A Pale View of Hills

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuko Ishiguro

Blog summary by Sharon

Better on the second reading
Interesting book on people and how they interact

Really liked the book but not maybe enjoyable. Very thought provoking. Stayed with me for a while. Meredith is saying that Sachiko is Etsuko !

Was this more than one person’s experience ? Jiro etc
To what extent does the war and the bomb play a part in this ?

Title is suggestive that this is all quite vague. You get a bit more of the picture but not really the whole picture.

Sachiko - damaged and making poor choices.

Sarah - quite a lot of ambiguity. He is troubled by the ending himself. Eerily and tense book. Didn’t warm to any of the characters. Reading a ghost story.
Japanese folklore and sad. Everyone is damaged in it. The dialogue being so ambiguous adds to it.
Is the sign of a good book that it lingers and we keep coming back to it in our imaginations ?

Sally - a bit like poetry. Father in law confronts the young educator. Show a divide of the generations. My reflections today...was like reading a rather long sad poem on these themes ...I wonder the significance of the daughter’s friend writing a poem about Etsuko with an old calendar image of the pale hills. I like to think the smiling wave at the end could suggest once retold/written for herself,  E found some peace with it all.

Meredith - Am still thinking about the book.
Is the story about Mariko upset seeing a mother drown her baby both a reflection on the despair at the time AND perhaps etsuko drowning her child? After all she was pregnant, this could be the child who drowns and then she takes Mariko to England and has Nikki...

Marty - loved the way it was written. A bit slow moving but that’s the style. Mariko - something is going to happen but ? Maybe he didn’t know how to end this first book ?

Lee - linear way. The way he wrote in English about the mannerism and life style is so spot on. Her relationship with the father in law so authentic. His argument about the classmate of Jiro   Old Japan vs the new Japan post war. Woman drowning her baby is horrifying and a symbol. There are so many stories of Japanese war brides - they don’t fit in. Did Mariko become Keiko and was adopted. Niki - an enigma.

Melissa - I’m sure this is the sign of a good book! And I just love the confidence of a work that is not all neat and tidy and wrapped up for us but rather creates space for the reader to bring so much of themselves to the story. Just thought to add other themes that remained with me after reading this book -

* the unreliability of memory (pale view)

* intergenerational misunderstanding - between the children, the parents and the grandparents… (then and always? But particularly between those who experienced the war and those who didn’t.) And the confusions in relation to the developing experience of equality between women and men, rich and poor.

* and of the point and purpose of looking forwards and backwards…
There is a repeated line throughout the book about there being no point in looking back - and yet often they are haunted by their past - and perhaps need to confront it…  This is symbolised in the irony of Etsuko being nervously pregnant in the past reflections with a frightening example in Mariko... and having tragically lost a child in the present reflections. Our children are our “future” and yet… is their future any better than their traumatic past…?

Eg. Excerpts from pg 111-112
Sachiko:  “How right you are Etsuko, we shouldn’t keep looking back to the past. The war destroyed many things for me, but I still have my daughter. As you say, we have to keep looking forward.”
“You know, “ I said, “it’s only in the last few days I’ve really thought about what it’s going to be like. To have a child, I mean. I don’t feel nearly so afraid now. I’m going to look forward to it. I’m going to be optimistic from now on.”

Sachiko…. “you have a lot to look forward to…. we must look forward to life…. there’s a lot to look forward to…”

I also found the book fascinating from a writer’s point of view - the mystery and inferences leaving space for the reader to decide, the spiral structure, the fluid method of taking the reader back and forth to the past and present, the subtlety and the incredible depth of tension underlying scenes that initially seemed superficial like the chess game or the gift of the binoculars during the day trip (pg 108 - excruciating).


8,8,8,6,8.5,8,8
Gently compelling, intriguing haunting and curious




Our next book is The Weekend by Charlotte Wood at Lee's on April 23, 2020

The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre

The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre

Blog written by Sharon

Patience Portefeux, 53 yr old translator from Arabic to French for the Ministry of Justice.
This novel sounds very french in the cadence of sentences because it is a translation.  Took a little getting used to.
What a character !  Bizarre neurological ailment - colours and shapes are linked to taste and feelings.(bimodal synaesthesia). and her relationship with her mother !
Very sobering the treatment her mother received in the nursing home.
It’s an almost implausible plot of how she ended up dealing drugs but I have to admit, the plot is quite clever.

