Family Secrets

I enjoyed Family Secrets by Liz Byrski which is set in Tasmania, France and England.  Head of the family Gerald Hawkins has died after a prolonged illness.  His wife Connie has nursed him at home through this difficult period and now that he's gone she resolves to live her own life.  She travels to France to renew her friendship with Flora, Gerald's sister.  Together they travel to England and visit places from their youth.  Connie's children Andrew and Kerry, with their families are rearranging their lives with different priorities.  All the characters face new challenges and resolve some long-standing issues.  This was a good "holiday read". 31/2/5

Inside the O'Briens

I very much enjoyed Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova which focuses on Huntington's Disease.  This is a very rare fatal neurological disorder.  See www.hdsa.org for more information.  Boston policeman, Joe O'Brien, notices he's getting clumsy and dropping things.  Joe belongs to a strong community of Irish Catholics.  He is married to Rosie and he has four children - JJ, Patrick, Meghan and Katie.  After reluctantly going to the doctor he is referred to a specialist who confirms he has Huntington's Disease and that each of his children have a 50/50 chance of getting it themselves.  Joe and his family then deal with the news in different ways.  The question is whether they get tested to see if they have the faulty gene which will eventuate in having the disease and how they will live their life after that.  This is a terrific story, well told with great sensitivity.  There are lessons in the story for all of us.  Highly recommended.  5/5

Go Set A Watchman

I enjoyed Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee which is the recently published and much anticipated "second" novel by the author.  There has been much controversy about the publication since it was announced in February 2015.  The story is set about 20 years after To Kill A Mockingbird. Jean Louise Finch (Scout) has been living in New York and visits her family - Aunt, Uncle and Father in her Maycomb hometown.  Her hometown sweetheart Henry (Hank) Wilson is very pleased to see her and proposes marriage a number of times.  Jean Louise begins to see and hear things in the town which she finds disturbing.  Most of these issues relate to race and one's place in society.  Jean Louise is surprised by the attitude of women her own age and others and she wonders what has happened to her town.  She has always been "colour blind".  She has faith in her upbringing and trust in her father Atticus.  How will she deal with this new order?  Well written, a story of its time.  However, if you really loved To Kill A Mockingbird, I advise you not to read this book.  31/2/5 

Murder 101

I enjoyed most of Murder 101 by Faye Kellerman which has Detective Decker investigating an unusual art theft in his small town.  Shortly after this investigation begins, there are two related murders.  This is very unusual in this town.  Decker and his partner Constable McAdams are a mix of old and young that doesn't make for a good mix at the start.  McAdams is "cruising" through a year with the Police Department through his wealthy contacts and gets on everyone's nerves.  Decker's wife becomes involved in the investigation which is centered in and around New York.  There are many twists and turns, some of which are predictable.  The McAdams character undergoes a transformation which is too "neat".  The story is too long and padded. 31/2/5

Family Life

I enjoyed reading Family Life by Akhil Sharma which tells the story of a middle-class Indian family migrating to the USA in the late 1970s.  The narrator, Ajay, is in his early teens when he, his brother Birju and his parents leave their home to live in a different culture.  Everything is new and takes some adjusting.  Not long after their arrival "something" happens which has a powerful impact on all their lives.  Ajay goes to high school and experiences some bullying.  He becomes a good scholar and helps his parents.  The reader becomes very attached to Ajay and feels for him as he lives his sometimes difficult life.  There is love and tenderness shown in this story and the yearning for happiness.  When it comes, should it be embraced, or refused to someone more worthy.  4/5

July 2015 Book Club

We all had an enjoyable evening at our July Book Club.  It was an unusual occasion as we were all there.  During the last month some members have been overseas and interstate visiting relatives and/or enjoying the sights.  It was a bit chilly outside but wonderfully warm and welcoming in our hostess's home.  There was a lot of catching up to do with those were were absent last time and we heard about all they had been doing.  Some members are planning to head off for holidays to warmer parts in the next few months -

places like Spain, Cooktown, Cairns, Alice Springs.  We'll look forward to hearing about their travels next time.  Our hostess provided a delicious supper and she had bought a number of great books for us to read.  We always like hearing about the books we all have read so we know what to read next time.

Brother Of The More Famous Jack

I enjoyed Brother Of The More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido originally published in 1982, now revised edition with Foreword by Maria Semple.  It's the story of a teenage girl, Katherine, who goes to university and is taken to the home of her philosophy professor to meet his family - the Goldmans.  Professor Jacob Goldman has a wonderfully eccentric family and house which is nothing like anything Katherine had seen before.  Jake has a large and growing family with his wife Jane who seems always to be having children.    Katherine adjusts to this new environment quickly and is invited to stay for the weekend.  After that she often comes to stay and enjoys the quirky way the family relates to each other.  She falls in love with the eldest son and from there it really becomes her story as her life takes another turn, but then finally comes full circle.  I did not immediately like this book, but then it grew on me.  The Goldmans are outrageously wonderful.  The writing is warm and witty.  4/5

One Life - My Mother's Story

I very much enjoyed reading the memoir One Life - My Mother's Story by Kate Grenville.  I had seen the author interviewed on ABC1 about her book which she has written well after her mother died.  Her mother left behind exercise books with stories of her life.  The book is based on the information the author had and presented in a way that engages the reader as only a good writer can.  Nance was born in 1912 and lived till 2002 so her life spanned most of the 20th century.  I was thoroughly absorbed in Nance's life and her character.  Grenville says in her Prologue "My mother wasn't the sort of person biographies are usually written about. ... Just the same, I think her story is worth telling."  This speaks to me as an oral historian.  Most of the people I've interviewed reveal their otherwise unknown lives.  Highly recommended. 5/5

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules

I thoroughly enjoyed The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg which is set in Sweden (translated in 2013).  A group of pensioners, led by Martha, live in a retirement/nursing home and as the management continues to cut costs, the standard drops considerably.  The residents are not given buns with their coffee, and only three cups a day.  Martha has seen a movie about a prison and then believes they are better looked after than she and her friends are.  So she hatches a plan to commit a crime so they can go to prison.  This story is a delight, not to be taken seriously, has so many twists and turns as their inexperience as criminals makes for some interesting adventures.  The reader will think - how will they resolve this?  A lot of fun. 4/5