What can I say. Love her journalism. But!!!

Just finished this. Almost a so so. I had to speed read towards the end. I enjoyed the writing. The story line was ok.
Certainly not as enjoyable as Our Souls At Night. I would have liked to have met the author Kent. I think he might have been a very gentle kind man. His stories certainly come across as gentle and thoughtful.

I was reminded of this book when reading The Museum of Words . I didn‘t know we had a copy. I mentioned it and it appeared from the depths of my partners study. The joy of this book for me are the illustrations. A story in themselves without the words. Not a childhood memory for me but I think it might be for lots of people as it was for Georgia Blain.

Just finished. A short but powerful read. The tears have not dried as I write this. Another Aussie writer gone way too soon. I want to write more but hard to find the words. It‘s not depressing , in fact it‘s uplifting.
The book itself is a pleasure for me. Hard back and printed on thick white paper that looks like it would stay white forever. So glad I was able to hold this book and read it.

And this is the eternal human paradox,the only way we can cope with our mortality is to ignore it, to live as though we have all the time in the world.

His books never disappoint. A couple of unexpected things near the end. Quite a bit of romance. One thing annoyed me. The kid character was supposed to be 9. I had to keep reminding myself of this fact as she sounded and acted like a 14 year old. Glad I read it.

Finished in a day on Easter Monday. I‘m sure I‘ve read it before so possibly a reread for me. A sweet story except for the controlling son. It was the authors last book. Now to look out some other books by him. Hope I don‘t run into the usual from the library, available in ebook only!

I honestly think this will make a much better film or TV series than it did a book.

Between a pick and a so so . Realised I don‘t normally read her books. However this one got me in at the beginning as Josephine sets sails on the Queen Mary. I travelled on this ship in the 50s as a child. We were on our way from the US to settle in Australia. It was a page turner for a while then it lost me and I struggled to finish it. My friends who are Josephine fans loved it. Say it‘s one of her best. So there you go!

After reading her biography I really wanted to read some of her books. This is the third I have read and the first she had published in 1990. It‘s taken me a long time to get through, it was not a page turner. The way she writes is exquisite. I‘m sure if she had lived this young woman would have written many great Aussie stories. I felt a bit sad leaving Clementine , the main character and narrator, at the end of the book.

I really loved this story. I could almost pick it up and start reading it again. Also made me want to have a go at playing a game. Not a shooting one though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

I‘m not sure why I wanted to read this. A review perhaps. The story of 2 women written in the voice of one of them. They get together in the 70s when they were very quiet about their relationship. I got a good sense of the women but not so much the other characters. The story recounts their life together and their relationships with siblings and siblings children. Love, loss and family.

Beautiful writing.

Cute with a message. Glad this copy still in the library system. It was written and published the year before she died. I‘m trying to get my hands on all her published works. Her writing is excellent.

The book fairies are looking after me. I requested this book from the library. The only hard copy was in our State Library . Today I found this copy in a local op shop. 👏👏. I‘m very happy.

4 years since this book was published and it‘s still being widely read. I was in a long queue waiting for this copy from the library. Subject matter makes it not an easy read. Kept thinking this could be our young Aussie Grace Tames story . Though a difficult read it‘s very enlightening. The author has come out and said it‘s written from personal experience. That‘s how it felt to me even before I knew this. Brave young woman.

Truth telling should be added to the title. I didn‘t actually read all of this but enough. The Afterword is particularly good. “Someone said to author “To bring 21st century thinking to the Queensland frontier is a great mistake. We were different then”. His answer is a paragraph long but begins “ No. Times change , not people. So true. We need to know this history, the truth. Thank you @MrsMalaprop .

Sitting outside in the relative morning cool I finally finished this beautiful story. I think part of me didn‘t want it to end . Having read her biography first shed a different light on this book for me I think. Knowing what I know about her life and way way too early death , even her acknowledgments made me tear up. I‘m about to search out 2 of her previous books.

Here in Perth we have just broken records for the highest temperatures ever in February. Today was a tiny bit cooler so we ventured out to a shopping centre. The books were calling me. Top 2 for grandkids. Next one I‘ve heard about on the radio. The bottom one was going cheap cheap and sounded like a good read. Watching US abc news. Hope the weather not near any of US people.

Certainly not a page turner for me. Too predictable. Almost gave up but kept thinking I might have missed something. I hadn‘t and it took me ages to finish normally I would have given up. So perhaps that is a plus.? The fact that I kept reading. 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Thank you @MrsMalaprop arrived this morning via Nancy. Thank you. Reading to look forward to.

Picked this up at the library thinking it was a crime novel. I kept waiting for the crime! It was in fact a well written book written from the point of view of a young boy living in a small Aussie town.

What a woman. I‘ve heard a lot about her over the years and thought I had read some of her writing but I haven‘t. Tracking down two of her novels. Hard in our library system to find hard copies. So many books only available as ebooks. Wondering if anyone has read anything of hers. A life cut short by MS in 2016.

