Book Review Girt David Hunt

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Summary

Girt. No word could better capture the essence of Australia…

Girt. No word could better capture the essence of Australia…

In this hilarious history, David Hunt reveals the truth of Australia’s past, from megafauna to Macquarie – the cock-ups and curiosities, the forgotten eccentrics and Eureka moments that have made us who we are.

Girt introduces forgotten heroes like Mary McLoghlin, transported for the crime of “felony of sock”, and Trim the cat, who beat a French monkey to become the first animal to circumnavigate Australia. It recounts the misfortunes of the escaped Irish convicts who set out to walk from Sydney to China, guided only by a hand-drawn paper compass, and explains the role of the coconut in Australia’s only military coup.

Our nation’s beginnings are steeped in the strange, the ridiculous and the frankly bizarre. Girt proudly reclaims these stories for all of us.

Not to read it would be un-Australian.

Comments

Girt by David Hunt is a different approach to presenting the history orfAustralia. There has been an incredible amount of research done by the author but, unfortunately, the style did not resonate with us. We found the writing to be demeaning, negative, flippant and condescending. In an attempt to be comedic or ironic, we felt the author trivialised women and gave no dignity to the people who forged our society. The only people who seemed to be presented positively were the ‘currency kids’ who are portrayed as hardworking and healthier than those who went before them, although they didn’t appear to value their own self worth.

The book felt very self indulgent and is not one that we would recommend.

Read by MJ Readers

Book Review The Marriage Portrait Maggie O’Farrell

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Summary

Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.
 
Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble?

Comments

Set amid the opulence of upper class families in the mid 1500s in Italy, this is the story of Lucrezia and it follows her life from babyhood until her mid teens. She is the child of rich and privileged parents (Cosimo & Eleanora de’Medici) who love each other and all of their many children. Lucrezia is the middle child marooned between her older and younger siblings. She begins life as a difficult, fretful baby and becomes a spirited, intelligent and artistic young girl. When her older sister Maria dies just before her arranged marriage into another prominent family headed by Duke Alfonso II, it becomes Lucrezia’s fate to take the place of her sister. When barely into her teens and against her wishes, she is married to the 27 year old Duke.

Alfonso is a complex character who switches between kind and thoughtful husband to ruthless, cruel tyrant. Lucrezia’s role is clearly to provide a male heir to ensure Alfonso’s family line. She is kept in opulent surroundings in a heavily fortified palace as a virtual prisoner. O’Farrell’s writing is wonderful and she brings her characters vividly to life. Throughout the novel she sustains an air of foreboding and menace.

The female members of our group found this to be a harrowing but enthralling read and found the time period and setting of the story very engaging. Our 2 male members, however, did not enjoy the story and found the manner in which it was told (by changing back and forth in time and place) very confusing.

Rating – 7/10

Read by Dundas Readers

Must Read Popular Fiction Titles

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Are you looking for the perfect book to curl up with as the weather gets cooler?

If you answered yes, then City of Parramatta Libraries has just what you need! Multiple copies of popular new in demand titles, including tiles coming soon! Choose from thrillers, the latest in Australian fiction, feel-good romance, fantasy and much much more!

Place a Hold or pick up a copy today!

Happy Reading!

Book Review The Thursday Murder Club

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The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Summary

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?

Comments

We all enjoyed this highly implausible but engaging romp set in a retirement village in England. We felt that it was a fresh, authentic take on a murder mystery story where elderly characters were created with respect and dignity. There was a sense of community and commonality despite each main character coming from disparate backgrounds, each bringing a skill and perspective that allowed them to work cooperatively together. At the heart of the story is Elizabeth, a former spy, who manages the group’s investigation while Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim ably support her. Each character is interesting and sympathetically portrayed with a plot that keeps you guessing. We look forward to reading more books in this series.

Read by MJ Readers