I feel sorry for the cop fiancé though.  That scene where he discovered the Chamonix Oranges was priceless.

I like the Little Fireworks Collector photo with Audrey Hepburn.

6/5.5/5.5/6/ 5/ 7
There are better books out there

Wouldn’t recommend it to my friends

Our next book is A Pale View of Hills by Kazuko Ishiguro and will be at Sharon's on Thursday March 12, 2020.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Our last book of the year 2019 !
Blog written by Marty

Characters

Kya (Catherine Danielle Clark). The Marsh Girl
Tate (primary romantic interest)
Chase (considered the local hero)
Ma (mother)
Jodie (one of the brothers)
Pa (father)
Jumpin (local shop attendant and friend)
Mabel (his wife)

The book is a unique account of a young girl deserted by her entire family including her mother. Kya the main character cannot comprehend how a mother can leave a child ( even animals don't leave their young to fend for themselves). "this little piggy stayed home"

A truly hearty story of a small child left to care for herself (feed,cook,earn wash etc). With the help of her friend she learns to read and she educates herself through her incredible knowledge of the wild life and her affinity with the nature of the district.

The early part gives some description of her relationship with Pa before he leaves her totally isolated.

Most felt the book was well structured and neatly put together..some found the flashbacks were sometimes confusing when referring to the murder and subsequent trial. Part narrated in the 50s and story in the 60's.
The introduction of "who done it?" if it was a murder added intrigue to the story even though no attempt was made to describe how Chase may have met his death. "It was a mystery wrapped in glorious lyrical prose".

Was the verdict a surprise considering the village folk's attitude was prejudiced against Kya (the marsh girl).
When Tate found the shell necklace (that would have been the primary exhibit). After Kya's death did one feel perhaps justice was served?
"Was it sweet revenge?"

The majority of our book club (those that read the book) thoroughly enjoyed "Where the Crawdads Sings".
The language and description was delightful.
It was compelling reading even if at times not totally believable.
But it is a NOVEL (Fiction)

"Most of what she knew, she'd learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored and protected her when no one else would. If consequences resulted from her behaving differently, then they too were functions of life's fundamental core."

The author Delia Owens obviously has immense botanical and biological knowledge of the wild life in that marsh area.

I personally loved the quaint romantic courting touch of Tate leaving a feather for Kya

Crawdads refers to a type of crayfish in that area.


Score 8.5.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday season and all the best for 2020!

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Book chosen by Melissa

When Breath Becomes Air by P Kalanithi

When Breath Becomes Air by P Kalanithi
Book chosen by Sally

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People by Sally Rooney
Book chosen by Robyn


Sharon's observations :

I started to listen to this book on Audible which was a good thing because I am not sure I would have persevered !  Somehow the narration made the young people seem more sympathetic with the Irish accent.

The way the book is written is sometimes confusing as the dialogue is sometimes a dialogue and sometimes not...

Th main character of Marianne is really sad.  I find it a surprise that Connell is the one to seek professional help after Rob’s suicide while Marianne is really the one who needs help.  What a family !!

I was surprised at the ending but maybe shouldn’t have been because Marianne will never believe she deserves the happiness she has found with Connell. 

I rate this novel 6/10.  It is a disturbing read about damaged young people. Nothing “normal” at all !

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover
Book chosen by Megan

Lee's comments :
What to say about Educated, firstly I didn’t like it, even as a true story, autobiography, memoir what ever, all of the characters including the author were so unappealing and I couldn’t relate to any of them, obviously because I am not a Mormon nor am I religious or have had a religious upbringing. I can’t abide fundamentalism in any religion and the people that are brainwashed by it. I found Tara’s story horrific and the dangers her stupid parents exposed her to were just unbelievable. Her mother at first seemed to be protective even though she was under the spell of the demonic father, but later completely sides with his crazy fanaticism and rejects her daughter and I assume her other two sons who have sought out an education while favouring a psychopathic monster in Shawn. The level of family abuse is shocking and the back woods mentality of these fundamentalist Mormons seems so stereotypical of the worst of red neck Americans. End of Days and all that. Another cult involving innocent family members. I am glad I was raised by cynical parents.

