FEBRUARY, 2018 - BOOKS BY JUDY NUNN

PACIFIC BY JUDY NUNN

JOAN:

The first story is a contemporary story about Samantha Lindsay, an Australian actress who lands a lead role in a Hollywood film set in the New Hebrides during World War II.  The second story is about Jane Thackeray who lived in Vanuatu during World War II.  This was the better story. "The two times lines were very difficult" Joan said. The book was 607 pages which was far too long.

JUDY D:

Judy also read Pacific.  The story takes place in two locations, England and Vanuatu and in two different time frames, the 1940's and the early 2000's.  The heroine of the story, Samantha Lindsay was born in Perth.  She has had some success acting in an Australian soapie and gets a job in England doing pantomime.  She falls in love with an old house in Fareham.  She buys it before she gets a lead role in a film playing Mamma Tack, a WWII heroine, to be filmed in Vanuatu. Apparitions and other spiritual occurrences with Jane Thackeray from the 1940's lead her to research the history of Mamma Tack and she finds her story is entwined with the house and it's former occupants. The story is written in flashbacks.  Judy said it was a good story.  She enjoyed it but it wasn't great literature and too long.

MARALINGA BY JUDY NUNN

Maralinga, a remote area of South Australia is the site of British nuclear testing done in the 1950's. It is also the name of the Aboriginal people who lived there.

WENDY J:

Wendy said she said she didn't mind it but it's not great literature.  The story is set in England.  It's the story of Elizabeth who falls in love with a young man who gets sent to Maralinga.  When he dies she comes out to Australia to find out why he died.

JUDY J:

 Judy felt there was more to the story of Maralinga.  It showed the terrible attitude of the British government and how little the Australian people knew about it.  The soldiers were sworn to secrecy.  The Aboriginal people were treated badly.  Judy said it was an easy read, that she writes about places she knows and the descriptions of the scenery were beautiful.  Judy told us that Judy Nunn also wrote some children's books.

DENISE:

Denise said it was an easy read almost like someone talking to you.  The story raised her awareness of what happened at Maralinga.  She felt angry about the testing.  She did find the changeover of characters and times a bit difficult.

PRUE:

Prue was looking forward to reading this book as this was happening when she was growing up.  Prue felt we were just colonials and didn't matter.  Prue said it was good that Judy Nunn brings up these subjects. It was a good expose of Maralinga. She found the story captivating and an easy read.   It had an unusual ending.

ELIANNE BY JUDY NUNN

JUDY D:

Judy also read Elianne.  It is another family saga set in Queensland cane fields dating from the 1880's to the 1960's.  The Durhams are the equivalent of royalty and the large estate employs hundreds of workers including Kanakas to keep it running.  However, there is a family secret that young Kate Durham uncovers when she discovers diaries written in French by Elianne, the wife of Big Jim Durham (Kate's great grandfather).  The story is written mainly in the 1960's and encompasses race and religious discrimination, the Vietnam war, conscription, the rise of feminism and the new freedom of young people enabling them to make their own way instead of continuing in the mould of their forbears.  She said it was another good story.

KRIS:

Kris was only about 1/3 of the way through.  She enjoyed the story but lost interest as it was far too long.   Kris said she felt she was a good storyteller but not a great writer.

JULIA:

Julia was only half way through.  She sort of liked it but it was too long and she didn't finish the book.

NATALIE:

Natalie really enjoyed it.  She read it over a weekend.  She said it was easy to read and enjoyed it as well because her husband grew up in the area.  She said the two male characters were big characters.  It was very male dominated.

VAL:

Val said she tried to read it but it was not her cup of tea.  She didn't finish it and felt it was rather formulaic.  She felt the treatment of the aboriginal people and the Vietnam war had been done to death.  Val said it was an easy read and that Judy Nunn was a good storyteller.

DIANE D:

Diane didn't like it.  She forced herself to finish it.  The story spanned three generations.  She felt annoyed with the male characters.

THE SPIRITS OF THE GHAN BY JUDY NUNN

This is the story of the completion of The Ghan railway linking Adelaide with the Top End. Assurances must be given to the Aboriginal Elders that their sacred sites will be protected.

CONNIE:

Connie said she agreed with what everyone else said about Judy Nunn's writing.  She didn't really enjoy it and it was too long.  She said the story would have stood on it's own without the Ghan.  The story was about the spirits of the Aboriginal people along the path of the Ghan.  She didn't feel her heart was in it.

