Tuesday, August 20, 2013
AUGUST - BOOKS ABOUT THE SEA
JO "WAVECREST" by BILL KNOX
This is a mystery/crime set off the Scottish Coast. The weather is terrible, icy and cold. Jo loved this book and would recommend.
ANNE "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA" by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1952
It's a book about an old Cuban fisherman and his young devoted apprentice. It is simply written about the old man's endurance in going out further than usual into the Gulf Stream, trying to catch a fish which he feels is too large for his boat and then keeping it while sharks circle........
It is a classic read.
ROSEMARY "THE SEA BED" by MARELE DAY 2009
It is written by an Australian author born in 1947. The author lived in Japan and has written about the pearl divers called AMA. They are mostly women. There are three main characters - a Japanese monk, the granddaughter of a diving AMA and Lillie of the younger generation. Rosemary said it was a good read.
CLAURENE "THE SEA" by JOHN BANVILLE
John Banville is an Irish writer and he won the Booker Prize in 2005. The plot is minimal. It is his memory of past times living in seaside boarding houses. It is a great read and Claurene said "just listen to the wonderful words".
PAMELA "THE NIGGER OF THE NARCISSUS by JOSEPH CONRAD PUB.1898
The story is set on board a ship sailing from Bombay. There are fourteen characters. There is a huge storm and all the crew pull together showing great courage and endurance. The ship was loved by all, though difficult construction had caused problems. There is tension about one of the crew members, a Negro. This leads to a mutiny. This is an exciting early Conrad book and his style was later perfected.
DIANE "THE SHIPPING NEWS" by ANNIE PROULX
The author won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize. It is a story of a man named Coyle who is a journalist. He marries Petal, a user who dies. Coyle goes to the old family home in Newfoundland and resumes journalism. There are great descriptions of the sea, relationships, murder and parenting.
TAM "OPERATION BEACH WATCH" by LEO KESSLER
The book is set in 1941 when the United Kingdom is having problems in the war. It is about life on a submarine but also about the political strategies and secret meetings taking place with Britain trying to get the USA into the war. It is an enjoyable read.
JULIA "TRUE SPIRIT" by JESSICA WATSON
It is the story of a 16 year old girl who, in 2010, was the youngest person to sail around the world in 210 days in her yacht "Ella's Pink Lady". It is a truly inspirational read. There is a movie in the pipeline.
KRIS "SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD" by JOSHUA SLOCUM
A quote from Tim Flannery's introduction to the book "Among the many classics of the sea, few books can rival Joshua Slocum's Sailing alone around the World" for sheer audacity, adventure and beauty of language. Although written little over a century ago it is redolent of an even earlier age, and has made so great an impression that thousands have moved to emulate Slocum's great feats". The book is written by Joshua Slocum about his round the world trip taking three years and two months, arriving back in America in 1898. He built the yacht himself and seemed at one with his boat and the sea. It was a great read. It is not a library book.
The library book borrowed "Saved" by Tony Bullimore was read by Kris's husband. He thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a book about an Englishman who participated in the round the world yacht race in 1996. His yacht capsized in the icy Southern Ocean and despite appalling weather conditions, the Australian rescue services did not give up and after four days being capsized, he was rescued. It's a great story of his bravery and fortitude as well as the immense heroism shown by the Australian rescue services.
JOAN "MASTER AND COMMANDER" by PATRICK O'BRIEN PUB. 1970
This book is the first in a series of 20 epic seafaring fictional novels based on the career of Captain Jack Aubrey during the Napoleonic wars, beginning of 19th century - The Age of Sail and Enlightenment. It is about the action packed life on board a Man of War ship called "Sophie". It is about the interaction of the officers and crew and the battle encounters with all types of ships, including pirates. " The prose is so descriptive you could be a crew member yourself" Joan said. Joan thought is was well worth reading and she cannot wait to read the remaining nineteen in the series.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
JULY: Graham Greene
Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer, play write and literary critic.
His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the
modern world. Greene was noted for his ability to combine serious
literary acclaim with widespread popularity.
Although Greene objected strongly to being described as a Roman Catholic novelist rather than as a novelist who happened to be Catholic, Catholic religious themes are at the root of much of his writing, especially the four major Catholic novels: Brighton Rock, The Power and the Glory, The Heart of the Matter and The End of the Affair. Several works such as The Confidential Agent, The Third Man, The Quiet American, Our Man in Havana and The Human Factor also show an avid interest in the workings of international politics and espionage.
Greene suffered from bipolar disorder, which had a profound effect on his writing and personal life.
KRIS: The Heart of the Matter
The story is set in Sierra Leone, where Greene had worked during the war.
The main character is Scobie, a policeman who is known for his honesty and being immune to bribery. His wife is desperately unhappy living there and eventually moves to South Africa to live. Several incidents including a suicide, murder, extra marital affairs, blackmail and family and wartime tragedy test his scruples and his resolve. The moral dilemma seemed to be - can you make everyone happy?
Kris liked the story but thought it a book of quiet despair.
CLARINE also started this book, but disliked it. She gave up reading it when Scobie fell in love with a 19 year old!
PAT: Monsignor Quixote
Pat had enjoyed the little bit of this book that she had read.
Monsignor Quixote is a relative of Don Quixote, and is also a village priest elevated to the rank of Monsignor.
She enjoyed the author's writing style, really knowing what he was thinking and how he was, even though there was no physical description. It was all done through conversation.
JULIA: The Human Factor
Julia really enjoyed this intriguing spy thriller and was surprised how good it was.
A man is murdered because of a leak in the Secret Service, and you couldn't pick the culprit right up until the end. It was made into a film in 1979.
She also read a collection of short stories The Last Word but didn't enjoy them as much.
PAMELA: A Gun For Sale
This is Graham Greene's 5th novel and is a precursor to Brighton Rock.
The main character, Raven is a cold hearted killer who assassinates the Czech War Minister. When he is paid with stolen money, he becomes the hunted as the police chase him to recover the money.
Pamela thought the writing was very good, with the beginning of the story really getting the reader in.
Jo also read the book and commented on the extreme sensitivity Raven showed concerning his harelip.
JOAN: The Honorary Consul
This is set in a poor northern Argentinian town close to the border with Paraguay.
Charlie Fortnum, is a divorced, self pitying alcoholic who misuses his position as the Honorary Consul and is one of only two British inhabitants of the town.
He is mistaken for an American ambassador and kidnapped by Paraguayan revolutionaries. From then on, his problems are compounded.
ROSEMARY: End of the Affair
Rosemary read The End of the Affair which was published in 1951. She thought it boring, and not spicy at all. It was set in London just after World War 11 and is loosely based on Greene's affair with Lady Catherine Walston which lasted for more than 22 years.
It was a book of misery.... the weather is miserable, the war is miserable, the characters are miserable and he is miserable when the affair ends.
MAREE had only just begun the book, and was interested in Rosemary's comment.
LESLIE also read the same book.
She was pleased she had now read a Graham Greene novel and enjoyed his style of writing, but not the content.
The book had themes about love and religion. He writes about excessive and destructive love, a physical love not a deep love. There are also several occasions when philosophical arguments about God occur in the story. He seems to be a very self centered man.
SHIELA: Captain and the Enemy
Shiela's comment was that it was the worst, most miserable, unbelievable and depressing book that she had read for a long time. She only forced herself to finish it because of her Book Club commitment. The opening pages were good, but from then on, no one was ever happy.
She was impressed with the way he wrote but not his content.
ANNE: The Tenth Man
During the German occupation of France, 30 men were imprisoned and kept as hostages. Each time a German resistance fighter is killed, 3 of these men are to be shot. Of the thirty captives, three will draw a marked slip of paper and will be killed.