I found it so hard to understand and accept that Tara couldn’t/wouldn’t leave the family after all her study and discovering a new life in Cambridge and Harvard. Is this the depth of her brainwashing? Abusers have such a strong hold over their victims, whether it be in an abusive marriage or in a parent-child relationship and the conflict the victims feel in their desire for reconciliation in spite of knowing the reasons they should leave. We see this in so many recent books we have read, from The Girl on a Train, and Unbreakable, to Big Little Lies. It was challenging to accept that she could become so intellectual and committed to research in such a short space of time and still yearn for her mad family. Even though she finally walks away from them. And could she find her answers in 19th century philosophers?

In spite of all this I kept on reading, wondering in a somewhat sadistic way, what horrific act either Shawn or the father would inflict on Tara next. And what a clever girl she was, good at singing; did she play the piano too, can’t remember; the star of the local theatre; brilliant at maths and algebra and even taught herself calculus, all in the shadow of Bucks Peak. All a bit hard to believe. And her mother the homeopath, finally makes a mint from her herbal remedies! And the badly burnt disfigured father can continue building barns and whatever with his claw hands. Again I had to really stretch the limits of my imagination. Ever since reading The Power of One I really dislike this type of ‘made good’ self admiring memoir. By writing, is this the catharsis the author seeks. Sure Tara has her moments, in fact months, of self doubt and finally has a nervous breakdown complete with panic attacks.
For me the opening description of the mountain was the most rewarding part of the book. And the most poignant line was that of the seven siblings, three had achieved academic success and four were basically uneducated. And all of this happening in the last two decades. But I guess that is Trump’s America.
A rating: 6 for the writing, 5 for the narrative.

Tinman by Sarah Winman

Tinman by Sarah Winman
Book chosen by Sarah

Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance

Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance
Book chosen by Meredith

Sharon's comments :

I read this book quite fast as I was conscious of the book group meeting coming up.  It is an easy read and the memoir does paint a picture of what growing up in a poor white lower working class in America is like.

I think he was incredibly lucky in making a different future for himself.  Being a Marine was the first step in instilling discipline and self confidence in him.  This actually says a lot about the opportunities the army can offer.  He probably wouldn’t have gotten into Yale Law without that experience. He was also very lucky to have his Yale professor as his mentor.  That kind of guidance often makes all the difference.

I think his story reaffirms my belief that education is the greatest equalizer.  There are some comments on Goodreads that perhaps JD is looking down on blue collar workers.  I didn’t get that feeling.  I just think he appreciates his lucky break to get into one of the top law schools.

Interesting comments he had on President Obama and his wife Michelle.

Rating 6/10

Our group's general comments :

Well worth a read , Glass Castle was more wow , 7.5 - educational about over generalisation of white stereotypes, interesting 6/10, 7.5/10, Obama statement sums up the book , enjoyed it till Mamaw died , she provided what he needed to live his life even though her own life is flawed. Didn’t like it - didn’t like any of the characters. Reminded me of The Power of One. Didn’t particularly like it.

To the Lighthouse

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Blog by Lee

I thought that by choosing To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf for my book club evening it would present a challenge to the group but I didn’t realise how much of a challenge it it would turn out to be.  Disappointingly only two of us had read it and Megan was halfway through.  Marty listened to an audio book version which we agreed in no way did justice to the writing, and as for those few others who attended, no one else had read it but most enjoyed the discussion with Melissa beamed in from Watson’s Bay by FaceTime.  A techno first for our book club and done very successfully.

Others enjoyed the discussion and Marty commented that she thought that the best part was the title.  I myself thoroughly enjoyed the book as a brilliant piece of stream of consciousness writing and found myself going back to reread passages and then having finished the book starting all over again and continuing to delight in Woolf’s writing and the thoughts and observations of her characters.  It is a book which reflects the influences and personages of Woolf’s life and family and deserves to be read with a reference to her biography to fully appreciate her characters.  It could almost be seen as a book without a narrative, it is the characters themselves that form the story not what happens, although some characters do eventually realise their trip to the lighthouse many years later.