ANNE:

Anne read half.  She found it bearable.  She didn't like the part about the spirits.

JUDY A:

Judy said she was a good storyteller not a good writer but she said she did learn things about the Ghan.

WENDY L:

Wendy doesn't think she is a good storyteller but rather she tells a good yarn.  The characters are cliched and overdrawn.  The Aboriginal themes are laboured and superficial.  Wendy didn't like this book.

PAT:

Pat said everyone else had covered it and she felt the same.  It was a bland read.

TAM:

Tam quite enjoyed it.  She said it was an easy read and she was interested in the Ghan.

ROSEMARIE:

Rosemarie enjoyed it, especially the familiarity of places as she has travelled on the
Ghan. She said the story brought up issues.  It was an easy read.  The print changes when it goes to a different time making it easier to read than some of the other books mentioned.

JO:

Jo read this book in one night.  She loved it and couldn't put it down.

BEV:  FLOODTIDE BY JUDY NUNN

This book was written in 2007.  It's another family saga set in Western Australia and it is over 600 pages.  It is the story of four young male friends and their families.  It follows them through a period from 1950's to 1990's swapping back and forth in time.  Bev said it was too long a period and too much crammed in.  She said it was easy to read. It had an abrupt ending. She also felt the female characters had no depth.

LESLEY:  TERRITORY BY JUDY NUNN

This book was written in 2002.  The story is about the bombing of Darwin.  Lesley enjoyed parts of it as she had been to Darwin last year. It is set in the period from 1942 to the 1970's.  There were parallel stories.  One was the story of the sinking of the Batavia off the coast of Western Australia in 1629.  Lesley said the facts were true.  The current story was about an English girl who marries an Australian pilot who is domineering and chauvinistic.  They settle outside Darwin.  It explores the treatment of Aborigines and the discrimination of the Chinese.  She felt it was stereotypical.  It is a very long story so she hasn't finished.  She quite enjoyed it for what it is.

Kris

In March we will be reading books by Michael Robotham - Watching You, The Suspect, Close Your Eyes and The Secrets She Keeps.

January 2018 ~ Books we read and enjoyed over the holidays

PAMELA:  Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico

Set in Paris in 1956, a young girl called Mouche is about to throw herself into the Seine, when her attention is attracted by a voice belonging to a puppet, part of a struggling street booth puppet show. The story tells her relationship with the seven puppets and their grim puppetmaster, Capitaine Coq, and what happens when she joins their travelling show.

Pamela described it as a charming book, the writing and the puppets are attractive, but she found the ending not very satisfactory.

JUDY De La Torre:

 

Her holiday reading included

I Survived Auschwitz by Krystyna Zywulska.    ~ horrific story, badly translated.

Our Man in Camelot by Anthony Price ~ following the crash of a US plane, the CIA and the Russians investigate this mystery.

Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths ~ a murder mystery.

She enjoyed and would recommend the last 2 titles.

VAL: Let Me Tell You about a Man I Knew by Susan Fletcher

The sunflowers on the cover give a clue as to the subject of the book. Van Gough spent a year in this asylum, where he continues to paint. The warden’s wife, although forbidden to mix with the patients, continues to do so and realizes what she is missing in life. Eventually she asks him to paint her portrait and through their meeting, she is reborn.

A beautifully, sensitively written book. The author writes about the ‘little episodes in life’.

NATALIA: has continued to read and enjoy the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

JOAN: Red Notice: How I Became Putin’s No1 Enemy by Bill Browder

This is the true story of the author’s experience working in Russia exposing corruption, investments and tax frauds by Putin’s operatives. Joan described it as factual, gripping and she couldn’t put it down.

JO: The Woman in the Window by A J Finn

Anna Fox lives alone, a recluse in her New York City home, she is agoraphobic and an alcoholic.

She spends her day drinking wine, watching old movies, on chat sites on her computer and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move into the house across the park: a father, a mother, and their teenage son. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems
 

DIANE D: The Remains of the Day by Kazua Ishiguro

This is a fantastic, gorgeous, most English book written by a Japanese who has lived in England since he was 5 years old.

It is the story of Stevens, the butler, who runs a large country estate, where old school attitudes reign supreme and the upper class believe they are born to rule. They are blinded to normal relationships and what will happen when everything they believe in comes undone.

