Hi all, I was hoping to attend the final book club this Sunday but as luck would have it I don't think I'll be able to. We're at Kim's mum's place all weekend trying to help her get her place (2 1/2 acres) cleaned up for Christmas as all her family will be there for the first time in many, many years. As well as this I have my annual school friend's Christmas dinner on Saturday night as well as my work Christmas party. Isn't it typical of this time of year. I don't think I'll be able to get away for Sunday morning as well, which is really disappointing as I was hoping to make it to our last meeting for the year, and am actually reading the book and wanting to discuss. I'm not far into it but already my opinion on events has been slightly swayed. I have been trying to keep up with some of the books and will post some thoughts about them in the next couple of days (am just trying to wrestle this iPad away from a nine month old...can you believe he is 9 months?). But in short I loved The Beloved, I'm not quite finished but am really enjoying All That I Am and finding that I am more interested in The Tall Man than I thought I would be...in between reading baby cookbooks, books on creating happy toddlers and also managing fears in children! So not finishing anything quickly. I would love to be in the discussion for this book and I look forward to hearing a summary or something about general consensus. I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a firm promise that I will be back on deck next year. I'll be back at work two days a week so I'll be more organised and achieve so much more...at least I'm hoping. Enjoy Sunday. Love to all Rachelle
Which Ever One to Read......
Nov 29, 2012
Sunday's meeting
Nov 27, 2012
Fwd: Cheryl and Moving!!!
Cheryl you have to learn to post!!!! You are so more social media savvy than me.....
No worries I forwarded your message for all to see ;)
Your little Sister xo
Your little Sister xo
Begin forwarded message:
When I next come to Melbourne Dagmar, will definitely want to visit you.Hugs,CherylPS What are your thoughts of Tall Man?
Nov 26, 2012
New Home - Yippee...Congratulations Dagmar
Dagmar...It is so good to hear you are finally getting settled in Melbourne. I can say on behalf of us all, we are really happy to know you and your besties have found a home you can call your own. We will miss you at xmas breakfast this weekend. If you find yourself coming to Bris at all over the Xmas New Year let us know and anyone who is around we can hook up for a coffee!
Happy nesting.....
Nov 18, 2012
Storms and books
Hi all, Hope you have fared okay in the storms? We have a bit of damage to a roof over the deck and the plants have copped a bashing but otherwise all okay. I finished the Tall Man. All this rain made for good book reading weather. Look forward to catching up to discuss. The book should provoke LOTS of discussion. Cheers Jen
Nov 9, 2012
Gillian's Garden Cafe Booked !!!!
location is,
| 999 Stanley Street East, East Brisbane Can't wait - I have booked for 6 People but if everyone is avail and intends to come let me know and I will change the booking to 8. Robyn and Rachelle will you be avail, if yes from both of you I will increase booking by 1. Dagmar it would be truly special if you are in town yet of course that is a wild long shot..,., I know! |
XO
November-December Book : The Tall Man
Options for Book Acquisition include
Brisbane City Council Library
www.bookdepository.co.uk for under $20
http://www.amazon.com Amazon Kindle for $16.99
A quick synopsis, excerpt below directly from http://www.penguin.com.au/thetallman/bookdetails.cfm
"Chloe Hooper's reports from the inquest won her a Walkley Award and were published around the world. The Tall Man is the story of the death of Cameron Doomadgee, who one morning swore at a policeman and forty-five minutes later lay dead in a watch house cell. The Tall Man tells the full story of the subsequent trial and its repercussions through northen Australia."
Recently retired, Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson reflected the policing management of Cameron Doomadgee on Palm Island and the death of Cameron Doomadgee was one of his deepest regrets and disappointments under his stewardship as Police Commissioner. A man to be respected, whose values and commitment to positive, ethical policing is to be admired. His interview with abc well worth the 30mins out of your day to watch...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-25/bob-atkinson-speaks-to-john-taylor-extended/4333402
Happy Reading & Hope to see you all on Sunday 2nd Dec. Oh --- Christmas - Table Top Book Exchange is happening again, so scour your bookshelves ladies!
Much love and happy days!
V
The Unread Book - Except ONE ... All That I Am
So i probably can't write much on our behalf, so what i am doing is a little cheat. I am inserting a link from GoodReads as an little encouraging inspiration,
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11815113-all-that-i-am
Of course we are not without opinion or wanting for intellectual conversation, so we did our darndest to hold a conversation about the known themes and characters of the book anyways. Thank you Jen, Bec and Cheryl for assiting us to explore the territory of the story and characters without giving too much away.
I will write something a little more meaningful after the new year when we have a chance to revisit the full picture.
Thanks for a great night at the Waterloo.
Late Book Review - The Beloved by Annah Faulkner
Annah Faulkner has done a lovely job in this book, the writing constructs beautiful imagery for the reader without being too complex and over-laden with adjectives. Of course being Australian, we did think our ability to draw on our own internal references of our culture, and environment, helped to bring the quality of the descriptions alive.
The themes of the storyline were subtle yet complex and our discussion was very engaging. Some reflections from the group:
- Light but didn't lack substance
- The dilemma of parenthood, our hopes and dreams for our children and learning to surrender to our child's hopes and dreams.... Is not an easy road and the author explored this dilemma well
- The mother's history is compelling - It was such a poignant message, the wanting of security for her child yet at the sacrifice of her own expectations and longing, the need to allow Bertie to be who she wants to be.
- The exploration of Bertie's steps toward individuation were at times both breath holding for the reader and celebratory as you journeyed with her steps toward finding herself and dealing with the ups and downs of childhood & her parent's
- One of the themes which stood out - was the influence of inter-generational stories - "what one carries in this generation, if not resolved, does come out in the next generation. The nature of unfinished business whether we like it or not, is a shadow which walks along side.....yet with attention, the impact of the legacy of the stories which come before will and does soften." There is room for transformation through the reconciling of differences and the acceptance of what has gone before. Things can shape us, yet we are not those things.
- There is no escaping the power of the relationships between mothers and daughters, mothers and sons; Father's and daughter; and while the father son relationship was less explored in this story, the themes lead us to hold a lengthy conversation about the beauty and at times difficulties which the nature of these bonds hold in our lives.
- At the point where "Bill said No".... I was left with the palpable reminder, "you need courage to live your life well!" What was memorable, was when each character was courageous enough to take the step to live well and true to themselves, for all the struggle, they were mor happy.
Thank you Annah Faulkner - for writing this book. It is truly a lovely read, with much content to provoke discussion.
Nov 3, 2012
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