Tag Archives: Parramatta Library

Spirits of the Ghan

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Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn

 

Book Extract

It is 2001 and as the world charges into the new Millennium, a century-old dream is about to be realised in the Red Centre of Australia: the completion of the mighty Ghan railway, a long-lived vision to create the ‘backbone of the continent’, a line that will finally link Adelaide with the Top End.

 

Comments

Well I just finished Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn; due out the end of October 2015. I was lucky enough received access to a pre-publication ebook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

And I absolutely love it! Spirits of the Ghan is the first book I have read by Judy and it definitely won’t be my last.

I know it sounds cliché but from the very first page I was hooked. I wanted to keep reading and that didn’t change throughout the whole book.

Spirits of the Ghan has everything a great read needs; an intriguing storyline, interesting characters, history, culture, friendship, family, heartbreak and a little romance.

I loved the fact that throughout the book it was told from the points of view of different characters. This allowed me to get to know and love each character and become engrossed in their story.

I was enjoying the book so much and was worried the end half of the book would let me down; but it didn’t. I thoroughly enjoyed the story right to the very end and couldn’t have asked for a better way for the book to be wrapped up.

Two days after I finished the book I find myself still thinking about it.

 

Rating – 5/5

 

Ready by – Jody

 

 

Recipe Club – Winter Warmers

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Keeping in theme with the season at the moment the Parra Reads Recipe Club discussed all things warm and comfy.

Anne shared her recipe for Chicken and Veggie Soup which everyone couldn’t wait to try.

We also discussed some of our favourite cooking shows and DVD’s. Jamie of course was a favourite along with River Cottage. But it was nice to hear so many Australian Chefs and television shows mentioned, like Justine Schofield (Everyday Gourmet)  Good Chef Bad Chef and Poh Ling Yeow’s new show Poh & Co.

I am looking forward to Praneeta sharing her recipe for a nice Indian curry for July’s theme of Classics Curries.

Warm your tummy this winter and try cooking the Chicken and Veggie Soup.

 

 

 

Big Little Lies

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Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty

Summary

Pirriwee Publics annual school Trivia Night has ended in a shocking riot. One parent is dead. The school principal is horrified. As police investigate what appears to have been a tragic accident, signs begin to indicate that this devastating death might have been cold-blooded murder. This book deftly explores the reality of parenting and playground politics, ex-husbands and ex-wives, and fractured families. This book also shows us the truth about what really goes on behind closed suburban doors.

Comments

A hugely enjoyable and easy read. The characters are well developed, believable and likeable. Although it was an easy read, it showcased some serious and confronting issues. It reminded us that although we all appear fine on the surface, a number of us are secretly fighting our own battles. The book also demonstrated the playground politics often found in schools and we all admitted to comparing the characters to some of the parents at our schools! The book at times felt like a screenplay and we questioned whether that was necessary. There is a great, unexpected twist at the end which had us all talking. Overall a fantastic book and a must read for kindergarten parents!

Rating – an impressive 9.5/10

Read By Cultcha Club

Miles Franklin Winner 2015

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Congratulations Sofie Laguna WINNER of the 2015 Miles Franklin Award!

 

the-eye-of-the-sheep‘Ned was beside me, his messages running easily through him, with space between each one, coming through him like water. He was the go-between, going between the animal kingdom and this one. I watched the waves as they rolled and crashed towards us, one after another, never stopping, always changing. I knew what was making them come, I had been there and I would always know.’ Meet Jimmy Flick. He’s not like other kids – he’s both too fast and too slow. He sees too much, and too little. Jimmy’s mother Paula is the only one who can manage him. She teaches him how to count sheep so that he can fall asleep. She holds him tight enough to stop his cells spinning. It is only Paula who can keep Jimmy out of his father’s way. But when Jimmy’s world falls apart, he has to navigate the unfathomable world on his own, and make things right.

 

Sofie’s winning book is The eye of the sheep, is a great read. Do yourself a favour and read it today.

If you would like more information on the Miles Franklin Award why not visit the website http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/

 

 

 

 

Losing Kate

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Losing Kate by Kylie Kaden

Summary

This mesmerising debut is part love story, part mystery, telling the captivating story of two lovers torn apart by tragedy and the secrets they kept of one devastating night.

I’m the most authentic version of myself when I’m around Jack. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and our relationship was always one of mudpies and mocking.

Then everything changed.

Beautiful Kate, my best friend, disappeared on a moonlit beach after Jack dumped her for me. Jack was a suspect and, sure of his innocence, I lied to protect him. I know Jack didn’t kill her. Our betrayal did.

Thirteen years later, I am thirty, childless and single, attempting to renovate my life rescuing a rundown worker’s cottage. All is as it should be in my safe little world – until Jack buys the vacant lot behind my house… and the feelings that we buried all those years ago – the guilt, the love and the pain – resurface.

We can’t keep running away from the past – and to move forward we have to know what really happened to Kate.

Comments

What a FANTASTIC book! I can’t believe it is a debut novel.

I couldn’t stop reading it and finished it in one sitting.

The author very skillfully switches between past and present, pulling you from one time to the other at just the right moment.

This book has everything a great book should have; interesting plot, great characters, romance, mystery and family ties.

A MUST read.

Another great addition to enjoyable Aussie Fiction.

Read by

Jody

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