The author won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017; highly recommended by Diane.

DIANN F: Pacific by Judy Nunn

A contemporary fiction story is set in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, Pacific explores the lives of two women from different eras. Samantha Lindsay is an Australian actress who has been given the lead role in a World War II epic. Samantha plays a character based on the life of 'Mamma Tack,' a World Way II heroine. Samantha feels compelled to find out who the real 'Mamma Tack' was, and in solving this mystery makes some important discoveries about herself.

Highly recommended and very well researched.

CLAURINE: read several books by Peter Goldsworthy.

Maestro ~ wonderful story

Three Dog Night ~ couldn’t finish it, too graphic

Gravel ~ short stories. Enjoyed the first one, but did not continue after attempting several more, as they continued this graphic style of writing.

CONNIE:  Sabrina by Madeleine Pollard

Set in County Cork, Ireland in the beginning of the twentieth century, it is the story of a landed gentry family, very traditional Catholics with 6 children. There are expectations and plans for each of the children. When Sabrina experiences romance for the first time, it is obvious she is not suitable to be a nun. She and Gerald fight to stay together, and the story follows their lives . Connie really enjoyed it, especially the ending; unexpected but very satisfying.

WENDY J: Jane Austin’s Christmas

An interesting (but not fascinating) book that gave details about food, drinks, etiquette and stories of how her family celebrated Christmas.

PRUE: Wimmera by Mark Brandi

The story exposes the problems boys face growing up, their friendships and family relationships. The story develops over many years, but you have to connect the dots for yourself. It is well researched, and easy to read. Fast paced, but with hard, dark elements in it. There is also love, joy and happiness to provide a counter balance, and a sad, haunting ending.

Prue became very involved in it, adding to the enjoyment.

 

DENISE: The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

When Eva's film star sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Cornwall, where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina's ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs.

She starts to hear voices in the farmhouse where they grew up, and moves between the present and the past.

Denise describes it as an interesting, light and easy read.

WENDY W: First Person by Richard Flanagan

A criminal facing a murder charge contracts a struggling author to ghost write his memoirs. He is horrified by his life style and his approach to life, and is scared that he may be beginning to take on some of these characteristics.

Wendy really enjoyed it.

She also read The Twentieth Man by Tony Jones.

This she described as a great political thriller set in Canberra during the times of the Serbian/Croatian conflict. Historical facts are included and cleverly woven through the story.

JUDY A: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor is a loner, socially inadequate with the same routine every weekend; frozen pizza, vodka and phone chat with mummy. When she meets the IT guy at work, bumbling and lovable, a relationship develops. Is she capable of friendship or even love?

A quirky, warm, funny but also dark story about relationships and confronting your secrets.

TAM: The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a badly behaved child who is not his own.
This event has a shocking ricochet effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the slap.

Each character has a different perspective of the event. They are dislikeable people and Tam was horrified at their lifestyle. She felt they were shallow, had no commitment and was disturbed that this could be an observation of modern day life in inner city Melbourne.

ROSEMARY: Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Her second novel also features Aaron Falk as a Federal Police Officer. Set in a rugged mountain region, a group of work colleagues set off on a 3-day hike as part of a team building exercise. Five women leave but only 4 return. Little side stories telling about the lives of the women throw some red herrings into the story. While Rosemary enjoyed it, she felt the ending didn’t have the unexpected twist of the author’s previous book.

JULIA: For her holiday reading Julia turned to a favourite author, Danielle Steele, reading 3 of her more recent releases.(2016)

Blue , The Apartment and Property of a Nobel Woman.

She really enjoyed them, particularly now that the story lines are no longer so predictable.

 

CLAURINE: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, Rod Bradbury (translator)

Allan Karlson is sitting in his room in an old people’s home waiting for his birthday party that he doesn’t want to have. So slowly, but surely he climbs out of the window and makes his escape. As his escapade unfolds we learn of his earlier life, brush with world leaders and criminals, and many significant events of the twentieth century. A very entertaining read, and a feel good book.

 

JUDY J: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by Davis Graan

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, they began to be killed off. After an unknown number of killings and several years of ineffective and corrupt investigation at local and state level, the FBI was eventually called in to try to solve these cases. A sad, shameful and forgotten part of American history.  

