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 2nd 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
