Blog shutting down

Sadly Google is shutting down all my Blogs.  I'm told this process may take some months so I am not adding any more posts to my Blogs.  I must find a new home for my book Blog.

A Long Way From Home

I enjoyed A Long Way From Home by Peter Carey which is set against the background of the Redex Trial, a race around Australia to prove the reliability of the cars used.  A couple, Irene and Titch, leave their children and set off with their next-door neighbour, Willie, as navigator.  All these are great characters with different goals.  Later in the story, we learn more about Willie's background as an indigenous man, something he was unaware of and this takes the story in a different direction.  A good read. 4/5

In Sunshine and Shadow

I very much enjoyed In Sunshine and Shadow by Eve Puodžiūnaitė Wicks which is the story of the Lithuanian community in Queensland.  The author has produced a beautiful book with photographs, poetry, and oral history which tells the story of Lithuania since it was first independent in 1918.  Then followed many years of turbulence with invasions by the Russians, Germans and again Russians until they finally achieved independence again in 1990.  The oral history excerpts are included in the narrative so we learn that real people were involved in the events that shaped their country and the refugees who settled in Australia.  This is a great example of how oral history can enrich storytelling. 5/5

The Daughters of Mars

I very much enjoyed The Daughters of Mars by Tom Keneally which tells a fictional story about two sisters who served as nurses during World War I.  Naomi and Sally Durance are very different personalities.  The story follows them when the War begins and their voyage to Egypt.  There they see the Australian troops before they're deployed to Gallipoli.  Later they're nursing on Lemnos and witness the carnage visited upon those soldiers from Gallipoli.  Eventually, they end up on the Western Front where men are cut down in that terrible conflict.  We learn through their experiences the terrible consequences of the battles we have heard about.  It's a big book for a big story.  I liked the detail the author gives to his descriptions.  I wanted to know what happened to these characters that I had invested in, their dedication and courage in the face of the horror they witnessed. 5/5

Don't Let Go

I enjoyed Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben which is set in a small town in America.  Police Officer, Nap Dumas, investigates the apparent suicide of his brother Leo 15 years earlier.  Too many coincidences lead him to new information and clues about what happened.  Lots of twists to keep readers interested. 4/5

Bridge of Clay

I enjoyed Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak (author of The Book Thief).  The story is set in a Sydney suburb and a property in the country, west of Sydney.  The narrator is Matthew, the eldest of five boys.  He tells the story of his parents and much of the story is about his brother Clay.  It's about men and boys dealing with tragedy.  Clay moves to his father's property west of their family home.  Together Clay and his father build a bridge which helps them heal.  The story has a slow start, but persevere.  This a big beautifully written book. 41/2/5

Scrublands

I enjoyed Scrublands by Chris Hammer which is set in a small outback town "west of Sydney."  Journalist, Martin Scarsden, arrives in the town to follow up on how the town is coping one year after their priest shot five parishioners.  Martin meets a young mother who runs a bookshop/cafe and learns more about the townspeople.  There are a number of interesting characters and Martin discovers some shocking information about the priest and those he killed.  There is a lot going on in the town beneath the surface.  He ends up with a more compelling story than the one he was sent to write. 4/5

Boy Swallows Universe

I very much enjoyed Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton who used to write for the Courier-Mail weekend paper before he moved to Sydney.  The story is narrated by Eli Bell who lives with his older brother August, his mother, and his step-father in south-west Brisbane.  His family gets a little too close to some really bad people and there are consequences.  Eli is infatuated with a young reporter for a local paper and he hopes one day to be a crime reporter for the Courier-Mail.  Trent Dalton has fleshed out some wonderful characters in this story - the good and the bad.  After watching video interviews with him, we understand more about them.  I loved this book. 5/5

Crime Club Christmas Lunch

We had a very enjoyable lunch at the Monier Tavern yesterday.  It was a good turnout.  We had a good time talking and eating delicious and well-presented food in a great venue.  We have a little Christmas tradition where we bring along a Christmas wrapped book (pre-loved or not) and make a colourful pile in the middle of the table (forgot to photograph that).  Then we "pass the parcel" around the table till we've all got a wrapped book.  I was very happy to receive Markus Zusak's new book Bridge of Clay.  Another member had her book inside a beautiful hand crafted book bag which had been made by one of our clever members.  We were all very pleased with our new books and look forward to

getting together again in 2019.

