DECEMBER: Favourite book read this year

 

Bev: Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

This unusual memoir is told in 2 parts. The first tells of the author living in poverty in Paris in the 1920s, working at the bottom of the restaurant industry as a dishwasher. The second part describes his life on the road in and around  London as he aspires to be a journalist.

Bev was surprised that she enjoyed it so much.

 

JUDY DE la T: Khaki Town by Judy Nunn

In 1942, Townsville in Queensland suddenly had 70,000 American and Australian troops stationed there ready for combat in the Pacific. Tensions between the Aussies and the confident Yanks soon broke out, as well as between the black GIs, enjoying the lack of segregation, and white GIs.

Judy had heard the author talk about her latest book and was keen to read it.

 

KRIS: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

The book is set in 1922 during the birth of Communism in Russia. The main character, Count Alexander Rostov, is convicted of being an unrepentant aristocrat and is stripped of his wealth by the new Bolshevik regime. He is sentenced to live in an attic of the Metropol Hotel, never being allowed to leave.

Rostov is such an interesting character, and the story has humour, history and philosophy. It was a joy to read, said Kris.

 

PAMELA: Waterland by Graham Swift

Pamela reread this favourite book, originally published in 1983. It is set in the fens in England, and is a very complex, totally brilliantly written book that needs to be read slowly and carefully.

It has many and varied themes, but is most importantly about the importance of history, and the concept that history is circular, and no one learns anything from history.

 

SHEILA: Displaced by Stephan Abarbanell

Set in Palestine in 1946, elderly Elias Lind will not accept that his scientist brother has died in a concentration camp. Elias arranges for someone to search for him.  There are clues indicating he may still be alive.

Sheila described it as beautifully written and very readable, an interesting story on several levels, that is also partly factual.

 

CONNIE: I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven

This is the story of a young Anglican priest who is sent by his bishop to a little Indian village north of Vancouver. Unbeknown to him, he only has a few years to live, but in the meantime, he totally immerses himself in their traditional beliefs and ways of life.

Connie described it as a sad, but comforting story. You can learn much about the real tribal Indian village life and the difficulties of those who want to leave for a different life in Vancouver.

 

PRUE: Scrublands by Chris Hammer

A journalist suffering from PTSD is sent to a little country town to get ‘his mojo back’. Twelve months before, the priest had killed 5 men, so the journalist is to investigate how the town is coping. For Prue, the description of the dying country town in drought, is absolutely brilliant. The character development is very good, and while the last part is long, and not very exciting, it is necessary to understand what has happened.

 

DIANN: A Woman of Force by Mark Morri

Deborah Wallace joined the NSW Police and in 1983 was stationed at Blacktown.

The book is the story of her rise to Superintendent, focusing on the highlights and lowlights of her life. It was very difficult being a woman in those times, always having to prove herself. But she did open the door for the many women who followed her into the police force.

Diann described it as an honest and excellent read.

 

LESLEY: The Survivor by Jane Harper

Like her other novels, this one is also influenced by the environment in Tasmania  where the ocean and weather play a part. In a small coastal town, a visitor is found murdered on the beach. There are flashbacks to previous events and gradually lots of small town secrets are revealed.

Lesley thought it easy to read, but not as good as The Dry, the author’s first book.

 

JO: Wild Fire by Ann Cleaves

Book 8 in the Shetland series, has domestic violence as its main theme, and the sad fact that it can continue from one generation to the next, and the hurt goes on. Jo would love to visit the Shetland Islands.

 

CLAURENE: Mad World Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead

Claurene enjoyed this book which is partly a biography of Evelyn Waugh's life and partly a portrait of the Lygon family, used as a model for the characters in the novel. This is a fascinating portrait of the this time in England (1930s) as life began to change.

 

JOAN: The Good Germans – Resisting the Nazis 1933-1945 by Caterine Clay

Two thirds of the German people didn’t vote for or supported the Nazis, so to survive, they moved to the country and kept their head down. They were always in fear of losing their jobs, their homes, but many found the courage to resist. The book follows 6 different individuals in all aspects of German life. There are great connections between the 6 characters, their methods are daring but each is different.

Although the content is very stark, it is not a depressing book as you get caught up in the bravery of the individual.

 

JUDY J: The Soldiers Curse by Meg Keneally and Thomas Keneally

Although it had a rather slow buildup, the book tells the story of Hugh Monsarrat, a second offender, who is sent to the Port Macquarie penal settlement. His skill with words and writing gets him a privileged place as scribe to the commander. When the housekeeper is accused of murder, Monsarrat sets out to prove her innocence by finding the culprit. The descriptions of the penal settlement and the treatment of the convicts often lead to feelings of empathy for some villains. This is the first in a series, and Judy would certainly read more of them.

 

JUDY A: The Bone People by Keri Hulme

This slightly autobiographical book tells the story of a mixed European/Maori who lives in a tower on the New Zealand coast. One day she finds a mute boy Simon, in her tower. He has been raised by his Maori foster father Joe who rescued him from a shipwreck.

Judy described the book as beautiful, yet disturbing, an unforgettable story but could not really recommended for everyone to read.