To The Lighthouse has been listed as one of the one hundred greatest books of 20th century English literature and I would tend to agree.  An early feminist work without the social criticism of later feminist works, but a gradual recognition of the poverty and appalling misogyny of male attitudes to women in society and academia which is still so relevant today.

From Litcharts.com:

Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's extended thought process, often by incorporating sensory impressions, incomplete ideas, unusual syntax, and rough grammar.
Some additional key details about stream of consciousness:
Stream of consciousness writing is associated with the early 20th-century Modernist movement.
The term “stream of consciousness” originated in psychology before literary critics began using it to describe a narrative style that depicts how people think.
Stream of consciousness is used primarily in fiction and poetry, but the term has also been used to describe plays and films that attempt to visually represent a character's thoughts.
Understanding Stream of Consciousness
Stream of consciousness writing allows readers to “listen in” on a character's thoughts. The technique often involves the use of language in unconventional ways in an attempt to replicate the complicated pathways that thoughts take as they unfold and move through the mind. In short, it's the use of language to mimic the "streaming" nature of "conscious" thought (thus "stream of consciousness"). Stream of consciousness can be written in first person as well as the third person.

What Makes Stream of Consciousness Different?
Traditional prose writing is highly linear—one thing or idea follows after another in a more or less logical sequence, as in a line. Stream of consciousness is often non-linear in a few key ways that define the style: it makes use of unusual syntax and grammar, associative leaps, repetition, and plot structure.

Stream of consciousness also makes use of associative thought. In this style of writing, writers transition between ideas using loose connections that are often based on a character's personal experiences and memories. The idea is that this technique helps writers convey the experience of human thought more accurately than they could by using  a series of ideas connected with clear, logical transitions. Associative thought can seem "random" as it leaps from one thing to the next, with the help of only ambiguous or seemingly nonexistent connections, even as it can also feel similar to the actual random leaps that are a part of people's everyday thoughts.
As an example, characters' thoughts are often presented to the reader in response to sensory impressions—fragmented observations describing what the character sees, hears, smells, feels, tastes, and so on.

From Melissa:

I have had a copy of this book on my shelf for many, many years, with a view to reading it. Of course I was attracted to the title, let alone the famed history of Woolf’s work, which I had never read. And I think I may have tried to dip in a couple of times in the past but it hadn’t held my attention or wasn’t right for the time. So when you set it for bookclub I was thrilled as I knew I would finally embrace the challenge.

When I commenced the book I was initially disappointed. I wondered how I could possibly wade through what felt like a thick swamp of density to be able to see anything beneath the murky waters. I pushed on, with the same resistance that water provides. It was the extraordinary the dinner party scene, Chapter 17, that suddenly provided an incredible vision of clarity for me. It was not unlike the experience of staring at a 3d picture which, after being bewildered for some time at the scrambled puzzle of it all, it suddenly becomes brilliantly comprehensible. Somehow then, I entered Woolfe’s world - and mind - and from thereon, thoroughly enjoyed and fully appreciated the rest of the journey.

I would personally describe the work as ‘tediously brilliant’. And Woolf as a tortured genius - and true feminist long before her time. Impossible to move through life with such an astute hyper-awareness of what everyone is thinking and feeling - simultaneously - (perfectly depicted the dinner party scene - which is like a camera moving, in slow motion, around the table with insight into everyone's secret perspective - especially the women's) and to live peacefully with that degree of sensitivity. It’s no wonder she put rocks in her pockets. Poor thing. So glad she was at least able to express it - express the way people experience simultaneous thought and feeling - and so cleverly - like no-one else I’ve ever read.

Ever so thankful to her (and you Lee) for the opportunity to read this work. Quite extraordinary. The middle part which depicts the house from the wind’s perspective (no less) is so cleverly experimental - and would be extremely difficult to make work - yet she did.

Some lines and passages are so extraordinary I had to reread them to believe them - like this poetic and metaphorical passage which seems to underline the whole essence of the book - from Ch 9 The Lighthouse - pg 204
[The sea without a stain on it, thought Lily Briscoe, still standing and looking out over the bay. The sea is stretched like silk across the bay. Distance had an extraordinary power; they had been swallowed up in it, she felt, they were gone for ever, they had become part of the nature of things. It was so calm; it was so quiet. The steamer itself had vanished but the great scroll of smoke still hung in the air and drooped like a flag mournfully in valediction.]

