Remembering the 80's

 

Fox Street books - thanks to AI and
all origin artists 

Well done bookclubbers for remembering to arrive at Fox Street on Rememberance Day, where all were greeted by Bouncing Banjo with his usual joi d'vivre.  We gathered around the drinks and cheese table sending absent friend Megan all our love, and marvelled at Cherilyn's calmness in the midst of house renovations.  Then with Banjo flat out under the snack table, we launched into our two books.

Whistler, Ann Patchett's most recent novel started the proceedings with Julie revealing the author famously eschews all technology.  No social media, no mobile, no computer - but she has a book shop in Nashville Tennessee, which makes up for everything, and more.  And it showed in Whistler, where as Julie suggested, good people and positiveness were in abundance - suggesting Ann P's buoyant outlook on life is founded on human optimism and not technological pfaff.  

The drama of the book revolved around 50 year old Daphne reconnecting with her stepfather, Eddie, and how it was they came to be separated 40+ years earlier, shortly after their rescue from a car accident in the 1980's.  There was quite a lot of discussion about the two main characters (Eddie, Daphne) - and some of the minor characters (mother Abigail, lover Skip).  Abigail was the subject of some critical comments from a few, but perhaps (in her defence) her intolerance was symbolic of  the 1980's.  (Eds note:  and here's an after thought. While Abigail left the marriage suddenly without any explanation to Daphne and Leda, surely Eddie's failure to keep his promise to Abigail contributed to the marriage break up? So much to discuss - nothing is set in concrete!  Life is complicated!  It takes 2 to tango!  And other home spun homilies!)   

Margie P saw Whistler the horse as symbolic, making two short yet punchy and meaningful incursions into the book, even though Eddie didn't make it in the end.  But then, Daphne did finally find salvation in the truth telling 'whistled up' by her reunion with Eddie, when it was revealed how Eddie and Abigail came to be in the divorce court.  As we discovered near the end of the book, it was not Daphne's insistence on a winter rasberry farm excursion in the 1980's (which resulted in the car crash), but rather Eddie and Skip's excursions of another kind which resulted in the crash of her mother's marriage.   And so after 40+ years, Eddie liberated Daphne from her guilt when he explained that her finding help on the night of the car crash saved him, and the true cause of her mother's split with him was found elsewhere with Skip.   

Everyone agreed this book gave us a lot to think about - from young Daphne's guilt to older Daphne's resolution; Eddie's thoughtful and caring approach to people and life; the effect of his bisexual lifestyle in the1980's and beyond; the affirming relationship between sisters (Leda and Daphne); and whistling others for help when needed and responding to the call; all neatly presented through Patchett's quiet, thoughtful writing. An author worth following we all agreed.

Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar
(could you ever trust a man who 
wore such a combover and those sandals!)

And so we moved on to a very different discussion about The Picasso Ransom by A.T. Prewett.  Selected for no other reason than it looked interesting on the bookshelves, readers found themselves wondering about this entry into the lighthearted 'heist' novel genre.   A.T. Prewett, Sue said, graduated with a Master in Film and TV in 2009 from the Victorian College of Arts - an edifice which played a part in the novel published this year but set 40 years earlier in 1986.  Based around the unsolved true heist of Picasso's 'Weeping Woman' from the National Gallery of Victoria, it sketched out a possible scenario for the $1.6m artwork that went missing for 2 days.  Phoebe, at 70+ years of age, and her partners in crime (among other things) Eva, David and Huon took centre stage, removing 'Weeping Woman' from the NGV as a publicity stunt to draw attention to the funding cuts to the Victorian College of Arts and arts education.   

Generally, readers thought the implausibility of the sexual relationships between the thieves lent into the unlikeliness of a woman born before WW1 hatching and leading a plot to demonstrate against the imminent closure of the Victorian College of Arts.  There was general agreement that this was the common reading of the book - a lighthearted, slightly humorous yet perhaps somewhat shallow novel.  

