pickSeren and I greeted the Winter Solstice lazily this morning. I also finished up Darling Girls, which did not disappoint. The use of both the before/after timeline and the POV of each sister worked very well and added to the story. Compelling and enjoyable read.
bailedMade quick work of my December #bookspin pick by…not finishing it. I knew this was headed for the DNF pile when I had to look up 10 words in the first few pages, and the unstable mother displayed a penchant for speaking in Shakespeare quotes. I have nothing against learning new words, but it felt very much like a book that was going to prioritize style over story, and I just don‘t have the energy for that kind of thing right now. Next!
Australian authors don‘t come much more iconic than John Marsden.
I was lucky enough to hear him speak at a few events, had a couple of books signed and grew up during his most prolific years - think I‘ve read most of them.
He‘ll be missed.
pickI really enjoyed this book about intrepid Jean Paget who leads a group of imprisoned women around wartime Malaya, comes into some money, and makes a life for herself in Australia. This is a quiet love story, but mostly Jean‘s story, and you can‘t help but root for this practical, can-do character who in building a life for herself also builds a town for her life.
I couldn‘t resist, Carolyn, when you said I could open your gift 😉. Thank you so much for these two books, both look fantastic. I always love Tsiolkas and I hadn‘t heard of the tagged book but the Litsy reviews are very promising! You‘re the best 😘😘
I know that Shute was an Englishman who spent parts of his life in Australia, but I wonder if he spent time in the Pacific Northwest. He writes so fondly of it in the start of this novel, and it is also featured in On the Beach.
#PNW #Australia #Modernism
pickI loved this book. It had everything going for it...drama, parenting, romance, wisdom, and some thriller action. I also loved the sketches at the beginning of each chapter. Dalton has wonderfully drawn from his own history, both personal and professional. He describes domestic abuse as a Tyrannosaurus Waltz, a phrase that really captures the reality of the situation many women find themself in. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 5/5!
