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My current read at the moment is 'Lady of the Butterflies' by Fiona Mountain. I found it a bit slow to start with, but now I am hooked. Loving it. Expect I will have it finished in the next day or two. :)
~S.

Burnt Snow, what an EXCELLENT title. Thanks for the recommendation, Rachael.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of Indelible Ink when you're done, Mandy. I really bonded with Marie.

I'm reading Jasper Jones and have just finished MJ Hyland's This is How, which was a very bleak though compelling read. Another I've just finished is, Book of Lost Threads. Really didn't like this one at all. Since all the reviews have been good, I'm scratching my head wondering what I missed.

Jenny wrote: "Burnt Snow, what an EXCELLENT title. Thanks for the recommendation, Rachael.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of Indelible Ink when you're done, Mandy. I really bonded with Marie.

I'..."

Were having an informal discussion about Indelible Ink on the 6th October after it's reviewed on the First Tuesday Book Club on the 5th. Welcome to put your 10c worth in.;D

Here are some links to a few of the recent books mentioned in this thread:



Happy Reading!

Graham wrote: "I am reading China Mieville's Perdido Street Station which I am finding a bit of a drag, not as good as The Scar, I am a third of the way through and waiting for the real story to begin."

Having finished Perdido Street Station quite recently, I can assure you that it picks up - but not until half way through the book. It's a long time to wait, I know. I haven't read The Scar so perhaps without another Bas Lag novel to compare it to my opinion of it is unjustifiably high, but I thought Perdido Street Station was pretty much awesome.

I've almost finished At Home � A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. It's a rambling thing that you don't need to read all in one go, but I have because I find it's mix of history and anecdote interesting. Not sure what I should read next, but I'm sure something will suggest itself.

I am reading 'Pride and Prejudice' fiannly by Jane Austen. This has been on the to do list for a long time and am enjoying it. Besides the sotry, I am finding the language and the spelling interesting ... which has given me a slight dilemma.

I recently purchased a copy of the cartoon book 'The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future' which is of the Captain Underpants series (which if you have young sons you are probabaly familiar with) and was in two minds to buy it as the spelling in it is on purpose attrocious, eg 'face' is spelt 'fase'. I spend a lot of energy and resources trying to get one of my sons to read, who can barely read and spell, thus did not know if getting this book for him would be good or bad. But I did anyhow.

Thus I have been trying to reason why, this comic offends me so much with bad spelling, whilst 'Pride and Prejudice' does not, in fact it adds to the charm.

I love Jane Austen novels Dee-Ann. I've read P&P about 5 times. :)

Yep, I know Captain Underpants, I never felt compelled to read them. I read most of my kid’s books but not those.

Well I'm just about to start Anna's new novel, Dark Moon of Avalon (which I'm VERY excited about). Then I'll have to decide which novel to start next from Mountain. To be read...which is constantly growing as I'm constantly adding to it *shrugs*

Currently on the fifth book ("Lover Unbound") of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. Absolutely LOVING this series!! Haven't been able to socialise or sleep properly since I started them as I just can't seem to put them down!! lol

Sophie wrote: "Haven't been able to socialise or sleep properly since I started t..."

I love it when that happens. :D

Oh me too...!! It's part of what its all about I think and such a rewarding discovery when you do find it - a lot of my mates don't quite understand it though lol

Hahaha. Don't worry Sophie you are not alone. My friends don't get it either. Their lose.

Sophie wrote: "Currently on the fifth book ("Lover Unbound") of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. Absolutely LOVING this series!! Haven't been able to socialise or sleep properly since I started t..."

I'll be watching your reviews Sophie. I love that series!! When you've finished them and are going through withdrawals try Lara Adrian.

Oh thanks for the recommendation Mandy... Just had a look at her profile - "Midnight Breed" - hmmm... sounds very intriguing :)

I have also found another young-adult paranormal Australian author! and I am currently reading her book Saltwater Vampires and so far so good :D

Fiona wrote: "I've almost finished At Home � A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. It's a rambling thing that you don't need to read all in one go, but I have because I find it's mix of history and an..."

Hi Fiona - I love anything by Bill Bryson - he did one about Australia among his travel books. I'm going to get "At Home" for my husband for Christmas. Last year I bought him Bill's "A Short History Of Nearly Everything" and I really recommend it. It's the FIRST book hubby has ever read cover to cover; he usually settles for science and motoring magazines. I read it first from the library and really loved it. I mean, anyone who can get me interested in the internal structure of the atom is a good writer. And Bill did!