KRIS:  A Street Cat named Bob by James Bowen

When James, a homeless street busker, struggling with addiction finds an injured ginger stray cat sleeping in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, his life changes dramatically.  They form a strong bond and James finds purpose in caring for Bob.  It's an easy to read, uplifting  story of love and redemption. Kris also read 9 Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks.  This is a non fiction book by the journalist Geraldine Brooks.  It is a compelling insight into the hidden world of Islamic women and it is well worth reading.  

FEBRUARY: Judy Nunn ~ Sanctuary, Spirits of the Ghan, Maralinga, Elianne

 

DECEMBER, 2017 - OUR FAVOURITE BOOK WE READ THIS YEAR

JUDY J:   THE DRY BY JANE HARPER

Judy said it was slow moving, had readable chapters and a hook at the end.  The author writes well about small Australian country towns in drought.  The main character comes back to his hometown to find his friend had committed suicide and killed his family, probably due to the drought and debt.  It's a murder mystery with twists and turns.  Judy liked it.  She said it was a very good story and well written.

WENDY L:  THE CHOICE BY SOPHIE LAGUNA

This is Sophie Laguna's third novel written for adults. It is sent in Echuca, Victoria near the narrow part of the river.  A ten year old girl is living with her grandfather who has no idea how to look after her.  She has dyslexia. The whole family is totally dysfunctional.  It is a family of flawed and violent people. Wendy loved it and could not put it down.  The fact that the young girl was quite tough and loved the river made it an uplifting story.

ED: THE THORNWOOD HOUSE BY ANNA ROMER

The main character, Audrey inherits an abandoned homestead in rural Queensland.  She finds a photo of a handsome World War I medic in Thornwood House and becomes obsessed.  After digging into the past she finds out he was a murderer.  She suspects he is still alive and tries to solve the crime.

PAT:  THE TOYMAKER BY LIAM PIPER

Pat really enjoyed this book.  There is a real twist at the end.  It is a family saga about a wealthy family.  The story goes back in time to the grandfather and a secret he holds from his time during the war and in a concentration camp.  It is not what you expect.

ANNE: LOVE SONG BY QUEENIE HENNESSY BY RACHEL JOYCE

Anne didn't finish reading "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry".  This book follows on from that and is about Queenie and her unrequited love for Harold.  At first Anne didn't think much of it but it got better.  She enjoyed the characters in the nursing home with Queenie.  Although Anne hasn't finished it yet she said Rachel Joyce writes beautifully.


 JUDY D: CHILD 44 BY TOM ROB SMITH

It is the gripping story of Leo Demidov, a former agent.  It is set in 1953 in the dying days of Stalinist Russia in and around Moscow, where Leo is forced to make a moral decision whether to denounce his beloved wife, Raisa as a spy.  He is also confronted by the death of a neighbour's child who, it is claimed, was brutally assaulted before he was placed on the railway tracks.  This is the first book of a trilogy and Judy had to read on to find out what happened to the characters and also read the second book The Secret Speech as well.  She would thoroughly recommend this author.


CLAURENE:  THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME BY MARK HADDON

This is Mark Haddon's first book..  It's the story of a fifteen year old boy, Christopher who is suffering from mild Autism.  He lives with his father and attends a special school where he is sitting for an A level Maths exam so he will be able to go to University.  He relates well to animals but not with humans. He writes a story which is a mystery.  It starts with the neighbour's poodle being found impaled on a garden fork.  He decides he will track down the killer of the dog.  He cannot understand emotion so the mixture of comedy, mystery and his opinions of the people in the neighbourhood make this a most unusual book.  Judy thoroughly enjoyed the book.
 
CHARIS:  MINDING FRANKIE BY MAEVE BINCHY

She said it wasn't her best book but it had a nice feeling.  There were plots and sub plots.  The story is about an American woman visiting relatives in Ireland.  A woman who was dying, gave birth to a baby.  Before she dies, she told a man he was the father and would have to look after the child.  The family and community pulled together and everything was resolved.  Charis enjoyed the book.

BEV:  MURDER IN THE SKY BY ELIZABETH PETERS

This is book No. 12 in the series and they need to be read in order, otherwise it is too confusing.  It is a mystery and family saga.  Bev really enjoyed it.   It is set in Egypt in 1914 where Anne and Emerson Peabody are back for an archaeological excavation.

