A good variety of books discussed and crossed the table this month. 
 
The Debs of Bletchley Park and other stories, book by Michael Smith tells of the young women who were recruited for code breaking work at the top secret Bletchley Park and the lives they gave up.  A necessity was the ability to speak and understand German, a creche was even provided for the children.   Mrs. Mahoney’s Secret War by Gretel Wachtel.  Gretel helped protect fugitives hunted by the Gestapo, passing on secrets to the resistance she learned from her work, she was eventually arrested in 1945 and liberated as the British Army advanced.  Also enjoyed was The Plantagenets: The Kings Who Made England by Dan Jones.  The English Royal Dynasty that ruled England from 1154-1485, highly recommended for lovers of history.  Annette Kellerman: The Australian Mermaid by Grantley Kieza, the true story of Australian Swimming champion and Hollywood star Annette Kellerman.  Having read Grantley Kieza’s previous books, our reader’s anticipation was not met in this book.  Daughter of the Ganges a memoir by Asha Miro.  Asha, born in India, was adopted by the Catalan family and lived in Barcelona, this is the story of her journey into her past.  An interesting book was Drawn Testimony by Jane Rosenberg: My Four decades as a Courtroom Sketch.  Jane describes her time in courtrooms, a very good memoir and worth a read.  Picture You Dead written by Peter James, an ordinary couple dreamed for years of finding something priceless buried amongst junk in a car boot sale.  Our reader felt this was written for TV.  The Shipping News by Annie Prouix has been around a while but a good read, a reporter from New York moves to Newfoundland for a fresh start.  Melania and Me by Stephanie Winton Wolkoff.  Stephanie is an American businesswoman who writes about working for and friendship with Melanie Trump, sounds interesting.  Just the Sisterhood by Cathy Kelly is set in Ireland - two sisters embark on a journey of self-discovery.  Cathy is a popular author.  Black Sheep by Judy Nunn, an historical novel about a prosperous sheep farming family and the young man they let into their lives, the usual high-class book from this author.  The Butterfly Woman by Madeleine Cleary - a debut novel set in 1863 amid the brothels of Little Lonsdale Street, where all walks of life could mingle - received a tick of approval.  Walking Free by Dr Munjed Al Muderis, the true story of a young man who fled Iraq as a refugee spent time, in a detention centre and went on to become a pioneering surgeon.  The Governor, his Wife and his Mistress, an historical novel by Sue Williams, had special meaning for our reader whose family can be traced back to that time.  The Whitest Flower by Brendan Graham, historical fiction set in 1845 during the Great Famine in Ireland, a sad book.  The Jam Maker by Mary Lou Stephens, published in 2025, relates to the history of jam making in Tasmania, love and friendship and rags to riches, very enjoyable.  The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer, Clover works as a death doula in New York City.  The Night on the Darling River by Darry Fraser, this book started well but didn’t really click with our reader.  Our usual crime writers Harlam Coben’s Nobody’s Fool was great, and John Grisham The Abduction, a simple story at teenage level. A Woman of Courage by Tania Blanchard, inspired hy a true story this historical fiction was excellent. Little Italian Bakery by Valentina Cebeni - the smell of freshly baked bread, lemon and aniseed, a lovely read.  One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus, a young adult mystery novel but quite enjoyable.
 
See you all in July. 
 
Geraldine
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​Another enjoyable afternoon spent chatting about the books we have read over the past month.

The Girls from Fitzroy by Jennie Jones - the unlikely friendship between two girls from opposite ends of Fitzroy portraying the loyalty of people living in the slum areas as against the more wealthy, the book also bought back memories for some, of time spent training to be nurses in Fitzroy.  Popular author Fiona McIntosh has written The Tea Garden - a young midwifery nurse sets sale from England to Calcutta with hopes of making a difference, an enjoyable read.   Mrs. Mahony’s Secret War - a non-fiction biography by Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, focusing on the life and times of Mrs. Mahony.  In Dusk by Robbie Arnott, twins Iris and Floyd hunt in the Tasmanian highlands for the mythical Puma with mixed results.  The Mysteries of History is a collection of stories and the mysteries that have fascinated people for centuries.  Murder by Design by Ann Burgess - with her research on criminal profiling Burgess and the FBI agents solve the murder of two boys.  Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer is an American serial killer initially convicted of the murder of 48 people.  On a lighter note, The Animals that Noah Forgot by AB (Banjo) Paterson is a collection of poems that brings to life Australian animal characters such as Weary Willy the Wombat and Old Man Platypus, an absolute delight.  The Man Who Died Twice, by Richard Osman, has now become a popular read among pupils in schools.  Maralinga by Judy Nunn - set during the cold War, the 1956 testing of nuclear weapons in the SA desert had consequences, as usual very well researched. Call of the Outback by Marianne Van Velzen - the remarkable story of Ernestine Hill, a nomad and adventurer and her writings of her travels across the Australian outback, this was thoroughly enjoyed.  Table for Two by Amor Towles was popular as was his style of writing.  Our first Science Fiction has appeared, Extras by Scott Westerfield is a young adult science fiction novel.  Our reader persevered but wasn’t too impressed, however he did enjoy The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins with its twist in the tail.  Devil’s Waltz by Jonathan Kellerman a psychologist confronts a strange medical mystery involving a child, this was a rather sad one with the mother apparently being the problem.   The End of October by Laurence Wright, a medical thriller where a doctor races to find the origins and cure of a mysterious new killer – sounds familiar. The Winds Further West by Alexander McCall Smith whose novels never fail to delight.  The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern was not a favourite whilst Blood and Gold by Michael Trant, in which someone is stalking gold hunters, was a good read.  Harlem Coban and Lee Child were, as usual popular whilst John Grisham’s The Abduction, the third in the series, received a tick of approval.  The Whitest Flower by Brendan Graham is an historical fiction set against the backdrop of The Great Famine in 1845 in Dublin.  Last Known Contact by Phillipa Nefri Clark, a body found at sea and who can she trust, a well-known author who writes well. The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress by Sue Williams is in the time of Australia’s early history. 