When one of the chosen is a wealthy lawyer, he offers all his property to anyone who would trade places with him. An ailing prisoner agrees to this and paperwork is done to ensure that his estate is transferred to his heirs.
Although only a short book, more twists and complications occur all of which Anne enjoyed.
TAM: Collected Short Stories
Tam liked the idea of reading short stories for a change, being able to pick up the book and spend short periods of time with the author.
She thought that Greene was a great observer of people and builds a series of stories around them. They often had a twist at the end but Tam felt that sometimes she didn't understand the meaning of the twist. This she found a little frustrating.
JUDY: The Quiet American
Thomas Fowler is a British journalist in his 50s who has been covering the French war in Vietnam for over 2 years. He has become very jaded and cynical, leaving his wife in England and comfortable with his life style here, especially his indulgence in opium.
Alden Pyle is the quiet American. He is thoughtful, intelligent, serious and idealistic. Fowler finds him arrogant and naive.
When Pyle falls for Fowler's Vietnamese 20 year old lover, she is forced to choose between them according to what they could offer her. After his death more information comes to light about the real reason for Pyle's stay in Vietnam.
The book was published in 1955 and it raises the still relevant question about the rights of Western powers to intervene in other countries' affairs.
JANE: Brighton Rock
Jane had only read about a quarter of the book but her impression so far was that the story was really confusing and depressing. A lot seems to happen that is not really explained.
The story is about gang rivalries who are waring over money from the race tracks.
Although Greene objected strongly to being described as a Roman Catholic novelist rather than as a novelist who happened to be Catholic, Catholic religious themes are at the root of much of his writing, especially the four major Catholic novels: Brighton Rock, The Power and the Glory, The Heart of the Matter and The End of the Affair. Several works such as The Confidential Agent, The Third Man, The Quiet American, Our Man in Havana and The Human Factor also show an avid interest in the workings of international politics and espionage.
Greene suffered from bipolar disorder, which had a profound effect on his writing and personal life.
KRIS: The Heart of the Matter
The story is set in Sierra Leone, where Greene had worked during the war.
The main character is Scobie, a policeman who is known for his honesty and being immune to bribery. His wife is desperately unhappy living there and eventually moves to South Africa to live. Several incidents including a suicide, murder, extra marital affairs, blackmail and family and wartime tragedy test his scruples and his resolve. The moral dilemma seemed to be - can you make everyone happy?
Kris liked the story but thought it a book of quiet despair.
CLARINE also started this book, but disliked it. She gave up reading it when Scobie fell in love with a 19 year old!
PAT: Monsignor Quixote
Pat had enjoyed the little bit of this book that she had read.
Monsignor Quixote is a relative of Don Quixote, and is also a village priest elevated to the rank of Monsignor.
She enjoyed the author's writing style, really knowing what he was thinking and how he was, even though there was no physical description. It was all done through conversation.
JULIA: The Human Factor
Julia really enjoyed this intriguing spy thriller and was surprised how good it was.
A man is murdered because of a leak in the Secret Service, and you couldn't pick the culprit right up until the end. It was made into a film in 1979.
She also read a collection of short stories The Last Word but didn't enjoy them as much.
PAMELA: A Gun For Sale
This is Graham Greene's 5th novel and is a precursor to Brighton Rock.
The main character, Raven is a cold hearted killer who assassinates the Czech War Minister. When he is paid with stolen money, he becomes the hunted as the police chase him to recover the money.
Pamela thought the writing was very good, with the beginning of the story really getting the reader in.
Jo also read the book and commented on the extreme sensitivity Raven showed concerning his harelip.
JOAN: The Honorary Consul
This is set in a poor northern Argentinian town close to the border with Paraguay.
Charlie Fortnum, is a divorced, self pitying alcoholic who misuses his position as the Honorary Consul and is one of only two British inhabitants of the town.
He is mistaken for an American ambassador and kidnapped by Paraguayan revolutionaries. From then on, his problems are compounded.
ROSEMARY: End of the Affair
Rosemary read The End of the Affair which was published in 1951. She thought it boring, and not spicy at all. It was set in London just after World War 11 and is loosely based on Greene's affair with Lady Catherine Walston which lasted for more than 22 years.
It was a book of misery.... the weather is miserable, the war is miserable, the characters are miserable and he is miserable when the affair ends.
MAREE had only just begun the book, and was interested in Rosemary's comment.
LESLIE also read the same book.
She was pleased she had now read a Graham Greene novel and enjoyed his style of writing, but not the content.
The book had themes about love and religion. He writes about excessive and destructive love, a physical love not a deep love. There are also several occasions when philosophical arguments about God occur in the story. He seems to be a very self centered man.
SHIELA: Captain and the Enemy
Shiela's comment was that it was the worst, most miserable, unbelievable and depressing book that she had read for a long time. She only forced herself to finish it because of her Book Club commitment. The opening pages were good, but from then on, no one was ever happy.
She was impressed with the way he wrote but not his content.
ANNE: The Tenth Man
During the German occupation of France, 30 men were imprisoned and kept as hostages. Each time a German resistance fighter is killed, 3 of these men are to be shot. Of the thirty captives, three will draw a marked slip of paper and will be killed.
When one of the chosen is a wealthy lawyer, he offers all his property to anyone who would trade places with him. An ailing prisoner agrees to this and paperwork is done to ensure that his estate is transferred to his heirs.
Although only a short book, more twists and complications occur all of which Anne enjoyed.
TAM: Collected Short Stories
Tam liked the idea of reading short stories for a change, being able to pick up the book and spend short periods of time with the author.
She thought that Greene was a great observer of people and builds a series of stories around them. They often had a twist at the end but Tam felt that sometimes she didn't understand the meaning of the twist. This she found a little frustrating.
JUDY: The Quiet American
Thomas Fowler is a British journalist in his 50s who has been covering the French war in Vietnam for over 2 years. He has become very jaded and cynical, leaving his wife in England and comfortable with his life style here, especially his indulgence in opium.
Alden Pyle is the quiet American. He is thoughtful, intelligent, serious and idealistic. Fowler finds him arrogant and naive.
When Pyle falls for Fowler's Vietnamese 20 year old lover, she is forced to choose between them according to what they could offer her. After his death more information comes to light about the real reason for Pyle's stay in Vietnam.
The book was published in 1955 and it raises the still relevant question about the rights of Western powers to intervene in other countries' affairs.
JANE: Brighton Rock
Jane had only read about a quarter of the book but her impression so far was that the story was really confusing and depressing. A lot seems to happen that is not really explained.
The story is about gang rivalries who are waring over money from the race tracks.
Friday, June 28, 2013
June: Humour
This month, members of the Book Club selected their own books with the theme of Humour.
JULES:
Jules started 3 books before settling on Alexander McCall Smith's 'Morality for Beautiful Girls'. Her comment was that it was nice to read, but not so funny.
She compared it to a previous book she had read, Dawn French's autobiography. This she found very funny because she could 'hear' the author telling her story.
JO: Rosy is my Relative by Gerald Durrell
This is the story of a man, living in London, who inherits an elephant in a will. He decides to walk the elephant to the coast to find a circus and has all sorts of incidents along the way. They involved lords of the manor, fox hunting and a 21st party. Jo said she had never laughed so much in her life.
PAT: Belly Dancing for Beginners by Liz Byrski
Pat didn't really find this book funny, but it was a good easy read though. It is about a belly dancing teacher and 2 women who come to her classes. They all have issues in their life, but gain skills and confidence as they train. The book is really more about empowering women.
JUDY: Charade by John Mortimer
This was the author's first book and is not up to the standard of subsequent novels. It is the story of a young man who joins a film unit during the war. He finds the habits and morals of the crew hard to accept, and when a soldier is killed on the set he alone thinks it is worth investigating. The story line is not funny, the only humour coming from the descriptions of some of the various characters.