 

ROSEMARY: Wearing Paper Dresses by Anne Brinsden

This family saga is set in the Malleee in northern Victoria in the 1950s. Elise and Bill with their 2 daughters were living in Melbourne when Bill’s mother died. Although his father tried to manage the farm alone, Bill and his family eventually are forced to return to help out. Elise finds life very difficult and as her love of art and music evaporate, the family worries about her depression.

Rosemary loved the author’s descriptive style of writing and found it very enjoyable to read.

 

Julia: When She was Good by Michael Robotham

This book follows on from “Good Girl, Bad Girl” where the character of Evie is first introduced. It’s a very complicated storyline. Evie, the girl with no past, was discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime.

She has the unsettling ability to know when someone is lying. Julia loved it, but emphasized that you need to read Book 1 of the Cyrus Haven series first.

 

 

January 2021  We begin the year by sharing books we have been given, or just read over the Christmas holidays.

The Book Club will be followed by a lunch in the Stan Stevens Room to acknowledge  10 years of the Third Thursday Book Club!

                            Wear your pearls to celebrate!

 

NOVEMBER 2020: BOOKS BY JULIAN BARNES

Julian Barnes, born in 1946, is an English writer who won the Man Booker Prize for Sense of an Ending (2011).   Three of his earlier books had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize: Flaubert's Parrot, England,England and Arthur and George.  He also writes crime fiction under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh.

ARTHUR AND GEORGE, a Novel

Claurene:

The story is based on true events approximately one hundred years ago. It follows the lives of  two young boys who have very different lives.  One is Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes novels and the other is George Edalji, a half Indian solicitor who is the son of a vicar.  Their lives come together and Arthur Conan Doyle helps George who has been wrongly accused of a crime and has ended up in prison. Conan Doyle fights for justice as he believes George is innocent.  There are elements of spirituality.  Claurene said it was a very enjoyable book.

Bev:

Bev didn't like it.  It started off with philosophy so she gave it a miss.

THE ONLY STORY

Connie:

Connie said it reads like an autobiography.  The writing is in 1st person as if it actually happened. Paul, 19 years old falls in love with a woman 29 years older.  She is married with two children.  He is allowed to go and sleep with her at her home. She enjoyed the first part but the second and third part are written in the second and third person making it very confusing.  She said it was very different but she did finish it as she enjoyed the first part.

 Diann:

She started to enjoy it. The story begins with Paul, a 19 year old man talking about himself  He meets an older woman and he is agonizing about the nature of love.  Diann was turned off and wouldn't recommend this book.

 Val:

She also read this book. The latter part of the book is Paul ruminating about love and getting old.  Val said it gave her a lot to think about.

THE NOISE OF TIME 

Joan:

It is a fictional story about the life of the Russian composer, Dimitri Shostakovich but written like an autobiography. It is written in 3 parts - Pre Stalin, Stalin's Purge and post Stalin.  Shostakovich is always in fear of being taken off for interrogation and he worries about his family.  It's the story of a former composer who had to survive in a tough controlling system.  Joan couldn't say she enjoyed it. She also read Sense of an Ending. This story is narrated by Tony Webster ruminating on his life and the imperfections of memory. Joan said the author has a wonderful writing skill.  She also read his short stories.  One story called Marriage Lines was a beautiful 8 page story of a widowed husband who returns to Shetland Islands trying to recapture what he had with his wife.

Pat:

Pat also read The Noise of Time but she could only read about ten or twenty pages at a time.  The protagonist was quite paranoid.  She couldn't get into it and wouldn't recommend it.  She felt that perhaps his short stories may have been better.

LEVELS OF LIFE

Prue:

Prue started to read this book  but there was no hook to get her in.  It was set in the 1830's, 40's and 50's.  It was about people who went ballooning and other adventures.  One of these was Sarah Bernhardt. She found it hard going.  The second part was in a different style.  He was grieving for his wife who had died and was ruminating about it. This part was much better and now Prue want to finish the book.  Prue said his writing is very good. 

Julia:

Julia couldn't get into it and found it boring.  She also read Sense of an Ending and found this book much better.

SENSE OF AN ENDING

Sheila:

She only read to page 40.  It was about male adolescent ruminations.  She stopped reading as she couldn't stand it a moment longer.  It's about three young blokes, 16-17yr olds.  A new boy joins the school.  The three other boys like him very much.  He seems better educated.  As the boys got older Sheila found she related to the feelings and understood what the author was trying to get across.  The main character gets married, has a child and gets divorced and at 60 he receives a letter from a solicitor which makes him think about his life.

Kris:

Tony Webster is the main character and narrator.  In the first part of the book the young Tony meets Veronica who becomes his girlfriend. He goes to stay at her parent's house for the weekend. The relationship is quite confusing to Tony and it eventually falls apart.  In the second part Tony is left some money from Veronica's mother and a legacy.  This forces him to re-evaluate his life.  It's a story of ageing and regret and questioning the accuracy of memories. It has an unusual ending.  It was beautifully written and a good read.

