The Railway Man's Wife by Ashley Hay

"It's not what we forget

But what was never known we most regret

Discovery of"

Stephen Edgar 

Welcome to the month of May's book: The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley Hay. I have listed some points for discussion and to think about as you read the journey of Annika, Roy and Frank.

About the book

In a small town on the land’s edge, in the strange space at a war’s end, a widow, a poet and a doctor each try to find their own peace, and their own new story. In Thirroul, in 1948, people chase their dreams through the books in the railway’s library. 

Anikka Lachlan searches for solace after her life is fractured by a single random act. 

Roy McKinnon, who found poetry in the mess of war, has lost his words and his hope. 

Frank Draper is trapped by the guilt of those his treatment and care failed on their fi rst day of freedom. 

All three struggle with the same question: how now to be alive.

Written in clear, shining prose and with an eloquent understanding of the human heart, The Railwayman’s Wife explores the power of beginnings and endings, and how hard it can be sometimes to tell them apart. It’s a story of life, loss and what comes after; of connection and separation, longing and acceptance. Most of all, it celebrates love in all its forms, and the beauty of discovering that loving someone can be as extraordinary as being loved yourself.

A story that will break your heart with hope.

About the author

Ashley Hay is the author of five previous books including Gum, Museum (with visual artist Robyn Stacey) and The Body in the Clouds - her first novel, which was shortlisted for a number of prizes including categories in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the New South Wales and West Australian Premier’s Awards, and longlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

A former literary editor of The Bulletin, she contributes to a number of publications including The Monthly, Australian Geographic, and The Australian, and her essays and short stories have appeared in volumes including Brothers and Sisters (2009), various issues of the Griffith Review, Best Australian Essays (2003), Best Australian Short Stories (2012), and Best Australian Science Writing (2012).

She lives in Brisbane.

Reviews & Quotes

‘Ashley Hay’s beautiful romance of grief and love set in the escarpment landscape that once enchanted D.H. Lawrence will come to speak for the south coast in the same way that Delia Falconer’s The Service of Clouds speaks for the Blue Mountains. 

Everything about this novel – sudden loss, unexpected love, misdirected hope and desire, as well as the mysterious power of the written word and the candesence of the coastal landscape itself – is expressed with a profound understanding of every nuance of emotion. An extended meditation on ‘the limitless surprise of being here’, to quote from the poem that is central to the story, The Railwayman’s Wife illuminates the deepest places of the human heart.’ - Debra Adelaide, author of The Household Guide to Dying.

For discussion:

1. 􀂊In Paula Grunseit’s review of The Railwayman’s Wife, she states ‘Many rhythms form the soundtrack to this story – the sounds of the ocean, the words of great poets and writers, the changing views in a kaleidoscope, and the constant presence of trains.’ 

Discuss Grunseit’s comment – how do these sounds and sights punctuate the novel, and bracket the major events within?

2.􀂊 Consider the following quote: ‘...Mac raised his cup and paused – the smallest toast – that was marriage, he thought, remaking yourself in someone else’s image. And who knew where the truth of it began or would end?’ The Railwayman’s Wife, p. 169. 

Do you agree with Mac’s interpretation of marriage?

􀂊3. In response to Isabel’s question about where Mac is after death, along with fallen soldiers, Annika states: ‘It’s probably like your kaleidoscope: you look at one piece of space, and every tiny twist or turn multiplies that into somewhere new – somewhere different. More than enough room for everyone’s version of everyone to fit in somewhere, to be doing different things we all think they ought to be doing.’ The Railwayman’s Wife, p. 175.

Discuss Annika’s thoughts and feelings when confronted with information and anecdotes about Mac after his death.

􀂊4. Both Mac and Roy think of Annika as an angel. Why do you think this is so?

􀂊5. What do you make of the conversation between Dr Frank Draper and Annika in the library, on their first meeting? (pp. 99 – 102)

􀂊6. Consider Roy’s poem, ‘Lost World’ (the poem appears in its entirety pp. 208 – 210). Do you think it is a nexus between the world he has seen torn apart by war, and what he has found in Thirroul.

7. Annika carries Kangaroo ‘like a literary Baedeker’ (page 21), using it to identify places around Thirroul. Discuss 

Suggested Reading

Novels:

Kangaroo – D.H. Lawrence

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë

Foal’s Bread – Gillian Mears

The Service of Clouds – Delia Falconer

In Falling Snow – Mary-Rose MacColl

Currawalli Street – Christopher Morgan

The Body in the Clouds – Ashley Hay

Poetry:

Everyone Sang – Siegfried Sassoon

How Do I Love Thee? – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

On Being Asked for a War Poem – W.B. Yeats

Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven – W.B. Yeats

History of the Day – Stephen Edgar

‘Over the Brazier – Robert Graves

Credit: Allen & Unwin's Reading Guide

http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781743314449

Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park

 During a recent trip to Sydney, I stayed at Darling Harbour and spent one of my days taking a look around The Rocks. I am currently writing about The Rocks and its history.

I've been fascinated with The Rocks area for many years, dating back to my uni days in the early 80's, so much so it has wound up in the novel I am working on.

I enjoyed looking at the terrace homes and the lane ways, some still paved with cobblestones and short door ways. When you look closely you can see lots of indicators of a time gone by. I found, as always, the area completely fascinating with very rich historical fodder.

