Reckoning

I very much enjoyed Reckoning by Magda Szubanski which tells the story of her life and her Polish and Scot/Irish heritage.  I was particularly interested in the stories she told about her father and his work in the Resistance in Poland during World War II.  His experiences are something no teenager should have to deal with.  The author has done many great works in her career.  We all love the characters she created, especially "Sharon".  Now she can add "author" as another string to her very fine bow.  She discusses her sexuality and the difficulty she had dealing with it.  She finally overcame her fear and "came out" to her parents who continued to love and support her.  Magda's sexuality was not an issue for me but of course, it was for her throughout most of her life.  My hope is that this is no longer so important for our young gay people, that society is more accepting.  Sadly, it remains an issue for some.  I really liked the relationship she had with her father and how she learned what sort of a man he was.  Highly recommended. 41/2/5

When This Thing Happened

I very much enjoyed When This Thing Happened by Michael McKernan, author and historian.  The author has written two connected biographies of his father-in-law, Michael Stawyskyj and brother-in-law, Joe Stawyskyj.  Michael Stawyskyj was a teenager when Germany invaded his country Ukraine and he was sent to Germany to be a slave worker.  After the War Michael spent a long time in a "displaced persons" camp where he met and married Anna and fathered Joe.  In 1949 they arrived in Australia and Michael was determined to work hard and begin a new life for his family.  He and Anna had two more children, Michalina (author's wife) and John.  The 1960s brought conscription and the Vietnam War.  That is "when this thing happened" to Joe.  The author provides information about the historical events which impacted the Stawyskyj family.  We learn how political decisions affect the lives of ordinary people.  I read a review last year describing this book as a "must read" and I agree with that assessment.  I bought the book because the review talked about Michael's life as a slave worker in Germany in World War II and then he and his family were relocated to Australia.  My own father had a similar experience and arrived in Australia the same year.  Then I read the second part of the book about Joe and what happened to him.  This is a very moving, poignant story about the Stawyskyj family. It is a book I will long remember.  Highly recommended. 5/5

The Captive Sun

I very much enjoyed The Captive Sun by Irena Karafilly which is set on a small Greek island.  The main character, Calliope is a witness to the social and political turmoil in Greece from before World War II until the 1970s.  Calliope is an emotionally strong beautiful woman who lives her life as she pleases and refuses to submit to the socials norms of her time.  She is married at a young age and as she gets older she has a number of men wanting her love and attention. The greatest impact on the village is the Nazi Occupation during World War II.  Calliope is a school teacher who particularly wants to see girls receiving an education.  These are dangerous times.  After the War Royalists and Communists vied for power.  Now the Greeks were killing each other and this was worse in the 1970s.  It was a good story and a history lesson. 41/2/5

Truly Madly Guilty

I enjoyed Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty which is set in a Sydney suburb.  There are three main couples - Sam and Clementine, Oliver and Erica, Vid and Tiffany.  Oliver and Erica live next-door to Vid and Tiffany.  Erica and Clementine have been friends since primary school.  Sam and Clementine have two small adorable girls.  Erica and Oliver have been trying unsuccessfully to have their own children.  Erica's mother is a "hoarder" which was interesting.  Vid and Tiffany have one little girl.  Vid also has teenage girls from his first marriage who don't live with him.   Vid invites the other couples and their children to a barbecue.  He is a very generous host and everyone is having a good time.  The story of what happens during the afternoon of the barbecue is told in flashback chapters to build suspense.  The other chapters are set some weeks later.  All the adults are questioning themselves regarding the events of that afternoon.  They are also trying to get on with their lives and reassess their priorities.  A good story but not Moriarty's best. 4/5

A Little Life

I very much enjoyed reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara about a man, Jude, who becomes a very successful lawyer but is always haunted by his childhood marred by terrible sexual abuse.  This is a story of love, friendship and resilience.  Jude and his three special friends Malcolm, JB and Willem meet at college and get a flat together.  They all become very successful in their field and remain close friends for life.  The reader learns in flashbacks about Jude's early life and his shame which leads him to distrust anyone who wants to get close to him.  His friends love him but he feels he doesn't deserve that love because of his childhood and his fear that they will find out about it.  This is at times a harrowing read as we can feel great sadness about Jude's early life and how it impacts on his life as an adult.  I was often in awe of the beautiful writing in this book.  I read it as an e-book with 429 pages (736 hard copy).  It is one of those rare books that I want to finish to see what happens and not wanting to leave this beautiful writing.  5/5

The Wrong Side of Goodbye

I very much enjoyed The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly which is the latest Harry Bosch story.  As my husband says "it's like putting on comfy slippers" reading a Harry Bosch book.  We know the character so well.  Bosch is working as a Private Investigator and part-time as a reserve looking at cold cases and some more serious cases in a quiet police station far from the bustling station where he used to work.  As a PI he is hired by an elderly billionaire who is dying and wants Bosch to find a woman whom he believes had his baby shortly after WWII.  He wants to redeem himself before he dies by leaving his fortune to any possible blood heirs.  In his part-time position Bosch is investigating the case of a serial rapist.  So he has plenty to keep him busy and the reader enthralled. 41/2/5