Overall, the book seems filled with the weight of melancholy, no heavier than that - of grief - yes - the drowning depths of grief. A ghost story - in the true and aching sense of the word ghost. There is such an emptiness in the sense of the missing person/s, the lost opportunities (to go to the lighthouse when they should’ve, could’ve…) and the sorrow of all things lonesome, unrealised, unrealisable, concluded or unfulfilled.

Thank you Lee, reading this bought a richness to my literary knowledge and experience and I’m so pleased it was you who inspired me to embrace this book.
I wish I could be there to celebrate this with you tonight.

Melissa
xo


Ps. The Penguin version has exceptionally helpful introductory notes and footnotes which I highly recommend. They were almost as interesting as the book, helping to explain the brackets and the simultaneous nature of the work and the process and purpose of its creation.

Our next meeting is on May 2 at Meredith's and our book choice is Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance.

God Help the Child

God Help The Child by Toni Morrison

Blog by Sharon

I've been meaning to choose one of Toni Morrison's work for a while now for the book club and am glad I finally decided on this one.  With the current news of the many child abuse cases coming to court and the perpetrators finally answerable, this is a timely choice.

Some of Toni Morrison quotes from the book :
"What you do to children matters. And they might never forget".
"You are about to find out what it takes, how the world is, how it works and how it changes when you are a parent.  Good luck and God help the child".

In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Morrison said : " There is no such thing as race...Racism is a construct, a social construct. And it has its benefits.  Money can be made off of it. "  The darkness of Bride's skin has certainly changed from being the cause of Sweetness repugnant attitude to her child to something that Bride used to her advantage later in life.

Our ratings for the book were 9,8,7,9,7,9,9 and we described it as disturbing, enlightening and hopeful ending, may the cycle not continue !

Our next meeting is on April 11 at Lee's and our choice is To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.

An Ordinary Day

Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales

Blog collated by Sharon

This is our first book choice for 2019 and the meeting was hosted by Jane.

Jane's comments :
The school's reaction to the death in the family is  insightful.  People generally avoid the person with the tragedy.  Acknowledging someone's difficult and tragic event is not that common but it should be done.  The most touching story was the child who was a schizophrenic who killed the dad.

Sally :
Really valuable from the priest and detective about how to speak to people.  Just say simple things and not worry about the right things to say.  Nice story of resilience.

Lee :
Leigh's voice is just how she speaks on 7:30 Report.  A book I felt I could trust.  The people who tell the stories are trusting Leigh to tell them truthfully.  They are so brave to talk about their stories.  Beautiful book.

Melissa :
Religious theme was interesting because you feel Leigh is wrestling with that herself. In the end, kindness.  Moved by the surfing incident.  No quota to traumas.  For those who can change they actually manage to go onto a better life.  Why me ? - well why not me ? The new normal as opposed to moving on or closure.

Marty :
The media is very intrusive when they approach trauma victims' families.  Helps personal recovery if they get a chance to tell what really happened.  It's free as opposed to talking to a therapist.  There are incidents where I felt she was pushy and insensitive.  Maybe that's what drove the writing of the book.

Meredith :
The appalling state of journalism.  Leigh Sales' interview tactic is actually annoying. The book is quite good but it's not been an entirely honest book because she wasn't happy to reveal too much about herself.  It's like a very long essay.  Kind of repetitive story after story.  It's highlighting the randomness of life. The book is too long.

We described the book as : a worthwhile read, unexpectedly more than interesting, thought provoking and reassuring, insightful.  A couple of 9.5 ratings.

Our next book is God Help the Child by Toni Morrison and the meeting will be at Sharon's on March 7th.

The Wife

The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
Book chosen by Marty

Our comments describing the novel :
Beautifully written
Intriguing 
Delicately woven

Predictable

Our average rating :
7.7/10


Our first book selection for 2019 is Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales.  The meeting will be at Jane's on Wednesday Feb 6th, 2019.