I took lots of photos and spent the best part of the day immersed in the history of the place, including a trip to the local museum and visiting Argyle Street and all it has to offer.

Terraces found at the Rocks

Learning about some of the locals and the history of the place got me wondering about what it might have been like to live in The Rocks back in the day and what would a child's life consist of?

A view of tight little rear yards that back onto narrow lanes.

During my research I heard about Ruth Park's book, Playing Beatie Bow, so as soon as I returned to Brisbane I searched on iBooks for it and downloaded an ibook version. I read it on my iPad and phone whenever in transit. It was an enjoyable story and one I had not read before. It was great to read so close after visiting the areas, because the names of the streets and places mentioned in the book were fresh to me from my wanderings around the area.

Time travel features in the story of Playing Beatie Bow and I'm totally interested in time travel and always keen to find out how authors who have ever used this concept in their work makes it happen for their characters. The idea Ms Park used satisfied me and made me believe it was feasible that time travel could happen the way it did in her story.

I talked about this book with some of my friends, some who said they had read it many years ago, back in their school days. But I had not even heard of it. How is this so?

When I first downloaded the book, I naturally thought it would be a children's book (I know, you should never judge a book by its cover), but it didn't take me long to realise it was targeted for an older audience; it is listed as a Young Adults book. Ruth Park used her insight and tackled some very realistic issues that many kids of today's society face each and every day, but manages to successfully weave them through a story that involves the issues that children and society faced one hundred years earlier. The comparisons are interesting, especially the view points of the characters from both eras.

A community garden growing down one of the old lanes

Merriman Street, The Rocks

A Most Immoral Woman by Linda Jaivin

My summer holidays are sadly drawing to a close. They say all good things must come to an end. But I ask, 'Why is this so?' Even though the holidays will pass, I know that it doesn't matter what part of the year it is, I will always be able to read a book. They are my constant companions, when I wish them to be.

I know I've been absent from blogging for a short while. I decided to take a break in order to fit in with the busyness of life so I could get some other things accomplished as well.

I'd like to share some of my holiday reading with you all and for this post I thought I'd start with Linda Jaivin's 'a most Immoral Woman.'

Back in September this year I attended the Brisbane Writers Festival and participated in a number of Writers' workshops, including one on Historical Fiction with Linda Jaivin. At each of the workshops, the authors promote their works and as a result, just like every year, I end my time at the Brisbane Writers Festival with an arm full of new books purchased for my 'stable'. That's the easy part. The hard part is finding time to read them all. So I made an end of year resolution for my holidays this year, that I would read as many titles from my purchases from the Brisbane Writers Festival as I could. As a result, I read a real mix of titles I might not normally reach for. This is a good thing because it stretches me and makes me richer for it. It also confirms what I enjoy reading and what I know is not my cup of tea.

I really didn't know what to expect with the novel, 'a most Immoral Woman'. I really enjoyed Linda's workshop and her stories of China, but I wasn't sure what the real angle of the story would take. I'm glad I read it. I really enjoyed Linda's style of writing and found it very easy to glide over the pages. She kept each chapter short, which I really liked. It moved the story along at a very nice pace.

Jaivin's work in the first instance is fiction, however, it is inspired by real people and real events. Linda Jaivin writes:

"The idea for the novel came to me while reading Peter Thompson and Robert Macklin's 2004 biography of George Ernest Morrison, 'The Man Who Died Twice' (republished in 2007 as The Life and Adventures of Morrison of China). Fascinated by the authors' brief discussion of Morrison's affair with Mae and wanting more information, I turned to my bookshelf and found Cyril Pearl's 1967 classic biography 'Morrison of Peking,' and was then sufficiently intrigued to track down Mae's family archive with its phenomenal collection of love letters from admirers including Willie Vanderbilt Jnr and Congressman John Wesley Gaines, as well as the long-suffering, thrice-engaged George Bew. Of all the written sources I consulted, Morrison's own diaries and letters and the Pearl biography were most central to my understanding of the man himself. Another very important historical source was Peter Slattery's 'Reporting the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-5:  Lionel Jame's first wireless transmissions to The Times' (Global Oriental, Folkestone, Kent, England, 2004). "   

(excerpt taken from Acknowledgments, "a most Immoral Woman" page 367)

Every character is flawed in this novel and that made it quite endearing to me. The characters were not perfect, nor was the time in which the story was set. There was an air of turbulence with the war and with Ernest and Mae's affair.

Set in 1904, we find our protagonist, forty-two year old Australian G. E. Morrison, a Peking correspondent for The Times of London, who was considered the most eligible bachelor in China still single and yet to meet his match. But one night he encounters Mae Perkins, the ravishing daughter of a Californian millionaire and a turbulent affair begins.

The backdrop for their encounter is the war between Russia and Japan for domination over northeast China. Morrison's colleague Lionel James has an idea that will revolutionise war correspondence, but only Morrison can help him achieve his goal.

"Inspired by a true story, 'a most Immoral Woman' is a surprising, witty and erotic tale of sexual and other obsessions set in the 'floating world' of Westerners in China and Japan at the turn of the twentieth century. At its heart stands an original and devastatingly honest woman, as seen from the perspective of the extraordinary man who was drawn to love her."

Jaivin's clever writing hooked me at the end of every chapter, enticing me to read on. Knowing that the chapters were short, she usually won out and several chapters further on, I'd decide it was time to do something else. I found the writing flowed well and was interesting in the way she ordered the words upon the page. I found her chapter titles a little frustrating and flowery, but they did alert me to what was coming up next and I must admit sometimes, because of them, I kept reading.

