The Summer Before The War

I very much enjoyed The Summer Before The War by Helen Simonson which is set in a small English town in the months leading up to and during World War I.  Fiercely independent Beatrice Nash wants to make her own way in life following the death of her beloved father.  She takes up a position as a Latin teacher in the town at a time when a woman daring to have a "career" was almost unheard of.  She meets two young men Hugh and Daniel who are visiting their Aunt Agatha.  War is looming and young men everywhere are making decisions about their future.  Some are pressured rather than willing to join the conflict.  Aunt Agatha has no children of her own and her nephews are very dear to her. The situation worsens when the town provides a sanctuary to Belgian refugees as the conflict begins.  As with any war, there are casualties.  Beautifully written. 41/2/5

Goodwood

I enjoyed reading Goodwood by Holly Throsby which is set in a small Australian town somewhere in southern New South Wales.  The narrator is a teenage girl, Jean, who tells the story of what happened in the town over several months.  Rosie, a popular teenage girl goes missing and a few days later the town's butcher, Bart, also goes missing.  The shock for the town is great as the residents speculate on what might have happened to them.  This time is also a "coming of age" for Jean.  There are many characters (too many), some of whom are likable and interesting.  4/5

Spirits of the Ghan

I've read Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn which is a story set mainly around the building of the Ghan railway from Alice Springs to Darwin.  The historical elements were interesting as were the back stories about what happened to Aboriginal people during the 19th and 20th centuries.  The story is woven around the character Jess Manning, an Aboriginal woman, university educated who negotiates with local Aborigines relating to sacred sites in the path of the railway.  Jess' Aboriginal ancestors lived in the area and she has reconnected with the relatives of her mother.  There is a romantic interest with surveyor Matt Witherton who learns about his own ancestors through their relationship.  For some parts of the story the reader must "suspend belief" to accept what happens.  3/5

Once We Were Brothers

I very much enjoyed Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson.  It is set in Poland before and during World War II, and in Chicago in 2004.  Ben Solomon survived the War but most of his family did not.  His best friend,Otto Piatek, a German lived with Ben's family prior to and early in the War.  In Chicago in 2004, Ben engages a lawyer, Catherine Lockhart, to expose the multi-millionaire Elliot Rosenzweig as the Nazi, Otto Piatek.  It is not an easy thing to do.  Ben tells his story of the War to Catherine so she understands the tragedy that touched his family.  So the story is told in the past and the present.  Both are good stories.  Highly recommended. 5/5

The Heat

I enjoyed The Heat by Garry Disher which is set mainly in Noosa.  A man, Wyatt, is hired to steal a painting. He has some reservations about the job but he needs the money.  Lots of twists and turns, fast-paced, who can Wyatt trust?  31/2/5

June 2017 Book Club

We had a delightful evening with our hostess last night.  The night air was a bit chilly but we found  sanctuary in our hostess' home.  There were seven of us with three away travelling, one of them in the Kimberley's now after an epic trek across the continent.  We've enjoyed seeing the photos of her and her husband's adventures.  Our hostess bought some great new books which I'll look forward to reading.  She also provided a sumptuous supper which we very much enjoyed.  As always, we had

lots to talk about.  One of the ladies was surprised when her grandchild's birthday party ended up with a lot more than the eight children invited.  All the parents and siblings of the eight arrived - and stayed!  Apparently this is a "thing" these days.  Unbelievable!

The Orphan's Tale

I read The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff which is set mainly in Germany during World War II.  Two characters narrate the story with their own chapters.  Noa is cast out of her Dutch family's home when she becomes pregnant and ends up with a travelling circus.  The other character, Astrid, had been brought up in a Jewish circus and had been married to a Nazi  officer until their marriage was no longer recognised.  She found shelter in the same circus as Noa had.  They then each play out their lives in the circus with various dramas along the way.  This was a good story let down in the telling. 31/2/5

The Trespasser

I very much enjoyed The Trespasser by Tana French.  This is a murder mystery set in Dublin, Ireland when a young woman, Aislinn, is found dead in her home.  Detective Inspector Antoinette Conway and her partner Steve Moran investigate the death where there appears to be only one main suspect, the man she'd invited to dinner that night, Rory Fallon.  The story is narrated by DI Conway as she tells of the difficulties of the case and her colleagues who don't take her seriously as a homicide investigator.  She is a strong feisty woman.  The author is Irish and has won a number of awards.  She is an excellent writer making Conway seem very real, we are always inside her head. Recommended. 41/2/5