The love for The Book of Lost Threads

Sometimes it is just so good to read a book and when you have finish you hold it and hold it wishing it wasn't finished but so grateful to have read it.  The Book of Lost Threads by Tess Evans is one of those books.  I very seldom read books twice but the 'opportunity' came up through Book Club to read it again.  I loved it the first time and then loved it some more 2nd time around.  I think I enjoyed more because I shared the joy of this book with others who equally embraced it and also loved it.   There are so many elements to it that I appreciated - the main characters all finding themselves by being brought together by their own individual tragic circumstances in a gorgeous small town similar to the one I live in.  I loved the way that Evans was able to bring in many side characters who had their own special story who in their own way contributed to each of the main characters travelling along their path and finding their own solace.  It was an absolute joy to read, so many times I wanted to cry through the many beautiful and poignant moments.  Superbly written, this book will always remain one of my favourites for all time.  I have just ordered The Memory Tree by Evans which I can't wait to read.  I think if I could produce 10 other copies of it for book club the members be keen to read it too.

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.

Murder and Mendelssohn confessions

Firstly I must confess that this is actually the first Phryne Fisher mystery that I have ever read.  Having been totally addicted to the recent ABC series which bought the characters of Phryne, Jack, Dot and Mr Butler to life I looked forward to dipping into the real thing.  I found myself seeing the cast of players as portrayed in the series which if course happens if you read the book after the show.  But I would say I was slightly disappointed with the storyline and wasn't quite what I expected. I was waiting for the real twists and turns but it seemed to concentrate more on the side story lines but without that familiar Phryne/Jack chemistry. My second confession is that I will probably not go back and read the rest of the series, many will chastise me for not doing so, but I think the TV adaption will do more than adequately for me to be engaged with Kerry Greenwood's work and I am hoping that a third series will be made.

Now I can dance by Tina Arena

Enjoyed the afternoon finishing reading Tina Arena's memoir 'Now I can dance'. I was totally absorbed by Tina's own reflections of her stellar musical career.  I have followed her since the YTT days when she dazzled us as an 8 year old, and then followed her through the years as she challenged herself to find out 'where she wanted the music to take her'. I loved reading about all the people she has worked with, collaborated with, sung with as well as her strong family focus that has kept her so grounded.  Am pleased she has found such success and love and look forward to hearing about the next part of her life.
 Looking at my own music collection I realise how much she features in it, and whilst reading the book I took the opportunity to check out some old YouTube film clips of her earlier days.  That was fun and gave Tina's recollections great context.  Thank you Tina for sharing where you have been and what you have achieved, though does not dig deeply personal stuff it still gives us much insight into how hard she works and how nice it was not to have to read a 'train wreck story', just an honest person doing her best in what she loves the most.
Nice to hear again about all the musicians I grew up with and loved watching on Countdown, as well as all the major international stars she has had the opportunity to meet and sing with.

You set fire to my life

Am enjoying Tina Arena's new and extremely successful album Reset.  This is the first single off the album.  Have followed Tina's career since she was a young girl and all I can say is she has only got better and better, although I really love her earlier work a decade or so ago - some fantastic tracks like Chains and Now I Can Dance which happens also to be next book in the challenge, Tina's newly released memoir by that title. http://youtu.be/an5F97oSRdk

White Gardenia by Belinda Alexandra

Being on holidays certainly gives me the opportunity to sit uninterrupted and read to my hearts content.  Glad I chose this novel for my first holiday read and the first book for the Australian Women Writers Challenge 2014.  I found it to be one of those terrific stories that demand your attention, although it is quite long I knocked it off in a couple of days.  This is quite unusual for me but being in holiday mode where a chair in the sun by the river enticed me to stay put made it quite achievable.  I had not read any of Alexandra's books before, not sure why, but will definitely pick a few more.  I think what I got most out of the novel was what I learnt about the the atrocities of war, whether it be WW2 or the Cold War, it certainly brings the horror and the absolute stupidity of mankind and what we have done to our fellow human beings.  Also the impact of the many people that were displaced due to the war and were bought to Australia under the 'populate or perish' mandate; people worked hard to make Australia what it is today and we should be grateful for the many that made it their home and built up businesses and brought up their families here.  We have been enriched by their contribution and their influences in customs, traditions and food make us a wonderfully diverse and safe nation.  I will be thinking of the characters Anya, Dmitri, Ivan and the General in the days to come.