A great variety of reads this month. 

Geraldine

Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, a 2009 non fiction book based on interviews with ordinary people and their lives in North Korea.  We all agreed we are lucky to live where we do.  And the Mountain Echoed by Khalid Hosseini this is the 3rd book written by Khalid, two brothers travel across the desert to Kabul with their father and have no idea of the fate that awaits them.  Batavia by Peter Fitzsimmons the Shipwreck of the Batavia combines the brutality of colonisation with sea faring adventure as usual Peter Fitzsimmons has done his research very well.  The Boy from the Woods by Harlem Coben 30 years ago Wilde was found as a boy living feral in the woods with no memory as an adult he still doesn’t know his past, there is also the mystery of a missing teenage girl involved. A good one.  Chanel’s Riviera by Anne De Courcy, Life, Love and the Struggle for Survival on the Cote d’Azur 1930-1944, the title tells it all.  The Phantom of 5th Avenue by Meryl Gordon, the mysterious life and scandalous death of heiress Huguette Clark whose father obtained his riches by copper mining.  Our Australian Author Judy Nunn wrote Tiger Men set in and around Hobart, this is the saga of three families leading to the sacrifices of WW1. Judy doesn’t fail to write a good story.  Love Anthony by Lisa Genova, a friendship that gives a mother the ability to understand the thoughts of her 8 year old autistic son.  On an entirely different level a TV Series on SBS The Swap is a 3-part series that took place in Brisbane.  Ali Kadri the CEO of the Islamic College of Brisbane put forward the idea of 6 Islamic students swapping with 3 pairs of students from Catholic Colleges and a secular State High School, giving students the opportunity to attain unity, respect and understanding of each other and the different lives we all lead.  Excellent viewing and a great idea.  Joice Nankivell – Blue Ribbons, Bitter Bread ​a biography by Susanna De Vries.  This biography is a tribute to one of Australia’s most heroic women who during WW11 was an agent for the Allies in Eastern Europe and helped over a 1000 Jews and Poles escape.  Take Me Home by Karly Lane, set in the Scottish Highlands, a lovely story of family values and self discovery.  In the Middle of Nowhere by Terry Underwood, a novel of beating the odds, the power of love and the strength of family ties.  Also enjoyed was Flame Tree Hill by Mandy Magro and The Whitest Flower by Brendan Graham.  American writer Stephen King has written a novella Everything’s Eventual, sounds different but was enjoyed by our reader.   Hostage by Robert Crais a small town thriller, The Tribute by John Byron, a thriller with a serial killer loose in Sydney.   Book of Souls by Glenn Cooper, a shocking truth lies with the pages of an ancient library locked inside a high security complex under the Nevada Desert.  I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes received a mmmm! Whilst the Death of Dora Black by Lanie Anderson  and Dead Man’s Chest by Kerry Greenwood were enjoyed.   Angel of Waterloo by Jackie French,  the soldiers she saved called her `the angel of Waterloo’, a powerful novel by a very good author. 

Geraldine

It was great to see everyone back to Let’s Talk Books for 2025.  A big welcome to Rex Nankervis and Val Harris, with Dianne McKinlay also returning to our ranks.