At the moment I'm reading - don't dare laugh, anybody - "Gone Fishin'" by John O'Grady, otherwise known as Nino Culotta. (Remember? He wrote "They're A Weird Mob".) It was published in 1962 and I'm old, so I can relate to the picture of Australia at that time. Actually it's old enough to begin to fall into one of my favourite categories, historical fiction!

Rachael wrote: "I have also found another young-adult paranormal Australian author! and I am currently reading her book Saltwater Vampires and so far so good :D"

That looks like a great book. I see her other novel Raw Blue was recommended by Melina Marchetta (a very well known Aussie YA author) as one of her fave reads of 2009! I've added both these books to our group bookshelf. Thanks for the recs Rachael.:)

Monya wrote: "At the moment I'm reading - don't dare laugh, anybody - "Gone Fishin'" by John O'Grady, otherwise known as Nino Culotta. (Remember? He wrote "They're A Weird Mob".) It was published in 1962 and I'm..."

Monya, John O'Grady's daughter Colleen is a member of our group! Keep an eye out for her posts...

Sophie wrote: "Currently on the fifth book ("Lover Unbound") of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. Absolutely LOVING this series!! Haven't been able to socialise or sleep properly since I started t..."

Sophie,
I write paranormal romance/UF so JR Ward is most definately up there as one of my favourite authors. I love the brotherhood!
Bitten, by Kelley Armstrong is also another favourite of mine, though not so fussed on the rest of her Otherworld series.
A couple of great Aussie paranormal reads (aside from mine of course! LOL) are Keri Arthur, Tracey O'hara and Erica Hayes =)

I started, Jasper Jones yesterday. Anyone here read that? Thought I'd give it a go since it attracted so much attention. Trouble is I'm finding it hard to stay focused on the story due to what I see as one HUGE problem: There is NO WAY the narrator thinks or speaks like a 13 year old kid. Having studied and written kids' fiction for over 10 years I know all too well how difficult it can be when writing from the viewpoint of kids. Of all the reviews I've read regarding this book, not one person has picked up on this flaw.

As promised, my review of Peter J Hill's book 'Star of the Four Kingdoms'


As I settled to start reading Peter J Hill’s ‘Star of the Four Kingdoms� I slowly ran my eyes over the 2 huge lighthouse prints, hanging on our lounge room wall, of ‘La Jument� a ‘rock� lighthouse off shore at Ushant, France and next to them a slightly smaller print of ‘Kéréon�, another ‘rock� lighthouse at Brittany, France and all made famous by photographer Jean Guichard, combine with these my lifetime love of the ocean and a softie for memoires as well, I knew I was in for a treat with Peters ‘memoires of a light house keeper�.

Firstly, the few, and I mean ‘few� spelling mistakes and equally few grammatical mistakes, which could easily be classed as ‘lost in translation�, and, not being an academic in these fields, I found they were totally overshadowed and forgotten about once fully immersed in this man’s story, and his family, sharing Peters life as a lighthouse keeper.

Mr. Hill’s memoire might not suit all, but I found it engrossing from the start, from his application response to an advert from the Northern Lighthouse Board in the local newspaper, then serving from lighthouse to lighthouse around the coasts of Scotland, until, his final days 13 years later at ‘Islay and the Rhinns�.

Apart from enjoying the detailed inner workings of the different stations, the finding of a human skeleton, the birdlife, Royal Yacht’s, hairy helicopter rides, camping holidays, I must say I so enjoyed the chapters which Peter’s wife, Margaret had entered, these were a wonderful insight to how she dealt with the every day life of a ‘keepers� wife, and, the humorous things that can happen with children, a dog and cat in a small area shared with other keepers, assistants and families.

I always knew that the ‘romantic� scenes dictated in novels or film about lighthouse keepers saving a damsel from a ship wreck, falling in love and living happily ever after is just that, ‘romantic fantasy�, but, there is still a romantic feel of the ocean no matter where one is, Peters memoire is not ‘romance� but one can feel the love he and his family had and still have in their memory for their time living at lighthouses.

I give ‘Star of the Four Kingdoms� 5 stars, I feel it is worth more, and I honestly love every aspect of Peter J Hill’s book and can recommend it to anyone who enjoys an honest from the heart memoire and finally might I add mention to the beautiful poetry Peter wrote, and has added to the final pages of this fine read.

At the moment I am reading The Replacement... I am really enjoying it!