JO:  TOMB OF THE GOLDEN BIRD BY ELIZABETH PETERS

Jo loves the series and has most of the books.  This story is set in Egypt in1922.  Anne and Emerson are hunting for the tomb of Tutankhamun.  It is 500 pages long so you need a lot of patience to read this book. Jo loved this book.

WENDY J:  RIVER OF DESTINY BY BARBARA ERSKINE

The story is set in present day England.  It is about Zoe and her husband Ken.  Their marriage is a little bit rocky and so they move to the country hoping this will help.  They move into the Old Barn, one of three old buildings that have been converted into modern dwelling.  In the second dwelling, the Old Forge, lives a man who has been disfigured in an accident and in the third dwelling, the Threshing Barn, is a family with numerous children.  They only use it during school holidays.  The lives of these people get entwined.  Ken likes to sail on the nearby river and Zoe goes along for her husband's sake.  They start seeing ghosts, the first a Viking ship and then a man who has been hanged. A corresponding story is told which is set in the past about the time of the Viking raids of the coast towns of England.  Eventually this story explains why the ghosts appear in the present day.  Wendy liked it and found it interesting.  There are a few twists and turns.

TAM:  A MOTHER'S DESTINY BY ROSIE BATTY

Tam said it was a good read but a bit depressing.  It was a horrible topic.  In 2014 Rosie was a single mum.  Her world changed forever when Luke, her son was killed by his father at a cricket match.  They had experienced years of family violence.

ROSEMARIE:  EUGENIE BY MARK TEDESCHI

The story is set in the 1900's in New Zealand where Eugenie was born.  She had a difficult upbringing.  Eugenie was transgender and she joined the Navy as a man but the captain discovered she was a woman.  She was raped and became pregnant. She spent 22 years as a male and married twice.  His first wife was murdered and he/she was charged.  This is a true crime.  It's not Rosemarie's favourite book but she found it very interesting.

NATALIA:  OUTLANDER BY DIANA GABALDON

This is a series of books and Natalia is up to Book 6.  She enjoys them.  It is the story of Claire Randall who is a nurse in the present day.  She also has an interest in herbs.  She goes on a second honeymoon and goes through an ancient stone circle back to 1743 Scotland where she eventually falls in love with a handsome Scotsman 

JOAN: A STREET CAT NAMED BOB BY JAMES BOWEN

Joan said it was a beautiful and uplifting story.  It is about the unlikely friendship between a homeless man who is a recovering addict and a ginger cat that helped saved his life.  It is a true story set in London.
She also read A CATHOLIC DISSIDENT - MARTIN LUTHER BY PETER STANFORD. 
Joan said Martin Luther had huge moral courage. It was a very good book.

CONNIE:  THE RAILWAY MAN'S WIFE BY ASHLEY HAY

Connie said this book affected her.  it is set in Thirroul near Wollongong.  A fellow comes back from
World War 11 and goes out west to find a job.  He falls in love and gets married.  They move back to Thirroul and have a daughter and he gets a job on the Railway.   After ten years of marriage he has an accident.  She becomes a Librarian of the Library at Thirroul railway station.  She becomes friends with a friend of her husband from the war who is a war poet.  The telling of the story is sympathetic to the characters and Connie said the book stayed with her.

KRIS:  BIRDSONG BY SEBASTIAN FAULKS

This book is set before and during World War I.  The story begins in France in 1910.  Stephen, a young Englishman, gets a job in France and moves in with the family of his employer.  He falls madly in love with the man's wife, Isabelle and they have a passionate affair that tears the family apart.  They leave together but Isabelle suffers guilt and returns home. Stephen is devastated.  As war has broken out Stephen joins the British army and as an officer goes to the trenches of No Man's Land in France.  It is a very poignant book of the trials these men suffered.  What comes across is the futility of war. The characters are so well defined.  Kris loved this book.

JULIA:  EARTHLY REMAINS BY DONNA LEON

There are 26 in this series.  They are set in Venice. Julia loves them.  The main character is Inspector Brunetti who deals with crime around Venice. This book is quite different to his usual books.  He is on leave and finds a mystery.

