Melbourne Library Service’s Comments (group member since Oct 09, 2014)

Melbourne Library Service’s comments from the Melbourne Library Service group.

Episode 16 - What we're reading

Want to know what books have your librarians hooked? Wonder no more as Justine and Natalie share what they have been reading.

Justine's books
Daughter of Smoke and Bone / Laini Taylor
Lab Girl / Hope Jahren
Austenland / Shannon Hale
Longbourn / Jo Baker

Natalie's books
The Passion / Jeanette Winterson
Oranges are not the only fruit / Jeanette Winterson
Sexing the cherry / Jeanette Winterson
Eligible / Curtis Sittenfeld
The Girls / Emma Cline

What we're reading next:
Justine: Rich and pretty / Rumaan Alam
Natalie: Brooklyn / Colm Toibin

Theme music by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 14 - Melbourne Books

Justine and Natalie welcome special guest Christine Gordon from Readings and talk about their favourite Melbourne books!

Christine's books:
My year without meat / Richard Cornish
Music and Freedom / Zoe Morrison

Justine's books:
Earthly delights / Kerry Greenwood
Our tiny, useless hearts / Toni Jordan

Natalie's books:
The holiday murders / Robert Gott
Cairo / Chris Womersley

Theme music by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 13 - Books to Film

To celebrate the Melbourne International Film Festival we asked the question "Is the book better than the film?"
Joining us to discuss the answer is our punny, film loving colleague Kevin.

Kevin's book to film:
2001 A space odyssey / Isaac Asimov

Natalie's book to film:
The godfather / Mario Puzo

Justine's book to film:
Me before you / Jojo Moyes

Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 12: What we're reading with Toni Jordan

We were very happy to be joined by special guest, author Toni Jordan!

Toni
City on Fire / Garth Risk Hallberg
The easy way out / Steven Amsterdam

Justine
Reckoning / Magda Szubanski
Radiance / Catherynne M. Valente

Natalie
Our magic hour / Jennifer Down
The Argonauts / Maggie Nelson

What we're reading next:
Toni: Ruins / Rajith Savanadasa and Fine / Michelle Wright
Justine: All the birds in the sky / Charlie Jane Anders
Natalie: Everywhere I look / Helen Garner

Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 11 - Fireside Reads

It's getting cold out so we decided to discuss books that gave us the warm fuzzies! Joining us in the studio is our colleague Athina.

Athina's books:

The Lollipop Shoes / Joanne Harris
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao / Junot Diaz

Justine's books:
H is for Hawk / Helen Macdonald
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society / Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows

Natalie
The dressmaker / Rosalie Ham, read by Rachel Griffiths
The Turner House / Angela Flournoy


Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 10 - Regal Reads

When we realised this episode would air on the Queens Birthday public holiday we couldn't resist sharing our favourite 'regal reads'.

Justine's books:
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Amanda Foreman
Queen of the Tearling / Erika Johansen
Queen of the Night / Alexander Chee

Natalie's books:
The Royal We / Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
The Uncommon Reader / Alan Bennett
I would die 4 u: why Prince became an icon / Touré


Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

At our August meeting we chatted about Arnold Zable’s new book, The Fighter. The book is a luminous portrayal of Henry Nissen, the boxer from working-class Carlton who works his way up to beat some of the world’s best. It ranges from the boxing world, to childhood and European past, to explore mental illness, family trauma, camaraderie, and the redemptive power of the streets.

Here are the notes from our discussion:
-The book is very easy to read, and Arnold has made Henry come alive on the page
- There was some argument among the group that the book lacked narrative drive and didn't go anywhere, that it showed us snapshots of Henry's life, past and present, but not much of what he thought
- We all found Henry to be an interesting character, we wanted to know more about him
- One criticism was that the book was written in the style of a novel and so the expectation was that something would happen, rather, the book followed Henry around with no resolution or ending, really
- There was discussion about the art of boxing, the technical skills is requires, that it is not a brute sport, that the style of boxing is only to do what is needed and not be aggressive for the sake of it
- The title was fitting and properly chosen, as it could refer to Henry or his mother, or his family, or the people he supports in the courts
- We all felt that Henry as an adult was shaped by his childhood experiences and how he experienced his mum's health and decline, and that perhaps Henry is so moved to help others because he felt helpless when it came to his own mother because he was so young

What did you think? Have you read The Fighter?