Home Fire

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

Blog written by Sally

Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire is an extraordinary contemporary novel about English Muslim PhD student Isma and her younger siblings, 19 year old twins Aneeka and Parvaiz. The family’s history, community and their experience as Muslims living in London is fascinating. Religion, politics, family, love, and violence are central to the story that follows. It is harrowing to read the grooming of Parvaiz to join ISIS. Anneke’s passionate affair with Eamonn and his fractured relationship with his father are engagingly told and unsettling. Based on Sophocles’ Antigone, the ending is truly tragic.

We all liked this book. We admired Shamsie’s exquisite story telling, and appreciated reading a Muslim-told story.

The words we chose to describe the book were: thought provoking, topical, intelligent, insightful and sad. Brave, ambitious and cleverly structured.
We gave it an average rating of 8.5

BBC podcast with Kamila Shamsie talking about Home fire and Greek tragedies

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/books-and-authors/id331296649?mt=2&i=1000391510769

Our next meeting will be at Robyn's on Oct 24 Wednesday and we will be discussing Unbreakable by Jelena Dokic.

The Museum of Modern Love

The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose

Blog written by Meredith

The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose, winner of the 2017 Stellar Prize, proved a very popular choice.
Woven around the true story of Marina Abromovic and ‘The Artist is Present’ in 2010 at MoMA, this novel is based around the characters who were drawn to Marina during this time, their personal lives and loves.
Over the course of three months, for eight hours a day Marina sat silently across from an empty chair and waited as people took turns to sit and lock eyes with her.
This performance was the inspiration for Rose’s 7th novel and led to her Stellar Prize.
It was muted that perhaps Marina was the main interest in the story, however, it was argued well that we probably wouldn’t have read it if it hadn’t been a novel.
A beautifully written novel about life and art, courage and fear, and the fulfilment of love and marriage.
Our bookclub awarded this novel no less than an 8 out of 10 and even received one 10 out of 10.

Highly recommended.

Our next meeting is on Sept 19 at Sally's and our selection is Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

Extinctions

Extinctions by Josephine Wilson

Blog written by Melissa

Extinctions was selected as it won Australia’s most prestigious literary award - The Miles Franklin.  It also offered subject matter of interest to us all, including the Stolen Generation, family relations and trauma, ageing, our capacity for forgiveness, migration, adoption, the things we hold onto, the things that are disappearing... and more…  One member found it ‘immensely satisfying’ with beautiful writing. Another member found it ‘highly relatable' and the main character ‘very familiar'. Yet the majority of the group seemed to experience an overall feeling of disappointment.  The protagonist, Fred Lothian, was a difficult character to enjoy, even though we all agreed, of course, that a character does not have to be likeable for a book to be satisfying (eg. Humbert in Lolita). One member found that the brief time span allowing Fred’s partial enlightenment to be unbelievable. Most found the story generally depressing. It is a world of damaged people, who sadly do not all find ways to heal from their past trauma and therefore perpetuate the continuation of this damage onto those around them.

Excerpt below from Sydney Review of Books - Roslyn Jolly 30/3/17
https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/extinctions-josephine-wilson-review/

"...Frederick Lothian is a deeply flawed, emotionally stunted, at times repellent character. He has grave sins, both of omission and commission, on his conscience. He has contributed, with varying degrees of responsibility, to the destruction of three young lives. To speak of relationship breakdown does not begin to cover the amount of damage he has done to his marriage. Watching Fred grope his way towards self-insight and accountability is an experience both painful and fascinating, and I found his character convincing as the product of a particular childhood in particular historical conditions. I did, though, run into two problems of plausibility. One was that he seemed to me much older than his sixty-nine years — although perhaps this in itself is a reflection of his personality. The other, more serious, problem was that I could not see what it was that could ever have attracted Martha to him. The marriage is presented as, from the start, a mismatch, but it seems to me important to believe that Martha was once so in love with Fred that she left family and country behind to accompany him to Australia, committing her future irrevocably to his. I don’t think we’re given enough evidence that Fred was ever appealing enough to make this happen.