LESLEY:  PRIMROSE PATH BY REBECCA GRIFFITHS

This is the author's first book.  Lesley really enjoyed the book. It is a psychological thriller set in a small village in South Wales.  It's very authentic.  It's a story of a woman who witnessed a dreadful murder.  She is kidnapped by the murderer but she escaped.  The murderer went to gaol for 17 years.  The woman starts a new life in a little village.  Lesley said it is very clever.  There were many strands to it and she enjoyed the writing. 

SHEILA:  APRIL FOOL'S DAY BY BRYCE COURTENAY

Sheila had never read any of Bryce Courtenay's books before.  This book was 666 pages long and she could not put it down.  She felt bereft for the family.  It is the story of Damon, the third son of Bryce and his wife.  He is a haemophiliac who needed many blood transfusions.  At the time transfusions were not screened and Damon became HIV positive and developed Aids.  The book traced his story until his death.  It is beautiful, funny, educational and full of love.  It is well worth reading.

PAMELA:  IN THE SKIN OF A LION BY MICHAEL ONDAATJE

Pamela said it was an intricate and brilliant book about change.  The setting is Toronto between 1910 and 1939.  It is about poor immigrants needing work and what they do and how they try to become Canadians. They do different types of work and there are no health and safety regulations.  It is about how these people develop strength through their experiences and their interactions with other people.  There are bits of humour as well.  The author also wrote the English Patient.  Pamela would recommend this book.

JUDY A:  WATCHTOWER BY ELIZABETH HARROWER

Judy said "this book is in my list of top reads of all time!"  It is set in Sydney just before WWII. Sisters Claire and Laura are happy at boarding school when their father dies suddenly and their lives change forever.  Laura, who is a promising student is sent to secretarial college and then finds a job at a factory owned by Felix Shaw.  When her selfish and self centred mother decides to return to England, Laura feels she has no option but to take up Felix's offer of marriage in order to keep Claire at school.  Felix is not the quiet, unassuming man he appears to be but rather a very controlling and cruel man. Laura is so worn down by his psychological and verbal abuse she becomes co-dependent but Claire strives to maintain her independent spirit.  Judy said it was one of the most powerful books she has ever read!

 
Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and look forward to getting together in the New Year to talk about a book we read in the holiday break.

Kris



 

November ~ Nevil Shute

Nevil Shute Norway (17 January 1899 – 12 January 1960) was an English novelist and aeronautical engineer who spent his later years in Australia. He used his full name in his engineering career and Nevil Shute as his pen name to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels.

BEYOND THE BLACK STUMP

Sheila:

Nevil Shute was an author Sheila had read many years before. But she was almost put off reading further after the first chapter; set in America in the 1950’s and full of clichés.

But from the second chapter, she loved the book. It tells the story of a young oilman who travels the world searching for oil. In the outback of Western Australia he meets an unconventional farming family and falls in love with a young girl. Much of the book concerns the differing moral standards and life styles between the people of the outback and those in his hometown in USA.

Sheila described him as a writer of the 1940/50’s generation, no frills, plain Australiana and a good read.

ON THE BEACH

Judy A:

Set in 1963 when Nuclear War has completely wiped out the northern hemisphere countries and the lethal nuclear fallout is gradually heading south. The story is set in Melbourne where people are living quite normal lives, with many denying it will happen.  As the radiation approaches, each person deals with impending death differently.

Judy felt that the writing now seemed dated, and the dialogue clichéd. But she was glad to have finally read this book.

JO:

This very good story moved Jo to ‘cry a bucketful of tears’. She also thought it should be compulsory reading for all politicians involved in nuclear war!

PIPER PIPER

Rosemary:

The story concerns a 70 year old Englishman, John Sidney Howard, who goes on a fishing holiday in France partly to recover from grief at the loss of his son. As the Second World War quickly escalates, he decides he must return to England. Along the way he acquires 5 children from different backgrounds who need to get back to England.

Rosemary enjoyed the story with a particular fondness for the main character.

 

Ed:

Each of the children who joined him had interesting and different stories.

Charis:

Charis also enjoyed the book.

Howard tells his journey in the form of a flashback to an acquaintance he meets in a club during the London Blitz.

THE WETLANDS

Charis:

The story begins with the narrator – a priest named Roger Hargreaves –describing his ordinary circumstances in a large parish of the Australian outback in 1953. As part of his duties, he has to minister to the dying and this brings him into contact with an aged, alcoholic, opium smoking, diseased, ex-pilot and ex-ringer named Stevie.

