Book Review Darling Girls

Posted on 8 October 2024 by Jody

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

About the book

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. Rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother on an idyllic farming estate, they were given an elusive second chance of a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. And when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

Comments

This book was read and finished by our readers but most described the book as compelling,

not great. This was not a “read again” book for us.

Each reader did want to find out how the story developed and ended but no one found it to be a “great read.”

One reader described it as only three stars, most agreed with this although some readers suggested lower.

Many found the main characters quite unlikable at times and there were way too many cliches.

The story, to many, felt like a minority “tick chart” that concentrated hard to include diversity in characters that was unnecessary and this substituted for deeper personal character development.

The child abuse theme in this story did make this stort difficult to read for some. The lifelong bond, however, developed between foster sisters in this shared abuse foster “family” situation was one of the more warming aspects of the story. The three main characters did believably care for each other and protect each other through their life after they had left their dysfunctional ” wicked foster mother” family situation.

For most of our readers this was the redeemable aspect of the story.

Read by MJ Readers Book Club

Book Review Stone Yard Devotional

Posted on 18 September 2024 by Jody

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

Summary

A woman abandons her city life and marriage to return to the place of her childhood, holing up in a small religious community hidden away on the stark plains of the Monaro.

She does not believe in God, doesn’t know what prayer is, and finds herself living this strange, reclusive life almost by accident. As she gradually adjusts to the rhythms of monastic life, she finds herself turning again and again to thoughts of her mother, whose early death she can’t forget.

Disquiet interrupts this secluded life with three visitations. First comes a terrible mouse plague, each day signalling a new battle against the rising infestation.

Second is the return of the skeletal remains of a sister who left the community decades before to minister to deprived women in Thailand – then disappeared, presumed murdered.

Finally, a troubling visitor to the monastery pulls the narrator further back into her past.

With each of these disturbing arrivals, the woman faces some deep questions. Can a person be truly good? What is forgiveness? Is loss of hope a moral failure? And can the business of grief ever really be finished?

A meditative and deeply moving novel from one of Australia’s most acclaimed and best loved writers.

Comments

This story is more of an introspection by the main character whose name we are never told. She moves into a little outback convent where she recounts memories and events in her life. In the Spartan religious surroundings where there is a routine of work and prayer she gradually lets go of her past life embracing the simple lifestyle but retaining her atheist beliefs.

There is a huge disruption to the quiet of the convent in the form of a mouse plague which gives the reader insights into the horror of living through such an event.

A recurring theme is how childhood experiences shape and define the people we become and how later understandings may fail to change the results.

Whilst it is well written, most of us did not find any pleasure in having reading the book. One member found it ‘peaceful’ but the rest of us couldn’t see the point of it and didn’t connect or empathise with the main character.

Rating – 4/10

Read by Dundas Readers Book Club

Book Review Jessica

Posted on 23 May 2024 by Jody

Jessica by Bryce Courtenay

About the book

Jessica is based on the inspiring true story of a young girl’s fight for justice against tremendous odds.
A tomboy, Jessica is the pride of her father, as they work together on the struggling family farm. One quiet day, the peace of the bush is devastated by a terrible murder. Only Jessica is able to save the killer from the lynch mob – but will justice prevail in the courts?

Nine months later, a baby is born … with Jessica determined to guard the secret of the father’s identity. The rivalry of Jessica and her beautiful sister for the love of the same man will echo throughout their lives – until finally the truth must be told.

Set in the harsh Australian bush against the outbreak of World War I, this novel is heartbreaking in its innocence, and shattering in its brutality.

Comments

Our group was divided in their enjoyment of this book with some finding the story an enjoyable and informative read while others were very put off by the nastiness of some characters all throughout the book. So many morally bankrupt people.

The characters were found to be very one dimensional, either “Black or White” in their moral and ethical “goodness.”

Another criticism was about the story line which, to some, was very convoluted.

A few of our readers know the region this story was set in and found the author struggled to describe the Australian bush adequately.

However, those that liked the book really enjoyed it!

There was agreement that the second half of the book was more enjoyable and informative than the first half of the book. The characters were more dimensional and the legal proceedings regarding stolen generation children and families were thought provoking and revealing.

Some readers did not enjoy the first half of the book enough to continue on for the second half developments. They found this book depressing

We found this was definitely not a book for people who have inter-family traumas, and some found it to be a long read waiting for something good to happen.

Read by MJ Readers

Book Review The Railwayman’s Wife

Posted on 23 May 2024 by Jody

The Railwayman’s Wife by Ashely Hay

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 destroyed 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 first day of freedom. All three struggle with the same question: how now to be alive.

Comments

We found this to be a beautifully written book, very much enjoyed by the group. Some readers did say this was not a book that was for them or a book they would normally have chosen but they commended the lovely writing style of the author.

As a group we found the key characters were very likable.

The downside for our group was the focus on poetry all throughout the book. We found the poetry written in the story was not at all outstanding or enjoyable and to some readers it was bland and uninspiring.

There were many themes in this story discussed in detail by the group.

Anika, the main character in the book. Her transformation from a secure loving and loved wife and mother to a grieving widow, mother to a grieving child and thrust quickly, through necessity’ into working woman.

We found the grieving process for Anika and her daughter in the year after Macs death was a well detailed theme throughout the book.

Anikas relationship with Mac, her husband. Her reflections on their life after his death reveals some marital restrictions placed on her throughout their marriage that were not evident to her at the time during their marriage.

This book was read by our group in April, the month of Anzac day. The post war traumas of Roy and Frank were very relevant at this time along with Australian society’s attitude to men who did not go to war for whatever reasons.

The character of Roy was also complex in his presentation. His romanticised view of Anika as his “muse” not one year after the violent death of her husband.

The ending of the story was also discussed at length with many differing opinions on interpretation of events and specific character responses to events.

Read by MJ Readers

Spotlight on Australian Crime Authors

Posted on 22 February 2024 by Jody

Australian Crime Fiction

My advice to those people who are yet to discover the wonderful world of Australian Crime fiction is, do yourself a favour and make Australian crime fiction your next obsession!

Over the last couple of months, I have read some amazing Australian Crime fiction. Chris Hammer’s latest book, The Seven started me off. I loved the characters and nuances of small-town life, not to mention the mystery of who committed the murders.

After finishing The Seven and then re-reading all of Chris Hammer’s other books I decided to look for new Australian Crime authors to explore, and now I am two months in and can’t seem to stop! Strange though it might seem I find them relaxing.

So, in the hopes that you to, may find something new and interesting to read here, are some of my favourite Australian Crime reads to get you started or, assist longtime fans discover something new.

Happy reading!

Jody

Margaret Hickey

For those of you who are yet to discover award-winning Australian Crime author Margaret Hickey, you are in for a treat! Cutters End, Stone Town and Broken Bay all featuring Detective Mark Ariti are, simply put, unputdownable!

The pace, setting, dialogue and interaction of the characters is what makes Margaret Hickey’s books standout.

Margaret Hickey’s new book, The Creeper is due for can’t wait]. To read more about The Creeper and Margaret Hickey’s other books check out https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/margaret-hickey