Korea and Kops

 

Bonny, Tilly and Moggy respectively barked, yapped and said 'Hello' to six other sensational bookclubbers at 2A High Street on Wednesday 13 May 2026 - but not to our three casualties 

Megan - all wishing her well and hoping to see her back soon when ready

2-caps - socialising elsewhere with Nobby and a torn shoulder tendon 

Margy - nursing a not so funny hairline fracture of her humerus

So the sensational six were Julie, Kathy, McLassie, Cherilyn, Sue and Cherrie - although the discovery of Cherrie's bum hamstring during the evening suggested she wasn't so sensational after all.  

After an intense inspection and interrogation of Mog's knitted vest (moss stitch; circular needles; one knitted piece; hard wool; older, simple but now lost pattern), Mog took us to her book selection 'Murder on North Terrace' by Laini Anderson.  Starting life as a journalist, Laini completed her PhD on Kate Cocks, SA's first policewoman, at UniSA.   Now holding a number of positions within the history fraternity of SA, Laini lives in the Adelaide Hills and will probably write more of her 'petticoat police mysteries'.  Suggested by McLassie as an uncomplicated and interesting read during Mog's moving time, we embarked upon an historical tour of Adelaide in 1917.   We were jumping in and out of hansom cabs with Miss Cocks and her jujitsu practising offsider, Ethel Bromley, visiting AGSA where the body of the AGSA Board governor was found beneath the controversial new acquisition 'Sowing new seed', and moving across the inner suburbs returning by tram to home base (Landrowna Tce which was actually in now Victoria Square).  

1922 photo of Landrowna Tce
(from State Library)

Most readers agreed Ethel was the star of the show, with Kate Cocks' distinctive Methodist morality a little wearing as she chased down different avenues with her big stick - yet it created an entree for the book to offer us an insight into Adelaidean hypocrisy of the time.   The scales of justice were clearly tilted in favour of wealth and gender, as the attention given to socialites was contrasted with working class victimisation, and female detective work contrasted with 'real' policing.  

All agreed it was thoroughly researched and brought the atmosphere of an earlier Adelaide to life onto its pages, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.  Great selection Mog and suggestion McLassie.  (The Death of Dora Black, the first mystery book is doing the rounds for those interested - with similar themes percolating through).  

We somehow morphed easily from WW1 Adelaide to present day Seoul and Cherrie's selection, 'Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop' by Korean author, Hwang Boreum.  (ed note:  collecting Cherrie's 3 pages of research summarising the book was a big miss by your interlocutor, so if they arrive in my inbox I'll link them in to this blog).  It was the story of the bookshop and bookshop owner you want to have in your neighbourhood - GOAT coffee, book suggestions tailored to each reader (a novelty as Cherrie remarked), growing book clubs and hosting book talks by authors, and more.  We learnt Yeongju, the owner, quit her high pressure job, divorced her equally high pressure husband, and took a leap of faith opening the bookshop.  Starting alone, on her journey she found peace and happiness along with likeminded characters - readers' favourite Minjun (barista extraordinaire), Jimi the coffee roaster, knitter Jungsuh, Mincheol, the young student looking for a mentor (enter Yeongju), and Seeungwoo, the kind hearted grammatical pedant.  

There were some little pearls of wisdom dropped throughout the book - such as 'characters in novels are imperfect and that's how they lend their voice to the average person' (p 80); 'have we become the person we wanted to be?' followed by 'each day is a successful day surrounded by good people' (p 242, 254).  And then there was reading teaches you to 'reflect on yourself - and so hope to become a better person one day' (p 68).  Fabulous!!!  In the end its folksy but gracious message was that by self reflection, you will find yourself, and when you have found yourself, you will find your people.   Yeongsu found her people.  Everyone enjoyed the book and the characters, finding it an uplifting read (despite the Korean names that were hard to keep track of).  

Cherrie's fabulous quince cake came out as we reflected on the two uplifting books and how positive it was to read them in these difficult times.  Post book chat turned to films - 'The Sheep Detective' could be a new adventure for Hugh Jackman after 'Song Sung Blue'.  Cherrie suggested reading 'The Elegance of the Hedgehog' by Muriel Barbery, and we talked about our next scheduled meeting in July.  Possible switches were discussed, then Kathy suggested we stay with the date at her place, and leave it open to Megan to attend and/or choose a book.  One book to discuss, we decided, would be perfectly fine.