We began with The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman, a High society Regency London feminist historical mystery series, recommended to our reader and quite enjoyed.  Mr. Lear, a Life of Art and Nonsense by Jenny Uglow, the biography of renowned English artist, musician, author and poet best known for his poem `The Owl and the Pussycat’.  Richard Osman’s latest offering `We Solve Murders’ takes a different path to his previous books, you either like his writing or you don’t.  Our reader and several others have enjoyed Arcadia by Di Morrissey, we commented on how well she researches her stories.  A new author to our group, Faye Lockwood wrote A Sister’s Deception, tragedy strikes a family and loyalties betrayed.  Her second book Heavens Homestead – The Body Under Barooga Bridge was set in and around Cobram/Barooga.  The Rust Red Land by Robin Bishop brings to life the injustices faced by women in the 1800 and 1900’s.  Two books enjoyed were Dark Tides by Phillipa Gregory and The Station Masters Cottage by Phillipa Nefrie Clark, who gave an author’s talk at the Benalla Library.  A fossick through a second-hand bookshop found two books with the same title – the first, In the Margins by Gail Holmes, is a historical novel set in 1647 telling the story of book collector Frances Wolfreston.  The second book In the Margins: On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing by Elena Ferrante the well-known Italian author, is a book of essays published by Elena based on a series of lectures presented in the University of Bologna in 2011.  Enjoyed was Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.  A DVD The Professor and the Mad Man by Simon Winchester, a tale of madness and genius at the heart of the Oxford Dictionary.  The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor was inspired by the true story of a boatload of children torpedoed by a Nazi U boat taking them to safety in Canada and Australia.  Lives of the Wives: 5 Literary Marriages by Carmela Ciuraru; speaks for itself; Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread, the Life of Joice Nankivell Loch by Susanna DeVries, an historical novel.  Also enjoyed was The Children Who Fought Hitler, a true documentary of a heroic battle fought by children of the British Memorial School.  The Hidden Beauty by Lucinda Edmonds, before she became Lucinda Ryly, was introduced.  Author John Safran wrote Squat of his time squatting in the house of American Kanye West.  Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty was enjoyed.  Sharing a table over a coffee our reader held a conversation with first time author Clayton Dealy who wrote and published Timber Floats, a portrayal of a year in the life of two emotionally displaced individuals. He then presented Dianne with a copy of his book.  Agatha Christie: A very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley was intriguing, as was Three Times a Countess: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Raine Spencer by Tina Gaudion.   What an extraordinary woman! Also enjoyed over the holiday period - The Charlston Scandal by Pamela Hart; The Golden Thread by Tea Cooper; Out of Nowhere by Fleur McDonald and Her Father’s Daughter by Bonnie Henderson. 

​What a vast range of topics and books we have read.  See you all next month.
​
Geraldine

Another enjoyable chat about books we have read.  Apples Never Fall, by Liane Moriarty, a family saga enjoyed by Helen, although The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, was found to be somewhat convoluted. The latest fiction by Lucy Foley, The Midnight Feast, was a winner. The Quest for Anna Klein, by Thomas H Cook, is a reminiscence of an old man in 2001 as he relates an operation in pre-war Germany in 1939 to a resentful young man.  Highly recommended was Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, an insightful overview of 1990’s in North Korea. 
​
​We had another discussion on Murder on Easy Street by Helen Thomas - after all these years a suspect has now been found in Italy.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, our reader enjoyed this book finding the story had been told truly. Batavia by Peter Fitzsimmons is a well written historical book about the ship Batavia wrecked off the coast of WA in 1629. As usual Peter has done his research meticulously. Wed by the Wayside by Alana Valentine, the shared stories of the community of Kings Cross in Sydney, where everyone was welcomed, this book was highly recommended.  Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down, an award-winning novel of tragedy and heartbreak based on various children in care, in particular Maggie Smith. 

Not only books were discussed.  An ABC series on Iview, The Assembly, showcases 15 autistic students interested in pursuing journalism careers interviewing famous Australians, mentored by Leigh Sales.  This is a heartwarming series worth watching. An interesting article appeared in The Age written by Maggie Beer, who set out to transform meals and dining experiences in Aged Care with wholesome and delicious food. ​

Back to books, the series Portraits in Blue by Penny Field-Schneider was inspired by her love of art and grew into the series of historical fiction books.  John Cleese, So Anyway was entertaining and Alan Alda’s memoir Things I Overheard While Talking was candid and amusing.  Princess More Tears to Cry, a new book by Jean Sasson and Saudi Princess ‘Sultana’, reveals what it means to be a Saudi woman today.  A Cargo of Women, by historian Babette Smith, is the story of 100 women transported together in 1829 from England to Australia.  Past Tense, by Lee Child, seemed to be very long and convoluted. 

There was something for everyone this month.  See you all in December for our last gathering for 2024.

Geraldine.