And then it was suggested the lecture given by Fish on 'censorship' early in the book perhaps offered another reading ...'Censorship as you may well know is inextricably linked to politics....which brings us to our topic this week, The Reverse Psychology of Artistic Censorship' (p 33).  The slide lesson followed (one highly regarded artwork; the other censored), where given a choice, you prefer to see what you're not allowed to.    Reading the book through this lens, readers were invited to engage with questions around the role of art, who determines its value, its funding, and moral questions around whether a crime is justified when the criminal/s have nothing to gain.  Sue suggested this reading had resonance with the significant funding reductions to the arts and culture in Australia today (ie 40 years on).  So the question is whether drawing attention to these issues may have been a catalyst for the 'left' leaning Prewett to write a protest novel, albeit one masquerading as a lighthearted work of fiction.  (Ed note:   pure speculation.  The jury is still out on this interpretation, along with whether it would make it a better book anyway?  Perhaps we should ask A.T. Prewett?)

Some found it hard to get past Phoebe's relationships in the book - no rewind:  everyone found it hard!   Melbourne's city landscape including the dinging trams and busy brothels were discretely painted into the backdrop (as confirmed by the Melbournites), along with the poor policing and security practices in 1986 - and what ever did happen to Phoebe's shoes?    But then came the moral dilemma skirted by the book - does an artists character and personality (in this case, Picasso who was a notorious pig to many and particularly to his partner/muse of 9 years, Dora Maar who is reflected in The Weeping Woman) affect your appreciation of their artwork?  It was a question that will hang in the mists of time, as will the identity/s of the true perpetrators of the 1986 heist, the Australian Cultural Terrorists (A.C.T.).  

After a big long intake of breath Helen Goh's Lemon Curd Cake made an appearance, featuring Mrs Agnes Bowering of Prospect's 'Green and Gold Cookbook' recipe for lemon conserve (it takes a lot of stirring and makes around 650g).  (Ed note:  image is of Helen Goh's masterpiece with larger edible flowers because your photographer forgot to use her camera on the night).

This started a conversation about the ABC's 'Recipe of the Year' program, and the role of the CWA judge - Margie P suggested it was laced with blasphemy because in her experience they had never used rulers to measure lamington cakes or other CWA staples, including Anzac biscuits (colour, taste and snap were the benchmarks, says Mog).  And the head CWA judge was quite the ascerbic ruler, often over-ruling the two other hosts (Adam Liaw, Pia Miranda). 

Returning to our book discussion of Whistler, Cherrie walked us through the plot summary of an interesting play she had recently seen presented by a local theatre company - 'The Sum of Us', about a young gay man and his father.   (The 1994 film with Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe is available on Stan).  It reminded some of Douglas Stuart's Booker short listed book 'John of John' which has similar themes (along with some darker elements, as suggested by 2 caps), and in light of Ann Patchett's book, we wondered whether being gay was having a moment?  Then we wandered off into reflecting on the age of the Booker winner (81 year old M John Harrison 'The End of Everything' - one for the hearty and brave reader); recommended Rebecca Perry's 'May we feed the King', and 'Winnie the Pooh', the latter to be discussed by Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens on Radio Nationals 'The Minefield' (on Sunday 15/11/26 at 11 am or your favourite podcast platform) because it's 100 years since it was published and is apparently a tour de force around moral thinking.  Are you in?

Realising that the door is starting to close on 2026 and 2027 is peeking through the crack, we settled on Wednesday 10 March for our next meeting.  Cherilyn's selection is Pip Williams new book 'The German Ward', and 2 caps decided her choice after a few good sleeps - its 'Agrippa' by Robert Harris (author of 'Conclave').  

Finally, to close this chapter, Kathy said she would let us know how her visit to the cardiologist went the next day (and she did - thanks Kathy; we will all be thinking of you on 14 December hoping for a speedy recovery), and as ever, sent our very best wishes to Megan and Andrew.

Au Revoir - thats it for 2026, and looking forward to our time travel excursions back to WW1 and the Roman Empire in 2027. 