It's a great little read and not really being a war buff, I did actually enjoy learning a little about the war, the people and the variances of cultures brought together during this time.

I recommend this book to those interested in Historical fiction. I don't think Ms Jaivin will disappoint.

Until next time,
happy reading...

Reading in Between

 In between reading what's on the booklist for book club, I often read a number of other books on the go. My bedside table is regularly stacked with 'wanna be read' titles that wait patiently for their turn. I'm sure there are many book lovers out there who are just like me.

A couple of books worthy of a mention are the following: One Day by David Nicholls and The Mystery of the Cleaning Lady by Sue Woolfe.

I bought One Day some time ago, pretty much on a whim and the fact that I actually liked the cover of this particular book. I found it very appealing. I know...you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but nevertheless, I found myself drawn to it, simply because of the cover. At the time I purchased my copy, I didn't have time to start reading it, so I added it to my 'to read' pile, which, by the way, keeps growing every time I visit a book store.

Then, one day I was flicking through the movies on FOX and there it was. Usually, I refuse to watch a movie before reading the book, however, I decided for some strange reason to for-go this usual practice and decided I felt like watching, what I thought was a romantic comedy. I wasn't sure what to expect and felt for sure it would be reasonably light-hearted. The movie was a mixture between light-heartedness and many other emotions that accompany relationships. Little did I know I was in for a few surprises. I must admit though, I did enjoy the movie a great deal. It inspired me to elevate the waiting book to top priority of 'a must read - and soon' category. Now I wanted to see how closely the movie followed the book. So glad I did. I really enjoyed the by play between characters more so than the actual characters I think. Even though there were traits that I didn't particularly enjoy in the character of Dex, he still managed to grow on me. I felt a certain empathy toward him, even though I knew he probably didn't deserve it.

I enjoyed the way author, David Nicholls stitched the book together. It was well written and quite plausible. The characters were ordinary people trying, at times, to be extraordinary. And, as life sometimes has it, timing is everything and how many people do you know can relate to the whole out of sync routine? I know plenty. I'm not here to give anyone a blow by blow description of what happens. You can google that information, or read the book. Sometimes, I just like to share my thoughts about an author's work as I am doing here. Reading the book really helped me understand some of the movie that I didn't quite 'get'.

I'm a true romantic at heart and so this book was right up my ally. I loved/hated the near ending. If you've already read the book, you'll understand what I mean. I hated what happened at the end, but I loved the twist of fate - it was unexpected and I really enjoy that in stories. If you haven't read the book and you decide to, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you enjoy reading about love. This book is the journey of two people who were meant to be together, but just didn't seem to get the timing right and all the things in between.

The next book I'd like to share with you is, 'The Mystery of the Cleaning Lady', by Sue Woolfe. I thoroughly enjoyed this non-fiction work about creativity and how novelist, Sue Woolfe worked and created her ideas when writing her book, 'The Secret Cure'. It was an insight to how this particular author thought, came across her ideas, and wrote down obscure things and how they all pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle, eventually. I enjoyed reading this informative book as much as Stephen King's book, 'On Writing'.

I'm sure every writer, at some point, tries to analyse what makes them tick in the creative process department. I know I am fascinated by how creativity works or is born. As a teacher to primary aged creative writing students, I also have a vested interest in finding out as much as I can. I often wonder if you can actually teach creativity or is it that you provide a vehicle/inspiration for it to flourish?

Creativity is baffling. Is it a co-incidence? Is it simply recycled? Is there anything remotely original these days? Lots of questions that require answers. Not all questions will be answered by reading this book, however, I can assure you that many questions will be touched on and some outcomes are very interesting.

If you are a writer, at any stage in your career, or just someone who is curious about creativity, I am sure you will find this book intriguing.

So, until next time,
happy reading

Book Review: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Some stories entertain, some enlighten, some make us laugh out loud, some teach, some make us cry, some tug at our emotional heart strings at all levels, they might keep us up all night, on the edge of our seat, some are forgettable and some leave us truly touched with a memory seared on our heart forever.

Sarah's Key will haunt me for the rest of my days and I add it to a couple of other memorable reads about The Holocaust that I've pored over my life time.

The first book, back in 1984, about the Holocaust was by Nobel Peace Prize writer Elie Wiesel called, Night, and it changed me — forever. It taught me so much about humanity. The words and story were seared to my heart and caused it to ache. It left me sad and, resolute that I never wanted something like this to happen in world again. A few years later I felt ready to read The Forgotten, also by Elie Wiesel and this time I not only learnt more about the Holocaust, but a little about Alzheimer's. I would forever be compassionate to this degenerative condition and something I had to face later on in life with my own mother.

A couple of other memorable reads about the topic include: The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (visiting author attending 2012 Brisbane Writers Festival) and Irene Nemirovsky's, Suite Francais.

Sarah's Key meets all expectations of a novel foundational upon the Holocaust. The difference to this novel from the others is that whilst it is a work of fiction, it looks more specifically at the great Velodrome d'Hiver roundup, which took place on July 16, 1942 in the heart of Paris.

The author, Tatiana de Rosnay states: 'It is not a historical work and has no intention of being one. It is my tribute to the children of the Vel' d'Hiv'. The children who never came back. And the ones who survived to tell."

