January Reading for February Meeting

This months book is Molokai by Alan Brennert.

Happy Reading, see you all at my house in Feb. Tahnee 

Meeting at Colleen's.  The Drover's wife by Henry Lawson.

Almost full house.  Couple of housekeeping tips for next year.  You need two bottles of red and white.  One of each is not enough.  No one drinks Bailys.

Book was well received, everyone liked the quick read.  I feel slightly vindicated for my choice of books at last.

Irene         9     Short and Sweet
Trilby       7     Historically evocative
Kathy       8     Usually hate short stories but this was ok
*Tamara* 10  Lawson the realist        to Banjo Patterson's 
                     romanticism
Tahnee     8     Early Australian at its best
Annmarie 7     It is going to make me read more Henry Lawson
Georgia    9     Short but sweet
Mel          8     The bleakness of early Australia
Colleen    8     The skill to tell a story and have you feel you are there in 
                        time.
Thank you ladies I wish you and your family a lovely Christmas.     

Hello Everyone

The Drovers Wife by Henry Lawson.

Book club at my place (Colleen 0411799558) Chandler Road Seville off Victoria Road.  Last gate on the right.  If not sure follow someone who has been before.

Questions will be handed out on the night.

See you there.

FOUND IT:

November meeting

BOOK: Extinctions

AUTHOR: Josephine Wilson

General overview

Our meeting on Tuesday was a more subdued affair than the uproar at Kathy’s meeting in October, but still a lot of fun, and thanks to all who were able to make it. I’m glad you all survived the stairs, the exhaustive (read “exhausting”) questions and the book itself. 

Generally, the book was considered lightweight on character building, with the main character (Frederick) being insipid, self-centred and “boring”, and some of the minor character being far more interesting, but given a thin veneer by the author.  Some of the recurring themes around regret and the ownership of possessions may have developed the story further. The general view was that actual theme of “Extinction” (whether of a species or individual) was largely unexplored and left the reader feeling unfulfilled.

It was agreed that the unrealistic ending wrapped up the main themes and characters too neatly and that the minor characters’ stories were left hanging without resolution.  All in all, not the best read. Most members were astonished that this book was the Miles Franklin Award winner for 2017, and many wondered “what were the judges thinking”.

Why did I choose this book?

My mum gave be a copy of The Age Newspaper’s monthly book review mag a few months ago.  She does it every month after she’s read it, and I dutifully promise myself to have a look (but never do- I already have too many books I haven’t read yet).  This time, however, with Book Club upcoming, I took a peek. Hoping for a good impression for my first book, I selected (what was then Miles Franklin shortlisted) “Extinctions”. Woe betide me- never again!

Rating and Pithy Comments

Hope I got you all connected to the correct comments….

Anne Marie:        6/10- A bit trite

Tahnee:               4/10- Too many stories not realised. I would have liked to have known more about Caroline.

Colleen:               4/10- Unbelievable mismatched collection of characters.

Tamara:               5/10- Like driving with an erratic driver

Mel:                      5/10- 33% done, and no more!

Trilby:                   4/10- Incomplete

Kaye:                    3/10- Not a complete waste of time

Meaghan:            4/10- A disappointment of unfulfilled characters and storyline.

NOTE: Next meeting is Colleen’s.  She has selected “A Drover’s Wife” by Henry Lawson.  She explains

it is a short read, so even those with limited time in the lead up to Christmas can get this one
knocked over.  Thanks again!

Hello all, I put up a post about our last meeting a couple of weeks ago, but it appears not to have "posted"?!? Not sure what I have done.  Will try to resend.  In the meantime, I was supposed to notify those of you who did not attend last meeting that the December meeting is Colleen's with "the Drover's Wife" by Henry Lawson being the text. Again my apologies for stuffing up somehow.