A smaller group than usual arrived for our August chat, but plenty of discussion took place nevertheless. The Outback Writers Festival was entered by Shirley’s granddaughter, His Name Was Mud by Tracy Liotis and received a good review, a justly proud grandmother. The Lost City of the Monkey God a true story written by Douglas Preston was enjoyed and The True Story of the Horse Soldiers in Afghanistan told by Doug Stanton was of a deployment of American soldiers after 9/11 who rode with the Afghanistan warriors to defeat the Taliban. A discussion was held on whether the book Jane Austen made her look somewhat of a radical. The Tattooist of Auschwitz had received a bad review, but those of our group who read this didn’t agree. Fiona McIntosh The Lavender Keeper and The French Province were a good read, whilst White Out by Ken Follett was not worth the effort. The Favourite, the power struggle between Queen Ann and her best friend Sarah Churchill the Duchess of Marlborough, was enjoyed. Whilst on history, Behind Closed Doors, the tragic story of how Wallace Simpson spent her final years. Her Mothers Daughter by Nadia Wheatley, an interesting memoir, whilst Transcription by Kate Atkinson, had too many people and too many time frames although a good read. The Envelope by Maurice Wills, a very sad story of Australian Orphanages from 1930’s to the 1950’s. Murder on Easey Street, the cold case murder of two Benalla girls in a house in Collingwood, the house was empty for six years until being sold and renovated. A few more books were read - a small group read many books. See you in September.
Geraldine McCorkell
Geraldine McCorkell