Our usual chat began with deception and mystery with Operation Mincemeat, taking place during WW2 to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily, by none other than Ian Fleming of James Bond fame, followed by the biography of Hermann Goering and lastly Everyone in my Family Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson, everyone in the family is a killer or a suspect, which one is a murderer​?  The Spirit of Progress by Steven Carroll, the new age train speeds through the French Countryside with an Australian writer on board, the story brings together various characters and places back to Melbourne in 1946, an enjoyable read. The Philosopher’s Dog by Raimond Gaita was different; whilst Rough Music by Patrick Gale, an autobiographical novel, a family showing two defining points in time and the realities of being a gay child.   Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson is a clever twist on a classic murder mystery, whilst Wartime Book Club written by Kate Thompson is a heart-warming story from WW2 of bravery, resistance with romance thrown in, an excellent read.  A new book by author Gina Chick, ‘We Are the Stars’,  is a powerful memoir of her life.  Gina was the inaugural winner of Alone Australia.  The Milliner of Bendigo by Darry Fraser, was enjoyed for its historical value.  Our reader has been reading the Waltzing with Matilda series of 9 books by Jacki French up to the 4th in the series To Love a Sunburnt Country. Laughter greeted our next book Everything Men Know About Women by Alan Pease when opened had only blank pages, comments from the group were classic.  Under the Polar Star by Stef Penney, this book relates the story of exploration and romance crossing the Artic Circle.  Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan, the true story of a promising journalist who suffers a rare neurological disorder and her fight to regain her health, was also made into a movie.  The Dressmaker’s Secret by Rosalie Ham, all agreed that this book was not as good as her first.  The Book Club by CJ Cooper, a psychological thriller with revenge the motive, was well written.  Lastly, I’ll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd, a warm story of a brother’s legacy and the bonds of sisterhood.  Enjoy your reading, we meet again in November. 


Geraldine

Our discussion opened with Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton.  Trent has written several successful books, but our reader found this one very long, frustrating, wordy and far-fetched; in other words, disappointing.  Very much enjoyed was The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow by A.J. McKinnon, several of our group have read this delightful book.   In the Australian Newspaper in August this year, novelist Rodney Hall aged 88 sat down with historian Geoffrey Blainey, who is 94, to talk about writing, would have been very interesting.  The latest book by Dervla McTiernan What Happened to Nina? was hard to put down, the reader kept guessing until the end.  Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, tells of a woman who leaves her child and city life, retreating from the world to enter a remote convent in New South Wales.  This book was long listed for the Booker Prize.  Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson is a collection of linked short stories, fairy tales, romance and fantasy, in other words `a bit weird’.  A little mystery, our reader read The Murmur of Stones by Thomas H Cook with a quote from The Highway Man in the front, some years later the same book with a different title and a different publisher, but with the same quote in the front.  Very odd.  Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham is the third book in the Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac series, a good writer.  His latest book Storm Child, full of suspense until the end.  The Nazis Knew My Name by Magda Hellinger, a personal and rare account of SS guards and their prisoners.  This was followed by When There is Nowhere Else to Run by Murray Middleton.  A collection of sad but `real’ stories of people who find their lives unravelling.  Murray was a survivor of the Black Saturday bushfires.  The Secret Son by Australian author Jenny Ackland, what happens when an Australian soldier is accidentally left behind in Gallipoli, an enjoyable debut novel.  Absolute Power by David Baldacci, who always pleases, this book was made into a film.  Trafficked by Sophie Hayes, when a 24-year-old English girl is used as a sex slave and left traumatised, any wonder!    Line in the Sand by Dean Yates and also The Last Mile Home by Di Morrissey were both enjoyed, as was The Redgum River Retreat by Sandy Docker and The French Gift by Kirsty Manning.  Joan is working her way through the Agatha Christie books, whilst on a different tangent, Heather has read Startrek Memories by William Shatner. Keep reading and enjoying.
 
Geraldine McCorkell
​

​We opened our book chat with Line in the Sand by Dean Yates, a war time correspondent.  Dean writes of his time in war zones, including the Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami, and his subsequent struggle with PTSD.  He now speaks to groups and looks at Duty of Care across different levels of service. 

Hanna’s Daughters, written by Marianne Fredriksson, is a beautifully written book which spans the lives of three remarkable women, this was enjoyed.   From Under the Overcoat by New Zealand author Sue Orr, a collection of short stories. very well written. 

Our history reads this month included The Last Princess by Matthew Dennison, which gives an insight into the relationship between Beatrice, the youngest of Queen Victoria’s nine children, and her mother.    Beatrice eventually married and became Princess Henry of Battenberg, outliving all her siblings and dying in 1944. The Last Princess gives a good overview of life in the Victorian era.  Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantell, this is a big book that our reader enjoyed. 

On the crime side Good Girl Bad Girl - popular author Michael Rowbotham doesn’t disappoint with a multi-layered story and fascinating characters.  Pheasants Nest by crime reporter Louise Milligan, a recent publication of fiction that seemed to take a long time to get to the solution; her other books are of true crimes committed in Victoria.  Death in a Lonely Place, a new crime thriller by Stig Abell, Detective Jake Jackson moved to the country for a quiet life and found it anything but quiet, a riveting read.  The Wife and the Widow by Christian White, a real crime thriller with a twist at the end that doesn’t please everyone. Based on fact and fiction, The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield is a cold war thriller from the Space Race.   ​Popular crime writer John Grisham made an appearance with The Litigators, as did Chris Hammer with Silver. 

We had a laugh at our next two books - The Best Way to Bury your Husband by Alexia Casale a darkly funny story about four women; followed by Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin involving a Master Chef finalist with murder on the menu. 