ANNE: The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
While she hasn't finished reading the book yet, she has found it very funny so far.
The main character lives in a Nursing Home and is approaching his 100th birthday. He doesn't want a party, even though the mayor and the press will be there, so he climbs out his window and walks away. He has all sorts of adventures and with the flashbacks to the period of World War 1 it is a little like Forest Gump. He is always somewhere at particular times, eg he turns up in the Spanish War, having had dinner with Franco.
CLAURENE: Harnessing Peacocks by Mary Wesley
Claurene had read this book many years ago, and thought it very funny, although not 'laugh out loud funny'.
It is set in the English upper middle class, and concerns a young, unmarried girl who overhears her family discussing her pregnancy. They want her to have an abortion and so she runs away.
Twelve years later she is living in London with her son and using her skills, involving cooking and sex. She cooks for 3 upper class elderly ladies and has sex with 3 upper class men, making lots of money from both. When various connections between the 2 groups become obvious, the situation quickly unravels and becomes a complete French farce.
ROSEMARY: The Boy Who Fell to Earth by Kathy Lette
This is her latest novel about Merlin, a loveable but difficult autistic son and his single mum, Lucy. Kathy Lette drew from her experiences of her own autistic child but it is not based on his life. The book is full of one liners, many very funny, as she struggles to raise him. The funny parts are the things that Merlin does, and the inappropriate things he says. As he matures, he learns what is expected of his behaviour but his trusting nature leads him into worrying situations.
Rosemary enjoyed reading it, it was an easy read and every sentence was funny.
It was an eyeopener to the struggles and ups and downs of having an autistic child.
JOAN: Love Among the Chickens by P G Wodehouse
The story revolves around Jeremy Garnet, an author, and his old friend Ukridge, a known conman. Jeremy eventually agrees to take part in his latest 'get-rich-scheme', and they head off to begin a chicken egg farm in Dorset. They meet other passengers on the train during the journey, and they all become involved in this half-baked scheme. Their trials and tribulations are all interwoven with lovely comic prose.
Joan said it was good to read and discover this author who she had never read before.
PAMELA:
Pamela shared with us different examples of humour.
Firstly she read several ludicrous passages from Jules Verne's Mistress Branican including one about a husband who disappears in northern Western Australia. It eventuates that he had been kept prisoner for 25 years by cannibals in the Kimberleys.
She then shared some cartoons including the difference between Vitruvian Man and a real man.
A different take on humour.
WENDY: You Might As Well Laugh Mate, Australian Humour in Hard Times by Keith Willey
This collection gave an insight into what makes up the Australian sense of humour, and how we laugh when the chips are down. It is part of our ethos and it seems that aboriginal humour is very similar.
CONNIE: They're a Wired Mob by John O'Grady (Nina Cullota)
Connie had first heard the story as an ABC Radio Serial soon after arriving in Australia and loved it. While travelling around she could recognise similar characters, their accents and their sayings, that had appeared in the book.
She has now had the chance to read it and still loved it, enjoying every page. Her comment was that the humour was not so much what was happening, but the things they said. But we've lost a lot of that now as we have become politically correct.
She thought it interesting that the author was not derided for pretending to be someone that he was not.
KRIS: Fat, Forty and Fired by Nigel Marsh
The author is an inspirational speaker, and this is his story of trying to find a work/life balance. He has worked in advertising and is very stressed. The humour comes when you laugh at his neurosis and amusing situations during his year off. He takes over looking after their son and he challenges himself to complete an open water swim (even though he can't swim, yet).
TAM: Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction by Sue Townsend
Tam found this a good laugh and thought she would read other books in the series.
Adrian Mole is an absolute dork who gets himself more and more into debt with his crazy schemes and ideas.
It is written in diary form and the author is very clever the way she observes and describes everything going on around him.
WELCOME to new member Maureen who shared 2 books she had recently read.
Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsaver. This a delightful book, not funny though.
The migration of the monarch butterflies is disrupted because of environmental changes and instead of going to Mexico they end up in Tennessee. Here they are seen by a young woman who has run away from her dysfunctional life. What she sees changes her life. The parrallel is drawn between the challenge of the butterfly to emerge from the cocoon and for her to change the course of her life.
Madness a Memoir by Kate Richards. The author is a doctor and this is her personal story of her mental illness. There is no humour, and it is quite disturbing with episodes of self harm, deep depression and electroconvulsive therapy.
It is enlightning in that with courage, support from family and friends and good medical assistance, Kate has reached a safer, more manageable, peaceful place of balance and wellness.
JULES:
Jules started 3 books before settling on Alexander McCall Smith's 'Morality for Beautiful Girls'. Her comment was that it was nice to read, but not so funny.
She compared it to a previous book she had read, Dawn French's autobiography. This she found very funny because she could 'hear' the author telling her story.
JO: Rosy is my Relative by Gerald Durrell
This is the story of a man, living in London, who inherits an elephant in a will. He decides to walk the elephant to the coast to find a circus and has all sorts of incidents along the way. They involved lords of the manor, fox hunting and a 21st party. Jo said she had never laughed so much in her life.
PAT: Belly Dancing for Beginners by Liz Byrski
Pat didn't really find this book funny, but it was a good easy read though. It is about a belly dancing teacher and 2 women who come to her classes. They all have issues in their life, but gain skills and confidence as they train. The book is really more about empowering women.
JUDY: Charade by John Mortimer
This was the author's first book and is not up to the standard of subsequent novels. It is the story of a young man who joins a film unit during the war. He finds the habits and morals of the crew hard to accept, and when a soldier is killed on the set he alone thinks it is worth investigating. The story line is not funny, the only humour coming from the descriptions of some of the various characters.
ANNE: The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
While she hasn't finished reading the book yet, she has found it very funny so far.
The main character lives in a Nursing Home and is approaching his 100th birthday. He doesn't want a party, even though the mayor and the press will be there, so he climbs out his window and walks away. He has all sorts of adventures and with the flashbacks to the period of World War 1 it is a little like Forest Gump. He is always somewhere at particular times, eg he turns up in the Spanish War, having had dinner with Franco.
CLAURENE: Harnessing Peacocks by Mary Wesley
Claurene had read this book many years ago, and thought it very funny, although not 'laugh out loud funny'.
It is set in the English upper middle class, and concerns a young, unmarried girl who overhears her family discussing her pregnancy. They want her to have an abortion and so she runs away.
Twelve years later she is living in London with her son and using her skills, involving cooking and sex. She cooks for 3 upper class elderly ladies and has sex with 3 upper class men, making lots of money from both. When various connections between the 2 groups become obvious, the situation quickly unravels and becomes a complete French farce.
ROSEMARY: The Boy Who Fell to Earth by Kathy Lette
This is her latest novel about Merlin, a loveable but difficult autistic son and his single mum, Lucy. Kathy Lette drew from her experiences of her own autistic child but it is not based on his life. The book is full of one liners, many very funny, as she struggles to raise him. The funny parts are the things that Merlin does, and the inappropriate things he says. As he matures, he learns what is expected of his behaviour but his trusting nature leads him into worrying situations.
Rosemary enjoyed reading it, it was an easy read and every sentence was funny.
It was an eyeopener to the struggles and ups and downs of having an autistic child.
JOAN: Love Among the Chickens by P G Wodehouse
The story revolves around Jeremy Garnet, an author, and his old friend Ukridge, a known conman. Jeremy eventually agrees to take part in his latest 'get-rich-scheme', and they head off to begin a chicken egg farm in Dorset. They meet other passengers on the train during the journey, and they all become involved in this half-baked scheme. Their trials and tribulations are all interwoven with lovely comic prose.
Joan said it was good to read and discover this author who she had never read before.
PAMELA:
Pamela shared with us different examples of humour.