Mandy wrote: "Monya wrote: "At the moment I'm reading - don't dare laugh, anybody - "Gone Fishin'" by John O'Grady, otherwise known as Nino Culotta. (Remember? He wrote "They're A Weird Mob".) It was published i..."

WOW! Colleen O'Grady, I'll be watching for. But don't worry, dear, I won't expect you to be the same kind of writer as your dad. Must be a big expectation for some.

Mary Poppins - because I just learned that she's an "Aussie author." But the books are set in London, aren't they? At least the first one mentions St. Paul's Cathedral. Apparently though she spent her entire childhood + in Australia though, and one would expect that to influence her writing.

I'm reading 'Mad about the Boy' by Maggie Alderson which is based in Sydney and is rather funny but when I go walking I'm listening to 'Take a Chance on Me' by Jill Mansell. I wanted to add a bit more depth to my own stories so I'm immersing myself in Chicklit/Romance but it all got a little crazy yesterday when I got my stories muddled and couldnt remember who was doing what!

Jenny wrote: "I started, Jasper Jones yesterday. Anyone here read that? Thought I'd give it a go since it attracted so much attention. Trouble is I'm finding it hard to stay focused on the story due to what I se..."
I read Jasper Jones and liked it, Jenny. I began like you did, thinking this is no thirteen year old. I think you have to make the quantum leap back to when you were thirteen and thought you were an adult, never mind what the adults thought. re - how the teller of the tale's mother treated him like a child. How his mother makes him dig a hole in the garden then makes him fill it in. Something a 15/16 would have rebelled. I think children see their parents as how they are and not the face they present to the public. I think the core of the story is not the 13 year old acting like a 20 year old but the racism in country towns which is not so noticeable in our cities and the story's terrible mystery which unfolds as it does to the reader as well as the 13 year old. Keep on with it. It will drag you in. I'm sorry this seems so patchy, but there are so many layers to this novel. Laurel

I have just finished 'The Inconvenient Child'. It's the true, inspirational story of Australian, Sharyn Killens, abandoned as a young child, and forced to struggle for survival, plus her quest to find her American father, and family. It is heartrending, sad and happy at the same time, and an extreme eye opener to the terrible conditions young girls, and boys, had to endure in the 1950's and onward, in and around Sydney. It is written by Sharyn herself, and her good friend, Lindsay Lewis. The website is worth a look.

I forgot to say, it is a brilliant read, one that is very hard to put down...

Currently reading Lady of Avalon: Avalon Book 5 It's brilliant, I am almost done with it though.

I am going to Fiji on Tuesday for a week and already have my two books set aside to read while I'm away and they are Persuasion and Inkheart

Elise wrote: "I am going to Fiji on Tuesday for a week and already have my two books set aside to read while I'm away and they are Persuasion and Inkheart"

Well you look set for a lovely time in Fiji. Have a great trip. I tried to buy Inkheart today but the bookshop (it was a very small bookshop) was out of stock. :(

Thanks Gail. It took me a very long time to find Inkheart which bothered me because it's such a popular book. Hope you have better luck finding it soon :)

You're far more forgiving than me, Laurel. I think it's more a case of the author not wanting to be limited by a 13 year old's language and perceptions, so he's come up with the excuse that the boy is smart and loves learning new words. It's not just the language either, it's also the character's mature insights into how the world works, insights that only come with age and experience.

Elise wrote: "Currently reading Lady of Avalon: Avalon Book 5 It's brilliant, I am almost done with it though.

I read The Mists of Avalon about twenty years ago and became obsessed with it, so I read all the others as they came out. Mists is still one of my favourite books. I have the original copy which has been read by heaps of people and is all falling apart now

Elise wrote: "Currently reading Lady of Avalon: Avalon Book 5 It's brilliant, I am almost done with it though.

love anything jane Austen but P&P remains my favourite along with Sense and Sensibility

I love Jane Austen too but I think my favourite (though P&P S&S come in a very close second) is Persuasion

@L.A I plan on reading Mists when I get back from my Holiday. P&P is also my favourite :)

Mandy wrote: "Monya wrote: "At the moment I'm reading - don't dare laugh, anybody - "Gone Fishin'" by John O'Grady, otherwise known as Nino Culotta. (Remember? He wrote "They're A Weird Mob".) It was published i..."

I looked up her author's page and was most impressed! She certainly has no hang-up with being John's daughter.

Cheryl wrote: "Mary Poppins - because I just learned that she's an "Aussie author." But the books are set in London, aren't they? At least the first one mentions St. Paul's Cathedral. Apparently ..."