CORRESPONDENT AND LAND

Bees were buzzing, birdies were tweeting and the Western Banjo frogs were pobble-bonking on the second day of spring - which was when 7 bookclubbers landed at Margie P's place to discuss her book choice, 'The Correspondent' and McLassie's selection, 'Land'.  As we settled in we all missed Megan, wished her all the best and hoped for next time, and felt envious of Cherilyn and 2-caps because, as the rain came down outside Ferguson Ave setting off car alarms (well, something did), they were enjoying the sun in the deep north.  Both corresponded with their thoughts about the books which then set the conversation off and running - and it was 'Land' that landed first. 

McLassie led with her synopsis of 'Land', an Irish historical novel set in the latter half of the 19th century.  Chosen to follow her interest in historical novels (after Hamnet also by Maggie O'Farrell), McLassie overviewed key events in the author's biography, including being hospitalised with encephalitis at 8 years of age, which MO'F put down as leading her on the road to literature.  Later graduating from Cambridge Uni she now has a long list of awards, and considers her husband (fellow Cambridge traveller, William Sutcliffe) is her best critic.    

McLassie and MO'F took us on a journey to a remote part of western Ireland, recounting the effects and after effects of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) on the O'Dwyer family (Tomas, Phina and children Liam, Enda, Rose and Eugene, and of course Bran the dog). 'Memory, identity and the way the past survives into the present' were Cherilyn's words from afar summarising (both) the book/s.  

The bog, the fish and the ring ?

While concurring with Cherilyn's thoughts, our conversation started with the O'Dwyer's hard life, particularly for the women when they moved to the peninsula (including having to make soap, and don't we all look forward to McLassie delivering her production at our next meeting!), but it was the weaving of mythology into the fabric of the book that created commentary.  Some readers found it difficult to place the relevance of Irish folk mythology around the bog, the fish and the gold ring to the story.  Unhelpfully this was only scantily described by MO'F in the early and late sections of the book which was a big miss, because it seemed central to the underlying premise of the story.  Some readers also thought the book tried to do too much (eg famine, diaspora, imperialism, religion, mythology, Irish independence movement, country life, cartography +); some wondered why Enda and Rose's stories were left hanging in Canada, while Liam's return to cartography and Eugene's story involving his return to the land and returning the ring to fish in the bog, was probably somehow symbolic (?!) and certainly more complete than their sisters stories; and some thought that a few contradictions scattered throughout the text shifted confidence in the book's editor.  

Despite these criticisms, 'Land' landed with all readers as an interesting book, very readable and a good choice - which in light of our fulsome discussion, possibly required reading with feeling, more than a judgemental eye (although we thought perhaps William could be a more thoughtful critic next time).

McLassie handed the book baton on to Margie for her selection, 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans.  Guilt and connection were added to Cherilyn's trifecta (memory, identity and the past) by Margie about this book.  Her research revealed Virginia gained a bachelor degree in English literature in Virginia USA, where she met her husband Mark Evans, then after having a family went back to complete a Master in Creative Writing at Trinity College in Dublin.  'The Correspondent' was started during the Covid years and is her first published novel, winning the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction (a prize which was interestingly started in 1996 after none of the six shortlisted books for the Booker Prize in 1991 were written by women).   

Some recipients of Sybil's letters
Kazuo, Joan above: Ann, Virginia below

Margie summarised the epistolary novel where protagonist, 70+ year old Sybil Van Antwerp, wrote letters and emails to a wide range of people in the morning, as her sight declined over the years.  Family members, close and not so close friends, her lovely neighbour, past colleagues and professionals, academics, her doctor, young people, a customer service representative of the genetic testing company, her acerbic garden club members, and famous authors/public figures received letters or emails from Sybil's pen/keyboard - reflecting Sybil's thoughts about current events, family, relationships, and as her sight declined, the important people and events in her past life.  