Judy D

Judy also said it was beautifully written.  It makes you realize that all actions have consequences.  She read it twice.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 10 1/2 CHAPTERS

Pamela:

This is a collection of short stories all written in different styles.    It is a mix of fiction and non fiction.   She said it was a Tour de Force.  Some stories are better than others.  It starts off with the Stowaway, a different version of Noah's Ark.  The third one is Wars of Religion which involves a form of a court case. The story "The Survivor" is extremely ambiguous,. Another story is "The Shipwreck" about the sinking of the Medusa. Pamela said the author has been very clever and there is a lot of ambiguity in the stories.

THE MAN IN THE RED COAT

Judy A: 

This is an examination of La Belle Epoque period in Paris which lasted from1880 until World War 1. 

 It is told through the life of  pioneering surgeon Dr Samuel Pozzi, a French descendant of Italian parentage. Judy only got to page 105. The story is partly biographical.

 

 DECEMBER:  The best book we have read this year .

Our next Bookclub meeting will be on 17th December, the third Thursday of the month.

Please bring along your own morning tea as we will be having our Christmas lunch after Bookclub. The venue is at Cornerstone Cafe, all arranged by our hardworking convenor, Julia.  It will be fun to get together to share a meal and your chance to wear something festive.

Please bring a wrapped gift of a book you no longer want.

Kris

 

 

OCTOBER, 2020 - BOOKS BY ICELANDIC AUTHORS

 JAR CITY by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

PAMELA:

This is one of the books in a series of murder mysteries set in Reykjavik  involving the same detective. His name is Erlendur Sveinsson. There is a man found in a flat who has been murdered.  He was a sadistic rapist whose death did not inspire sympathy.  The detective went to the prison to talk to a man in relation to the crime.  He is a moronic psycopath who is being held in solitary confinement. Pamela didn't read it all as she didn't like the characters.

JUDY D:

She also read this book but Judy did like it.

HYPOTHERMIA by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

SHEILA:

Sheila said it could have been a good story as he is a good writer.  The detective had found a body of a man who had hung himself.  Sheila could only read a few pages as she found the subject too uncomfortable.

 SILENCE OF THE GRAVE by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

CONNIE:

 This is a crime story.  A skeleton is found.  The murder happened during the war.  Connie read it but wished she hadn't as she found it too depressing.  She wouldn't read another one of his books.

REYKJAVIK NIGHTS by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

JO:

 Erlendur is a young policeman dealing with robberies, murder etc.  He finds a body in a ditch.  It's believed to be an accident but he was actually murdered. Erlendur investigates in his own time.  Jo said it was interesting but very repetitious.  She found all the names quite difficult and a bit distracting.  It was okay.

OBLIVION by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

 ED:

It was a good story, very direct.  There are two murders and two detectives.  One is Marian and the other is Erlendur.  The story begins with a girl who suffers eczema.  She is told by her doctor that swimming in the lava pool would be beneficial.  When she goes swimming she sees a boot but when she gets closer there is a body attached.  He can't be identified at first but then his sister identifies him.  He is from the American base where he works as a flight mechanic but he has been smuggling, including marijuana for his sister with cancer.  The other murder case is a cold case.  Ed liked the book.

BLACK SKIES by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

JULIA:

This is the first time Julia has read the Icelandic author.  She found it really good.  There are a lot of characters. In this book Sigurdur Oli is the detective.  He is Erlendur's junior offsider.  Off duty, he goes to warn off a blackmailer for a friend of a friend but finds one of a pair of blackmailers attacked.  He has to find out why he has been attacked. Julia really enjoyed the story.

THE SHADOW DISTRICT by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

BEV:

This is the first in a new series about old crimes.  Konrad is a retired detective and he follows up these old murders.  It started when the Americans were in Reykjavik.  In wartime the body of a young girl is found in a theatre in what is called the Shadow District.  There seems to be a link with an elderly man found dead in the present. He is found to be one of the original detectives on the case.  Konrad solves the crimes.  Bev said it was good.

ARCTIC CHILL by ARNALDUR INDRIDASON

ROSEMARY:

The story begins with the death of a ten year old boy.  He is the child of a Thai woman and an Icelandic man.  Detective Erlendur suspects a racial attack. Marian, his old boss is like a mentor to him but in this story Marian dies from a terminal illness.  Rosemarie has been reading a lot of the author's books and enjoys them.

LAST RITUALS BY YRSA SIGURDARDOTTIR

WENDY LAWSON

This is the first time she has read an Icelandic author.  It is the author's 2005 debut novel.  It is the first in a series of six. It's a detective story.  A PHD student comes to Reykjavik.  He is found dead and witchcraft is involved.  Wendy didn't enjoy it.  She found it clunky.   There is no flow in the English.  Could it be the translation?  The nuances of the story are lost in translation.  The victim's family isn't convinced the right man is in custody for the murder and hire a lawyer.  He does not speak Icelandic so they hire Thora, a local lawyer to collaborate.  Wendy said it was too trite and there were too many red herrings that lead nowhere.