One of Fred’s habits of thought is to describe himself, to himself (and once to Jan) as a monster; and indeed he asks himself the question, ‘How could anyone have loved such a monster?’ (Frankenstein’s monster, of course, asks himself similar questions.) This is one of the times when we have to read beyond Fred’s point of view, to discount the easy formulas on which he relies in what psychologists would call his ‘self-talk’, but also to dig down to the truths lurking within his metaphorical language. (At one point Fred thinks ‘Monsters had no need of poetic language. Metaphor was lost on monsters’, but the very fact that he describes himself as a monster shows that this isn’t true.) When Fred says to Jan ‘I am a monster’ and starts to cry, he is indulging in self-pity and perhaps fishing for the expected reassuring rejoinder, ‘no you’re not’ (which Jan doesn’t supply). But when his thoughts turn to a couplet from Dryden’s translation of the Aeneid Book 6 – for Fred fancies himself as something of a classicist – we’re given something more useful to work with:

Here dwells the monster, hid from human view
Not to be found, but by the faithful clew.
With this reference, Fred figures himself as the Minotaur, a creature of darkness to whom an endless series of youths must be sacrificed. How to destroy the monster and break the curse? The myth shows us that it is only possible by tracing a path to the deepest, darkest place where the monster lurks at the heart of his labyrinth, and then, crucially, tracing a way out again. To do this, Fred will have to rethink how he has always previously practised the archaeology of trauma: ‘Why was he digging up what was done when he’d just have to go bury it again?’ He has to learn to dig, and not to re-bury.

What is the relation between facing the past and being able to create a future? The novel ends not with Fred, but with its other main centre of consciousness, Caroline. This shift of focus restores historical and national contexts to the foreground of the narrative. A motherless child and childless would-be mother, Caroline has become a wanderer upon the face of the earth, searching for others ‘who understood the threat of extinction’ in whatever way that understanding might have come. Whether she will remain a prisoner of the past or of her own singularity, a last Mohican or a mateless one-of-a-kind, is a question Josephine Wilson leaves open at the end of the book, but there are suggestions of paths forward, forms of salvage and adaptation, and ways of creatively engineering a future."

Our next meeting is at Meredith's on Aug 15 Wed and our selection is The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose

Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Blog interpreted by Sharon from Sarah's notes

A few of our members (Sharon, Jane and Meredith) went to the Sydney Writers' Festival and heard Jennifer Egan and Min Jin Lee ( Pachinko) speak about writing historical novels.
The depth of their research is much appreciated and their hard work validated.

Jennifer Egan is kind of a role model being only 55 and successful. The character of Brianne was well liked and Anna is an admirable heroine.  Although some of her endeavours appear far fetched, we didn't mind it because of the clean writing.  The through lines we felt were of the sea, the underworlds, feminism and strong women.

We rated the novel 8/10 and Melissa described is as "excellent, praiseworthy, intelligent, clean, so well written and well researched".  She found quite a few metaphors she liked : examples on pages 307, 310, 365 and 369.

Comments from Lee :
I finished Manhattan Beach a few nights ago and agree with a few comments that it was a most enjoyable read. Another coming of age story but with so many different unexpected twists to the story, that also included many other stories of the various characters. Apart from Anna’s story, which did I enjoy most? Maybe the harrowing story of Eddie on the merchant navy ship and the wreck, but would have liked to have known more about how he survived although a little was revealed later. Brianne turned out to be quite a surprise and it was tragic to read that her pretend life had been a front for her sad destitution and then she took on the heroic stance to help Anna to move to California and raise her child. Anna herself is an amazing character and in reading the acknowledgements at the end to discover that there were actually hard hat women divers during the war was surprising. The surprises revealed in the narrative about women in war service and the prejudice they faced was so different from the usual women in war work in arms factories. Never would I have imagined hard hat divers! The character of Dexter Styles was so interesting, but I thought that there had to be more to the development of the relationship before the amazing one night stand, a scene worthy of Hemingway and “the earth moving”. I wasn’t quite sure why Dexter was killed, but he seemed to know of his impending demise but sadly didn’t have the Houdini like skills of Eddie to escape his death. And what role did his father in law have in Eddie’s execution?? Many sides to many characters. And the father in law must have somehow had links to Dexter Styles....

I did like “the happy ending”. Anna was going to be a wonderful mother after all the care and love she had given to Lydia. And the writing throughout was imaginative and the detailed descriptions, so that it was easy to imagine the grim world of the New York docks and the contrast of the tranquility of Manhattan Beach. While the Country Club world of New York society and their social prejudices was easy to visualise from the many movies, TV shows and books that we all have seen. And their ignorance of the fate that awaited their sons as they went off to war.

