SHEILA: MARRIED TO BHUTAN by LINDA LEAMING
Bhutan is a tiny land locked country at the Eastern end of the Himalayas. It is very remote and the people are happy with very few possessions. Linda, an American woman lived there for a time. She learned the language, customs and religion. Instead of GDP, the country measures the happiness levels of it's people. Sheila really enjoyed this book.
JOAN: THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE
This book is non fiction. It is about Elizabeth Packard born 1816 and died 1879. She lived in Illinois and was a mother of 6 who was married to a Minister of Religion. The women's rights convention was held in 1848. Elizabeth, who was a highly intelligent woman, was inspired and started to challenge her husband on political issues. He then started a campaign to have her committed. When she was there she met other women in the same situation who were sent there because they were strong willed or had annoying behaviour. Elizabeth worked on rights to free these women.
DIANN: A RIVER TOWN BY THOMAS KENEALLY
This is an historical fiction novel. It is set in summer in a country town bonded by discrimination. A young Irishman and his family settle there. They had hoped to get away from those attitudes. There are lots of twists and turns and Diann really enjoyed it. She said it was a good read.
CONNIE: THERE IS ONLY ONE RAFFLES BY ILSA SHARP
Connie was fascinated as she was there for the 100th anniversary. Raffles is an iconic hotel in Singapore. A lot of famous people have stayed there. Connie thoroughly enjoyed it but wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless you were interested in the history of the hotel.
JO: GONE GIRL BY GILLIAN FLYNN
On a married couple's 5th wedding anniversary the wife disappears. It's a thriller with lots of twists and turns. Jo said it was a good book, a real page turner and there was a good finish.
PAMELA: I SHOT THE DEVIL BY RUTH McIVER
Pamela said it was a strange book. Five people went into the woods and only two came back. The setting is a fictional town in Long Island where two boys are killed sixteen years earlier. Pamela thought she would not have read this book but the writing was so good. It was a thrilling and riveting read until about half way through. It then became absurdly complicated and unbelievable.
KRIS: ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE BY ANTHONY DOERR
This is a story told in alternating chapters One is set in an orphanage in Germany where a white haired young boy and his sister are in care. The other story is about a six year old girl who is blind and living in Paris with her father. The story is mostly set during World War II and weaves back and forth from Germany to Paris as we follow the lives of the two children. It tackles the question of survival and moral obligation. It's a beautiful novel.
JUDY D: THE LAST HOURS BY MINETTE WALTERS
This is historical fiction. It is a story about the plague in England. Judy said the author is a good writer and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
ROSEMARIE: THE FAMILY DOCTOR BY DEBORAH OSWALD
Deborah Oswald is an Australian author. It's set in Marrickville where Paula is the family doctor. The story is about family violence. A female friend and her children were staying with Paula to escape family violence but Paula could not protect them. There are lots of twists and turns. Rosemarie said it makes you wonder what would you do in the same circumstances.
JUDY J: RED ZONE, CHINA'S CHALLENGE AND AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE by PETER HARTCHER
Peter Hartcher writes for the Sydney Morning Herald. Drawing on interviews with politicians and other key policymakers this book is a gripping look at China's power and Australia's future. There are a lot of little incidents and Judy said it was quite scary. She said the book was very interesting.
JULIA: WHEN YOU ARE MINE BY MICHAEL ROBOTHAM
This was published in 2021 and it is a stand alone book. There is no blood. It was a different type of book to his usual. Julia said she really enjoyed it and it was good for a change.
BEV: NELLIE'S VOW BY LEONIE BINGE
This is a true story set during the depression. It's about an Australian family who who live on a rich property in Nyngan but are plunged into poverty when the husband dies. His wife sells the property and remarries but the husband is abusive to the daughters. Two daughters go to a Narellan orphanage. The eldest girl wants to get the family back together. Bev was very interested because she is related to them on her father's side.
PRUE: THE SHADOW CAMPAIGNS BY DJANGO WEXLER
This is a series of four books, 1000 pages each. They are fantasy novels. The Queen is ill and the magicians try to cure her. It means she will never die. Prue said it was excellent and she could not stop reading it. The characters are well defined and it moves quickly. It is also quirky.
JUDY A: THE PROMISE BY DAMAN GALGUT
The story is set in South Africa.It's about a rich white dysfunctional family. They have a ten year old daughter Amor. She overhears her dying mother saying to their long time black servant,Salome that she wants to leave a house and some land to her. It becomes a broken promise. It's an allegory of the broken promises to the black people of South Africa. Daman Galgut is a very good writer.
CLAURENE: THE SATURDAY BOOK
They were an annual published from 1941 to 1973 This was the 11th one published in England. There are lots of photos of the time as well as snippets of information. Claurene said it was a fascinating book which she really enjoyed reading. She also read a few fascinating autobiographies and biographies of politicians.
Kris
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. We'll be back together on the third Thursday in January, 2022 to discuss one of the books we got for Christmas. Stay safe and stay well.
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