The Lost Man

I very much enjoyed The Lost Man by Jane Harper, another fine piece of storytelling by this author.  The story opens with the horrific death of a man in the desert at "The Stockman's Grave".  We then learn who he was and his family is at a loss to understand how he could have died there.  He has an older brother Nathan who owns an adjacent property.  Nathan and his son Xander are staying at the family property for Christmas. The family and police are at a loss to determine the circumstances which led to the death in the desert.  As Nathan explores possibilities, he soon learns that he didn't know his brother well at all.  A good mystery set amidst the harsh outback.  Harper makes you feel the heat and desert sand.  41/2/5

The Music Shop

I enjoyed The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce which is set in England mainly in 1988.  Frank owns a music shop which is stocked with only vinyl.  He refuses to have CDs in his shop.  Frank has an extensive knowledge of music passed to him from his mother.  He has an uncanny knack of knowing which music a customer needs to hear.  One day Ilse, a lovely woman in a green coat visiting from Austria sees the shop and Frank.  From there the story continues as Frank gives Ilse weekly "music lessons" introducing her to the classic pieces that are essential to know about.  Here is the playlist.  There are some great characters in this story.  This is another lovely book by the author who also gave us the delightful The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.  Enjoy. 4/5

Together

I enjoyed Together by Julie Cohen which is a love story set in Maine in the USA.  The two main characters are Robbie and Emily and the story is told backwards, which is quite unusual.  The end begins in 2016 when Robbie makes a very difficult decision.  Then we see where the couple is in 1990, then in 1975 and the beginning in 1962.  As we read the story, we discover that they share a terrible secret which has had a huge impact on their lives and the lives of their extended family.  We wonder what could be so bad that they have been treated by their family this way.  The reason is finally revealed and it was a shock (extra 1/2 star) just for that.  I didn't see that coming. 41/2/5

Wild Fire

I enjoyed Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves but was disappointed to learn this is her last Jimmy Perez mystery.  A young woman is murdered and there are a number of suspects.  "Newcomers" move in to an old house and renovate it.  The family is treated with suspicion when two bodies are found on their property.  Jimmy's boss, Willow has some news for him which he doesn't take very well at first.  They continue with their investigation amid an underlying tension between them.  A good mystery. 4/5

Any Ordinary Day

I enjoyed Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales which is a book of interviews Sales has conducted with various people who have experienced terrible experiences in their lives.  Many of the names are recognisable including Walter Mikac, James Scott, and Stuart Diver.  They and others interviewed were involved in major dramas that changed their lives. "Any ordinary day" any one of us could be involved in a terrible tragedy or one that happens to people we love.  In either case we will be changed.  No one is immune.  We can't think - that happens to other people, not to me.  Sometimes we are the "other people".  How we respond to a new life challenge will determine how we live in the future.  I found the book very interesting and thought provoking.  Recommended. 4/5

November Book Club

We enjoyed our last Book Club meeting for the year last Monday evening.  This year has flown by, but I say that every year.  I remember waiting for months for our holiday in Alaska and Canada, seemed to take forever, and now it's over, left with memories and photographs.  Our host on Monday  provided a great Christmas themed supper which was delicious.  We always want
her recipes.  The lemon cake is on my list to make.  She always has gorgeous tea cosies.  As most of us were at the meeting, one absentee, we had a good time talking about everything, as well as the
wonderful books we've read.  Our host bought a number of great new books and we've got enough to see us through the Christmas/
New Year break.  We hope not to get to that sorry state of having nothing to read. We'll look forward to our Christmas lunch.  Happy Reading!!

Full Bore

I enjoyed Full Bore by William McInnes which is a collection of short stories based on his life.  He is very amusing as he "rambles" on about different events and what it means to be an "Aussie bloke".  He speaks fondly of his upbringing at Redcliffe and attending the HumpyBong primary school.  I found the stories about breakfast cereals, particularly Rice Bubbles, very funny.  I enjoy his self-deprecating humour. 4/5

Before the Fall

I enjoyed this story Before the Fall by Noah Hawley which is set on the east coast of USA.  I read it on Amazon Kindle while on holiday.  A small plane crashes into the sea and there are only two survivors.  Nine die, one of them a billionaire businessman.  The story gives us details about what happened after the crash then the investigation continues, plane parts and bodies recovered are examined as speculations grows about what could have happened.  We learn the back stories of the individuals on the plane.  Eventually, the full horror of what happened is revealed with the recovery of the black box. Recommended. 4/5

The Clockmaker's Daughter

I enjoyed The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton which is set in a few different time periods in an English country home.  A young London archivist, Elodie, discovers material in a leather satchel and tries to discover its origins and the story behind the artwork within it.  The story surrounds one country home which at different times was home to a number of people.  There was a mysterious gathering at the home in 1862 which has a lasting impact on some who were there.  There are several voices who speak to the reader in this story, including the most mysterious one who is revealed towards the end of the story.  I have enjoyed all Kate Morton's books but I think this one was unnecessarily long.  4/5

October Book Club

I had just returned from a fabulous holiday in Alaska and Canada.  Other members were away this month on holidays.  We had a lovely meeting our our host's home.  Always good to catch up with everyone.  Our host bought some great new books and I have a few books to read for the month.  We had a delicious supper in very pleasant surroundings.

Thanks to our host and also thanks to another member for taking me there.

Normal People

I've read Normal People by Sally Rooney which is set in Ireland.  This is a love story.  Connell and Marianne are at school together.  Connell's mother is Marianne's mother's cleaner.  So they are very different in socio-economic terms.  They go to university and remain friends while they each have other lovers. There is no punctuated dialogue but the story still flows. 3/5