I REMEMBER YOU by YRSA SIGURDARDOTTIR

JUDY A:

 There are two storylines. A couple and a friend buy a dilapidated house in an isolated place.  The place is only populated in Summer by hikers and people who own houses there. They see an apparition of a 12 year old boy who is out to get them.  They have to wait until the boat comes back again before they can leave. A doctor's 6 year old son disappeared without a trace.  The two storylines come together at the end.  Judy didn't realise it was a horror book.  She didn't enjoy it and found the translation was stilted.

SNARE by LILJA SIGURDARDOTTIR

JOAN:

This is a mystery and a thriller.  It was published in 2015.  This is the first in the set of 4 books. Sonya is recently divorced.  She is caught with her lesbian lover by her husband. Now she is struggling financially.  She is trying to get custody of her son Thomas.  She becomes a drug mule to make money and becomes trapped in a ruthless criminal world.  Joan was enthralled by the story.  Her writing is forthright. The characters are very credible. She couldn't put it down.  Joan felt she wanted more.  She  said there was no problem with the translation.

SNOW BLIND by RAGNAR JONASSON

PRUE:

This is the first in a series of three books of Nordic Noir.  Ari Thor is a new young policeman who previously studied Theology. Ari Thor is first posted to a quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, Siglufjorour.  It is only accessible via a small mountain tunnel and Ari is claustrophobic.  He is treated like an outsider.  He has nightmares of drowning. The head of a theatrical society falls down the stairs, a woman is stabbed and Ari goes to an elderly woman in a nursing home to find out information.  The pace gets faster, characters develop and Ari matures.  It's a real Agatha Christie type of book.  Prue really enjoyed it.  She likes the way he writes about the landscape and the town.

 ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE UNIVERSE by JOHN KALMAN STEFANSSON

 KRIS:

This book is a companion volume to Fish Have No Feet.  A list of characters would have helped.  It is a family saga.  Ari is the main character.  The story is narrated by his cousin. Ari has come to see his dying father with whom he had a painful relationship.  The story weaves back and forth from present to different decades in the past, spanning the whole 20th century.   Once you get used to all this it's not a bad read, although there is a lot of objectification of women and blatant sexualization.  There is also a bleakness and sadness in the landscape, the town of Keflavik and the people.  It's livelihood depended on the US military base in the 1950's and their influences have shaped Icelandic culture and ethics. It was interesting reading about the different changes in Iceland over this period of time.

Kris

 

NOVEMBER:   Books by the English author Julian Barnes

  

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2020: Autobiography or Biography

 

ROSEMARY: Now, Sometimes the end of the race is only the beginning by Anna Meares

 

Anna is probably Australia’s most celebrated cyclist. She represented Australia at 4 consecutive Olympic Games winning medals in each one but all were preceded by dramas including a broken neck before the Beijing games.

Now that she has retired she has a new partner, a child, taken up painting and become a motivational speaker. Throughout her life she has been very focused, driven and successful.

Rosemary described it as an easy, enjoyable read whether you are interested in sport or not.

 

JUDY J: The Last Lighthouse Keeper: A Memoir by Jon Bauer and John Cook

 

This is the story of John Cook, who for personnel reasons became a lighthouse keeper on Tasman Island off the east coast of Tasmania in 1968. The weather, the desolation and the necessity of maintaining the kerosene lights takes a toll on all on the island.

He is eventually moved to Maatsuyker, the most southern lighthouse in Tasmania. The difficulties of the weather, the wilderness and solitude are magnified here, plus he oversees the end of the old kero-fuelled lighthouses.

Judy said it was a wonderful story and gave great insight to and an appreciation of the lives of these unique men.

 

ED: The Happiest Refugee by Ahn Do

 

Ahn Do is now a successful author, artist and television presenter. He has written the story of his life, leaving Vietnam in a small boat with his family and other refugees. Eventually arriving in Australia, through hard work and his enterprising family he is able to attend school, university and to enjoy a very successful life.

Ed thought it a great and inspiring story.

 

JO

She also read this book, saying it was an absolutely beautiful story, beginning with his life on the refugee boat all the way to a very successful life in Australia with marriage and children.

 

CONNIE: Alan Bennett

 

Connie particularly enjoyed reading the stories about his early life as they brought back many memories for her about her childhood, school in the 1930s and even stories about false teeth.

The 2^nd part of the book, tells the story of “the lady in the van”.

 

JUDY A: I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell

 

Each chapter covers a different incident in her life, including near death experiences, childhood illnesses, and other personnel experiences.

Judy didn’t particularly like the style of writing describing it as florid and dramatic. She thought some incidences were not worthy of a chapter but overall, it was an interesting read.

 

PRUE: The Man Who Invented Vegemite: The True Story Behind an Australian Icon by Jamie Callister

 

The author is the grandson of Cyril Callister who his credited with inventing vegemite.

He was employed by Fred Walker & Co to develop a replacement for Marmite as this was no longer available in Australia after World War 1. His yeast extract was not popular at first but was put in the defense packs of soldiers in WW11.  Credited with one of the reasons for keeping many of them healthy, soldiers and their families began demanding it become more available. There were many other interesting stories including the introduction of Kraft Cheese in the blue packet!

 

PAT: Great Outback School Stories by Bill Marsh

 

Easy to read and lots of fun.