Another Aussie crime writer. Kept me reading. PI with his own issues and looking into old disappearances of young girls in a small country town. Hope we see more of her writing.

Finished just this minute. When I started it I thought this is not as good as her others. However it‘s been amazing for me. I don‘t want to give anything away but I felt like the narrator could have been me. Her mother and her mother‘s experiences so like mine. Her thoughts and actions so like mine. I‘m blown away. Need to go nap and think for a bit.

A great escape for me on these very hot days here in Perth. Published after Agatha‘s death . Hope you all are keeping cool or warm . 🌞☃️

A local author. There was a lot I related to in this book. I really enjoyed it. I loved when she mentioned places I know.
Great descriptions of the bush.
Made me laugh and in one spot I felt very teary. Guess her relationship with her dad reminded me of mine.
Loved that she called the people she cared for in the old folks home , her lovelies .
A delight to watch characters grow and develop over the story.

The importance of story telling.

She also believes that given a choice between a week of sex and a week of reading,most women of a certain age would eschew foreplay for a forward in a heartbeat.😊❤️

So many quotable words in this book. She has done so much research. I'm really enjoying this book.

Published in 1985 . I read it for a children's literature course. Loved it so much I gave copies to all my friends. Recently it was mentioned on something I was listening to. So I did a reread. Did not disappoint. Scary, possible and reaffirming.
If it happens may it end like this.

A short book. Such a great story teller. Follows one character. I believe there are 2 more books to come . In the next one Earth we follow the life of one of the characters mentioned in this book. Clever. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Not a book I would usually pick to read. Read for Friday book club at the local library. I found it interesting as I went to high school in the 60s in Fremantle which had lots of Italian businesses. This gives what it might have been like for the early immigrants .Many interred during the war.

Thank you Richard. Lots to think about ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First book for the year and he is Aussie .

Just counted up how many books for 2023.
111 books read. 36 were by Aussie authors.

Delightful. My partner just came home from the local book shop with this. So affirming. A beautiful picture book. If this is my last read for 2023 it's a great one.

I read this earlier in the month and forgot to post on here. A graphic novel which I don't usually read. Lent to me by a friend. Gave me an insight into the recent history of Iran. Engaging and informative.

7 years on Litsy . Can‘t believe it. Wow.

Too much dialogue. I've got many more books waiting to be read.

I was determined to read at least one Xmas book. This was short and very sweet. Long ago at a book festival in Edinburgh we saw Anne Perry. I hadn‘t read any of her books but wanted to see her because I knew who she really was. As a teenager Along with a friend she had killed the friends mother. They had been living in NZ. They were found guilty. When they came out of prison they were given new names. And left NZ. Some journalist had 👇

Loved Overstory so thought I‘d give this a go. I almost bailed but a third of way in I got into it. Then it fell away and it‘s taken me a while to finish. Definitely not a page turner . Lots of home truths about the planet we live on and the fools in charge. Bits were very quotable and struck a chord. Having just finished it I‘m not really sure how I feel about it. Maybe Bewildered. 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Early Christmas gift. Will be near the top of my TBR pile.

From the Xmas books I got from the library this was the only one I read. I bailed on the others. Obviously not books I would normally read. This one however made me laugh and laugh. He is one funny guy and very Aussie. Not sure if everyone would get his humour. Moments of seriousness too. A wonderful actor and writer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m not quite sure what I‘m thinking about this book. At one point it was a so- so and nearly a bail. Beautiful writing. The dialogue reminded me of TheSlap the only other book of his I have read. I‘ll say I now know more about mens intimate relations than I need to know! 2 middle age gay men.
Life is short, relationships tricky no matter who you are. A story from his heart I‘m sure.

Returned a book to the library and couldn‘t resist getting some more. I still can‘t believe it‘s almost Christmas again! Time goes by way too fast.

I finished reading this nearly two weeks ago. Forgot to post. It was an ok read but I felt a little disappointed at the end. Not sure why.

Delightful. Funny. A pick up put down sort of book. Very relatable. Would make a good gift.

This should have been a bail because I didn‘t actually read it properly. I gave up@about a third of the way in, skip read to the finish missing out whole sections. It‘s for Friday Library book club. Way too drawn out. Skips back and forth between characters and time. Read a bit like two books put together. Ages ago I read Jodie‘s books but I went off them so this is first in years. No more I think.

I like him best on the screen. Acting is what he does well I would say. 😏.

I feel bad that I had to give up. I just could not get into it. Found it hard to get a grip on the characters. Perhaps I‘ll try it another time. I‘m sure lots of people will love it. Just not for me right now.

Not my usual read but it was interesting. A fictional look at Hollywood in the 50s and beyond. Just enough of a mystery to keep me reading and I didn‘t guess it.