Cheryl - P.L. Travers was born in Maryborough, Queensland, and because her father was a bank manager the family moved around considerably. Eleven kms down the road from us is the small town of Allora where they lived for some time. The house is still there, rather quaint looking, with two floors. And on the way into town from the southern side there is an image of Mary Poppins, with umbrella, etched most attractively in stone.

Hi everyone, I'm new to this group.

I just finished reading David Grossman's latest novel To the End of the Land and posted my review as well. The book gives insights into how deep the shadows of war and death penetrated the Israeli soul, as told by its heroine, Ora, a mother, a lover and, simply put, a woman. The voice is remarkably familiar yet at the same time very strange. Similar contradictions persis throughout the book and I think this is what makes the story so interesting. In short, I found it a superb read, definitely recommended!

I plan to read memoirs for the rest of the month; On my book shelf I have stacked the following titles:

- William Kwamamba's memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope, supposedly very charming and moving, about a malawi boy who taught himself to build a windmill from scraps to bring much-needed electricity to his village;

- Tony Blair's A Journey: My Political Life--I know the critics went a bit rough with this one because of the writing style, but I find Blair a fascinating character and would just love to have a peek at his thoughts and life during his time as the British Premier;

- Jeanette Walls The Glass Castle, of course this goes without saying, the glowing reviews and her work have compelled me to pick up this one.

- Finally, Edwidge Danticat's Brother, I'm Dying-this is a book recommended by someone from another book club, a memoir by much acclaimed author about her childhood in Haiti and the US, supposedly beautifully written, and even though it was written quite a while ago, the memoir seems like a timely read, as we approach the first anniversary of the Haiti earthquake.

I know this may be an ambitious list! I may only finish all of them by the end of the year but I am keen to add an Australian memoir to my list. Recommendations are highly appreciated!

You might like to read The Autobiography of the Woman the Gestapo Called the White Mouse
Peter Fitzsimons has also written a book about this amazing Australian woman.

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "I love Jane Austen too but I think my favourite (though P&P S&S come in a very close second) is Persuasion"

Just finished p&P ... loved it, I have Persuasion lurking on my bookshelf, so you have inspired me to dust it off and try it too.

Dee-Ann wrote: "Gail "cyborg" wrote: "I love Jane Austen too but I think my favourite (though P&P S&S come in a very close second) is Persuasion"

Just finished p&P ... loved it, I have Persuasion lu..."

I hope you enjoy it. :)

Jan wrote: "You might like to read The Autobiography of the Woman the Gestapo Called the White Mouse
Peter Fitzsimons has also written a book about this amazing Australian woman.[bookcover:Nancy..."

Thanks for the tip! I just looked up the reviews and this woman is indeed amazing!

Elise wrote: "@L.A I plan on reading Mists when I get back from my Holiday. P&P is also my favourite :)"

Hi elise,
You will LOVE it. Its the best one of all. I loved the whole take on the Arthurian legend told by Morgaine. Makes Gwen seem like a bit of a cow.
Ahh, If only I had that much writing talent!

Adhityani wrote: "I know this may be an ambitious list! I may only finish all of them by the end of the year but I am keen to add an Australian memoir to my list. Recommendations are highly appreciated!"

Dhitri, Mandy has put the question out to everyone if you like...you'll like I am sure we will get a few worthwhile responses for you.

Thank you Monya for msg 199 re Travers.

I'm now reading Angel's Gate by Gary Crew (please forgive no links, my computer is being weird tonight).

Do we have a children's book folder here? Should & could we?

Cheryl wrote: "Thank you Monya for msg 199 re Travers.

I'm now reading Angel's Gate by Gary Crew (please forgive no links, my computer is being weird tonight).

Do we have a children's book folder here? Should ..."
Yes we do have a thread for children's books under 'Talk genre'...just scroll down a bit...

Adhityani wrote: "Jan wrote: "You might like to read The Autobiography of the Woman the Gestapo Called the White Mouse
Peter Fitzsimons has also written a book about this amazing Australian woman.[boo..."

I have an autographed copy of 'The Autobiography of the Woman the Gestapo called the White Mouse', which I have had for a very long time, around 1988. She is an awesome lady, and still with us, living in London.

Brenda wrote: "Adhityani wrote: "Jan wrote: "You might like to read The Autobiography of the Woman the Gestapo Called the White Mouse
Peter Fitzsimons has also written a book about this amazing Aus..."

Wow! You got me really interested in her. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find the book in my local lib, but I did manage to request a copy of Peter Fitzsimmon's book, which I hope to get hold of pretty soon!