Sarah's Key begins with tight tension as the great Vel' d'Hiv' roundup begins and suddenly impacts the life of ten year old Sarah and her family. The reader is suddenly plunged into Sarah's nightmare and it's a nightmare that no one can wake up from. The reader's heart races along with Sarah's as the panic builds and desperation sets in. Is there no end?

During the first section of the book, de Rosnay flicks backwards and forwards from 1916 to 2002, seamlessly. Sometimes this technique can get a little annoying, however, not in this case. Each chapter is over within a couple of pages and this actually helps build tension and anxiety and, forces the reader to turn the page. The pace is quick, yet devastating. The author writes simplistically and the text flows effortlessly, urging the reader on.

Sarah has a dilemma that no ten year old child should ever have to face and the devastating consequences - no child should ever have to endure. But yet, how many children are born into circumstances that require them to endure heartache, heart break and mountains to climb?

What happens in Sarah's life becomes a fabric of the past and is interwoven into the future of others, including Julia, an American journalist living in Paris with her French husband, Bertrand and daughter, Zoe. But the life of this young girl leaves a much larger impact on many others and really brings to light how one person's life can influence many.

Guaranteed to stir the heart, mind and generate tears, this is quite simply, a beautiful strong and determined story of adversity faced by a people, how they survived, if they survived and the repercussions of history.

A highly recommended read.

Book Review: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow flower and the Secret Fan is a beautifully written story that depicts the life, times and culture of two extraordinary women in an ancient and feuding China. 

From a very young age, Lily and Snow Flower's lives entwine when the local matchmaker, Madame Wang, sees something special in Lily and decides she should have a laotong , a lifelong female confidante. After Madame Wang examines Lilly thoroughly, she becomes very excited for Lily, her family and of course, herself. Lily has perfectly shaped feet, a prize of great magnitude for a Chinese family and she shares this news with the family. "The girl is indeed very lovely, but golden lilies are far more important than a pretty face. A lovely face is a gift from Heaven, but tiny feet can improve social standing. On this we can all agree. What happens beyond that is really for Father to decide." She looked directly at Baba, but the words that traveled into the air were meant for my mother. "It is not such a bad thing to make a good alliance for a daughter. A high family will bring you better connections, a better bride-price, and long-term political and economic protection. Though I appreciate the hospitality and generosity that you have shown today," she said, emphasising the meagreness of our home with a languid movement with her hand, "fate--in the form of your daughter--has brought you an opportunity. If Mother does her job properly, this insignificant girl could marry into a family in Tongkou."

And so the cruel practice of foot binding is revealed to the reader and the fate of two women are set in motion. Boy children have a much higher standing within Chinese families and their worth is highly regarded and so, for a girl to be elevated to high stature within a family because of her feet is quite remarkable. Lily's family is very humble and this news means much to them. Madame Wang matches Lily to Snow Flower as her laotong. Snow Flower's family is of high standing from the village of Tongkou. 

The the women's friendship and journey is beautifully told through the eyes of Lily. There is an edge to the tale depicting the harshness of the times and how families cope. Lisa See reveals to the reader the art of secret language between men and the adaptation of this language into the secret writings between the women.

This novel is insightful to the ways of Asian culture. It unveils some of the mysteries of hardworking people's lives and customs in remote villages scattered throughout China during feudal times. The author successfully marries fiction with historical facts to create an enlightening story magnifying the intricate relationship between two lifelong friends.

This novel is highly recommended if you enjoy reading about other cultures. If you enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha, Fallen Leaves or Wild Swans, then you'll love Lisa See's work, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

August Book Club Title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Novel Tea 'n Pages Book Club members are currently reading, 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' by Lisa See.

The story is set in China during the 19th Century and encapsulates life in Chinese society for women, including the tradition of foot binding and the life expected of those put through this painful ordeal. The novel addresses the formalities and rankings within traditional families and allows insight into the way women cope and live.

In one remote county, Ms See writes of women who have developed their own secret code, nu shu – "women's writing" – the only gender-based written language to have been found in the world. She speaks of some girls who were paired as "old-sames" in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. These women painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their windows to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Her story embraces the special relationships formed between these women that last a life time.


Below are some discussion questions to ponder as you read this month's selected novel.

Book Club Discussion Questions

1. Lily endures excruciating pain in order to have her feet bound. What reasons are given for this dangerous practice?

2. Did See's descriptions of footbinding remind you of any Western traditions?

3. If some men in 19th-century China knew about nu shu and “old same” friendships, why do you think they allowed these traditions to persist?

4. Reflecting on her first few decades, Lily seems to think her friendship with Snow Flower brought her more good than harm. Do you agree?

5. Lily's adherence to social customs can seem controversial to us today. Pick a scene where you would have acted differently. Why?

6. Lily defies the wishes of her son in order to pair her grandson with Peony. Does she fully justify her behavior?

7. Lily sometimes pulls us out of the present moment to reflect--as an old woman--on her youthful decisions. What does this device add to the story?

8. How would you film these moments of reflection?

9. If Lily is writing her story to Snow Flower in the afterworld, what do you think Snow Flower's response would or should be?

10. Did you recognize any aspects of your own friendships in the bond between Lily and Snow Flower?

(Credits for Book Club Discussion Questions:  http://www.lisasee.com/sfbookclub.htm )


For more titles by Ms Lisa See, please visit her website:  http://www.lisasee.com/snowflower.htm

So until next time,
happy reading...