Our August group meeting was a truly excellent session thanks to those who attended and contributed to a fascinating conversation on French history. Here is a summary of our discussion:


A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway

This book was a collection of beautifully-written reminisces about the author’s halcyon years in Paris in the 1920s. It focused more on the ‘moment’ that it took place in, rather than a longer history of Paris, but it is nonetheless a rich historical document. Members of the group gained an insight into the vibrant and inspiring Paris of the early 20th century that has now disappeared. The writing is evocative and simply brilliant. It is a great book.


Suite Francaise – Irene Nemirovsky

Set early in the Second World War, Suite Francaise was quite remarkable, especially as it was the author’s only work and was published many decades later, long after she had died. This book contains a broad array of complex characters who all struggle to survive as Germany invades France. Aside from the successfully intricate plots, the author found real humour in the tough situations that everyone found themselves in. The author’s intimate knowledge of these events is obvious. The backstory of the book is remarkable:

As Wikipedia states, “Suite Francaise “was written in microscopic handwriting in a single notebook; Tempête and Dolce together filled 140 pages, corresponding to 516 published pages. It was possibly the earliest work of literary fiction about World War II, and is remarkable as a historical novel sequence written during the period that it depicts, transformed far beyond the level of a journal of events such as might be expected to emerge from the turmoil and tragedy Némirovsky experienced.

Ironically, her elder daughter, Denise, kept the notebook containing the manuscript of Suite française for fifty years without reading it, believing that it would indeed be a journal or diary too painful to read. In the late 1990s, having made arrangements to donate her mother's papers to a French archive, Denise decided to examine the notebook first. At last discovering what it contained, she had it published in France in 2004.”

That said, the book is special enough without the tragic and miraculous backstory. We all greatly enjoyed it and wished the author could have written more novels, especially the others planned in this series.

Last week’s session was terrific, everyone had very thoughtful things to say about a wide range of books! The books we discussed were:



God’s Concubine by Sara Douglass

The reader is loving it (for their winterly re-read!). It’s the second book in the Troy Game quartet and is set in England in the 1100s. It’s fantastic!


Father’s Day by Tony Birch

These short stories linked by acts of kindness are excellent. The writing is outstanding and the imagery is powerful. The reader loved the stories’ Melbourne settings, and recommends the book highly.


Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

This book’s plot – about an incestuous migrant relationship leading to an intersex grandchild – was very interesting. It is very well written. The reading is loving it.


The Last Painting of Sarah Vos by Dominic Smith

In this extraordinary book, an art forger is confronted, decades later, with being exposed for their crime. The subject matter is fascinating and the story is well written. Recommended reading!


Desperate Husbands by Richard Glover

Hilarious! This book had the reader constantly laughing out loud, and we were lucky enough to hear an excerpt in the group. Truly funny stuff!


This Must be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell

The plot is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle with many interconnected characters. That said, it is a fun read and quite entertaining.


L’Amant by Marguerite Duras

This semi-autobiographical novel made a big impression on the reader. The story centres on a 15 year-old girl who falls in love with a rich Chinese businessman. It’s a moving and memorable book.

We had a really great conversation about Tony Birch's newest book Ghost River at our July meeting.

We were all very positive about the book, and would highly recommend it.

Here are the notes from our discussion.

- It is a book for adults, narrated by 12-year olds, and not dumbed down in the slightest
- Ren and Sonny's connection to the river was a really lovely part of the book
- There was some discussion about whether either of the main characters were aboriginal, we were unable to reach a consensus, and decided it probably wasn't clear in the book if none of us were sure
- The river provided opportunities for adventure and risk, exploring nature, and most importantly a place to escape to, it became a spiritual place
- The river men accepted Ren and Sonny into their gang, they were open with them, not because of their race, but because they were kids
- Ren and Sonny's escapades with the local mafia and local police were entertaining and the storytelling around this part of the plot was very clever
- We loved how 'Fitzroy' the book was, how it captured the suburb at a time in Melbourne's recent history, considered a low-income skid-row suburb in the 1960s
- One member said they didn't realise the book was set in the 1960s until well into the book, although most of the rest opf us recognised the time/era
- It is not a violent book though there is violence under the surface, there is no gratuitous violence
- Tony Birch is an excellent storyteller, he writes real life very well, would be a good movie!
- We discussed whether the book was an 'aboriginal' book, and what we meant by that, and concluded that the book has universal appeal as a coming of age story, it should not matter in the slightest about the cultural background of the author or any of the characters
- Average score from the members was 4 out of 5 (average score from 11 members)