We all agreed with 2-caps' comment 'Go Sybil!', in part because she emerged from her writings as a very engaging character - with humour, warmth, intelligence and strength, saving her cutting wit for those who were less accommodating to her (read the Dean of the English Department at Maryland Uni who initially blocked Sybil's entry to audit literature courses).   There was consensus that this was a very affirming book, partly about the forgotten art of correspondence but mostly about the importance of relationships.  When guilt made its surprising appearance towards the end of the book through her unsent correspondence Sybil emerged as a person who had suffered through trauma with courage.  We reflected on the similar drowning deaths in Kathy's book (Remarkably Bright Creatures, and the fate of Tova's son Erik - accident or suicide but leaning to accident?) and Gilbert, Sybil's son (accident) - but it was only a passing comment.  The main reflections on the book were about Sybil's strength of character, and particularly her readiness to reconnect with family and friends when things had gone awry - as happens in life after trauma.  

Similar but not Margies - imagine
a blueberry crowning the tartlet 
(now sorry I didn't take a photo!).

Tea for two came out, along with Margie's fabulous home made lemon curd tartlets made from home grown lemons,** with blueberries, and we agreed these were two very different but rewarding books.  The tartlets rolled around the table and our mouths as we talked about the dangers of swimming in half-width marked laps, tumble turns, country life in the 1950/60's, and swimming in the river - along with the trials of cooking (or not) for one or two in our more senior years (McLassie with her enthusiasm for cooking, catering and cleaning for others was an exceptional exception - others said they had declared partial 'tools down' for some household jobs, including ironing). 

Few tartlets remained on Margie's marvellous Mud Australia plate (an astute Cherrie observed), as we collected our stuff and wandered out the door - but not before next books were chosen, which after some umming and aahing are:

Julie: 'Whistler' by Ann Patchett (you may want to correspond with her about it, like Sybil)

Sue: 'The Picasso Ransom' by A.T. Prewett (a slightly indulgent choice for a light and fluffy caper read)

** Julie suggested that next meeting we also collaborate and plot out a short murder mystery - so here is an opening para to work on or ditch if you prefer

Furtively darting out the back door, Lilith only had time to grab her most prized possession - the original recipe for Lemon Curd.  Written on soft but strong velum using ink made from soot, gum and water it was in original arabic calligraphy, and was material proof that the British didn't invent the popular spread.  An English recipe was first recorded in the book The Lady's Own Cookery Book, written by Lady Charlotte Campbell Bury in 1844, and the printed book quickly came to be on the kitchen shelves of all respectable middle and upper class Victorian ladies - or at least the shelves that held the important tools of the trade of their cooks.  The original 1844 handwritten book was on display in the British Museum, providing what was considered to be unassailable proof that Lemon Curd was a British invention during the time of Queen Victoria.  In beautiful sloping cursive script, all the important ingredients and method for making lemon curd could be seen, because the book was set open at the page in a glass case in the museum's Great Court.   The descriptive label proudly recorded Lady Charlotte Campbell Bury invented Lemon Curd in 1843 in her test kitchen, and reported she was encouraged to publish the recipe by the Victorian publishing house, Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans before Mrs Beaton published her Book of Household Management.  Lilith knew she was running for her life, leaving behind all her other possessions, a trail of destruction and yes - a body on the kitchen table smothered in commercial lemon curd.  

See you next on 11 November 2026, at 1 Fox Street Goodwood - with or without your contributions to 'The Lost Curd - a Recipe for Disaster'.  

 

Whats in a Name

                                                                         Music to read by

Everyone settled in at Frederick Street around 7.00 on 8 July 2026, happily surprised by the welcome attendance of Megan making it (as suggested by Cherrie), a truly unforgettable book club meeting -  but we missed Cherilyn and all hoped for the best for her and family.  Quickly settling in to our first book, Megan's choice The Names was suggested to her by the Great Book Buyer of Norwood, and here is Kathy and Megan's erudite take on the book by Florence Knapp.  

"Overview 

The Names is an ambitious and emotionally powerful debut novel by Florence Knapp that explores how a single decision can shape the course of a life.  The story begins in England in 1987 when Cora Atkin, trapped in an abusive marriage, must decide what to name her newborn son.  Her husband insists on the traditional family name, Gordon, while Cora prefers Julian and her daughter Maia suggests Bear.  From this seemingly simple choice, the novel unfolds into three alternative timelines, each following the boy's life over the next 35 years.  

