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