Have you read Ghost River? Did you love it too?

Thank you Andrea! Do let us know what you read and if you enjoyed the books as much as we did! -Natalie

Last night’s session was fantastic - everyone has been reading such interesting books! I hope to see you on the 3rd of August. The books we discussed last night were:


Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe

This book was very well written. It is a powerful story about the impact of British colonialism and Christian missionaries on a Nigerian village. It is highly recommended.


Will you please be quiet please? by Raymond Carver

Unfortunately this book wasn’t as well-liked. The reader got six pages into it before giving up – the writing style wasn’t their cup of tea.


My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante

A group member has started reading this book and they can see why it’s so popular. It evokes Italian life in rich ways, and while not much has happened yet, it is immersive and well-written.


Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

A new member liked this book so much that they came especially to talk about it. It is a melancholic love story and it’s beautifully written. Murakami is a great writer. Other group members agreed that this is a beautiful book.


Love under occupation by Christine de Matos

This is a story of love between an Australian soldier and a Japanese woman who met during the occupation of Japan after World War 2. Ultimately their romance survived but the cost was huge.


Papercuts by Colin Bateman

This is a fun book about a newspaper journalist who goes back to his newspaper, Northern Ireland’s Bangor Express. It’s a fun read.


My life before me by Norah McClintock

The writing standard isn’t very high. The story centres around a vandalised gravestone, and the Ku Klux Clan’s possible involvement. The story is a bit predictable and the author doesn’t include enough details in their writing.


Hades’ Daughter by Sara Douglass

A group member reads this four-part series every winter. It’s essentially a revenge story that spans history from Mesopotamia to World War 2. The author has a PhD in history and is a brilliant researcher. This is a great fantasy series.

We had a brilliant session on Tuesday evening, thanks to those who attended and contributed to a fascinating conversation on Italian history. It was great to once again welcome several new members to the group. Here is a summary of our discussion:



The Leopard - Giuseppe Di Lampedusa

We all agreed that this is a fantastic book. The main character is a memorable man who stays with you, for years, for some of us. The book is about the end of an era, an old way of life trying to adapt to a new set of circumstances. The characters are always at the whim of larger forces – war, forbidden love, things beyond their control. One book club member informed us that The Leopard is autobiographical and Giuseppe Di Lampedusa was turned down by several publishers. It is hard to see why. This book drips with Italian culture, customs and traditions, and we all truly loved it.




Rome – Robert Hughes

Rome was a dense read. Robert Hughes possesses a very sharp intellect, and was encyclopaedic in his knowledge of Rome’s history. We agreed that his writing style is excellent. Book club members especially enjoyed the sections on the rise of Christianity and the later Futurist movement.

At our June meeting, we discussed What Came Before by Anna George. It's a gripping book about a relationship that disintegrates into violence and destruction. It begins with David confessing to murdering his wife Elle, and Elle hovering over her broken body telling us, the readers, about how it all went so wrong.

We were united in most of our feelings about the book. Here are the notes from our discussion.

- Most of us liked the writing style, but didn't really enjoy reading the book as it was violent and creepy
- We almost unanimously disliked the ending as we felt like it sensationalised an otherwise very real and very believable story, it felt cinematic almost
- The story was wound so tight we wondered how the author was going to get us out
- One comment was about the ending feeling like a letdown as the real life version of this story doesn't end neatly, often the victim of domestic violence still feels a threat of the perpetrator as they are still 'out there' and the threat remains real
- We agreed it was an important book about domestic violence and debated what we felt the book had taught us about it
- One comment was that we read fiction for fun and this book was not fun to read
- We talked about what attracted Elle to David, and why she was able to forgive him so often
- There was lots of talk about how we're conditioned to believe that domestic violence is not something that happens in middle/upper class relationships, and how the book challenged this stereotype
- We agreed that violence must occur just as much in the professional world but perhaps we hear of it less
- We were unsure to whom we would recommend the book to, or what we might say about it, despite it getting a 4 out of 5 (average score from 9 of us)

Have you read this book? Have you thought about how you would recommend it?