Summary

The novel alternates between three parallel narratives based on the name Cora chooses for her son; Gordon, Julian or Bear.  Each version of the boy grows into a different person, influenced by family dynamics, opportunities, trauma, and the expectations attached to his name.  While the lives diverge significantly, common threads remain, particularly the effects of domestic abuse and the struggle to break generational cycles of violence and control.  Through these intertwined stories, Knapp examines identity, destiny, resilience and the lasting consequences of both courage and fear.

Major Themes

1.  The Power of Names and Identity.  The Novel asks whether a name can influence who we become.  Knapp suggests that names carry expectations, associations, and assumptions that may subtly shape our lives.  However, the book ultimately raises a deeper question: are we defined by our names, or by the choices we make?

2. Domestic Abuse and its ripple effects.  At its heart, The Names is a compassionate exploration of domestic abuse.  The story examines how violence and control affect not only the immediate victim but also children, future relatonships, and entire family systems.  The novel handles this difficult subject with sensitivity and emotional depth. 

3. Choice, Fate, and Alternative Possibilities.  The parallel narratives invite the readers to consider how small decisions can lead to vastly different outcomes.  Rather than presenting fate as fixed, Knapp explores how chance, courage, timing and circumstance interact throughout our lives.

4. Breaking Generational cycles.  Many characters struggle with inherited patterns of behaviour.  The novel asks whether people can escape the influences of their upbringing and create a different future for themselves and their children. 

Discussion.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its innovative strucutre.  While some readers found the shifting timelines challenging at first, many felt that the three narratives created a richer understanding of the characters and themes.  The recurring characters and events across the timelines highlight both the similarities and differences in each life path.  Cora emerges as the emotional centre of the novel.  Her struggle to protect her children while navigating an abuse marriage is deeply moving and often heartbreaking.  Readers may find themselves asking what they would have done in her position and whether any choice could truly guarantee a better outcome.

Personal response

The Names is a thoughtful and emotionally engaging novel.  The concept of three lives unfolding from a single decision is cleverly executed as well as the portrayal of family relationships and the courage required to challenge cycles of abuse.  The novel balances heartbreak with hope and reminds us that while our circumstances shape us, they do not entirely define us."

There was a lot to chat about with this book.  Some found the structure difficult and chose to read the book sequentially in character sections (Bear: Julian: Gordon) to follow their individual stories.  Others thought the structure was skilful and made for an interesting read.  Some readers put it aside after the first difficult section (1987: Bear) but were not sorry they came back to it after taking a mighty big breath.  We were all glad we didn't read much about Gordon the 'perp' (undoubtedly a deliberate choice by the author) and thought its focus on Cora, daughter Maia and son accurately presented the effects of victimisation across all three stories, even though each had a very different trajectory and ending.  Everyone thought it was a great choice, offering real insight into the nature and effects of domestic violence, coercion and control. Was there a favoured story and/or ending?  Our discussion didn't quite get to this question, but it sparked conversations about old fashioned names sitting on the couch (eg Barbara; Catharine - aka Cherrie; Margaret), name dislikes (Megan put your hand up), and possible name confusions (Julie/Susan or Susan/Julie).   So to put the blunt question challenged by the book - would a different name change your life?  And the answer is - its the socially constructed circumstances and life choices made, not the name because (despite the premise on which the book seemingly but perhaps precariously rests) the name is immaterial. (Ed note: OK I'll take this thought a bit further with an example - Gordon the perp continued his violence, coercion and control in both Julian and Gordon's story, but not Bear's story only because he was no longer present).  

Maybe Marcellus

Moving on, Marcellus was the next name we discussed.  Was he the namesake in Kathy's book selection 'Remarkably Bright Creatures'?  Or does the RBC title belong to the lovely Tova?  

Here is Kathy's summary of her book selected because it was a 'feel good' read during darkening times.