July Book Club: The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

It is such a joy to sit with a novel and discover upon completion, the author has truly mastered their technique and made the experience worthwhile. That is how our book clubbers felt after reading this month's nominated book, 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox'. Ms O'Farrell has trimmed the fat and chosen her words and phrases with much thought, consideration and clarity.

She has tackled topics that are as current today as they were back when the story was set in the early 1930s in Edinburgh. Sibling rivalry, mental illness, family relationships, pregnancies out of wedlock, and family secrets, are just a few of the complicated topics Ms O'Farrell tackles in her succinct novel. Her work is a page turner and very easily read. It is a book that can be read in one sitting or savoured over a number of sittings.

Ms O'Farrell's writing technique with this work is intriguing and captivating. She uses more than one voice to tell this tale and leads the reader through a unique reading pattern to shift perspective.

This work was a hit with our book clubbers and a highly recommended read if you haven't read it already. Below are some reading guide questions for those who like to mull things over.

The Reading Guide:

1. When Iris gets the call from the psychiatric hospital, she is put in a very difficult position. What does she stand to gain and lose from the decision she eventually makes? What would you do in her shoes? 

2. How have years of incarceration affected Esme? Has she retained any of the qualities we see in young Esme, before she is committed? Does she seem sane to you?

3. The story contains several twists – what are they, and which did you find the most shocking?

4. Considering all that Kitty has done, all that has happened to her, and the dementia she has suffered in old age, are you able to feel sympathetic towards her?

5. The relationship between Iris and Alex is a complex one. How does it seem to have influenced their relationships with others?  By the end of the novel, do you think they had reached any kind of resolution?

6. How did you find the end of the book? Can you think of any alternative endings that might have worked?

7. What similarities, and what differences do you see between the younger Esme, and the younger Iris?

8. This is a novel with a very complex time scheme. What techniques does the author use to handle this?

9. This has been described as Maggie O’Farrell’s best novel so far. Do you agree?

10. The relationship between the sisters is very complicated. In what ways does it change as they enter adulthood?

11. How do you think people’s attitudes towards unmarried mothers have changed since Esme was a young girl? How different would her life have been had she been able to keep her baby?

12. What do you feel the book tells us about mental institutions? Do you think people’s attitudes have changed since the first half of the 20th Century?

Suggested further reading:

The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Hallucinating Foucault - Patricia Duncker
Flesh and Blood - Michèle Roberts
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Good Behaviour – Molly Keane
Vanity Fair – William Thackeray

(Credits for Reading Guide: www.maggieofarrell.com/readingguides.html)

So until next time,

happy reading...

June Book Club - 'The House on the Hill' by Estelle Pinney - Wednesday, 6 June 2012

photo by: bibbity bob

Winter Warmers

There's a coolness in the air lately and soon winter will wrap its cold tendrils around our bodies and force us to rug up and take refuge somewhere warm and cosy. Winter is the perfect opportunity to snuggle up with a great book, rug and hot cuppa by the fireside, if you're so lucky to have a fireplace. I'm really hoping winter slows down life's pace and provides a special time to indulge in what I love to do most, write and read.

This month's book club nomination is: 'The House on the Hill' by Estelle Pinney and it took me a little while to acquire my copy, unfortunately. I managed to find a copy using Fishpond.com and now I am attempting to have the book read by our next meeting, which happens to be Wednesday 6 June at 7:30pm. Hopefully our dedicated book clubbers will leave the warm embers of their fireplaces and brave the chill of the night to attend this meeting.

Estelle Pinney is a local Brisbane writer and I always enjoy reading local authors' work. This is the case so far. I am already enjoying Ms Pinney's tale of Belle Dalton. The blurb goes like this:

Author: Estelle Pinney 

"Belle Dalton has stardust in her eyes. It's early 1920s in Far North Queensland, and the three Dalton sisters board with Mrs Sanders in the house on the Hill.

Lovely Belle, the youngest, and talented singer and dancer, tours with a vaudeville troupe as they follow the rodeos and shows of western Queensland. On the romance front, she's being pursued by handsome local Greek, Nicos Alexandros, owner of the swankiest cafe in town. But will she choose marriage with Nicos or a life on the stage?

Penguin Books ~ 2005

Molly reigns as head cook at King's Hotel, and can whip up any stylish gown down to the last bugle bead. However, happiness with her sweetheart Fred is threatened by a terrible twist of fate . . . Josie, the eldest, has bookish ambitions and a strong spirit, which will be tested to the full when her life takes an unexpected turn.

This heart-warming and colourful novel about the power of dreams brings to life Australia's exotic far north of days gone by, with its vibrant mix of cultures and personalities. House on the Hill follows three sisters' joys and heartbreaks - and the difficult choices they have to make that change their lives forever."

~

'Author Estelle Pinney grew up in Cairns and the tobacco growing town of Mareeba, North Queensland. She left school at the age of thirteen to work as a colourist in her grandfather's photographic studio. Estelle's eventful adult life saw her working as an ambulance driver for the US army during World War II; as a beauty consultant; and as a registered deckhand on her husband's crayfishing boat in the Torres Strait. She is the author of Time Out for Living (1995), A Net Full of Honey (1996) and co-author of Too Many Spears (1978) with late husband Peter Pinney. Estelle lives in Brisbane with her daughter Stella.'

