Tag Archives: book review

Alan Walker Book Group – Minding Frankie

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Parramatta Library’s Outreach Book Group at Alan Walker Village read Maeve Binchy’s, Minding Frankie here are their thoughts:

 

The group had a healthy and robust discussion, that indicated one an all enjoyed the book.

Over 40 characters in the book rather over faced some. It was said, “in reality five stories were incorporated”.

First time readers of Maeve Binchy were quite enthralled by her undoubted ability. Avid readers didn’t consider this her finest book. Everyone was sorry that her recent death means no further books. Continue reading →

Last Thursday Book Group – The Happiest Refugee

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At the May meeting the group discussed:

The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do

Summary

The laugh-out-loud, reach-for-your-hanky story of one of Australia’s best-loved comedians. Anh Do nearly didn’t make it to Australia. His entire family came close to losing their lives on the sea as they escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. But nothing – not murderous pirates, nor the imminent threat of death by hunger, disease or dehydration as they drifted for days – could quench their desire to make a better life in the country they had dreamed about. Continue reading →

2nd Tuesday Evening Book Group – Great Pioneer Women of the Outback

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At the May meeting the group discussed:

Great Pioneer Women of the Outback by Susanna DeVries

In the 1800s, the first white farmers and graziers making their homes in the outback were joined by their wives, many of whom had no idea what lay in store. Expecting a tropical paradise, these female pioneers encountered instead conditions which would test, and often defeat them; relentless heat and dust, isolation, hostile wildlife, the threat of rape and violence, no medical facilities and never ending, backbreaking work. Continue reading →

Last Thursday Book Group

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 The Story of Danny Dunn by Bryce Courtenay

 A beautiful novel by the prolific Mr Courtenay.

A descriptive account of Balmain and Sydney during the 1930’s, 1940’s, right through to the seventies.

The characters are wonderfully depicted and true to the era of the Depression. Many readers shed a tear as memories of the past came back to them.

Danny Dunn’s character is that of many a young man who willingly went to war and after came back broken and found it hard to relate to a ‘normal’ world again.

Comments from the group: Continue reading →

Staff Pick

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good wifeHow to be a good wife – Emma Chapman

Marta and Hector live in a small village in Norway. They have been married for a long time. Their son has recently left home and Marta fills in her days by being a 1950s style housewife, referring to a book “How to be a good wife” that her mother-in-law gave her. Hector has always looked after Marta and she has looked after the house and family.

From the start of this book there are some questions that need answering.  Who is the young blonde girl that keeps appearing? Is she real, or an hallucination? Or is it a memory that is coming back to Marta? Why does Hector give Marta medication every day? And why does she only pretend to take the tablets?

As the story progresses we learn more about Marta’s past. This book kept me interested throughout and although the conclusion was a bit upsetting it was still a well written novel and I look forward to more from this author.