Firstly she read several ludicrous passages from Jules Verne's Mistress Branican including one about a husband who disappears in northern Western Australia. It eventuates that he had been kept prisoner for 25 years by cannibals in the Kimberleys.
She then shared some cartoons including the difference between Vitruvian Man and a real man.
A different take on humour.
WENDY: You Might As Well Laugh Mate, Australian Humour in Hard Times by Keith Willey
This collection gave an insight into what makes up the Australian sense of humour, and how we laugh when the chips are down. It is part of our ethos and it seems that aboriginal humour is very similar.
CONNIE: They're a Wired Mob by John O'Grady (Nina Cullota)
Connie had first heard the story as an ABC Radio Serial soon after arriving in Australia and loved it. While travelling around she could recognise similar characters, their accents and their sayings, that had appeared in the book.
She has now had the chance to read it and still loved it, enjoying every page. Her comment was that the humour was not so much what was happening, but the things they said. But we've lost a lot of that now as we have become politically correct.
She thought it interesting that the author was not derided for pretending to be someone that he was not.
KRIS: Fat, Forty and Fired by Nigel Marsh
The author is an inspirational speaker, and this is his story of trying to find a work/life balance. He has worked in advertising and is very stressed. The humour comes when you laugh at his neurosis and amusing situations during his year off. He takes over looking after their son and he challenges himself to complete an open water swim (even though he can't swim, yet).
TAM: Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction by Sue Townsend
Tam found this a good laugh and thought she would read other books in the series.
Adrian Mole is an absolute dork who gets himself more and more into debt with his crazy schemes and ideas.
It is written in diary form and the author is very clever the way she observes and describes everything going on around him.
WELCOME to new member Maureen who shared 2 books she had recently read.
Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsaver. This a delightful book, not funny though.
The migration of the monarch butterflies is disrupted because of environmental changes and instead of going to Mexico they end up in Tennessee. Here they are seen by a young woman who has run away from her dysfunctional life. What she sees changes her life. The parrallel is drawn between the challenge of the butterfly to emerge from the cocoon and for her to change the course of her life.
Madness a Memoir by Kate Richards. The author is a doctor and this is her personal story of her mental illness. There is no humour, and it is quite disturbing with episodes of self harm, deep depression and electroconvulsive therapy.
It is enlightning in that with courage, support from family and friends and good medical assistance, Kate has reached a safer, more manageable, peaceful place of balance and wellness.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
What's Happening Over The Next Six Months!
These are the suggested topics for our reading and discussion over the next 6 months.
JULY: the author Graham Greene
AUGUST: Stories about the sea
SEPTEMBER: Fathers
OCTOBER: Australian History
NOVEMBER: Books from our childhood
DECEMBER: Christmas theme
JULY: the author Graham Greene
AUGUST: Stories about the sea
SEPTEMBER: Fathers
OCTOBER: Australian History
NOVEMBER: Books from our childhood
DECEMBER: Christmas theme
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
MAY: Animal stories
This month our task was to read a book that in some way featured animal/s.
Joan & Judy: Foal's bread by Gillian Meers
The book has a gorgeous wrap around cover featuring the head of a horse. It is set in rural NSW between the 2 wars and takes you into the harsh world of horse high jumping.This was evidently very popular after WW1 when there was quite an extensive circuit of the country agricultural shows, with some good prize money and few regulations.
The main characters are the Child's family, including Cecil and his daughter Noah. They are itinerant workers but also involved with horses and the jumping circuit. We also have the Nancarrows including their son Roley who is generally recognised as the best high jumper.
Norah and Roley meet and fall in love. The story follows several generations of their lives as they struggle to raise a team of jumping horses. Personal conflict and tragedy plus the vagaries of weather and life of the land add to the colour of the story.
It is a wonderfully evocative story of love, life and hardship in the bush.
Judy commented that it is ironic that the author describes so beautifully the sensation of freedom to go higher and higher over the jumps while she herself is confined to a wheelchair due to MS.
The author has a unique style of writing using a mixture of the rough ungrammatical country speak of the locals and then her flowing descriptions of the trees, flowers, and the colours of the countryside.
Connie: Silver Brumby's Daughter and White Fang by Jack London
Connie's grand daughter loved the Silver Brumby series but after reading this book, Connie saw it as a children's book about horses. The horses speak to each other which Connie can't cope with. She thought she had left it too late to enjoy it.
Her grandson had recommended White Fang by Jack London and while she had previously been reluctant to read a London book, she loved this one.
Set in the cold northern wilderness of North America in 1906, White Fang is 1/4 dog and 3/4 wolf. The author describes the dog's feelings so well, you feel for him as he forages for food and is captured and cruelly treated by people. There are great descriptions about the wolf pack and how they breed.
Connie really enjoyed it much to her surprise.
Anne: Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres
The dog is born a wanderer but even though he had been adopted by John, he still wanders off occasionally. He was able to hitch rides on trains and trucks etc because people recognised him. The dog is distraught when John dies and spends most of his life looking for him, having his adventures along the way.
Based on a real dog, several other books have been written about him, and recently a very successful film was released.
Jane & Dianne: Marley and Me by John Grogan
John Grogan writes a weekly column for a suburban newspaper. When he and his wife Jenny get a new puppy, he decides to write about the highs and lows of looking after this dog. Jenny is worried whether she will be able cope with a baby, so the pup is almost a trial for raising a child.
The dog gets into the heart of the family and they do go on to have children. Its a true story, light hearted about a loveable dog you could throttle. They were a lovely couple, had a lovely house and lovely children. It is all about loving the dog.
Dianne thought it a bit schmaltzy and sentimental. The dog was the runt of the litter but quite neurotic, terrified of thunderstorms, almost destroying the house when left alone.
Rosemary: The Donkey Who Carried the Wounded by Jackie French
While she has only read about 1/4 of this book, she thought it would be a good way for children to learn more of our history.
Sometimes the story is told through the eyes of the donkey, sometimes through the eyes of Jack.
Wendy: Horrie the Wog Dog by Ion Idriess
Wendy reread this old book set in the Egypt in 1941. Horrie was a dog found in the dessert by an Australian soldier James Moody. The dog was adopted by the soldiers, going into battle with them in Egypt, Crete, Palestine and Syria.
When the war was over, all animal mascots were ordered to be euthanized. Not wanting this to happen, Moody smuggled Horrie back into Australia. There is some confusion as to what happened then, although it seems likely that when the law caught up with Moody, another dog was surrendered in Horrie's place.
Pamela: Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowatt
A young biologist is sent to the Northern Canadian wilderness in 1948/9 to investigate the decline in the caribou population, believed to have been from attacks by wolf packs.
He discovers that it is not the wolves as they eat small vermin, rodents and fish. They aren't generally aggressive animals and are more likely to run away than attack.
Pamela lost some confidence in the author after his descriptions of his interaction with some wolves.
Further research showed that much of the book is fiction and that he had plagiarized 2 very important science books.
But by chance the book got an unexpected result.....it reduced the negative prejudice against wolves. The caribou numbers were decreasing because they were used as food by humans and were being killed by recreational hunters.
Lesley: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
He was born in 1925 in India, and came back to live in England in 1928 after his father died. The family was very eccentric in a lovely British way. Being totally obsessed with animals and a great observer of their habits, Durrell became a well known conservationist beginning the Jersey Zoo. Many of his principles were in contrast to generally held beliefs of those times.
He only began to write during the war, because he was poor. His writing is laid back, gentle and easy to read. He meanders through life treating everyone equally.
It is a lovely, gentle story full of animals, and a lovely family who didn't see themselves as eccentric, but fascinated by everything and anything,
Kris: A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner
The author is a midwife, and when her son was born he didn't communicate in any way with the family. There was not a lot of professional help around in the 1980s. In desperation they acquired a dog, a golden retriever named Henry and it was through this dog that their son began to communicate. He was eventually able to attend a special class within a normal high school.