Click on the following link for some insight from author Estelle Pinney and the development of her novel, 'The House on the Hill'.

http://www.readersvoice.com/interviews/2004/04/estelle-pinney-describes-the-evolution-of-house-on-the-hill/

Important Update - April Book Club Cancelled due to Easter Holidays

 Hello fellow Book Clubbers,

At our last meeting, (March, 2012), it was decided to cancel our next book club as it falls in the first week of school holidays and many members will be away.

Please continue to read our next title, which is called, Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans as we will discuss both it, and May's book, Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson at our May's meeting.

A link to a reading guide for Book of Lost Threads is included in this post. Using a reading guide can sometimes be useful to help answer questions and empower the process of reading.

http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/BookPdf/ReadingGroupGuide/9781742372334.pdf

We hope you are enjoying your current title and we look forward to meeting up with you all in May. Keep an eye out for new updates on this blog.

So, until next time,
happy reading...

March Book Club: The Secret River by Kate Grenville

Have you ever given a lot of thought to what it might have been like to commit a crime, be given a sentence of death, only to have the sentence commuted to seeing out the rest of your days in a harsh and foreign land, separated by ten thousand miles of water?

No?

Well, that's exactly what the main character, William Thornhill had to endure when Kate Grenville decided to put pen to paper after extensive research for her own family's history.

The Secret River is a solid tale with true Australian grit. It is a novel of substance and Kate Grenville executes a fine account of the harshness of early England and the settlement of Australia. Grenville takes us back to England in tough times of poverty. Readers may notice there are both distinct similarities and differences between Grenville's tale and Charles Dickens' depiction of poverty and moral tone in nineteenth century London in his well known works. Grenville is very proficient at evoking a sense of authenticity to this period. Dickens writes of the industrial age and the hardships of his characters. His portrayal is very bleak. Similarly, Grenville's characters face many hardships that change the course of their lives.

Grenville's style of writing is one that is easy to read. The book is separated into three parts and could almost be read as three separate novels. Throughout the tale we learn that William Thornhill is married to a woman of steely reserve. Her strength enables her to hold the family together during the toughest of times.

Life is both harsh in London, but even harsher in colonial Australia. But, for the effort of endurance, there is reward. Many original Australian families' heritage stem from their convict roots. Many who served their time, received a parcel of land to help them make a genuine start with their new life. This created a problem of mammoth proportions for the indigenous people of Australia - the true First Australians. And so the conflict began.

One of our book club members, who is from another country, enjoyed the story because she felt she learned something historical about life in early colonial Australia. The most significant point for some of our members was the difference between the colonists and the indigenous views on the ownership of land.

Kate Grenville's story was received well by all club members and recommended as a great read.

Thank you to those members who were able to attend tonight's meeting.

Our next month's title is: 'The Book of Lost Threads' by Tess Evans.

So, until next time,
happy reading...

March Book Club: The Secret River by Kate Grenville

The Secret River by Kate Grenville is the current title Novel Tea 'n Pages book clubbers are reading.

This book is the winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 2006, the winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2006.

'In the early nineteenth century William Thornhill is transported from the slums of London to New South Wales for the term of his natural life. He arrives with his wife Sal and their children in a harsh land he does not understand.


Eight years later, Thornhill sails up the Hawkesbury as a free man to claim a hundred acres. Aboriginal people already live on that river and Thornhill will soon have to make the most difficult decision of his life.


Inspired by research into her own family history, Kate Grenville's, The Secret River is a tour de force, a powerful and groundbreaking story about life on the frontier.' Kate Grenville

Date Claimer: Novel Tea 'n Pages ~ March Book Club
                     Wednesday, 7 March, 2012
                     7:30 - 9:30 pm.

Looking forward to seeing you all there...

So, until then,
happy reading...

February Book Club - The Umbrella Club by David Brooks

And so begins another new year of fabulous reading with our February's first title, The Umbrella Club by David Brooks. We enjoyed a good roll up to our meeting, even though the regular night was moved from the Wednesday to Thursday night on this one off occasion.

The first meeting of the year is always one of excitement because this is the time when club members put forward their nominations of titles for the rest of the year. For book lovers, it is always interesting to discover what will be on the menu for the rest of the year. Take a look at this year's tantalising selection on the blog site which has just recently been updated. Having the list posted on the blog allows for all book club members to plan ahead for the year's reading so you have plenty of time to secure the books ready for the month they will be discussed.

Unfortunately, not all members were able to read The Umbrella Club before our first meeting which meant that a generalised discussion was limited to a much smaller number of members. However, the general consensus was taken from the old saying, 'you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover' because the actual story had lots of elements of surprise. Overall, everyone enjoyed the story, although it did not make the list as one of our most favourites.

The story itself was very earthy and would be a great read for anyone who has read Joseph Conrad's classic, Heart of Darkness. There are references throughout the narrative that directly relate to Conrad's work and if you enjoy his style of writing, then you should enjoy Brooks' efforts.

The Umbrella Club begins around the time of World War I when two young fellows, Axel and Edward, meet for the first time and over the course of the events, end up on many occasions together, fulfilling their wartime duties. Their friendship grows on the battlefields of France where they are both inspired by barrage balloons and develop a mutual fascination that embarks a lifetime love of ballooning and changes the course of their lives.

