BEV: THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP by JENNY COLGAN
The story is about two sisters, Sofia and Carmen. Sofia is a solicitor and the older sister. Carmen didn’t want to stay at school. She had a job in an old-fashioned drapery shop. When Carmen became unemployed Sofia found her a job at a cute little bookshop in an old-fashioned arcade in Edinburgh. The old man who owned the bookshop was close to bankruptcy and thought he would have to sell if things didn’t improve. Carmen liked him so she cleaned it up and made it successful. The story had a happy ending. Bev said it was romantic and a nice, easy read.
ROSEMARY: THE TILT by CHRIS HAMMER
Rosemary has read three of his books. She enjoyed this book. It’s the second in a series involving the detectives, Ivan Lucic and Neil Buchanan. It goes back and forth from the present to the past, back to 1970’s. It’s Rural Noir. There are great descriptions of scenery and Rosemary enjoyed the read.
JUDY J: EXILES by JANE HARPER
This is a quiet mystery that centres around two unsolved crimes in a small town in South Australia. While visiting a friend to attend a christening, AFP Officer Aaron Falk, finds himself caught up in the case of a woman who went missing a year ago during a town festival, leaving her 6 week old baby in her pram near the Ferris wheel. As Falk had attended the festival, he reluctantly becomes involved which then leads onto an unsolved murder from years ago. Bits and pieces of the two previous Aaron Falk novels are mentioned. (The Dry and Force of Nature). Judy said Jane Harper doesn’t disappoint with this third Aaron Falk novel.
KRIS: LOVE STORIES by TRENT DALTON
Trent Dalton, a well-loved Australian author sat on a busy street corner in Brisbane with his Olivetti typewriter and asked people to tell him a lovely story. In 2021 for two months he sat at his table with a sign that read “Sentimental writer collecting love stories. It is a very easy read as each story is quite short and you can pick it up any time to read one of them. It is a warm, funny, poignant book about love in all it’s guises. It’s quite an uplifting book to read.
PAMELA: BOOKS THAT
CHANGED THE WORLD by Robert B. Downs
These are essays about books that changed the world. The title of the book that Pamela talked about was Edward Jenner: An inquiry into the causes and effects of the variolae vaccinae by Edward Jenner, published in 1798. Jenner was interested in smallpox. Jenner, having noted the similarities to “cow pox”, took some matter out of the cow pox and injected it into his arm and he seemed to become immune. In 1796 he published an article. After vaccination there were declining deaths from smallpox. Napoleon ordered all his soldiers to be vaccinated. Jenner was awarded two lots of money from the government for research. In December 1977 the World Health Organization announced the last case of smallpox. Pamela found it very interesting.
PRUE: BLACK RIVER by MATTHEW SPENCER
This is the first novel by the Australian author. It is set in Western Sydney where two murders have been committed by BMK (Blue Moon Killer), a serial killer. There is another murder of a woman wrapped in black plastic. Is this connected to BMK? The body is found near the river close to King’s school at Parramatta. A hack journalist who used to attend the school goes to the school to find information. He meets the detective in charge of this case, Rose Riley. Prue is only half-way through but said she is thoroughly enjoying it and wants to find how it ends. The characters are strong, the writing smooth and it has lots of twist and turns.
JOAN: REVOLUTIONIZING MOTHERHOOD: THE MOTHERS of the PLAZA de MAYO by MARGEURITE GUZMAN BOUVARD (1994)
This true story is set in 1976 in Argentina where there was a coup that overthrew Isabel Peron. A military junta was installed to replace her. Anyone who opposed the military dictatorship was either thrown in prison or disappeared. They were mostly young teachers, university students and doctors. Pregnant women had their babies taken from them to be given to army personnel to be brought up by them. A group of mothers sought to locate and reunite with their children, grandchildren and loved ones who had disappeared. As they had no support from the U.S. or the Church, they started peaceful protests and their protests brought international recognition during the World Cup when Argentina was the host. They wore white kerchiefs on their heads to represent the nappies of the babies that were taken. They were one of the most important non violent human rights movement.
JO: THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER by KATE MORTON
Jo said it was very confusing. It’s three different books in one and set in three different eras. It’s well written but she is only half-way through. She is not going to finish it as it is too confusing. It is set in 19th century England. A girl is abandoned in the streets of London. Fast forward to the summer of 1962 after an18th birthday, a young woman is drawn to an old house because of secrets of her own. The only way forward is through the past.
JOCELYN: THE BOOK OF ROADS AND KINGDOMS by RICHARD FIDLER (2022)
Jocelyn said this book was an absolute Tour de Force. She said it was her favourite book ever. There are first-hand accounts from Arab and Persian travellers from Islam’s fabled golden age (the tenth century to medieval times) across China, India, Africa, Byzantium, Baghdad and Russia. Following their prophet’s commandment to seek knowledge all over the world, these traders, diplomats, soldiers and scientists travelled by camel, horse and boat into the unknown. It’s a beautiful and thrilling narrative of a lost world.
LYN: WHITE GARDENIA by BELINDA ALEXANDRA (2002)
This book is firstly set in Harbin, China, a haven for white Russian families. Since Russia’s communist revolution, Alina Koslova must make a heartbreaking decision if her only child, Anya is to survive the last days of World War 11. She sends her to Shanghai to a family friend. She is later sent to Australia. Mother and daughter never stop searching for each other, both believing they will be reunited one day. Lyn really enjoyed the book and the way the author writes, her descriptions of characters and the many varied settings are clearly portrayed.
PAT: FLAMES by ROBBIE ARNOTT
This is the first book written by the Australian author. The story is set in Tasmania and the genre is magical realism. The story is about a young man called Levi and his sister Charlotte coping after the death of their mother who, two days after being cremated, returns and bursts into flames on her estranged husband’s lawn. It is not unusual for women in the family to reappear after being cremated. Charlotte is so grief stricken when this happens, Levi decides to build her an escape proof coffin so she will not reappear. In fear Charlotte runs away. More characters are brought into the story. Pat said it was quite entertaining, although not her normal read.
JUDY A: BIG FOLBIGG MISTAKE: A MOTHER’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE by JOHN KERR
Kathleen Folbigg was jailed in May, 2003 for the murder of her four children, two boys and two girls at ages 19 days, 8 months, 10 months and 19 months. The first was in 1989 and the last in 1999. She has spent the last almost twenty years in prison and has always maintained her innocence. This book explained how the prevailing views at a time in history can lead to such a huge error. Mark Tedeschi was the prosecutor and maintained that the death of four children in a family was an impossibility, compared to pig’s flying. Genetics have come a long way including the discovery of a variant on the CALM2 gene which can cause sudden cardiac death in children. It’s a familial abnormality and both Kathleen and her daughters share this rare variant. In March of last year, ninety worldwide eminent scientists signed a petition calling for a pardon for Kathleen Folbigg. Another inquiry was begun in November last year and hopefully this time she will be exonerated.
JULIA: BULLET THAT MISSED by RICHARD OSMAN
It’s about a nursing home where some of the residents are part of a murder club who are trying to solve murders. Julia said it was funny and well worth reading.
Kris
FEBRUARY: We will be reading a book of our own choosing.
The theme: Mountains or Deserts
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