A very inspiring book!
Kris also read Life of Pi by Yann Martell.
Her comments...interesting, very descriptive but a bit gruesome.
Tammy: Blind Hope, an unwanted dog and the woman she rescued Kim Meeder
This true story is set in Oregon on a ranch for abused animals mainly horses. They also rescue people who are broken by pairing them with suitable animals.
The author is telling Laurie's story. She has had a troubled childhood, dabbled in drugs etc and eventually ended up on the ranch. When Laurie is paired with a rescue dog who has many problems including blindness and diabetes, she learns to trust, to love, to be dependable and they grow together. There is a Christian emphasis through out the book and many parallels with God in behavior and attitude.
Tammy thought it was a lovely book, a real tear jerker!
Jules: Jonathon Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach
A classic book first published in 1970. It is a fable of a seagull who learns about life and flight and is told in 3 parts. The 4th part is only now (this year) available having been written by the author.
The pictures are really inspiring and the book has been referenced in many other films and books.
A timeless, spiritual classic said Jules.
Joan & Judy: Foal's bread by Gillian Meers
The book has a gorgeous wrap around cover featuring the head of a horse. It is set in rural NSW between the 2 wars and takes you into the harsh world of horse high jumping.This was evidently very popular after WW1 when there was quite an extensive circuit of the country agricultural shows, with some good prize money and few regulations.
The main characters are the Child's family, including Cecil and his daughter Noah. They are itinerant workers but also involved with horses and the jumping circuit. We also have the Nancarrows including their son Roley who is generally recognised as the best high jumper.
Norah and Roley meet and fall in love. The story follows several generations of their lives as they struggle to raise a team of jumping horses. Personal conflict and tragedy plus the vagaries of weather and life of the land add to the colour of the story.
It is a wonderfully evocative story of love, life and hardship in the bush.
Judy commented that it is ironic that the author describes so beautifully the sensation of freedom to go higher and higher over the jumps while she herself is confined to a wheelchair due to MS.
The author has a unique style of writing using a mixture of the rough ungrammatical country speak of the locals and then her flowing descriptions of the trees, flowers, and the colours of the countryside.
Connie: Silver Brumby's Daughter and White Fang by Jack London
Connie's grand daughter loved the Silver Brumby series but after reading this book, Connie saw it as a children's book about horses. The horses speak to each other which Connie can't cope with. She thought she had left it too late to enjoy it.
Her grandson had recommended White Fang by Jack London and while she had previously been reluctant to read a London book, she loved this one.
Set in the cold northern wilderness of North America in 1906, White Fang is 1/4 dog and 3/4 wolf. The author describes the dog's feelings so well, you feel for him as he forages for food and is captured and cruelly treated by people. There are great descriptions about the wolf pack and how they breed.
Connie really enjoyed it much to her surprise.
Anne: Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres
The dog is born a wanderer but even though he had been adopted by John, he still wanders off occasionally. He was able to hitch rides on trains and trucks etc because people recognised him. The dog is distraught when John dies and spends most of his life looking for him, having his adventures along the way.
Based on a real dog, several other books have been written about him, and recently a very successful film was released.
Jane & Dianne: Marley and Me by John Grogan
John Grogan writes a weekly column for a suburban newspaper. When he and his wife Jenny get a new puppy, he decides to write about the highs and lows of looking after this dog. Jenny is worried whether she will be able cope with a baby, so the pup is almost a trial for raising a child.
The dog gets into the heart of the family and they do go on to have children. Its a true story, light hearted about a loveable dog you could throttle. They were a lovely couple, had a lovely house and lovely children. It is all about loving the dog.
Dianne thought it a bit schmaltzy and sentimental. The dog was the runt of the litter but quite neurotic, terrified of thunderstorms, almost destroying the house when left alone.
Rosemary: The Donkey Who Carried the Wounded by Jackie French
While she has only read about 1/4 of this book, she thought it would be a good way for children to learn more of our history.
Sometimes the story is told through the eyes of the donkey, sometimes through the eyes of Jack.
Wendy: Horrie the Wog Dog by Ion Idriess
Wendy reread this old book set in the Egypt in 1941. Horrie was a dog found in the dessert by an Australian soldier James Moody. The dog was adopted by the soldiers, going into battle with them in Egypt, Crete, Palestine and Syria.
When the war was over, all animal mascots were ordered to be euthanized. Not wanting this to happen, Moody smuggled Horrie back into Australia. There is some confusion as to what happened then, although it seems likely that when the law caught up with Moody, another dog was surrendered in Horrie's place.
Pamela: Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowatt
A young biologist is sent to the Northern Canadian wilderness in 1948/9 to investigate the decline in the caribou population, believed to have been from attacks by wolf packs.
He discovers that it is not the wolves as they eat small vermin, rodents and fish. They aren't generally aggressive animals and are more likely to run away than attack.
Pamela lost some confidence in the author after his descriptions of his interaction with some wolves.
Further research showed that much of the book is fiction and that he had plagiarized 2 very important science books.
But by chance the book got an unexpected result.....it reduced the negative prejudice against wolves. The caribou numbers were decreasing because they were used as food by humans and were being killed by recreational hunters.
Lesley: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
He was born in 1925 in India, and came back to live in England in 1928 after his father died. The family was very eccentric in a lovely British way. Being totally obsessed with animals and a great observer of their habits, Durrell became a well known conservationist beginning the Jersey Zoo. Many of his principles were in contrast to generally held beliefs of those times.
He only began to write during the war, because he was poor. His writing is laid back, gentle and easy to read. He meanders through life treating everyone equally.
It is a lovely, gentle story full of animals, and a lovely family who didn't see themselves as eccentric, but fascinated by everything and anything,
Kris: A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner
The author is a midwife, and when her son was born he didn't communicate in any way with the family. There was not a lot of professional help around in the 1980s. In desperation they acquired a dog, a golden retriever named Henry and it was through this dog that their son began to communicate. He was eventually able to attend a special class within a normal high school.
A very inspiring book!
Kris also read Life of Pi by Yann Martell.
Her comments...interesting, very descriptive but a bit gruesome.
Tammy: Blind Hope, an unwanted dog and the woman she rescued Kim Meeder
This true story is set in Oregon on a ranch for abused animals mainly horses. They also rescue people who are broken by pairing them with suitable animals.
The author is telling Laurie's story. She has had a troubled childhood, dabbled in drugs etc and eventually ended up on the ranch. When Laurie is paired with a rescue dog who has many problems including blindness and diabetes, she learns to trust, to love, to be dependable and they grow together. There is a Christian emphasis through out the book and many parallels with God in behavior and attitude.
Tammy thought it was a lovely book, a real tear jerker!
Jules: Jonathon Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach
A classic book first published in 1970. It is a fable of a seagull who learns about life and flight and is told in 3 parts. The 4th part is only now (this year) available having been written by the author.
The pictures are really inspiring and the book has been referenced in many other films and books.
A timeless, spiritual classic said Jules.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
APRIL: Booker Prize Winners
This month Book Club members were required to read a Booker Prize winner.
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe.
Joan & Ann: Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabrala
This book was the winner in 1975. Set in India a young woman arrives to find out more about the life of her grandfather and his wife Olivia. Her interest is based on letters written by Olivia to her sister Joan who lived in England. Her marriage had been boring , and fed up with the stuffy English traditions she has an affair with a charming Indian prince. When she becomes pregnant, her mother-in-law arranges an abortion and she retreats to live in the mountains.
When the narrator arrives in India, she too falls in love with an Indian man.
Joan didn't think it was up to the standard of a true Booker Prize winner, commenting that it was short, but not a quick read. Ann agreed with these comments and enjoyed the film more than the book.