Stevie tells him his story of being a pilot for the queen, but it is so incredible, can he be believed?

Despite this storyline, Charis didn’t really enjoy the book and became bored with the incredulity of the story.

A TOWN LIKE ALICE

Wendy L:

The 2 main characters Jean, an English woman, and Joe, an Australian soldier, meet while both are prisoners of the Japanese in Malaya (now Malayasia).

Returning to England after the war, Jean finds she has inherited a considerable sum of money from her uncle, which will be kept in trust for her.

 After the war they seek each other out and reunite in a small Australian town that would have no future if not for her plans to turn it into ‘a town like Alice”.

Wendy liked how the author sets up the character of the lawyer to narrate the story. As he manages her trust, he secretly falls in love with Jean.

For Wendy this was a chance to reread a book first encountered many years ago.

She was shocked at how dated it had become, the language was different and the characters clichéd, although this was appropriate for the time it was written.

Judy J:

It was a story told in 2 parts. The first set in Malaya after the Japanese have invaded most of the country. A group of women and children are forced to walk from village to village for many months as there is no suitable prison for them. As she speaks Malay fluently, Jean takes a leading role in the group of prisoners.

The second part takes place in Australia after the war. Jean uses her inheritance to find Joe, the Australian soldier who had helped them out.

 

It was interesting that the Japanese soldiers were portrayed as more human than in other war accounts. One could almost feel sorry for them, they were prisoners themselves.

Joan:

Joan also enjoyed rereading the book and going back to simpler times. When the story moved to the Gulf country, she could relate to this from her own experiences there.

Joe Harman, his character, his language were so typical of the time.

She felt it was well worth reading again.

THE FAR COUNTRY

Pauline:

This is another of Nevil Shute’s books set both in Australia and England and probably based on characters and places he was familiar with.

Set in 1952, an English couple live in the outback on a prosperous sheep farm. They regularly send money to help support an old aunt in England.

Before she dies, the aunt sends her granddaughter out to Australia to visit her relatives. Here she meets and falls in love with a young Czech doctor.

The comparisons between the relative prosperity of Australia and the harsh post war conditions in England become very obvious in the story.

Pauline commented that the language of the book was delightful, she liked the fact that it was dated and described it as a nice easy read.

ROUND THE BEND

Pat:

Nevil Shute had previously been an aeronautical engineer. This novel is the story of Constantine “Connie” Shaklin an aircraft engineer who founds a new religion transcending existing religions based on the merit of good work. He runs a charter service and befriends the Russians and the Chinese without any prejudice.

Although Pat didn’t finish the book, from her past reading of his books, commented that he has a no nonsense style of writing, and tells a good story.

A LONELY ROAD

Connie:

Connie eventually enjoyed this book after getting through the rather confusing first chapter.

Set before World War Two, the story involves a group of people bringing guns into Cornwall, a rich bachelor and an underlying love story.

The author’s nautical background shows through in the very interesting and readable facts about sailing, boats etc.

 

MOST SECRET

Bev:

It is narrated by a commander in the Royal Navy, and tells the story of four men who launch a daring mission at the time when Briton stood alone against Germany after the fall of France

The central character is Englishman, Charles Simon. He returns to work in France as an engineer in the concrete industry, continuing when the works are taken over and pressed into the services of the occupying German forces who have a great demand for reinforced concrete structures. When he realizes what it is to be used for he and 3 others form a daring plan.

Bev thoroughly enjoyed it.

MARAZAN

Julia:

Published in 1926, this was the first of many novels by Nevil Shute and includes themes that were to be characteristic of other books, flying, small boat sailing and a love story.

It is the story of an air crash with an escaping prisoner rescuing the pilot, drug smuggling via the airplane, escape by sailing cruiser, the interception of the cargo and the capture of those responsible using another plane!

Julia really enjoyed this intriguing story.

PASTORAL

Diane D

Reading about life in wartime England brought back many memories for Diane. She enjoyed this aspect of the story, but otherwise wouldn’t recommend the book.

The story takes place on an English airbase. The brilliant young pilots go out on sorties, some will come back, while others will not. Even during times of war, romance still happens. Not much else seems to happen in the story. Diane had some concerns about the author’s attitude to women, especially as this was a time that the women were skilled, doing men’s work and finding their voice.