 

CHARIS: Hildergard at Bingen

 

Charis highly recommended this biography. Hildergard was a nun (born in 1098) who set up her own monastery. She often argued against the church, fought for her nuns and trainees and carried out research on medicinal treatments. Today she is probably best remembered for the music she composed and still recorded and played today.

 

JOAN: MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed bin Salman by Ben Hubbard

 

Mohammed bin Salman, colloquially known as MBS is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. In 1938 oil was discovered making it the world’s richest oil country. The current king was crowned in 2015 and appointed his son as crown prince. Since then he has tried to bring this very conservative country into modernity. Some of the things he has done have pleased the large number of under 30 years olds  but many other incidents including the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi show him wielding vast powers.

As Joan said, he is a highly divisive character,  very ambitious, and he will become king!

A very interesting read.

 

PAMELA: Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Andrews

 

In this book Julie Andrew tells many stories and anecdotes of her early career particularly in films. This was before computer degenerated effects and so many difficulties had to be overcome.

She has also written many children’s books (about 40-50) with her daughter.

Pamela described the book as very interesting, very funny and well written.

 

JUDY D: No Friend But the Mountains Writing from Manus Prison by Behrouz Boochani, Omid Tofighian (Translator)

 

Behrouz is a Kurdish journalist who was indefinitely detained on Manus Island. The book was written on a mobile phone over many months highlighting the conditions on the island.

It went on to win the Victorian Premier’s Literary prize, among other awards. He is now living in New Zealand.

Judy found it very hard to read, not just because of the subject, but also the unusual lyrical style of writing, but it was very worthwhile.

 

BEV: Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

 

He was a young peasant boy from north eastern China, living in abject poverty with his 6 brothers

when he was chosen to attend a ballet school as part of a cultural center set up by Madam Mao. With a lot of hard work and overcoming many hardships and setbacks,  he was able to have  a successful ballet career both in China and USA. Eventually he was forced to defect to the USA in to continue his career.

A very inspiring and moving story.

 

WENDY: Ten Doors Down: the story of an extraordinary adoption reunion by Robert Tickner

 

Robert Tickner was a the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Affairs in the Hawke and Keating governments. He had always known he was adopted but had no inclination to find his birth parents until he became a father. Eventually he found his birth mother and later his father and it is here that many coincidences in their lives become apparent.

Wendy described it as a really good biography, he admitted his frailty, there are many poignant moments and he comes across as a very authentic person.

 

VAL: Me by Elton John

 

This autobiography was about his life. He led a checkered life, sometimes making poor choices but his honesty and sense of humour makes for good reading. He has a wide range of friends such as Freddy Mercury, George Michael, John Lennon as well as Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. He is undoubtedly talented and wrote many songs that reached the top of the charts. He no longer performs at big venues and appears to be happily married with two adopted children.

 

JULIA: Mixed Fancies by Brenda Blethyn

 

Best known for her portrayal of Vera in the TV series of the same name, she also had appeared in many films.

The book tells of her early life in a big family with little money. Any time her mother had any extra cash she would buy treats such as ‘mixed fancy’ lollies hence the title.

A great insight into a fabulous lady and complemented by gorgeous pictures.

 

 

Judy

 

OCTOBER:  Icelandic authors – a selection of books is available from the library

 

 

 

AUGUST, 2020 - BOOKS OF OUR OWN CHOOSING

 WENDY:  THE LOWLAND BY JHUMPA LAHIRI

This is a family saga.  It is set in India.  There are two sons.  Subhash is the eldest. He is academically gifted.  His younger brother, Udayan is charismatic. Udayan becomes involved in the communist party in India and get executed.  The dutiful older brother who had moved to the U.S. returns to help the family. He marries the brother's widow.  Wendy said the pace varies and the characters are well drawn.

JUDY A:   APEIROGON BY COLUM MCCANN

This story is based on the true life friendship of two men whose daughters were killed in conflict.  One is Israeli and the other Palestinian.  Their friendship develops when they join together to try to bring peace. They travel around the world talking to people about peace.  

 CONNIE:  DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS BY PIP WILLIAMS

This is a novel set around the creation of the Oxford dictionary. The young woman who wrote the Dictionary of Lost Words was fed up with men controlling all the words that went into the Oxford Dictionary.  There is a lot of truth in it.  The speaker is fictional.  Connie said it was fascinating.

JOAN:  IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK BY JAMES BALDWIN

This is a love story set against a backdrop of racism in the 1970's. Trish, a young Negro woman is pregnant.  She is engaged to Fonny, a young Negro man.  Trish is harassed by a white shopkeeper and Fonny tries to protect her.  The local police officer hounds Fonny and he is then falsely accused of rape.  The family unite in their fight for justice.  Joan said it was intense reading.  The author is a very good writer and he has a distinctive style of prose.

DIANN:  ATONEMENT BY IAN MCEWAN

This is a family story set in Southern England.  The family has a get together and when two of the little boys go missing they all go out to look for them.  13 year old Briony witnesses something that she does not understand.  Diann said the ending was perfect.  It tied up all the loose endings.  It was a really good read.