Judy: True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
2001 winner of the Booker Prize
The author has presented us with a very sympathetic picture of the life and times of Ned Kelly. The novel is divided into 13 sections, all supposedly written by Kelly to tell the real story of his life to his 'fictional' daughter.
Judy thought it would be hard for someone who has never heard of the Kelly story before to really get into this book and to truly appreciate it, some history has to be studied.
While the general story is well known by most people, a couple of points that interested Judy were;
Ned claimed he only began robbing banks to enable him to "spread money through the community" after police began offering a reward for his capture. He justified it by claiming that the locals would protect him as long as he could help them.
Secondly, following the killing of Aaron Sherritt, Ned designs the pattern for a suit of armour to protect his friend Joe Byrnes as well as others. Several of these suits are made and buried for future use. This happened several months before and many miles from the eventual siege at Glenrowan.
Through Kelly's eyes we see the rural landscape of the 19th century Australia, the harshness and the unfairness of it. And Peter Carey makes us see Ned Kelly as an outstanding victim of that great unfairness.
Jewels and Jo: The Remains of the Day by Kazuro Ishiguro
1989 winner of the Booker Prize
Set in the 1950s, the story begins with the death of the owner of Darlington Hall, and its sale to American owners. When they return home, the aging butler embarks on a trip around the UK for 5 days. Each place that he visits is a flashback of his times spent with Lord Darlington.
While Jewels doesn't normally like reading 'flashbacks', she did enjoy this.
Jo didn't enjoy it as much, but did like the references and descriptions of life during the war.
She found it interesting to read about the life of a butler, the class system and the prestige and opportunities available to the 'upper class'.
Kris: The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
2010 Booker Prize winner
Kris really enjoyed this anti-Semitic comedy although she did find it difficult to get into it because of the neuroses of some of the characters.
The 3 main characters are old school friends, Julian Treslove (a former radio producer) and Sam Finkler (Jewish philosopher, writer and TV personality). They keep in touch with their old teacher Libor Sevcik, a Jewish Czech who had tutored them in Czech history and had also been a part time Hollywood gossip columnist.
The story revolves around Jewish people living in England and what it means to be Jewish. It had both comical as well as a tragic elements to the story.
Rosemary and Wendy: Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
1984 Booker Prize winner
Rosemary found this story very boring and wondered how it could have won the prize.
Edith Hpoe is a writer of romantic novels who has been sent, in disgrace, to a hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva. As she tries to finish her novel she observes the other guests around her.
Rosemary thought that none of the characters were exciting, all they did was eat, shop and gossip!
Wendy too found the main character boring, prepared to accept her life and not willing or wanting to change it.
Dianne and Jane: Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
Book prize winner in 1998
The story begins with the funeral of Molly Lane. Guests include not only her husband but a composer, a journalist and a transvestite MP. These last 3 know each other as well as having been Molly's lover at some time. All these lovers have flaws as well as being very egotistical.
It is not until the end do you realise why the book is called Amsterdam and neither Dianne or Jane would give any clues.
Both really enjoyed the book.
Tammy: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
1993 Booker Prize winner
Set in Dublin in the 1950s, it tells the story of a 10year old boy growing up, and his perception of the pretty tough life that he leads.
There were 2 things going on
* His parents were breaking up. He can feel the tension and reacts to it.
* The town is changing too. There is much building going on, and turning parts of it into a modern estate.
Tammy thought it was amazing how the author got into the shoes and eyes of a 10 year old. Maybe it was semi-autobiographical! The language was perfect for a 10 year old.
Tammy's final comments were that although it didn't have any chapters she loved it, a really sweet story, a gem!
Sheila: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
2006 Booker Prize winner
Sheila thought that this book may have lost something in its translation as she only read half of it.
A retired judge returned to the hills with his granddaughter. He had fallen on hard times but never lost the feelings of superiority of the Raj. Another theme was people's connection to white relatives and therefore their presumption of superiority.
Sheila also read In Another Light by Andrew Grigg.
A man in his late 40's wants to understand his dead father. He had been a doctor in Penang during the war, while his son was left in England. He takes a sea journey to the east to find out more about his father's mysterious life. The more he learns, the more his life seems to parallel that of his father's.
Pamela: Possession: A Romance by A S Bryatt
1990 Booker prize winner
An absolutely brilliant book, but don't be fooled, it is not a romantic story.
The novel concerns the relationship between two fictional Victorian poets, Randolph Henry Ash (whose life and work are loosely based on those of the English poet Robert Browning) and Christabel LaMotte (similarly based on Christina Rosetti), as revealed to present day academics Roland Michell and Maud Bailey. Following a trail of clues from various letters and journals, they attempt to uncover the truth about Ash and LaMotte's past before it is discovered by rival colleagues.
The competition and race is between researchers (UK & USA) and possession is in regards to relationship.
Pamela also read The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, Booker prize winner in 1997.
Pamela thought it was one of the most brilliant books she had read. But a reader would need to have knowledge of Hindu literature as the structure is kaleidoscopic.
Connie: The Sense of Ending by Julian Barnes
Winner of 2011 Booker Prize.
Connie doesn't normally read prize winning books, but unexpectedly, enjoyed this one.
The first third of the book tells of 4 boys in their final year of school. One is far more intellectual, but they all get on well, particularly enjoying their History class.
The rest of the book (the next 40 years) is told by one of the boys, now retired, retelling what happened after they left school. His memory is not exactly reliable, ofter asking"is it the truth?"
It was becoming very confusing, but saved by a great ending. Connie's comment was that it 'satisfied' her and meant the rest of the book made sense.
Clarine: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
1992 Booker Prize winner
The story is set in a bombed Italian villa at the end of World War 11.
The main characters are - Hana, a young Canadian nurse,
her English patient with critical burns,
Caravaggio, a Canadian thief
an Indian sapper in the army who is also a bomb disposal expert.
These are all wonderful characters who interconnect in ways you wouldn't expect but it is all explained as they talk to each other. The language was beautiful and the story gripping.
Clarine thought it was wonderful book, she loved it. In fact, she read it twice and found so much more to like the second time through.
Welcome Marina a new member.
The book that Marina had recently read..... To Kill a Tsar by Andrew Williams
This a historical novel that is very easy to read. The historical facts are clearly spelt out and these are underlying the love story between an English doctor and a Russian girl helping in the clinic.
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe.
Joan & Ann: Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabrala
This book was the winner in 1975. Set in India a young woman arrives to find out more about the life of her grandfather and his wife Olivia. Her interest is based on letters written by Olivia to her sister Joan who lived in England. Her marriage had been boring , and fed up with the stuffy English traditions she has an affair with a charming Indian prince. When she becomes pregnant, her mother-in-law arranges an abortion and she retreats to live in the mountains.
When the narrator arrives in India, she too falls in love with an Indian man.
Joan didn't think it was up to the standard of a true Booker Prize winner, commenting that it was short, but not a quick read. Ann agreed with these comments and enjoyed the film more than the book.
Judy: True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
2001 winner of the Booker Prize
The author has presented us with a very sympathetic picture of the life and times of Ned Kelly. The novel is divided into 13 sections, all supposedly written by Kelly to tell the real story of his life to his 'fictional' daughter.
Judy thought it would be hard for someone who has never heard of the Kelly story before to really get into this book and to truly appreciate it, some history has to be studied.
While the general story is well known by most people, a couple of points that interested Judy were;
Ned claimed he only began robbing banks to enable him to "spread money through the community" after police began offering a reward for his capture. He justified it by claiming that the locals would protect him as long as he could help them.
Secondly, following the killing of Aaron Sherritt, Ned designs the pattern for a suit of armour to protect his friend Joe Byrnes as well as others. Several of these suits are made and buried for future use. This happened several months before and many miles from the eventual siege at Glenrowan.