Meredith, ha! It is a great book, and it is easy to recommend, but I suppose it is worth a disclaimer! -Natalie

You're welcome, Kaylene! Ferrante fever isn't for everyone, I understand, but I got it real bad! Would love to hear what you chose to read from our list. -Natalie

We spent our May meeting chatting about Rosalie Ham's 2011 book, There Should Be More Dancing. In this book, Margery has just turned 80 and has discovered many secrets about her own family and neighbourhood that have been kept from her during the 60 years she lived in Gold Street, Brunswick.

- Most of us enjoyed reading the book
- Some said it wasn't a great read but the ending was worth it
- A favourite part of reading the book was getting to know the characters
- We identified with the family dynamic and some said they could relate to having older parents on the cusp of needing care
- Timelines seemed a little skewed, Margery was treated like she was in her 90s though she had only just turned 80
- We were surprised by the greed of the scheming son-in-law
- Someone commented that they were shocked it was a Melbourne book, that it could have been set anywhere, even outside Australia
- One person felt they had to keep reading so they could look after Margery, and another person commented saying they felt the opposite way, they felt she was never at real risk and could have left her alone in the book and she'd have been fine
- We all felt it was a very visual book, very descriptive writing, and thought it should be made into a film!
- We talked about what cultural background we thought Mrs Parsons had, after some research (thanks, Helen!) we she might be from Timor, Torres Strait, Pacific Islands, Indonesia or other parts of Asia due to a war bride reference

Have you read There Should Be More Dancing? Did you enjoy it?

Tuesday evening’s session on American history was fantastic, it was great to welcome several new members to the group. Here is a summary of our discussion.



The First Tycoon by T.J Stiles
Early America was a very unforgiving place! T.J. Stiles did a wonderful job of recreating the era of new machines and new American cities. Vanderbilt was a doggedly determined man, to a fault, and was certainly not the type of person we would like to cross. His shrewd business sense saw him create a monopoly in several industries and amass a huge fortune. Along the way, he did little to help his family. This book was a great insight into the ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality that dominates American business to this day, and the winners and losers created by such a fierce system of competition.




American Pastoral by Philip Roth
This book was overwhelmingly blokey and repetitive. Some book club members liked certain passages, but overall it was disappointing. Roth created complex characters and made some good comments about the shallowness of ‘The American Dream’, but the book was too bloated and self-involved to fully win us over.

Episode 9: What we're reading

We were very happy to be joined by special guest, Emily Bitto, winner of the 2015 Stella Prize for her debut novel The Strays.

Emily Bitto's books


The Golden Notebook / Doris Lessing


Everywhere I look / Helen Garner

Justine's books


Dept of Speculation / Jenny Offill


Mr Splitfoot / Samantha Hunt

Natalie's books


Fates and Furies / Lauren Groff


Becoming Kiralli Lewis / Jane Harrison

What we're reading next:
Emily: Sanctuary / William Faulkner
Justine: Talking to my country / Stan Grant
Natalie: The Turner House / Angela Flournoy

The Miles Franklin award is given annually to Australian books that best represent Australian life. The 2016 longlist has been announced!

On this episode of Dear Reader, we look back on our favourite past winners and long and shortlisted books.

Justine’s books:


Breath / Tim Winton (2009 winner)


All the birds singing / Evie Wyld (2014 winner)


Bereft / Chris Womersley (2011 shortlist)

Natalie’s books:


When the night comes / Favel Parrett (2015 longlist)


The eye of the sheep / Sophie Laguna (2015 winner)


Ghost river / Tony Birch (2016 longlist)

Music in this episode by Ben Mason
www.benmason.com.au