The Longing by Candice Bruce

Something drew me to pick this one as our first book club title.  Probably the fact that is my favourite type of genre, Australian historical fiction.  Also perhaps my limited knowledge about Australian art which is the main theme of the novel inticed me to learn more.  I did enjoy the book,  loved the mix of two time frames and the writer worked these two together beautifully.  It gave the story balance and the intrigue that kept you going to the end.  Would love to have a sequel to find out what Cornelia does with all the information and how it impacts the Australian Art scene.  Sometimes difficult to read due to the nature of some of the issues within the book, confronting and sad.   Look forward to discussing it with book club members and hear their views.

Hopetoun wives by Fran Cusworth

Have thought a lot about this book, nearly gave up on it but there was this nagging feeling within the story that I was going to learn something.  I did, the tense way in which is was written represented the tensions of living in a 'gold rush era' like town.  Not gold this time, but the promise of new adventures and money to set you up for life from Nickel mining.  It seems to me that being enticed to the mining boom towns in the west in not all beer and skittles.  Tensions between old and new comers and the family unit is sorely tested due to a new kind if loneliness.  Husbands and wives working hard in the mines miss the day to day stuff of building a new home, making friends and community events. Just as hard for the parent at home trying to fit in, make a new start when another new start could be just around the corner for a big and better opportunity.  The towns seem to lose or lack their soul and identity.  Choices are hard, prices are high and affairs are common.  Fran created a picture of what it is like for people in the west where mining has boomed and how the towns are created or destroyed due to that fact.  Really interesting writing style but it seemed to match the theme of broken dreams, broken families and broken hearts that often accompany the lifestyle of the new type of gold fever.  Am sure many have made the most of the chance and they couldn't be happier so good luck to the ones who have found that mining has been the answer for them.   Thanks Fran, in the end I got a lot out of your novel.