Girt by David Hunt

Hunt takes an irreverently humorous look at the early and tumultuous period of history from before Cook to the end of Macquarie’s ‘reign’.

It is amusing to begin with, but its’ too clever by half style quickly becomes tedious. It contains many footnotes and a large bibliography to underpin its’ historical veracity and may be popular with young high school students as a palatable introduction to Australian history studies.

5/10

Read by the Dundas Readers

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People is the story of Connell and Marianne who come from completely different backgrounds, but who are drawn to each other through different stages of their lives, starting at high school.  Two young kids desperately wanting to be normal.

It is very well written, and it feels a little like a character study.  It was a very different book for our group to read and generated a lot of discussion among us.  Overall, we liked this book for the issues and questions it raised.  From depression and anxiety to socio-economic status and teenage angst. 

7.5/10

Read by Cultcha Club

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

This novel, although so confronting in many scenes, was to us, essentially a love story. It was full of symbolism and hope, emphasising the importance of community, understanding and empathy. It was a gentle read and although it seemed simple, the topic and characterisations were complex. We felt it reminded us to listen to the stories that people have to tell, to remember happiness and to have hope. Providing contact information to refugee organisations was a practical way to provide help.

Read by MJ Readers