After Eat pray love where could she go and how did she get there? Well, Elizabeth Gilbert has done it well. Her new title The signature of all things has received a lot attention. But hold on, this is not a memoir , but a fiction book. From our catalogue here is something about this book Continue reading
Tag Archives: book review
Autumn/Winter Reads 2014
Are you wondering what to read next or you just want to grab something different to challenge your reading taste? Parramatta City Library’s Autumn/Winter Reads is out. You can get a print copy at any of our branches or see the newsletter here:
Happy reading.
2nd Tuesday Evening Book Group
This month the Group read Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville.
Book Summary
Sarah Thornhill is the youngest child of William Thornhill, convict-turned-landowner on the Hawkesbury River. She grows up in the fine house her father is so proud of, a strong-willed young woman who’s certain where her future lies. She’s known Jack Langland since she was a child, and always loved him. But the past is waiting in ambush with its dark legacy. There’s a secret in Sarah’s family, a piece of the past kept hidden from the world and from her. A secret Jack can’t live with…
Group Comments
Most of the group enjoyed the book. Some thought that the characters ‘did not speak to them’.
Many, who had read ‘The Secret River’, did not find this book as good. The first book was well researched and well written.
Sarah Thornhill reminded one reader of Mary in ‘The Potato Factory’. But having read ‘Sarah Thornhill’ before ‘The Secret River’ this may have influenced her.
The book brought out the alienation, dispossession, prejudice and the lack of empathy towards indigenous people. The themes of guilt and regret and the family rifts that were caused well portrayed. Some understood that the evil of William Thornhill could not ever be forgiven by his son, Dick. Continue reading
Last Thursday Book Group
Folly by Alan Titchmarsh
Group Comments
- Though it was a bit slow in the beginning – a little boring. Glad it had a happy ending.
- The outline of the story was good, but found it hard to understand the finer details of the story, a little confusing.
- Thought it was a good book because it was British, but thought it was a little odd because the characters were still estranged after almost 50 years.
- Found the book quite interesting once the story unfolded. It was a story about lost chances and consequences.
- Liked the story so far – hasn’t finished the book.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE BOOK
2nd Tuesday Evening Book Group
Group Comments
The book was easy to read and gave a good picture of life in the late 1940’s in Sydney. The issues that refugees face on arriving in a new country are universal and are still confronting individuals and society. Because of the multitude of characters, there were lots of subplots and so was not as in depth as it could have been. In many cases, the characters are quite stereotypical.
The kind of lifestyles depicted resonated with several members, whether through location (having lived in Bondi Junction) or having a refugee experience/ background, themselves.