Small Things Like These is positive book about a coal vendor who rescued a young woman confined to a coal cellar in the local Magdalen Laundry run by catholic nuns. The punishments and cruelties of these institutions in the 1900s has been well documented in other books and TV exposés. Clair Keegan explored the compassion of one man who opposed this treatment of women and rescued the girl , taking her into his own family home. Well written and thought provoking.
Grace Notes by comparison was a joyous exploration of the lives of two teenagers during the covid lockdowns in Melbourne. Clare, a year 10 talented violinist and James Crux, a year 12 street artist, meet by chance when they sneak out to defy the monotonous boredom of lockdown. Karen Comer captures the aspirations, energy and speech of her characters as they negotiate aspects of their liberty with their parents and forge ahead to achieve their own dreams of their futures.
Both books are well worth a read.
Grace Notes by comparison was a joyous exploration of the lives of two teenagers during the covid lockdowns in Melbourne. Clare, a year 10 talented violinist and James Crux, a year 12 street artist, meet by chance when they sneak out to defy the monotonous boredom of lockdown. Karen Comer captures the aspirations, energy and speech of her characters as they negotiate aspects of their liberty with their parents and forge ahead to achieve their own dreams of their futures.
Both books are well worth a read.
Feast, by Emily O’Grady, is our book for Tuesday 4 March.
Meg Dillon
Meg Dillon