JUDY J:  JAMES COOK, THE STORY BEHIND THE MAN WHO MAPPED THE WORLD BY PETER FITZSIMONS

 Peter Fitzsimons writes enthusiastically and is very complimentary about Captain cook.  Cook was a Yorkshire farm boy who worked his way up to become a Master Mariner.  He was a Quaker.  He was a genius and a very good leader of men.  He had their respect.  He made three major voyages. The second voyage goes into his relationship with Joseph Banks who was also intelligent in his own way.  Judy said it was a very enjoyable read.  

PAT:  THE BINDING BY BRIDGET COLLINS

In this fantasy, Emmet Farmer is working in the fields when he is sent to a Binder to start an apprenticeship.  If you need to erase a secret etc, the story is placed in a book and set aside so you can forget about it and go on with your life.  Emmet discovers a book with his name on it.  Pat said it was very interesting, although very different to what she would normally read.

 PRUE:  THE LOST MAN BY JANE HARPER

Prue said it was absolutely fantastic.  The story is about the cattle stations, the dry area and how they survive.  It's a fascinating story.  It also has a message at the end and an unusual ending.  Prue was very impressed and would read any of her books.

SHEILA:  ISLAND SONG BY MADELEINE BUNTING

Although the author usually writes non fiction this is a fictional story set in Guernsey during WW11.  Helene, who has recently married, has to see her husband return to England with the other men from the island.  They are going to enlist.  The Germans invade and the story tells how the families survived with the Germans on the island.  Forty years later, Helene's daughter Roz learns the truth about her father.  Sheila said it was a good read and well written.  She also believes it is quite sound historically.

PAMELA:  THE LAST KABBALIST OF LISBON BY RICHARD ZIMLER

This is a novel about the actual massacre of  about 2,000 Jewish people in Lisbon, Portugal in the 16th century.  The Jews were being blamed for all the bad things that that were happening, the famine, the drought and the plague. The narrator is Berekiah Zarco, a 20 year old Kabbalist and manuscript illuminator who is looking for the killer of his uncle. It is a murder mystery. Pamela said it was an interesting read.

JUDY DE:  GOOD DOGS DON'T MAKE IT TO THE SOUTH POLE BY HANS OLAV THYVOLD

This is an inspiring novel on friendship and ageing written by a dog.  The narrator is Tassen, a dog whose owner, Major Thorkildsen dies. Tassen is left with Mrs. Thorkildsen who is researching Roald Amundsen's 1911 expedition to the South Pole.  It is funny in parts as well as sad.  Judy said it was a good book and very interesting.

CHARIS;  A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA BY ISABEL ALLENDE

This is an historical novel set in 1930's when civil war grips Spain.  General Franco and his fascists overthrow the government. Many families flee to the French border.  Roser, a pregnant widow unites in a marriage with Victor, an army doctor, brother to her deceased husband. This will enable them to be sponsored on a ship taking refugees to Chile. The couple went back to Spain after Franco but did not like living there so they went to Venezuela.

KRIS:  THE YIELD BY TARA JUNE WINCH

In the first chapter Albert Gondiwindi is the narrator. His wife, Elsie's gift of an English dictionary has inspired him to write a dictionary in the language of the Wiradjuri to pass on everything he remembers.  In the second chapter, Augustine, his granddaughter returns from England.  Her poppy is dead and she is burdened with all she has tried to leave behind. Although it took a while to get into the book it was an enjoyable read. It was quite moving.

BEV:  ICE MASTER BY JENNIFER NIVEN

This is the story of the doomed voyage of Karluk in 1913, an expedition to the Arctic.  It is based on diaries of those who died and those who were saved. The organiser was out for his own glory and purchased a ship that was not suited for Arctic conditions.  It was badly planned.  The crew consisted of young sailors and young scientists, both with little experience.  They became marooned on the ice.  The rest of the story is about how they survived, the starvation, disease and snow blindness.  Twelve were rescued after a year.  Bev enjoyed the read.

JULIA:  THE DYING HOURS BY MARK BILLINGHAM

Tom Thorne, the main character in the series, is back in uniform and he hates it.  Patronised and abused by his new colleagues, Thorne's suspicions about the suicides are dismissed by the murder squad he was once a part of and he is forced to investigate alone.

ROSEMARIE:  THE WEEKEND BY CHARLOTTE WOOD

This is a novel about three women in their 70's.   Their friend Sylvie has died. They have a weekend away staying in a beach house, Sylvie's old house. They have had a lifelong friendship but when Sylvie dies the friendship struggles to keep the delicate equilibrium of their relationship.

Kris                                                      

 

 September:

Autobiography or Biography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 2020 KATE MORTON

THE SHIFTING FOG (2006)

PAT C:

Pat described this as an easy read and enjoyable. It passed the time pleasantly and made you think there was always a big secret to come out at the end.

WENDY:

The story revolves around an aristocratic family in decline. There are two subplots – the life and loves of the two daughters and the making of a film about the family. It is narrated by the ex-nanny and is told from her perspective.

It’s a real upstairs downstairs, rich and poor story.

Wendy thought it was cluttered and clunky and could have been better edited. The details of minor aspects went on and on.

CHARIS:

She found she was getting bored by the end of it. She couldn’t wait for Grace, the maid, to tell her main thread of the story.