Through Kelly's eyes we see the rural landscape of the 19th century Australia, the harshness and the unfairness of it. And Peter Carey makes us see Ned Kelly as an outstanding victim of that great unfairness.
Jewels and Jo: The Remains of the Day by Kazuro Ishiguro
1989 winner of the Booker Prize
Set in the 1950s, the story begins with the death of the owner of Darlington Hall, and its sale to American owners. When they return home, the aging butler embarks on a trip around the UK for 5 days. Each place that he visits is a flashback of his times spent with Lord Darlington.
While Jewels doesn't normally like reading 'flashbacks', she did enjoy this.
Jo didn't enjoy it as much, but did like the references and descriptions of life during the war.
She found it interesting to read about the life of a butler, the class system and the prestige and opportunities available to the 'upper class'.
Kris: The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
2010 Booker Prize winner
Kris really enjoyed this anti-Semitic comedy although she did find it difficult to get into it because of the neuroses of some of the characters.
The 3 main characters are old school friends, Julian Treslove (a former radio producer) and Sam Finkler (Jewish philosopher, writer and TV personality). They keep in touch with their old teacher Libor Sevcik, a Jewish Czech who had tutored them in Czech history and had also been a part time Hollywood gossip columnist.
The story revolves around Jewish people living in England and what it means to be Jewish. It had both comical as well as a tragic elements to the story.
Rosemary and Wendy: Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
1984 Booker Prize winner
Rosemary found this story very boring and wondered how it could have won the prize.
Edith Hpoe is a writer of romantic novels who has been sent, in disgrace, to a hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva. As she tries to finish her novel she observes the other guests around her.
Rosemary thought that none of the characters were exciting, all they did was eat, shop and gossip!
Wendy too found the main character boring, prepared to accept her life and not willing or wanting to change it.
Dianne and Jane: Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
Book prize winner in 1998
The story begins with the funeral of Molly Lane. Guests include not only her husband but a composer, a journalist and a transvestite MP. These last 3 know each other as well as having been Molly's lover at some time. All these lovers have flaws as well as being very egotistical.
It is not until the end do you realise why the book is called Amsterdam and neither Dianne or Jane would give any clues.
Both really enjoyed the book.
Tammy: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
1993 Booker Prize winner
Set in Dublin in the 1950s, it tells the story of a 10year old boy growing up, and his perception of the pretty tough life that he leads.
There were 2 things going on
* His parents were breaking up. He can feel the tension and reacts to it.
* The town is changing too. There is much building going on, and turning parts of it into a modern estate.
Tammy thought it was amazing how the author got into the shoes and eyes of a 10 year old. Maybe it was semi-autobiographical! The language was perfect for a 10 year old.
Tammy's final comments were that although it didn't have any chapters she loved it, a really sweet story, a gem!
Sheila: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
2006 Booker Prize winner
Sheila thought that this book may have lost something in its translation as she only read half of it.
A retired judge returned to the hills with his granddaughter. He had fallen on hard times but never lost the feelings of superiority of the Raj. Another theme was people's connection to white relatives and therefore their presumption of superiority.
Sheila also read In Another Light by Andrew Grigg.
A man in his late 40's wants to understand his dead father. He had been a doctor in Penang during the war, while his son was left in England. He takes a sea journey to the east to find out more about his father's mysterious life. The more he learns, the more his life seems to parallel that of his father's.
Pamela: Possession: A Romance by A S Bryatt
1990 Booker prize winner
An absolutely brilliant book, but don't be fooled, it is not a romantic story.
The novel concerns the relationship between two fictional Victorian poets, Randolph Henry Ash (whose life and work are loosely based on those of the English poet Robert Browning) and Christabel LaMotte (similarly based on Christina Rosetti), as revealed to present day academics Roland Michell and Maud Bailey. Following a trail of clues from various letters and journals, they attempt to uncover the truth about Ash and LaMotte's past before it is discovered by rival colleagues.
The competition and race is between researchers (UK & USA) and possession is in regards to relationship.
Pamela also read The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, Booker prize winner in 1997.
Pamela thought it was one of the most brilliant books she had read. But a reader would need to have knowledge of Hindu literature as the structure is kaleidoscopic.
Connie: The Sense of Ending by Julian Barnes
Winner of 2011 Booker Prize.
Connie doesn't normally read prize winning books, but unexpectedly, enjoyed this one.
The first third of the book tells of 4 boys in their final year of school. One is far more intellectual, but they all get on well, particularly enjoying their History class.
The rest of the book (the next 40 years) is told by one of the boys, now retired, retelling what happened after they left school. His memory is not exactly reliable, ofter asking"is it the truth?"
It was becoming very confusing, but saved by a great ending. Connie's comment was that it 'satisfied' her and meant the rest of the book made sense.
Clarine: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
1992 Booker Prize winner
The story is set in a bombed Italian villa at the end of World War 11.
The main characters are - Hana, a young Canadian nurse,
her English patient with critical burns,
Caravaggio, a Canadian thief
an Indian sapper in the army who is also a bomb disposal expert.
These are all wonderful characters who interconnect in ways you wouldn't expect but it is all explained as they talk to each other. The language was beautiful and the story gripping.
Clarine thought it was wonderful book, she loved it. In fact, she read it twice and found so much more to like the second time through.
Welcome Marina a new member.
The book that Marina had recently read..... To Kill a Tsar by Andrew Williams
This a historical novel that is very easy to read. The historical facts are clearly spelt out and these are underlying the love story between an English doctor and a Russian girl helping in the clinic.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
March - Jeanette Winterson
Kris: Gut Symmetries
The story is a love triangle....a British scientist traveling by ship on her way to a job in the USA meets another scientist who turns out to be a Lothario. They begin an affair. When they arrive in New York she meets his wife, and they fall in love. There were also side stories about her families.
Kris thought her writing was very poetic, and very metaphoric but it was hard to understand. She is not sure if she enjoyed it but she did finish it.
Connie & Wendy: Lighthousekeeping
Connie was not sure whether we she liked it or not, and some of it was too weird.
She thought she was an extraordinary and original writer, her writing being very lyrical, like a long song. She got lost a few times with 2 characters with the same name.
Wendy loved it. The lighthouse is set in Scotland. Silver, a young child is left alone after her mother dies. She is given into the care of the old blind lighthouse keeper.
Pamela: Written on the Body
Pamela read 4 pages, and didn't understand it so she didn't persist. She found the writing extremely lush and extravagant. She hated it!
Rosemary: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
This was written in 1985 and later (1990) successfully adapted for television. It seems to be semi-autobiographical, or so the author says.
Rosemary thinks the novel is about formation, the coming of age, moving from the age of youth through to old age. The stories are told through the eyes of a young girl who is home schooled and her mother is obsessed by the Pentecostal beliefs. As she matures and gets a part time job she takes a lover, a woman. The church intervenes and tries to make her repent. Returning to the church, she forms a relationship with another woman also from the church. This time she is forced to leave the church.
Rosemary finished the book, but said that she didn't really enjoy it.
Ann watched the DVD of the book and enjoyed this media much more.
Dianne: Tanglewreck
Dianne started to read this book but couldn't get into it. Her comment was that she found her a 'spiral writer'.
She has now begun Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. She is starting to enjoy it and following the comments by others who had read the book, she will finish it!
Jo: The Daylight Gate
This book is the author's most recent, being published only last year. It is set in the 17th century, King James is a Protestant. They killed all the Catholics and threw them in the dungeons. It was horrible and very violent.
Lesley: Why be Happy When You Can be Normal
This book corrects the facts from Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and updates the author's life.
She was complicated little girl, adopted by her cruel mother at the age of 6 months. Her mother is bizarre, twisted but she accepts this life and doesn't know anything else.
She is strong-willed, intelligent and has a sense of humour. Her world opens up through literature despite only having the Bible at home, but she manages to expand her reading at the local Library.
