally writes biographies but this is a novel about a hypothetical situation. Queen Elizabeth 11 is in her 80's and is feeling a bit depressed about life. She remembers things that make her happy and one is Scotland and the Royal Yacht, Brittania, now in Edinburgh. Her Prime Minister has told her he is going to cancel her private train to Scotland so she decides, on the spur of the moment, to go to Scotland by the normal passenger train. It was very enjoyable and quite amusing. A good read.
Pamela: MISTRESS BRANICAN by JULES VERNE
This novel was written in 1891. Pamela said it was a bit boring but it has it's moments. It's about a rich American woman who comes to Australia. It's the story about her journey across Australia. Her husband is captured by vicious cannibals in the Kimberleys. 40 miles south of Alice Springs they stop for a break. There is a strange cloud over to the west and a strange noise. The leader gets them to take shelter. 100,000 sheep are stampeding. Pamela said there are other very interesting things.
Sheila: THE MOON IS BLUE by DAVID NIVEN
This is the best selling memoir by British actor, David Niven, published in 1971. Sheila had read this before and said it was possibly funnier the first time. She said he writes well. This is the story of his early life. He had a sad life. He was on his way to becoming a hooligan. He was placed in a terrible boarding school run by an ex army person. There were 40 boys and they had a shoplifting gang. It is funny from time to time and David Niven admits he is the biggest name dropper around.
Kris
We would like to welcome Pat, our new member, to book club and hope to see her at our July meeting and our Christmas in July lunch.
NEXT MONTH'S BOOK: Books by Michael Connelly - various titles
AUGUST: Shetland series by Anne Cleeves
As we are having a Christmas in July lunch after our next meeting there will be no morning tea provided. Please bring your own.