Charis thought her writing style was quite readable.

THE LAKE HOUSE (2015)

VAL:

Val does not normally read family sagas. This one is set in two periods, an early family tragedy, and seventy years later, a detective begins to investigate again.

Val thought it became very obvious at times. She read quite a lot of the book, but didn’t finish it.

CLAURENE:

Also read some of this book, agreed with Val’s comments.

DIANN:

This is a 595paged story about the the House and its occupants and certain events that changed lives. She enjoyed it and would read more of Kate Morton’s books.

CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER

JUDY A:

Judy thought the book was too long, too many characters and details. She was itching to get to the end.

DIANE:

Diane also didn’t finish the book. It was too verbose and not enough action.

SHEILA:

Once she began the book, it soon caught her interest and she liked the book.

She enjoyed the presence of the ghost and described it as a gentle book.

Again, it covers two periods of time and two sets of people.

The book is set in England and she thought her descriptions of the countryside were brilliant.

JUDY De L:

Judy also loved it although she very soon figured out the story.

JULIA:

Julia normally doesn’t like stories with a time slip concept. But once she got used to it, she found this a great story. There was murder, theft, love and loss, all the things she likes in a story.

The writing was so descriptive; it was easy to picture the old Manor House. She really enjoyed it.

ED:

Ed had previously read the book. Didn’t mind reading it again although she thought it was a bit long winded.

LESLEY:

Set in beautiful English countryside, a large rambling house is the centre of the story. There are many story lines within the book and all linked to the house.

Lesley thought it was a rather long story, it didn’t grab her attention, however the idea of the house also being, and having character was clever.

THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN

PAT B:

Pat’s thoughts on the book were that it was too wordy and so predictable. It rather annoyed her.

JO:

For Jo, it was too wordy and too big. But once she had got into the story, she couldn’t put it down. The story is set over three different periods, in two different countries.

JOAN:

The story begins in London in 1913. A woman and a 4-year-old girl board a boat for Australia. Just after this, the woman is called away momentarily, but doesn’t return. The ship sails with the little girl alone.

Joan did enjoy it, although at times it became a bit tedious. But she kept reading.

She thought that author had a very successful formula, and she was happy to have read it.

TAM:

Tam also loved it, and didn’t find it tedious.

She thought the mystery was very good, cleverly done and gradually revealed.

CONNIE:

Connie thought it was too long and the changing times annoyed her. It was too wordy. She couldn’t be bothered reading so many pages to push the story along. She enjoyed the story but it didn’t happen quickly enough.

THE DISTANT HOURS

KRIS:

Three eccentric sisters live in Milderhurst Castle with little contact with the outside world. During the war they billeted a young girl from London. Many years later, and now an adult, she receives a long lost letter from the youngest sister. Her daughter goes to the castle to find out more about her mother’s time there, and many more secrets and tragedies are gradually uncovered.

Kris thought it was a really nice read, and very suitable for long, hot summer days.

JUDY J:

Judy thought that the book was packed full of unnecessary detail and description. On and on it goes, page after page of no dialogue, no action and no furthering of the plot.

The characters are very well written, the atmosphere is intense but the plot is so slow and rambling, it became a chore to keep going.

PRUE:

Prue thought she was a very good writer. She described the book as being closely written, needing to read every word. She also thought it too long with too little story.

But she enjoyed it more when she read it in larger chunks.

THIRD THURSDAY BOOK CLUB in MARCH ~ Australian Indigenous Authors

January, 2020 - Books we read over the festive season

Julia:  Lost Light by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch has quit the Los Angeles Police Department.  He takes a file with him to find out why a young woman was murdered 4 years ago.  Julia really enjoyed this book.  She also read Cat O' Nine Tales by Jeffrey Archer. Julia loves cats and thought it was very good.  It's a collection of short stories.  Julia said the drawings were great.

Rosemarie: The Long Call by Ann Cleeves

This is the first book in the Two Rivers series from the author who wrote Vera and Shetland.  It is set in North Devon.  A new detective, Matthew Venn is introduced.  He lacks confidence and is not as strong a character as Vera.  He is gay, but married.  This brings up issues with the family and church community.  There is a murder of a man at the beach.  There are secrets in the community.  Rosemarie thoroughly enjoyed this book.  She also read Silver by Chris Hammer.  He is the author of Scrublands.  Rosemarie enjoyed this book which is quite long at 550 pages.

 Bev:   This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay

This book is non fiction.  It's a series of diary entries of a junior doctor as he progresses through the ranks.  It showed all the mistakes that doctors make.  It was an easy read.  She didn't love or hate it.  Although it was just something you read bits of at a time, it was very interesting.

Judy D also read This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay.  She agreed with Stephen Fry's comment that it was painfully funny.

Tam:  Heart of the Dreaming by Di Morrissey

The main character is Queenie.  She loved and lived for the family sheep property.  Queenie marries a gambler and loses everything.  She also has a very jealous brother.  Queenie goes to the city and becomes a great real estate agent and makes a lot of money to be able to get the farm back.  It was a bit too much.  Her character was too perfect and brilliant and a bit unbelievable.