We then moved to Politics with Too Much is Never Enough by Mary L. Trump, a family member willing to speak out about a divisive and unnerving person - a good discussion followed with this book.  

Some good reads were, The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, Dust and the Land by J.H. Fletcher.  Woman of Courage by Rita Bradshaw, and Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson. 

​Lastly, Balcony over Jerusalem, a memoir by Australian journalist John Lyons on his personal journey through the wonders and dangers of living in Jerusalem. 

Enjoy your reading until we meet in September.

Geraldine McCorkell

A small group gathered on the 1st July to talk about `books’. 

Shirley R entertained us with the difficulties and quirks of the English language. i.e. fill in a form can also be filling out a form etc., so we had a few laughs to start our session. 

A few of us attended the Vikki Petraitis author talk at the Library.  Vikki is a true crime writer based in Melbourne and, as well as her fiction book The Unbelieved, has written a number of books on the Frankston murders, the Phillip Island murders among others.

Some more books enjoyed were The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson this was about the occupation of the Channel Islands during WW11.  The Dressmaker of Dachau by Mary Chamberlain spans the war years.  Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson, 11 interconnected short stories, was very well received, whilst Wifedom: Mrs Orwells Invisible Life by Anna Funder, was very wordy and raised the question what does it take to be a writer and what it is to be a wife?  Stalin’s Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess written by Andrew Lownie was interesting and a good read.  A Memoir My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay is described as extraordinary, beautiful and shattering, a story of neglect and determination, a very good read.  December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss three sisters who rekindle their broken relationships described as a nice read.  The Flying Vet by Dr. Amelia Scott, this outback Vet spends her time flying to remote outback places to tend to animals in trouble, Dr. Amelia is based in Broken Hill.  The Milliner of Bendigo by Darry Fraser, set in Bendigo in 1898, was described as a twisty historical mystery.  Moira read an article by Maggie McKellar from the Country Style magazine, beautifully written and leads into the explanation of her book The Graft.  Author Phillip Kerr has written The Other Side of Silence, a Bernie Gunther mystery involving a former Policeman and British spies, a true story involving none other than Somerset Maughan. 

To finish our discussion Mary Balogh wrote Someone to Honour the 6th instalment in the Westcott series, a delightful easy read to end the report. 

See you all on the 5th August.
Geraldine

Great discussion group this month.  Richard Osman, The Last Devil of the Thursday Murder Club Mystery series was enjoyed and we agreed this series is a good light read, with a film being made on an earlier book in the series.  Also enjoyed were Dervla McTiernan, The Ruin and The Wren by Irish author Anne Enright, a multigenerational novel worth reading.  Heather enjoyed A Long Stitch Goodnight by Amanda Lee, part of a series.  White Coolies by nurse Betty Jeffrey this is a memoir of her experiences as a nurse during World War 2.  On the theme of War Peter Fitzsimons wrote Kokoda whilst Christopher Hitchins' book titled Arguably  comprises essays on Politics and cultural topics.  We agreed Peter and Christopher have large ego personalities.  On a local front former Benalla detective Ron Irwin has written Blackened Tanner, the Denis Tanner story.  A big read was Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantell.  Three books deserve special mention as most enjoyed books of the month Go As a River by Shelley Read this book is set in the wilderness of the Colorado mountains, The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini unpredictable with lots of twists, and No Church in the Wild by Murray Middleton, following migrant violence in an inner Melbourne school, a police led trip to hike the Kokoda trail hopes to build trust.  An emotional book was The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride  by Joe Siple, a 100 year old man and a 10 year old boy both have medical problems, this is a good one.  Beth joined us this month and has read  My Life as a Jew by Michael Gawenda a book of rare honesty and personal life journey and also A History of Zionism how media influences our thoughts, both current topics at the moment.  The Red Room by Nikki French and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides were enjoyed as was the autobiography Parky by Michael Parkinson, some funny stories in these pages. The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidery was regarded as ridiculous and weird.  Another memoir was Liz Hayes, a history of her career.  The Australian Code breakers by James Phelps the untold story of how an Australian headmaster and a team of women cracked a complex code of the German army.  A good choice of books this month see you all on Monday 3rd June at 2 p.m.  Happy Reading.


​Geraldine

Our group enjoyed discussions of various books on many topics in March. 

The Unbelieved by Vikki Patrakis was again mentioned.  The Friends of the Library have contributed to the cost of having Vikki visit the Library in the near future, a very popular writer. 

Australian author Natasha Lester wrote The Three Lives of Alex St. Pierre 1943 New York PR Wizard Alix was recruited into US Intelligence in Paris, following the War she became involved with the fashion house Christian Dior. Natasha researches and writes well.  Award winning book Solitary: An autobiography Albert Woodfox spent 4 decades in solitary confinement in Angola Prison, Louisiana USA for a crime he didn’t commit, eventually freed, the laws on solitary confinement were assessed worldwide.