As we started to drift off, and Moggy gave everyone a farewell plant, we all reflected that if we're ever walking in the Victoria Park dog park (dogs on lead area), keeps your eyes open for an aggressive man with a small dog on a lead - and if spotted run up and knee him in the balls compliments of Julie.  

Next meeting: Wednesday 8 July at Kathy's place. 

Kathy's choice: 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Shelby Van Pelt.  (Netflix has just released a telemovie of the same name starring Sally Field).  

Searching for Happiness

(Hit play the video - its just for background music while you read). 

It was our first meeting for 2026, our first Tuesday night meeting (24 March), and our first with apologies from the 3 'M's - Megan, Mog and Margy P.   And so seven bookclubbers made it to Cherilyn's place. We excused Megan and sent our best wishes to her and Andrew for the next few months - we look forward to her next appearance at bookclub when good and ready; also hoping Mog managed to sleep in her new home after the big move; and looking forward to smelling the blooms Margy returned with from the Melbourne Flower Show.  

McLassie yarning

The evening started with yarning about many things until Cherilyn pulled us together and we got down to the book business - although McLassie kept up with the yarning.  (Ed note: because Cherilyn is now on the high seas, and I forgot to get a copy of her notes, this background part is a bit dodgy).   Susan Choi was born in America, to a Korean father and Jewish mother, and graduated with a Master Fine Arts from Cornell University.  She then worked as a fact checker (a vanishing breed) at The New Yorker.  Now living in Brooklyn, she teaches creative writing at Johns Hopkins.   'Flashlight' is her fifth book and was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. (Cherilyn had a lot more interesting info in her notes!).   Cherrie recalled hearing an interview with her recently, when she explained the idea for the story came from her memory of a childhood trip to Japan some time ago, when a child went missing.  Choi then said she became aware of the North Korean abduction stories some years ago and the two recollections came together to form the basis of the novel.  Cherilyn reflected on the symbolism of the flashlight - which had three entries in the book.  The first in the opening passages when Serk went missing on the Japanese beach; the second in Louisa's psychologists office when she pockets it; the third when Serk is escaping from North Korea - and Cherilyn astutely observed the beam of a flashlight only illuminates a small part and not the whole.   This launched us into the book sending us searching for its light and dark side.  We found

• the odd and for some unlikeable characters - Serk, Louisa, Tobias - any others?
• the lovely Walt - certainly not enough written about him
• the way Anne's illness was revealed and its effect 
• the dramatic leaps in time leaving some of us catching up
• the final resolution with Serk and Louisa, facilitated by a very 'zen' Tobias

Most readers enjoyed the book, interpreting young Louisa's trauma on the Japanese beach as the reason for her anger.  Others (well one) read her as the ninja bitch, when at the age of 40+, with a mother who suffered from MS, who was downtrodden in her marriage with the ascerbic and remote Serk, then lost the one good thing in her life, the lovely Walt, Louisa could have had a more positive and empathetic relationship with her mother.  (And that's the polite version!).   That same reader thought the writing was quite aggressive, being told how to think and interpret events by the author, rather than coming to your own view.   These views weren't embraced by other readers however.   All thought the book a good choice and worthwhile read (even the outlier), though some more than others.  In the end it was a reflection on the way Korean people were ostracised in Japan - not unlike outsiders elsewhere today.  

McLassie still yarning

McLassie was still yarning when we moved on to Barb's selection, 'This is Happiness', by Niall Williams (yes, there's a lot of 'l's in that name).  Barb talked about the author as someone she had read before and enjoyed - especially 'Time of the Child'.  Born in Dublin Ireland in 1958, he was taken to the library by his father every two weeks; then earned a Master of Arts in American literature at University College Dublin, where he met his wife.  Deciding that a life of lecturing and copywriting wasn't for him, he and his wife returned to Ireland in 1985 and moved to Kilmihil, County Clare, where his writing about life in rural Ireland took off.  

Barb summarised his third novel set in Faha, a fictional village in west Ireland.  Tracking the life of young Noe Crowe in tandem with the introduction of electricity in Faha 'This is Happiness' covers memory, love, regret, the emotional cost of change, and facing modernity.  Barb thought the book not as engaging as 'Time of the Child', but still worth the read.  Readers agreed at least about the last bit - and Cherilyn, who had read 'Time of the Child', agreed with all of it.  

