A winter afternoon saw our group gather at the Seniors for a chat about what we have been reading during the cold weather. In the sharing of books, it is interesting to listen to comments on books through another’s eyes. An example of this was Scrublands by Chris Hammond, also The Ruling House of Monaco and the rise and fall of the infamous Kray Twins. The popular reads this month were - The Day She Disappeared, a thriller from Christobel Kent, who also wrote The Loving Husband. Tea Cooper wrote The Fossil Hunter, historical fiction of scientific discovery and some dark secrets. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, a tale of life, loss and resolve. Enjoyed was The Promise, a Galgut novel. The Swart family descended from Dutch settlers who came to South Africa in the 17th Century, a good story about a white family and black servants. The Most Dangerous Animal of All: Searching for my Father… and Finding the Zodiac Killer was co-written by Gary L Stewart and Susan Mustafa, a tale of obsession, deceit and media manipulation with a real twist in the tale. A very different read, but enjoyed nevertheless, was The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino, the retelling of the Japanese creation myth. Another unusual book was The Tale of Murasaki by Eliza Dalby, an historical novel re-imagining the life of writer Murasaki Shikibu based on her recovered Diaries. Joan delighted us with her choice of books The Devious Book for Cats by Joe Garden and Cleo: How an Uppity Cat Helped Heal a Family by Helen Brown, both thoroughly enjoyed. A blend of autobiography and memoir by Dr. Richard Shepherd on his time as a top forensic pathologist in Britain was very interesting. On the same theme, Walking Free the true story of Munjed Al Muderis a refugee to Australia from Iraq who has gone on to become a pioneering surgeon, worth the read. The Music of Bees by Helen Garvin, an uplifting novel about friendship. When I Come Home Again, by Caroline Scott, is based on a true story of love, loss and longing in the aftermath of War. Some history for our reader was The Man Inside, written by Graham Apthorpe, telling of the Japanese soldiers interned in a prisoner of war camp in Cowra and the bloody outbreak that followed. A Stranger on the Beach by Michelle Campbell, a psychological thriller, along with Darkening Skies by Bronwyn Parry. While we are on that theme, Patricia Cornwall got a mention with Point of Origin and Unnatural Exposure. It was agreed that the film of The Drover’s Wife differed from the book. Monty Roberts, known as The Man Who Listens to Horses Talks to People, has written his book Horse Sense for People. Monty is well known in his field and advocates with both people and horses that the gentle way is the better way.
Geraldine McCorkell
Geraldine McCorkell
