All the books read
this month were written by the acclaimed Australian writer, HELEN GARNER, both
fiction and non-fiction.
THE MUSHROOM TAPES
ROSEMARY S: She did not finish it. It was tricky with three people talking, but
Rosemary gave us some interesting facts about Helen Garner. She is an acclaimed Australian writer who is
as interesting as her books. She won an
award for her first novel, Monkey Grip – fiction mixed with fact. She is also a
passionate AFL fan following the Western Bulldogs. Helen keeps extensive diaries renowned for
her honesty and detail. In 2016 she was
sent an email telling her about a life changing prize of $100,000 which
originally went into her spam folder.
She is considered a great writer of non-fiction.
SELECTED NON FICTION TRUE STORIES ( PUBLISHED 1996)
TAM: One of the stories was about going to the
morgue. She uses very descriptive
language. The story about the
unscheduled sex education class was quite funny. There were Greek boys in the class. It caused a lot of controversy and she lost
her job.
LYN: Although the print was very small, she thoroughly enjoyed what she read. It was wonderfully descriptive. A few of her favourites being“At the morgue “– Her descriptions of the autopsy procedure providing a read understanding of the process.“Won,Tew,Three,Faw” - A non musical family organizing and celebrating a completely different family Christmas celebration. Lyn felt as if she was actually there in each of the stories. She also started reading House of Grief. It is a difficult read.
THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF (2014)
JUDY J: It was considered one of the
Guardian’s 100 best books of the 21st century. On Father’s Day2005, just after nightfall,
Robert Farquarson drove his three young sons back to their mother, his
ex-wife. He was a pathetic figure, lowly
paid job, unable to maintain relationships, always babied by his older sisters,
never really grew up and take on adult responsibilities. On that dark country road, barely five
minutes from the children’s home, the old white car swerved off the highway and
plunged into a dam. He freed
himself. The court case that followed
became Helen Garner’s obsession, one that would take over her life until it’s
final verdict. She describes the court
proceedings, including 2 trials, appeals, sentencing etc. Some of it is tedious to read.
ROSEMARY W: She also read this book. She found it incredibly boring. She felt all Helen Garner was doing was
writing about the boring facts and she is not sure why she is reading it.
JOAN: All of this stuff has to come
out where you must count every little detail.
I am not a fan of her non- fiction style because of her personal musings
and revelations. All sorts of facts come
up. They dunked the car three times. It
was reported that “Her personal investment in what she is witnessing is
compromising her notational style”.
THE CHILDREN’S BACH
JUDY A. : First published in 1984. The story follows Dexter and Athena Fox, a
husband and wife who live with their two sons, one who is severely disabled, in
the inner suburbs of early 1980’s Melbourne.
Dexter runs into a friend from his college days named Elizabeth who has
taken care of her younger sister Vicki now that their mother has died. Elizabeth has an on again, off again
relationship with Phillip who has a 12 year old daughter named Poppy. The book is about the interplay of all their
relationships. PROS: Garner’s inciteful asides on her
characters. Her voice and style come
through strongly, just like her writing. CONS: the descriptions and attitudes
around Billy, the disabled child, made for uncomfortable reading for me.
PAMELA: She said the writing was wonderful, but she
was not interested in the characters and did not finish reading.
DIMITY: She appreciated the opportunity to read Helen Garner.
EVERYWHERE I LOOK (pub 2016)
MARGARET: This is a collection of essays, diary entries
and true stories spanning more than 15 years.
It’s a portrait of a writer’s life and a particular way of seeing the
world. It includes a moving tribute to
her mother, her joy in discovering the ukulele and a famous and controversial
essay called “The Insults of Age”(2015).
There are also the beginnings of her fascination with reporting in court
cases and what it revealed about human behaviour. She also writes stories about some of the
writers she knows including eight views of Tim Winton in eight paragraphs over
many years of their friendship. Her writing is beautifully descriptive.
REGIONS OF THICK RIBBED ICE (2015)
PRUE: It’s only about 36 pages. It is comprised of short stories, essays,
travelogue, memoir and autobiography all rolled into one. She is on a cruise to the Antarctic with a
group of photographers. She did not take
a camera. Her descriptions of the photographers are morose. Helen Garner didn’t like the penguins, but
she was very descriptive about the ice.
She has a journalistic style of writing.
Prue quite enjoyed it but was glad it was only short. It was quite entertaining and the Antarctic
was interesting, but she doesn’t think she will read any more Helen Garner
books.
THE SPARE ROOM (2008)
DEBORAH: She won’t say she liked it. Deborah said she didn’t want to read about a
lady who was dying of cancer and getting alternative treatments. I am not sure she will read anymore.
KRIS: Also read this book. Helen is the narrator and her friend, Nicola
who lives in Melbourne has cancer. She
comes to Sydney to stay in Helen’s ordinary suburban house at Helen’s request. Helen thinks it will be a short time in
palliative care but, although Nicola is terminally ill, she will not admit
failure and is trying all sorts of experimental and expensive treatments which
are making Nicola very ill and requiring much more care from Helen than she
imagined. This is a novel based on her
own experience with a terminally ill friend and Helen Garner’s need to explore her own unflattering and raw
emotions during that time. The themes
are ageing, death and friendship. It’s a
heart wrenching story, but it is a very honest story with touches of humour as
it confronts painful realities we all face at some time. I loved the read. Helen Garner has a very conversational
voice in her writing.
JO CINQUE’S CONSOLATION (2004)
KERRIE: She read it once and ten years
later read it again. This is a true story. It is a revelatory read because of
her style. She is a witness to what
happens. In 1997 A young man in Canberra
is killed by his fiancée and her friend.
Many people are around at the time.
It’s about grief and loss and families of Jo and the 2 girls. The law is complex and terrible. The young
woman is described as having narcissistic personality disorder. Kerrie loved
the writing but not the story.
TERESA: The story is absurd. The girlfriend planned the death of Jo
because she wanted to commit suicide. Instead, she killed her boyfriend. Teresa
was very impressed with Helen Garner’s writing and how she expresses herself,
but the story is so sad.
THE FIRST STONE (1995)
JO: In the Autumn of 1992, two young women at a
Melbourne University were indecently assaulted at a party by the head of the
residential college. Pat didn’t really
like it. Men felt entitled to do what
they wanted with the women. She didn’t
feel comfortable reading it but it was interesting.
ONE DAY I’LL REMEMBER THIS
(1987-1995) AND HOW TO END A STORY DIARIES 1995-1998
VAL: This is the story of a disintegration of Helen
Garner’s 3rd marriage in one of her diaries 1992 to 2000. She
writes about her third marriage to the writer “V”, Murray Vale. She explores her feelings about him, why he
needs constant admiration. He has a
relationship with a young painter and Helen finds out. He lies constantly and counselling doesn’t
help. Val feels Helen is a very complex
person. She went to the Turkish baths. She said all the women were rude and very
outspoken. Val liked the descriptions
but not the author. Val read MONKEY GRIP years ago but couldn’t get into it.
MONKEY GRIP (1997)
MICHELLE: This novel was set in Melbourne, where single
mother, Nora narrates her tumultuous relationship with a heroin addict while
trying to bring up her daughter. Michelle had heard about Helen Garner and
wanted to read this book. She grew up in
the 1970’s and had experienced little bits of what was going on at the time. Michelle
enjoyed it and said it felt very real. She would like to read more of Helen
Garner’s books, maybe the Mushroom Tapes.
She documents what she sees and explores the dark side of life.
Michelle
is a new member to book club. This was
her first day with us.
Kris
Next month, July we will be discussing the books we have read – the
topic is Food fiction.