THE OLD CAPTIVITY

Natalia:

A young pilot is hired to fly some academics to Greenland to survey a site of early Norseman times. Becoming very tired from the work expected of him there, he takes sleeping tablets to keep going but falls into a coma going back in time to the original voyage of discovery of Greenland.

Natalia felt that the characters didn’t really come to life and the ‘time travel’ needed more depth.

It was a different and interesting story, and very factual about aircraft of that time.

 

TRUSTEE FROM THE TOOLROOM

Val:

Keith is an ordinary little man, living in Ealing, who makes small-scaled machinery models, and answers reader’s queries in a magazine called Minature Mechanics. He and his wife don’t have any children.

His sister is married to a wealthy naval officer who sail the world. His sister and the commander decide to sail their yacht to Canada leaving their 10 year old daughter with her brother.

When their boat is shipwrecked in Tahiti, and all lives are lost, Keith becomes the guardian of his niece and sets off to retrieve the family’s fortune believed to be a cache of diamonds hidden on the boat.

Many people help him along the way, often they are readers connected to his magazine. While it was a very enjoyable and delightful read, Val thought there were a few too many and easy coincidences. Again, the author has included much and interesting engineering detail in the story.

The book was published in 1960 after the author’s death.

SO DISDAINED

Prue:

This is Shute’s second book, first published in 1928 and re-released in 1951.

Set after the First World War in Sussex in England, a returned pilot becomes the manager of a Lord’s estate. The differences in the lives of the middle and upper class are well described.

He meets a pilot who is down on his luck and has been forced into flying a photographic espionage mission for the Russians. There is much discussion as to the morality of acting as a traitor to his country.

While the plot was fairly elementary and the chapters long, Prue enjoyed the book. Beautiful language and proper expressions were part of the appeal.

 

THE RAINBOW AND THE ROSE

Tam:

Johnnie Pascoe is a pilot who has crashed in the Tasmanian wilderness while on a rescue mission to help a sick child. He is annoyed at having to risk his life because of where this child lives.

Another pilot volunteers to rescue the crashed pilot.

With 2 narrators the story had the tendency to sometimes be confusing.

Tam thought it a great story with a very interesting ending. She is keen to read more books by this author.

RUINED CITY

Judy D:

Henry Warren is a successful, hardworking banker who finds that his wife has been having an affair. They divorce and on a whim, gets his chauffer to drive him to the north of England so he can go on a hike and clear his head. The chauffer is killed in a road accident while returning to London, Warren falls ill and is taken to a nearby hospital. Wonderful people come to his rescue and as he has no identification, he is taken for a tramp or vagabond looking for work.

While the town had relied on industry, much of this is closing down. Through various means, not always legal, he manages to get the shipbuilding factory reopened and the town begins to prosper again.

NO HIGHWAY

 

Wendy J:

Theodore Honey is in charge of research into the fatigue of aluminum frames at Farnborough. His current project is to investigate the possible failure in the tailplane of a new airliner the “Rutland Reindeer”. He is sent to Greenland to investigate another plane crash, travelling on a Reindeer. According to his calculations the flying hours of this current plane are close to his predicted failure time!

How will he stop this from happening, how will he get the people on the plane back to England, and what will happen to him when he returns?

All of this makes it an interesting and easy read, enjoyed by Wendy.

REQUIEM FOR A WREN

Pamela:

The narrator Allan has been a lawyer in London before becoming a pilot in World War 11. He loses both his feet after being shot down. In the 1950s he eventually goes back to his wealthy parent’s sheep property in Australia only to be confronted by the apparent suicide of the family’s English housekeeper, Janet Prentice.

He later discovers that this lady had been engaged to his brother in England. After he died in the war and she suffered several other personal and war related tragedies she decided to come to Australia.

Pamela thought the characters were well developed, but there was too much technical detail. She didn’t think it was a depressing story. It was tragic what happened to the young woman, but the story had an uplifting ending.

Diann:

Diann looked at the story from a different perspective.

Janet grew up on a farm where it was normal to go shooting. During the war, she rose through the ranks, met a young man and became engaged. He unfortunately died. So she came to Australia o find the family but used a different name.

Diann described it as the story of a formidable young woman and how war affects people’s lives.

December's Book Club:

The best book you've read this year.

Also don't forget your Christmas gift. Wrap up a book you are happy to 'regift'. Write the genre of the book on the front.

 Join us for Christmas Lunch to finish the year.