On a lighter note was The Woman Next Door by Australian author Liz Byrski a story of lasting friendships and love.  Award winning Journalist Grantley Kieza has written some wonderful historical memoirs about Mathew Flinders, Joseph Banks, an incredible self taught Botanist,  Banjo Patterson to mention a few, a worthwhile read. 

Enjoyed by our reader, was a biography of actor Liz Taylor, who although obsessed with fine jewellery, also supported AIDS patients.   Short magazine articles from various sources provided talking points in our group.  Moira commented that the authors of these articles research their subject thoroughly. 

The Taste of Success the Cadbury story which then led into Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, another item of interest was by David Campbell, To Drum or not to Drum. 

In the 1950’s a six year old boy and his family moved from Melbourne to Perth where a serial killer randomly murdered eight people, thirty years later as a journalist Robert Drewe has written about these murders in The Shark Net.    

Always worth the read Kathy Reichs wrote The Bone Collection, four novellas in this book.  Anne had read some interesting books Back to Banka by Georgina Banks, searching for the truth about the wartime massacre on the Island of Banka. 

Following a theme were Ghosts of the Orphanage by Christine Kenneally, Convicts Orphans by Lucy Frost and Tell No One by Brendan Watkins.  Amy Tan writes well, and this one is no exception The Bone Setters Daughter.. 

Helen recommended The Australian Book of Great Trials by Jeremy Stoljar and a crime story Reykjavik by Katrin Jakobsdottir.  Judy Nunn’s latest offering Black Sheep was recommended as was Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas. 

Finishing on a lighter note was Patron Saint of Lost Dogs by Nick Trout. 

As our April meeting falls on Easter Monday please text me if anyone would like to meet.

Geraldine

It was lovely to see everyone at our first gathering for 2024.  We welcomed a new member Melody Finnerty to our group. 

The usual wide variety of books have been enjoyed over the Christmas break.  Corrie read The Goodbye Cats, although childishly written was enjoyed as well as Story Tellers by Leigh Sales an excellent writer Leigh interviews Australian Journalists about their craft. 

Moira enjoyed Collected Poems by Denis Byrne and also told us about her sister who is in care but always wrote little snippets about her day.  Her daughter gathered up all the little bits of paper with her writing on and had them published into a book, giving an insight into her daily life for many years.  All Her Fault by Andrea Mara is a suspense thriller about a missing 4 year old boy.  Joan our lover of mysteries has read Sherlock Holmes presumably by Watson; Australian Book of Great Trials by Jeremy Stoljar and When a Child Kills by Paul Mones. A most interesting read was Memoir: Her Mother's Daughter: Nadia Wheatley a very well written book.  The three Richard Osman books beginning with The Thursday Murder Club were enjoyed but probably not everyone’s choice.  Twelve Red Herrings by Jeffrey Archer is a collection of short stories and our reader found Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty delightful reading.  Leigh Sales rated another mention with Any Ordinary Day.  An uplifting and funny debut novel was The Wakes by Diane Yarwood, one to look out for.  Anna Funder, author of Stasiland, received the thumbs up - this book records the stories of East Berliners from behind the Berlin Wall, written in her usual excellent manner.   The true crime of Teachers Pet: Tell Us Where Mum Is: Chris Dawson who murdered his wife to be with the baby sitter.  An entertaining read, Behind the Shoulder Pads by Joan Collins.  Disappointing was the verdict on Phillipa Gregory’s new book – Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History, a very long and boring book.  A light read was a debut novel The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn and worth the read was The Talented Mrs Greenway, wife of feted colonial architect Francis, by Tea Cooper.  The question asked was Whose Hand Really shaped Sydney?  The Blacksheep by Judy Nunn received a mediocre review from our reader.  Shirley read her usual interesting books Serial Killers of Russia; Criminal Minds and Hitlers Horses by Arthur Brand, the true story of the theft of statues of Hitlers favourite horses.  American Politics written by Bernie Sanders, who is the longest serving Independent in US Congressional history.  This would be an informative read.  Homecoming by Kate Morton we decided was a bit long winded, but The Girl from Botany Bay by Carolly Erikson held our readers interest. Dorothy had a sport fix listening to memoirs from Trent Cotchin and Ash Barty. 

Keep reading and we will catch up on the 4th March at 2 pm at the Seniors.

Geraldine

I hope you have all read lots of interesting books and anything else our group would be interested in hearing about.  There is a little pile of books on my desk ready to be talked about, swapped or given away.

​I am looking forward to catching up with everyone and I am sure we will welcome some new members to begin 2024.

See you on Monday 5th February. 