At the end of the war, Axel and Edward endeavour to return to a normal life, however, it soon becomes obvious that life will never return to what they know. Axel, always a free spirit, is consumed by his passion for flight and freedom and pursues this by learning the art of ballooning and forming the Umbrella Club, a group of passionate balloonists. Edward returns to the conventionality of earning a living and commitments to family. Axel's freedom and unconventional lifestyle fascinates him, and at times, Edward feels the pangs of envy. Though their paths are different, they always remain in contact through letters and the occasional Umbrella Club excursions.

After many smaller flights, Axel's passion grows and he decides to try for a much longer flight where others have not dared to go before. After much preparation and letters home to Edward, who has been caring for his dying sister, Axel sets off to balloon across the highlands of New Albion, a largely unexplored island north of Australia. When he fails to return, Edward travels to the island, after the death of his sister, to solve the mystery of his friend's disappearance and retrace his final journey. What he finds there will haunt him for the rest of his life.

'The Umbrella Club is a darkly compelling adventure into the depths of the human soul and to the frontiers of colonial exploration. In the aftermath of war, when there is nothing left to fear, sometimes the only possibility for recovery is flight.' David Brooks

We recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good tale of the wildness of the jungle and the people who exist there.

Most of our members would be powering on, if not finished, reading our next selection for the month of March, The Secret River by Kate Grenville. See the dates on the blog for our March meeting.

So, until next time,
happy reading...

February Book Club - The Umbrella Club by David Brooks

Welcome to the new year, 2012! And it is hoped it lives up to all your expectations. The working year has commenced for most of us and it is back to routine once again. This pleases some, whilst others may cringe.

All I know is I am looking forward to our first book club meeting of the year. Our titles have been selected and they look very tantalising. Please check them out.

Our first meeting has been changed from the scheduled Wednesday 1 Feb evening to Thursday 2 Feb due to some unforeseen work commitments. Hopefully this will not impact too many members, but sincere apologies if it does. We should be back to normal from then on.

I'd love to hear what great titles you read over the holidays? If you'd like to share, please add a comment. Some people tell me they've had difficulties leaving me their comments. Just so you are aware, for security purposes, you need to be a member of google, so just take a minute to sign up. It's free and then you'll be able to leave me your messages. I really enjoy reading them.

This blog is also a great way to discuss the books, so if you have any interesting things to share about the current book you are reading, write a comment and we can start a discussion.

A couple of club members have told me they have had trouble obtaining The Umbrella Club. I've done some research and here are a couple of suggestions: Try Avid Reader at West End or the State Library Bookstore. I got my copy at the Brisbane Writers Festival back in October. Another online place that is selling the book for under $30 is fishpond.com.au Click on the link then type in the title and author and bob's your uncle!


Well I look forward to seeing all our members next Thursday.

So, until then...
happy reading,
Deb

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2011 was jammed packed and I'm sure 2012 will be immense as well.

Our book club members managed to read 9 new novels during 2011, including: 'The Girl with a Pearl Earring', 'Mr Rosenbaum's List', 'Shirley, Goodness & Mercy', 'The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte - a novel', 'Wanting', 'The Tale of Two Cities', 'The Good Earth', 'Eat, Pray, Love', and 'People of the Book'.


Each book offered a variety of genres, settings, characters, story lines and discussions. Each book touched the reader in a variety of ways and helped enrich our reading lives.

Holidays are either fast approaching or have already arrived. So, now is the perfect time to kick back and relax with a book or two for the holiday season. Whatever you choose to read, enjoy and savour.

So, until next time...
happy reading...

PS Write and tell us what you'll be reading over the holidays.

Day 1: NaNoWrimo Has Begun

Well Deb kicked off her stint for the month of November and posted just over 1700 words for Day 1. That's not too shabby, but will she be able to keep up the pace? She plans to journal about the experience here. Below is the link...check it out.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/profile/edit

Deb's chosen Novel topic is: 'This Life' and it is a story that will capture the trials, tribulations and joys of a family and their life together. Generations learn from each other by the stories passed down. This is one family's modern day history.

NaNoWrimo encourages their participants to aim for 50,000 words within the month of November. Deb wonders if she can sustain this?

Stay tuned.

So, until next time...happy reading & writing...

October Writers' Club Meeting - Networking

Sitting by an open window

A gentle breeze plays the flimsy curtain

The writer waits while

Thoughts and ideas flip and spin

Desiring to settle

But where, and in what order

The writer looks out

past the window

and through, to the open field

and dreams

Ⓒ Deb Smith - 29 Oct 2011

Writing can be a very solitary activity 

No one can join with you to get those words, your words down on paper. If you don't sit down and begin, then the words will stay silent, locked away inside you. Writers must commit daily to putting their words down on paper. If there is no commitment, then again, no words will appear. Writing is a slave to time, or is time a slave to writing? Or, is the writer a slave to their writing?

Writing, even just thinking about writing is time consuming

It is important for the writer to diarise a date and time to write - everyday. This should be a priority. No one said it would be easy, but if writing is to you, like oxygen is to the body, then you need to prioritise. So, make time.

Balance is the key

Writers need to get out. Out and about to meet new people and observe characters who walk the streets and inhabit our world. Writers need to socialise. They need to note down life's idiosyncrasies, the ways, the why fors and whens. I'm sure I just broke some grammatical rules with that last sentence, but I love it, so it is going to stay. Writers get to choose what stays and what goes, at least for some of the time.

Writers on missions

Writers owe it to their readers to go on missions, so they can report back, create scenes with authenticity, build upon the real, with creative flair and imagination. Writers frame what they observe with their pens, like photographers frame with their lens. Photographers must go out into the world, as must writers.