She leaves home at 16 and goes to Oxford, discovering along the way that she is gay. Her father is an ineffective and weak man.
Later when she returns to the small town she was born in, nothing has changed. Everyone still does the same things, at the same time and for the same reason.
In Lesley's opinion, her life consisted of a series of battles....overcoming poverty, overcoming lack of love and friends, and overcoming a lack of sensory stimulation.
She didn't like her as a person, but admired her as an author.
Jules: Weight
Jules chose this book because the blurb indicated it would be about Greek Mythology and in particular the 12 Labours of Hercules, a subject she is familiar with and enjoys reading about. But she could only manage 4 pages before resorting to Agatha Christie's Labours of Hercules. Much more satisfying reading.
Judy: Art and Lies
Judy was another one who was not able to finish the book, in fact she struggled to read 45 pages.
So instead she read from the author's website where she talked about the book. Even this was difficult to follow or understand. The author's comment to the question "Some people find this book very difficult. What do you say to that?" "But it's a book not a crime. If you don't like it, don't read it."
Tammy: The Power Book
Tammy is a new member to the group, so she conscientiously read the book twice to make sure she could understand it despite being bogged down with it on the first reading.
It is set in the 21st Century where Ali by day runs a shop for people who want to change or transform themselves. But at night she/he writes stories in cyberspace in answer to other people's problems but maybe she is writing to her inner self through the computer, allowing her to escape and stay on the run.
Tammy found the book fascinating, it challenged her but she didn't like the characters.
Joan: The World and Other Places
This is a book of short stories published in 1988.
The themes that have been mentioned in other books are here - love, death, betrayal, the nature of time, the beauty of risk, the quest.
The 24 Hour Dog... it is taken from the Rescue Home by people intending to love and train it. But with the dog they no longer have their freedom and so the dog must be returned.
Atlantic Crossing describes a sea journey to New York. With an error in the ticketing system, 2 passengers find themselves in the same cabin. As this is 1956 it is not appropriate for a man and a woman, who are strangers, to share the cabin.
Other books recommended during the morning
* Before I go to Sleep by S J Watson. Each night when Christine Lucas goes to sleep her mind erases the day. Each day when she wakes up she tries to put the puzzle of her life together.
This book is now available in the Library, and recommended by Jules who couldn't put it down.
*Ratlines by Stuart Neville. Set in Ireland 1963, 18 years after the end of WWII but 18 years is hardly enough time for people to forget the horrors that occurred in and by Nazi Germany. During the war Ireland stayed neutral not wanting to get pulled into another one of Britain's fights, though some like the main character Ryan, did fight with the British. Many Nazi's sought refugee in Ireland after the war to try and save themselves.
This was recommended by Dianne, who commented that it was well written but very violent.
The story is a love triangle....a British scientist traveling by ship on her way to a job in the USA meets another scientist who turns out to be a Lothario. They begin an affair. When they arrive in New York she meets his wife, and they fall in love. There were also side stories about her families.
Kris thought her writing was very poetic, and very metaphoric but it was hard to understand. She is not sure if she enjoyed it but she did finish it.
Connie & Wendy: Lighthousekeeping
Connie was not sure whether we she liked it or not, and some of it was too weird.
She thought she was an extraordinary and original writer, her writing being very lyrical, like a long song. She got lost a few times with 2 characters with the same name.
Wendy loved it. The lighthouse is set in Scotland. Silver, a young child is left alone after her mother dies. She is given into the care of the old blind lighthouse keeper.
Pamela: Written on the Body
Pamela read 4 pages, and didn't understand it so she didn't persist. She found the writing extremely lush and extravagant. She hated it!
Rosemary: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
This was written in 1985 and later (1990) successfully adapted for television. It seems to be semi-autobiographical, or so the author says.
Rosemary thinks the novel is about formation, the coming of age, moving from the age of youth through to old age. The stories are told through the eyes of a young girl who is home schooled and her mother is obsessed by the Pentecostal beliefs. As she matures and gets a part time job she takes a lover, a woman. The church intervenes and tries to make her repent. Returning to the church, she forms a relationship with another woman also from the church. This time she is forced to leave the church.
Rosemary finished the book, but said that she didn't really enjoy it.
Ann watched the DVD of the book and enjoyed this media much more.
Dianne: Tanglewreck
Dianne started to read this book but couldn't get into it. Her comment was that she found her a 'spiral writer'.
She has now begun Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. She is starting to enjoy it and following the comments by others who had read the book, she will finish it!
Jo: The Daylight Gate
This book is the author's most recent, being published only last year. It is set in the 17th century, King James is a Protestant. They killed all the Catholics and threw them in the dungeons. It was horrible and very violent.
Lesley: Why be Happy When You Can be Normal
This book corrects the facts from Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and updates the author's life.
She was complicated little girl, adopted by her cruel mother at the age of 6 months. Her mother is bizarre, twisted but she accepts this life and doesn't know anything else.
She is strong-willed, intelligent and has a sense of humour. Her world opens up through literature despite only having the Bible at home, but she manages to expand her reading at the local Library.
She leaves home at 16 and goes to Oxford, discovering along the way that she is gay. Her father is an ineffective and weak man.
Later when she returns to the small town she was born in, nothing has changed. Everyone still does the same things, at the same time and for the same reason.
In Lesley's opinion, her life consisted of a series of battles....overcoming poverty, overcoming lack of love and friends, and overcoming a lack of sensory stimulation.
She didn't like her as a person, but admired her as an author.
Jules: Weight
Jules chose this book because the blurb indicated it would be about Greek Mythology and in particular the 12 Labours of Hercules, a subject she is familiar with and enjoys reading about. But she could only manage 4 pages before resorting to Agatha Christie's Labours of Hercules. Much more satisfying reading.
Judy: Art and Lies
Judy was another one who was not able to finish the book, in fact she struggled to read 45 pages.
So instead she read from the author's website where she talked about the book. Even this was difficult to follow or understand. The author's comment to the question "Some people find this book very difficult. What do you say to that?" "But it's a book not a crime. If you don't like it, don't read it."
Tammy: The Power Book
Tammy is a new member to the group, so she conscientiously read the book twice to make sure she could understand it despite being bogged down with it on the first reading.
It is set in the 21st Century where Ali by day runs a shop for people who want to change or transform themselves. But at night she/he writes stories in cyberspace in answer to other people's problems but maybe she is writing to her inner self through the computer, allowing her to escape and stay on the run.
Tammy found the book fascinating, it challenged her but she didn't like the characters.
Joan: The World and Other Places
This is a book of short stories published in 1988.
The themes that have been mentioned in other books are here - love, death, betrayal, the nature of time, the beauty of risk, the quest.
The 24 Hour Dog... it is taken from the Rescue Home by people intending to love and train it. But with the dog they no longer have their freedom and so the dog must be returned.
Atlantic Crossing describes a sea journey to New York. With an error in the ticketing system, 2 passengers find themselves in the same cabin. As this is 1956 it is not appropriate for a man and a woman, who are strangers, to share the cabin.
Other books recommended during the morning
* Before I go to Sleep by S J Watson. Each night when Christine Lucas goes to sleep her mind erases the day. Each day when she wakes up she tries to put the puzzle of her life together.
This book is now available in the Library, and recommended by Jules who couldn't put it down.
*Ratlines by Stuart Neville. Set in Ireland 1963, 18 years after the end of WWII but 18 years is hardly enough time for people to forget the horrors that occurred in and by Nazi Germany. During the war Ireland stayed neutral not wanting to get pulled into another one of Britain's fights, though some like the main character Ryan, did fight with the British. Many Nazi's sought refugee in Ireland after the war to try and save themselves.
This was recommended by Dianne, who commented that it was well written but very violent.
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