​Geraldine

​Helen enjoyed novels by Margaret Hickey.  Margaret is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria whose rural crime books include Cutters End, Broken Bay and Stone Town, if you are looking for a good read include these in your list of must reads.  Another good read was Glitter and the Gold,  the memoir of Consuelo Vanderbilt, a trans Atlantic marriage where a wealthy bride was sold to the bidder with the best title that being the 9th Duke of Marlborough.  I will Find You by Harlan Coben a thriller that Harlan is very good at writing.  On the same theme our reader enjoyed Deadly Intent by Lynda La Plant, Cross Country by James Patterson, A Time for Mercy by John Grisham and The Last Hours of Paris by Ruth Drurat.  Murder Most Fancy by Kellie McCourt a humorous crime novel  who also wrote Heiress on Fire.  Some old favourites appeared in Pride and Prejudice, A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen and Daphne Du Maurier.  Michael Trent, author of No Trace, lives in Perth WA.  No Trace is an outback thriller.  Michael's first book Wild Dogs was also enjoyed by our reader.  Prettier if She Smiled More by Toni Jordan is a light hearted, funny book looking at family life and the role of the eldest child.  A beautiful little book by Alan Bennett, author of the Lady in the Van, is titled The Uncommon Reader a quirky story line about the Queen borrowing books from the Library van that visits the Palace, beautiful.  Donna Leon has written Transient Desires, the new Commissario Brunetti novel, in her inimitable stye.  Just Me by Sheila Hancock, about becoming a widow and life with and after her marriage to John Thaw.  Don`t read this one if you are off in a plane any time soon, Falling, written by former flight attendant TJ Newman, is a thriller.  The Rush by Michelle Prak is an outback thriller with a ferocious storm as the background.  Thrillers written about outback Australia are fertile ground for authors at the moment. 
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Our next meeting on December 4th will be our last for 2023, what a lot of wonderful books and discussions we have had over this year.  Thankyou for your company and I am sure we will catch up in 2024.  
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Geraldine McCorkell  

A small group this month, but plenty of reading to discuss as well as a robust discussion that was enjoyed by all. 

​The Forgotten Book Store in Paris by Daisy Wood, a WW11 historical fiction book,  is being enjoyed and we all agreed that quite a few books seem to be Paris centred these days, particularly WW11 timeframe.   Ann the Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitous a new voice in crime fiction, this book won the A & U Crime Fiction Prize.  A Melbourne senior detective returns to Deception Bay from Melbourne and discovers a wall of silence, a chilling and timely read.  Sins of the Father: The untold story behind Schapelle.  Our reader found this a most interesting read around the circumstantial evidence presented at Schapelle Corby’s trial.  One Woman’s War by Christine Wells a novel of intrigue and suspense set once again in WW11.  Operation Mincemeat was made into a film that rated well, set in 1943 when the Allied Forces were about to launch an all-out assault on Europe.  Channel Islands by Damian Barrett interviews Channel Islanders who were British subjects living on the Islands under Nazi rule during WW11.  Away from the War now to Jane Austen A Life by Claire Tomalin takes us into the everyday life of the Austen household, interesting for Jane Austen fans.  Faces in the Water written by Janet Frame tells of a young woman (considered by some to be Janet herself) who is sectioned in various mental health institutions throughout her life.  This later became a film An Angel at My Table recounting the early life of New Zealand author Janet Frame.  Parisian archivist Helene Gestern places an advertisement with a picture of her mother, who died when Helene was three, and the two men also in the photo taken at a tennis tournament, a very enjoyable read.  Access Road by Maurice Gee, a novel of family secrets and tensions written by one of New Zealand’s finest authors, was worth reading. A very interesting book was Books Do Furnish a Painting by Jamie Camplin, exploring the relationship between the development of books and artists.  How many pictures in books or book covers do we see with books as background scenery?  Another book that piqued the interest was Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life that demonstrated how men exploited womens unpaid service, another example was the wife of John Gould.  Very relevant in the present time is The Men Who Killed Quantas by Mathew Benns, a full and frank history of Australia’s National Airline and the greed that has taken place. 

So, a bit of controversy and discussion this month, let’s see what November brings. 


Geraldine

Thank you Patsy for another poem from your Comic and Curious Verse book, we do look forward to, and enjoy your recitation every month.  Patsy also read the memoir of Alan Bennett Keeping On and Keeping On, Alan wrote The Lady in the Van which was made into a film and stage play.  Amanda Heart wrote The Moongate a story covering 3 generations of love, war and mystery between Tasmania, London and Kerry during 1939, 1975 and 2004.  Jack de Crow by AJ MacKinnon was a delightful book.  AJ MacKinnon took off from the school where he was a teacher and rowed a dingy, aptly named Jack de Crow from Yorkshire to the Black Sea with many adventures along the way.  Richard Osman author of The Thursday Murder Club was discussed and recommended the first book be read before the 2nd and 3rd.  Lyn has been dipping into Utube with great interest and we do enjoy the magazines Lyn brings along to our group.  John Grisham, James Patterson and Harlem Coben, occupied our reader along with Before You Judge Me: Being David by David Oldfield former Australian politician from the One Nation party, interesting reading and written more in the style of conversations.  Murder and mayhem took the interest of our reader with Drugs, Guns and Lies by Keith Banks and Murder Mayhem thrown in for good measure.  Double Shot of Happiness is Tim Sharp’s extraordinary journey from being diagnosed with Autism to becoming an international renowned artist, and his mother’s struggle to support him.  Dear Dolly by  Dolly Alderton and the many letters written to her in her career as an agony aunt journalist,  Anthony Callea: Behind the Voice gave the reader an insight into his life.  Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable, proved a very good story about a real life female spy who challenged convention and boundaries.  A Nearly Normal Family is a novel by M.T. Edvardsson, when a teenage girl from a respectable family is accused of murder, where does that lead?  Award winning Australian author Vikki Petraitis has written The Unbelieved, well worth the read as was River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer, a mother’s journey across the Caribbean to reclaim her stolen children.  Rough Justice by Robin Bowles revisits the mysterious Falconio murder in the N.T. and Phillipa Gregory has made an appearance in The White Queen, always enjoyed.   I can’t wait until October to hear what everyone has read this month. 