Writers who network

Networking simply makes sense. Writers who mix it up with other writers develop layers of experience, absorb wisdom, share their gifts and impart snippets of knowledge, that would be missed if left back at that window with a view.

Writers UNITE AND CONNECT with other Writers

Writing Clubs are a great and informal way to connect and share ideas with other like-mindeds. They are a source of information and wisdom, and, along with the odd tale of desperation, juicy depictions of adventurous journeys, and wondrous encounters with success makes for very interesting fodder. Listening to other writers share their work is like an elixir for good health; a definite source of inspiration. Writing festivals and writing courses are also great ways to inspire and ignite imagination.

So...what's stopping you?

October Book Club - 'Wanting' by Richard Flanagan

Book Blurb:
'Bass Strait, 1839. A young Aboriginal girl, Mathinna, runs through the wet wallaby grass of a wild island at the edge of the world to get help for her dying father. Eighteen years later in Manchester, the great novelist Charles Dickens is a sensation, starring in a play that more and more resembles the frozen landscape of his own inner life.


The most celebrated explorer of the age, Sir John Franklin, and his wife, Lady Jane, adopt Mathinna as an experiment to prove that the savage can be civilised - only to discover that within the most civilised can lurk the most savage. When Sir John disappears in the Arctic while searching for the fabled Northwest Passage, Lady Jane turns to Dickens for help.


Inspired by historical events, Wanting is a haunting meditation about love, loss and the way life is finally determined never by reason, but only ever by wanting. It confirms Richard Flanagan's growing reputation as one of the most original and powerful novelists working in the English language today.'

This was a delicious book to devour. It was captivating and a marvellous read that left you WANTING more. Flanaghan intertwined all threads of the story seamlessly. And, when you wonder...how could you possibly link an Aboriginal girl, an Arctic explorer and his wife, and Charles Dickens, it leaves you scratching your head at how well Flanagan has managed to do so.

This book is stunning and simple to read. The language Flanagan uses is easy on the eyes and flows logically. So glad that this book was added to our list of selections this year. If you haven't already read this ... then we highly recommend you get started.

Until next time,

happy reading...

September Book Club - 'Shirley, Goodness & Mercy' by Chris Van Wyk

Some of our members found it a challenge to obtain a copy of this month's selection, Shirley, Goodness & Mercy by Chris Van Wyk. Buying online was the quickest, cheapest and best option this time around. Those who purchased their copy from The Book Depository seemed to have the least problems. The books, although second hand, came within the week and all in good condition. Those who ordered the books from the American Bookstore waited weeks and weeks and as a result, weren't able to read the book in time.

As a guess, this is the only book so far that caused the group any grief in procuring.

There were mixed reviews with regard to Van Wyk's work. Most members enjoyed the author's glimpse into life as a young coloured boy growing up in the township of Riverlea, Johannesburg, South Africa. Although the shadow of apartheid lurked the writer did not dwell on this, but shared delightful anecdotes of his special relationships with his family members, both immediate and extended. He also showed the importance of humour and laughter in life.

Accounts such as this are important to one's culture. Stories of what life was like are important to build an overall picture of the life and times. They become mosaics, woven and threaded in the fabric of society.

The importance of this author's work is something we thought about and discussed at length. For those not from South Africa, it was a glimpse into another's culture. However, the bigger picture is that here was a young coloured boy, all grown up, defeating the odds to be a voice for his people and his life blood. When you think like that you gain a deeper perspective.

This book is worth picking up and visiting.

Enjoy...

Until next time,
happy reading...

Brisbane Writers Festival - September 7 - 11th

I have attended the Brisbane Writers Festival now for the past eight years or so and I am never disappointed. I am looking forward to clocking up another year, to stroll around Brisbane's beautiful icon, The State Library and its gardens to check out this year's line up of talented authors.

For those of you still coming down from MasterChef, the menu of authors and sessions is already out. I am an early bird and have studied the gourmet selections and have booked in my workshops and the sessions I wish to attend. You can tell I am writing this at lunch time and have food on my mind. I'm sure those of you who enjoy your culinary delights would be interested to know that some foodie authors will be in attendance. Click on the link to find out more.

http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/default.asp?pageID=73&CatID=51

This year again, I will be accompanying a school group of enthusiastic readers and writers. My colleagues and I always get excited at this time of year. We love going on outings with our students, especially with the line up of talented children's authors to select from. This year sees Emily Rodda, James Joy, James Phelan, Belinda Jeffrey, Tristan Bancks and Wendy Orr, to name but a few. If these names don't whet your appetite...well...what can I say?

I'm booked into Wendy Orr's session and looking forward to sharpening my skills for writing for young readers. Click on the link to discover more.

http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/default.asp?pageID=73&CatID=47

Another workshop I'm excited to be attending is Writing Romance that Sells with popular panelists, Christina Brooke and Anna Campbell. Hopefully their hints and tips will help steam up pages of my novel in progress.

There are many & varied workshops this year to choose from, but to find one that suits you...Click on the link.

http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/default.asp?pageID=73&CatID=66

I know I am excited to be attending what's become my annual pilgrimage. Maybe I'll see some of you while I'm there.

So, for a festival of storytelling...here is the official Brisbane Writers Festival website to check out all the action for yourself.

http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/

till next time...
happy reading & writing