Tag Archives: Parramatta Library

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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the-book-thief

 

 

War. It is 1939, Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. By her brother’s graveside, Liesel Meminger’s life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is “The Gravedigger’s Handbook”, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her foster father, learns to read. Soon, she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times. When Liesel’s foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel’s world is both opened up, and closed down. “The Book Thief” is a story about the power of words and the ability of books to feed the soul. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author, Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

 

Group Comments

Written by Death, one reader liked his character- compassionate, witty and not utterly bleak.

Very impressive – so well written that I couldn’t put it down – very rich in texture. Continue reading →

The Lost Child by Suzanne McCourt

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The lost child

Sylvie is five. It’s the 1950’s and she lives in Burley Point, a fishing village south of the Coorong on Australia’s wild southern coast. She worships her older brother Dunc. She tries to make sense of her brooding mother, and her moody father who abandons the family to visit The Trollop, Layle Lewis, who lives across the lagoon. It’s hard to keep secrets in a small town, but when Dunc goes missing, Sylvie is terrified that she is the cause.

This is Suzanne McCourt’s first novel and what a great book it was. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. This is the book I am going to tell everyone they MUST read. 5 out of 5  stars. Jody

 

Last Thursday Book Group

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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

 

Alan Walker Village Book Group

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In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Group Comments

A well-attended meeting of 12 members ensured there were a variety of opinions on most questions, but there was general agreement that the book was enjoyable and amusing. Some found it ‘shallow’.

Not many could name our Prime Ministers from Federation on, let alone the recent Prime Ministers of many other countries.

The group accepted the comment ’30,000 years of ocean-going seacraft’, citing Heyerdal’s Kon Tiki expedition as an example.

We felt that reading this book could have influenced how visitors (and we ourselves) experienced Australia, and agreed it does add to your enjoyment of a place you are visiting.

One member whose husband’s profession took them around Australia in three-monthly moves was most definite that you can’t properly experience a country by just touring. This was a rather superficial look at Australia. Bryson’s comments on Uluru were instanced.

We thought Bryson himself relied too heavily on his researchers, whom he himself reported as being sometimes varied in their facts.