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Geraldine

We were delighted to have Patsy recite a poem to us about Jim who was eaten by a lion. You could hear a pin drop during her recitation and a round of applause followed. Thank you, Patsy!  You add another dimension to our group.

Books read this month were The Dry by Jane Harper, enjoyed the book not the movie.  The Goldminers Sister by Alison Stuart, Alison recently appeared at the Benalla Library for an author’s talk.  Twilight of a Goddess by Christopher Nicole, the romantic adventures of a notorious woman in 1835!!  One of our readers has had a busy time with crime novels, her reads were A Time for Mercy by John Grisham, River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer, Catching Air by Sarah Pekkenan, Deadly Cross by James Patterson, I Will Find You by Harlan Cobden, and last but not least The Dolls House by M. Arlidge. Shirley enjoyed Anzac Girls by Peter Rees about the heroic nurses who served in the Great War, A Pocket Full of Happiness by Richard E Grant, a lovely read but sad.  Recommended are books by John Douglas, a criminal profiler with the FBI, who maintains people are not born murderers,they choose to be.  Troy by Stephen Fry was disappointing and not finished.  Montsalvat, the story of the artistic colony set up by Edmund Jorgensen, was a look at history of this beautiful area.  Wilding by Isabella Tree is the story of the `Knebb’ experiment, rewilding a farm in West Sussex, this book is very popular.  The Whole Day Through by Patrick Gale, a beautifully written novel and thoroughly recommended.  Rough Justice by Robin Bowles unanswered questions from the Australian Courts, raises questions and doubts along the way.  The Australian Lighthorse by Roland Perry recounts the bravery of this group in Arabia during World War 1, worth reading. Isabelle Allende wrote Of Light and Shadows, her usual good work and The Unbelievable by Vikki Pentrastis, a well written first novel.  The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor, 1893 in Coles Book Arcade in Melbourne mysterious adventures happen, well worth reading.  Cautionary Tales for Young Children by Hilaire Belloc written nearly a century ago, contains seven stories that are very entertaining.    So read on during August and we will meet again in September.

Geraldine

Our murder mystery reader this month has read Death Sentences: Stories of Deathly Books, containing 15 short stories with an introduction by Ian Rankin.  The Caxton Lending Library and Book Depository by John Conolly a delightful short story winner of literary awards.  Karen enjoyed an ebook version of The Kennedy Curse.  A winner of the Stella Prize and nominated for the Miles Franklin was Exploded View by Carrie Tiffany.  The Bookbinder of Jericho is doing the rounds of our group and enjoyed.  An avid watcher of the TV show Vera, our reader found Anne Cleeves the author of the series hard to read but did draw comparisons between The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor by Andrew Lownie and the current debacle with Harry and Meghan.  As always Lucinda Riley was appreciated in The Murder at Fleat House, also The Girl on the Rocks, and whilst on Lucinda Riley, the much anticipated final book in the Seven Sisters saga, written in collaboration with her son Harry Whittaker Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt, has begun to circulate around our group. Found in Benalla Library was From Windmills to Wangaratta the autobiography of Corry Jacobs who immigrated from Holland.  Our own Corrie told us of her experiences arriving as a newlywed to our shores.  Not Just the Wife of the General Manager by Sally Warrinder, her story of life on an outback station in the 1980’s and condescendingly referred to as `just the wife’, is a good read.  Written by Australian author Sarah Schmidt is See What I Have Done a look inside the mind of Lizzie Borden accused of murdering her father and step-mother in 1892.  We then had a vigorous discussion on the making of compost, a lot of advice and laughs. A delightful read was The Red Dog by Louis deBernieres, described by our reader as a jolly little book.  The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough. A crime novel The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Oman and  A Glorious Way to Die by Russell Starr were good reads, as was a collection of short stories by Ann Crawford Women of Spirit.  A parents worst nightmare Saving Zali by Lisa Venables was a sad one, but worth reading was The School Teacher of Saint Michel by Sarah Steele, a story of hope in the USA during WW11.  Enjoy your reading on these cold winter days and see you all in August.
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Geraldine McCorkell