Prue:  Resistance by Owen Sheers

This is an alternative history novel by a Fijian/Welsh poet and writer.  It is set in the Black Mountains of Wales.  It is set in 1944-1945 and Germany has occupied England.  There are five villages in the valley and they become isolated.  All the men disappear.  The women carry on but they refuse to collaborate with the Germans until there is a very bad winter.  The characters were beautifully developed and Prue said it was really well done.

Wendy:  Field of Poppies by Carmel Bird

This is Carmel Bird's latest book and her 10th novel.  It is a mystery.  It's very descriptive but a strangely constructed book.  Terrible things are happening in the world such as child slavery.  William, a doctor and his wife, Marsali decide to escape the city to a (fictional) country town.  They are lovable and well meaning but eventually they realise strange things are happening in the country town as well.

Judy A:  Bowraville by Dan Box

This is a true story.  Between the years 1990 to 1991 three aboriginal children were murdered.  No one was ever convicted of the crime.  Journalist, Dan Box heard about the case from Dan Jubelin, a homicide detective who worked on it. He was angry and sad at the state of justice in Australia and felt justice was not the same for everyone.  It was meticulously researched.
Judy also read Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout.  I's the sequel to Olive Kitteridge, the story of a an older crotchety high school Maths teacher in a town in America.  Judy loves the Olive Kitteridge books.

Colleen:  Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

It's a novel about building a Cathedral in the middle ages. The men and women who built it were poor.  They slept on floor but they created the most beautiful buildings.  Colleen enjoyed it.

Diann:  The Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally

This novel is 589 pages.  It's set in 1915.  Two sisters joined the war effort as nurses.  They share a secret from the dairy farm where they grew up. It gives the female perspective to WW1.  It's well researched.  Diann said it was a really great novel and it was a very good read.

Judy J:  Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

 This book was published in 2008 and won the Pulitzer prize.  It's 13 stories and Olive is the connection between all the stories.  It moves throughout her life.  It's realistically drawn with an emotional depth and Judy enjoyed this book.

Jo:  Deadly Intent by Lynda La Plante

A ruthless drug dealer has disappeared.   He has plastic surgery to change his face in Mexico.  He is unrecognizable when he returns to England.  He tries to put a fatal drug on the market.  The female detective Anna Travis is called in to work on the case.  Jo said it was brilliant.

Claurene:  Me by Elton John

This is Elton John's official autobiography.  After 50 pages, Claurene wasn't sure about it but she said it got better.  She also read Tall Tales and Wee Stories: The Best of Billy Connolly by Billy Connolly.  It's not a biography but a compilation of all the skits he has done.  Claurene didn't like it.  She said it was not good.

Connie:  The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker by Joanna Nell 

Evelyn trained as a nurse in England.  She sailed from England to Australia in 1953 in the hope of an adventure.  She fell in love and married the ship's doctor. As the doctor's wife she lived on board.  The story goes ahead to when she is elderly and losing her memory.  She loses her husband and walks all over the ship looking for him.  It was very amusing as well as very sad in parts.  Connie really enjoyed this book.

Joan:  The Anarchy:  The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire by William Dalrymple. 

The author is an historian who lives in India most of the time.  This is the story of the relentless rise of the East India Company. It's London, 1599 and auditor and financier Thomas Smythe invests in a trading company seeking fortunes in the spice trade.  The Dutch are ahead of the game so they focused on Bengal.  In 1765 The East India Company defeated the young Mughal emperor and forced him to hand Bengal over to the company. The ships and private army of the company were double the size of the British army. The British government made a lot of money from the company.  It's hardcore history and Joan said it was so absorbing.  

Val:  Around the World in 80 Trees by Jonathan Drori

Each chapter deals with a different tree. The illustrations are beautiful.  Val said it was a fascinating book.

Sheila:  Sharpe's Company by Bernard Cornwell

Sheila has read the series which consists of 21 books.  It is set during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. The protagonist, Richard Sharpe is working his way up in the English Army.  The descriptions are very apt. Although it is historical fiction, Sheila said it was historically accurate. She said it was well worth reading, a great holiday read.

Pamela:  A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

The story starts slowly.  It is divided into five sections.  The time is 1922 after the bolshevik revolution.  It is set in Moscow's Hotel Metropol for most of the story.  The main character, Count Alexander Rostov was sentenced to be a former person because he wrote a poem for political change.  He has to vacate his rooms in the hotel to live in the attic.  It turns into a thriller.  Pamela said the writing was beautiful and it was uplifting to read.  It was a book she couldn't put down.

 Kris:  Room for a Stranger by Melanie Cheng

The main character Meg, a 75 year old woman, is living alone with her African grey parrot called Atticus for company.  Since her sister Helen died, Meg has been very lonely.  She becomes involved in a scheme where a younger person is given accommodation in return for a few duties.  Andy
Chan is the Chines second year university student who comes to live with her.  He is struggling financially and with his studies.  It's beautifully written.  The characters are flawed and vulnerable.  It's also an insightful look at multicultural Australia. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Kris


                                      FEBRUARY, 2020:  Any title by KATE MORTON