Our next meeting is on June 21st at Melissa's and our book choice is Extinctions by Josephine Wilson.

The Shadow of the Wind

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Blog written by Lee

“Melissa brought a print out from the ABC’s Book Club program so we had a few other opinions on the book.  Meredith, Sally and myself all enjoyed thoroughly the book, Melissa gave it more than her usual 100 pages test, reading on for 200 in deference to it being my choice.  But it didn’t qualify as a good read for her.  The book is 512 pages so longer than our usual choices and I apologise for that.   As a coming of age story with gothic and mystical overtones in true modern Latin style, and a few fascinating characters, particularly Fermin who reckons everyone agreed was the most interesting and well written character in the novel.   Someone on the ABC program compared with Sancho Panza as a sidekick to the main character.   The story twists and turns and the different ages of the main character Daniel are hard to follow and become a little unbelievable at times.   The descriptions of the city of Barcelona are wonderful and draw the reader into the streets and back alleys of the city.  There are even a couple of maps to take the keen reader on a walk through the areas mentioned.  I certainly will follow the map during my stay in Barcelona this year.

The story comes full circle and then starts again when Daniel has become an adult, but he marries this time with the reluctant approval of his love Beatrix’s father unlike the  tragic Penelope, the love of Julian Carax, the mysterious author of The Shadow of The Wind.   Everyone loved the concept of the cemetery of forgotten books, and again this story comes full circle at the end of the novel when Daniel takes his young son to the mysterious place, just as his father had done with him which is the impetus of the story.   I thought the writing was beautiful, although some in the ABC program protested that it was overly done.  The  enigma of Julian Carax is finally revealed in the letter to Daniel written by Nuria Montfort, almost a novel in itself and the denouement of the novel.


For me and for the commentators on the ABC program it is quite a page turner.  The book has been a huge international best seller both in Spanish and the excellent translation into English and no doubt other languages.  I chose it because of the Barcelona setting and was not disappointed.  With only four in attendance, we didn’t rank it as statistically it wouldn’t count, but it would probably be about 7.5 if you insist.”

Our next meeting is on May 24 at Sarah's and our book choice is Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Blog by Sharon

"Don't you know? That's the secret.  If you always make sure you're exactly the person you hoped to be, if you always make sure you know only the very best people, then you won't care if you die tomorrow."

The above is a quote from the book which resonates with me.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel which explores relationships : between June and her uncle Finn ( somewhat disturbing !), between Finn and Toby, Greta and June, Danni and Finn (her own frustrations of unfulfilled artistic dreams).

How realistic is this love June has for her uncle Finn?  And is it right for Finn to encourage it almost ?  The author tried to show that all the jealousy, envy and shame that we carry is our own kind of sickness, as much a disease as AIDS for Toby and Finn.

The author took us back to when HIV and AIDS first appeared and showed us the kinds of prejudices and paranoia they invoked.  Kind of scary how the gay community and HIV victims were shunned.

I found the sisters' relationship to the painting fascinating - it's almost a kind of communication between them when they can't say the words out loud.

We rated the book an average of 7.5/10.

Our next meeting is on Thursday April 12 at Lee's and our book choice is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafan.

First book in 2018 : The Better Son

The Better Son by Katherine Johnson
Book chosen by Jane

Blog written by Sharon

This novel reminds us of the Lyre Bird Hill and is a bit predictable.  It was an easy read with nothing too surprising.  The boys' father was monstrous and the mother Jess had our sympathy.
A lot of men came back from the war like the way the father did.  Sadly Kip was so in fear of his dad that it ruined his life.

Some found the visit in the cave a bit tedious.  We all thought Squid was a wonderful character.  I felt the last chapters about Kip going back to the cave were interesting in that they really gave a good description of the geological aspect of the caves.

Some felt that the Road to the Far North by Richard Flanagan was better.

Why didn't Kip just come out with the truth ? It's heartbreaking what happened ...

We rated the book 7/10 and our next meeting will be at Sharon's on Wed March 7th.  Our book will be Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.