The book didn't raise a lot of discussion, so I'm not sure if everyone found Happiness in it.  The sentiments were real and readers agreed there was coherence in the story.  However, the writing was a bit spasmodic - perhaps unhurried and meditative more than plot driven - and some passages were reflective, although the characters (especially steady Ganga and sharp Doady) were certainly more likeable than most of Susan Choi's creations.

The two books were an interesting pairing, added to by Julie who read and enjoyed Barb's other 'not quite' selection -   The Confidence Woman by Sophie Quick.

Plum cake a la Cherilyn

Cherilyn put the kettle on and it was time for the lovely plum cake to arrive, with after book chatter somehow turning to public transport routes, including clicketyclack railway tracks to Flinders and Seaford, where it branches to Flinders and where to board; who travels on this train and back again; then double railway tracks to Melbourne and Belair but query why Mount Barker cannot share? And on to South Road -  until 2031 your time will be blowed!

It was a roundabout yet enjoyable yarn that somehow led us on to an 'end of the world' conversation about Trump and his war hungry merciless cronies.

Not such a happy note to end up on - but we all went swinging our way down Cherilyn's driveway knowing there's not a lot we can do about it - except keep ourselves on the high road.  Which I did on the way home and at the top of the hill near the Victory Hotel came across a fabulous moon peaking through clouds over the water with a shard of moonbeam shining directly down on the very still ocean - just like a flashlight.  And so I found happiness.  There is magic everywhere after all!

Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 13 May - maybe at Mog's new place.

     

Cherrie announced her next book - 'Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop', by Hwang Bo-Reum; check Libby because it was still available a few days ago.  

Mog to announce her choice when boxes have been ditched and the dust has settled.   

2025 BOOK QUIZ

 

HOW MANY DID YOU GET?

You can post your results in the Comments section for all to see.  

Earth - shattering and sharing

It was a bouncing Banjo who greeted us all enthusiastically as we arrived at 1 Fox Street on 12 November 2025 for our last meeting of the year to discuss the books to round out our hare raising year.  Two-caps Barb was last to walk through the gate, and Cherilyn was the one apology, being previously committed to a musical evening rather than a convivial literary one.  

 

Colour and shape

Star jasmine was the opening sit-down/glass-of-wine conversation starter, creeping its way through gardens, fences, roof tops and pear trees – for which colour and shape is everything.  But for two-caps, were they Manchurian, Oriental, Ornamental, Bartlett (Megan’s preference) or something else?   

 

Soon, jasmine talk dwindled out and was overtaken by book discussion - launched via Orbital, the 2024 Booker winner written by Samantha Harvey - but not before an unscientific riff on how satellites circle the Earth (see below for a proper answer).  

For an author of such a contemporary book, it was a little surprising, but somehow welcome news to discover Harvey is a social media reclusive.  Author of five books, and with a degree in Philosophy from York University, Sue said her background story was challenging to find, but Cherrie's sleuthing suggested trying Radio National for some snippets - https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/out-of-this-world-booker-prize-winning-author-samantha-harvey/105871714

  

With no narrative, no characterisation, and no chapters (structured through the 16 orbits of Earth the International Space Station makes in 24 hours 250 miles above the Earth)*, the book pushed the boundaries of the novel form of writing.  Understandably, it also pushed some readers, who decided that 136 pages were just about enough - and maybe a few too many, especially when some pages had to be re-read.   

Nell's spacewalk (don't look down!) created some discussion around how it was that the astronauts were able to leave the craft to do repairs - and perhaps this NASA image answers the query with each astronaut tethered by a wire to the ISS (just visible if you look really hard starting from the bottom right hand corner).  

Attention to the stories of the 6 international astronauts** and their extraordinary daily existence on the International Space Station – including their regular 2 hour exercise routine; waste disposal; and tasteless calorie intake - were a little relief from the imposing philosophical questions the book took us to - because it was essentially a soliloquy on planet Earth and human existence.  Some BIG questions were traversed in the 136 pages  - Are we alone: Is there a grand design: Is there a grand designer; Why do we humans think we’re so special; The wondrousness of the natural world of Earth, and the Mystery of Space.   

A number of orbits referenced climate change as the typhoon bore down on the Phillipines; other orbits referenced the importance of 'perspective' through Shaun’s postcard of Diego Valezquez’s 1656 painting, Las Meninas, and Michael Collins' 1969 image of the Luna module returning to Apollo 11, when for the first time all the world saw itself.  'We all see things differently' was the starting point here for Harvey, but she ultimately posed the question ‘do differing perspectives matter when we’re all in this together?’  (ed:  I would have liked to include Cherrie's erudite quotation from the book here about the folly of human's capacity for war and destroying everything, but a. I lost the precise words, so b. I couldn't find them).   And a final ed note: they say astronauts come back to Earth changed for the good after experiencing the wonder of space, so I'm voting to send Trump, Putin, Netanyahu and few other so called strongmen up to the ISS.

 

It was a challenging, unconventional book and very different to our next venture into the natural world.  Julie talked about Chloe Dalton's background as a high pressure advisor in UK politics before finding her little leveret when in lockdown in the country.  Expecting the book to be a journey about how the leveret led her back a more satisfying life in politics, it did anything but.    After taking advice, Dalton resisted attempts at domestication, going to great lengths to respect its 'territory' and preserve the hare's wild and natural existence.  Following the hare through its life cycle, the book in turn reflected on Dalton's capacity to think differently, and the way in which humans can respectfully interact with the natural world.  Our readers agreed it was a well paced and well written entree into eco-lit, where the leveret was the winner, while the humans showed what they are capable of if they take the time to understand the misunderstood.

Is Bugs a Bunny (top left) or Hare (bottom right)?

There was quite some discussion on the difference between rabbits and hares, with the 'M' country girls (Margy, Mog and McLassie) familiar with the different ways in which each animal inhabited the countryside (eg rabbits burrow; hares don't).  This then riffed into a discussion about McLassie's mother cooking Jugged Hare, and while its not the same recipe, here we go for the game cookers - 

Jugged hare is a traditional stew made from hare, which is first cut into pieces, marinated in red wine and spices, and then slow-cooked in a tall jug placed in a pan of water. The term "jugging" refers to this method of cooking, which is a form of stewing that can be replicated in a modern oven using a casserole dish. Historically, the hare's blood was added to the sauce to thicken and enrich it, though modern recipes may use other thickening agents like cornflour. 

Banjo started to get restless with the talk of rabbits and Jugged Hare, and so with the consensus that 'Raising Hare' wasn't hair raising but did raise awhareness about sharing the planet with other animals, the Orange/Almond cake came out with cups of tea.  Kathy opened the cake-time natter, suggesting some recent HBO shows worth watching, including 'The Pit' and 'Task' (some violence but worth it to see Mark Ruffalo says Kathy, who appears to hold a candle for the actor), but after some research from your editor, you will need to add on to your Foxtel or Amazon Prime subscription to get HBO offerings in Australia.  Conversation about cooking/eating for one or two, cooking roasts for family, daily eating habits and selling houses (all 🤞for Mog's bid reveal on Monday) rounded up the evening.    

Country flowers - with text poem by Laura

 "Your mum brought me flowers

And I love them!

You never bring me flowers

She is now my favourite person".

As we packed up our trappings and bid farewell to Banjo and the country flowers, we settled the first meeting for 2026 on Wednesday 11 March.  Venue to be decided, and book selections are

Cherilyn: Flashlight by Susan Choi (get in early because there's a 24 week wait via Libby)

Barb: choice to come before Christmas.  Maybe The Confidence Woman by Sophie Quick, or This is Happiness by Niall Williams - but definitely won't be Nobby's selection of poems by his friend

 

Afterwords:

Satellite answer: Satellites stay in fixed orbits above a country by occupying a geostationary orbit, which is a unique type of orbit around 35,786 km above the equator; here, a satellite moves at the same rotational speed as Earth, so it appears stationary over one longitude. This is how communication and weather satellites can always 'hover' above the same region, providing continuous coverage. 

 

*Megan was correct

**and why are some called Astronauts, and the Russians Cosmonauts?  Is it just a language thing?

For people interested in the ISS App where you can track its orbit, its called 'Spot the Station' by NASA.

 

 

Memorial Homes

 Yikes!!  It's an experimental new format 😱!   But before clicking on the image (and hopefully this should take you to a flip book), there is a post script.   Volume III of 'On the Calculation of Volume' will be published on 18 November 2025 (no surprises there).  

And here are the books for the next meeting - 12 November 2025, at 1 Fox Street Goodwood.

Julie:  Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Sue: Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Finally, its the writeup 🤞- (note: after testing, best read on a tablet or screen although a phone is doable)