"Shelby Van Pelt is an American fiction writer who achieved global literary success with her debut novel.  Van Pelt was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington.  Her upbringing in the scenic Pacific Northwest directly inspired the fictional, moody coastal setting of Sowell Bay featured in her novel.  She moved to Southern California for univeresity, attending Claremont KcKenna College and graduated cum laude (ed note: in the top tier of the class) in 2002 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.  She spent nearly a decade working as a financial consultant on litigation but a cross-country move to Atlanta took her away from her career and that's when she decided to explore creative writing.  The character Marcellus the octopus was born out of a prompt  during a creative writing workshop at Emory University.  The instructor challenged the class to write a scene from an unusual, non-human point of view.

Van Pelt started brainstorming her concept for the book in 2013 and wrote the core of the manuscript during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  The book was published in the spring of 2022 and became an instant New York Times bestseller.  It went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide.  The massive success of the book culminated in a Netflix feature film adaptation directed by Olivia Newman, starring two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field as Tova.  I watched the movie before reading the book and I would characterise both as an 'easy' watch and read.  Remarkably Bright Creatures is a character-driven novel set in the fictional coastal town of Sowell Bay, Washington.  The story explores long-term grief, the importance of human connection, and the unpredictable ways that lives can intersect.  

The narrative alternates between three primary perspectives: 

Tova Sullivan: a 70 year old widow still coping with the mysterious disappearance of her 18 year old son, Erik, who vanished on a boat over thirty years prior.  To keep busy and stave off loneliness, Tova works the nightshift as a cleaner at the local Sowell Bay Aquarium.

Marcellus: An incredibly intelligent, captive Gian Pacific Octopus living in a tank at the aquarium.  He is witty, cynical, and highly observant of his human captors, but deeply empathetic to Tova.

Cameron Cassmore: a struggling, aimless 30 year old from California who is searching for his father while avoiding responsibility.  His journey ultimately leads him to Sowell Bay, where he takes a job at the aquarium and becomes entwined with Tova.

There are several themes and plot dynamics at play in the book:

1.  Grief and Connection: both Tova and Cameron carry heavy emotional baggage and isolation.  Tova attempts to insulate herself from the pain of losing her son and husband by staying busy and keeping to herself.  Similarly, Cameron suffers from feelings of abandonment after his mother left him as a child.

2. The Interspecies Bond: A standout feature of the novel is the unique friendship formed between Tova and Marcellus.  While humans find Marcellus a fascinating subject, it is Tova who treats him with genuine respect and companionship.  Because the author uses a captive octopus as a primary narrator, the author infuses an element of realism into the tale.

3.  The Central Mystery: Though Cameron's arrival and the mystery of Erik's disappearance unfold at a steady, somewhat predictable pace for the human characters, Marcellus perceptiveness quickly uncovers the truth of what really happened on the water thirty years ago.  Using his intellect and ability to escape his tank, the brilliant cephalopod sets a chain of events in motion.  He cleverly orchestrates circumstances so that Tova and Cameron will discover each other's identifies - revealing that Cameron is, in fact, Tova's grandson.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is primary a feel-good, cozy novel.  The author has given the narrator of the story a somewhat tired, yet dry, wise and tender personality.  She has crafted a gentle story that works well for anyone who values animal-human friendships and happy endings." 

Marcellus spread over the floor

Readers who read the book and saw the film seemed to agree that the film trumped the book, although there was general acclaim that the book was an interesting take on relationships - between humans and between humans and animals.  

One reader had to have the ending spelt out because certain animals ate the book with 30 pages yet to be read - revealing a human/animal relationship that sometimes fractures and always ends with a win to the animals. 

It was time for Green's cake to come out with tea for 4, over which we revisited more elements to The Names and Ratty McRatface stories of destruction of houses, sheds, cars and elsewhere.

As the evening moved on and Pumpkin sought to evacuate Julie from her sleeping chair, we reaffirmed the next meeting date for Wednesday 9 September 2026 at McLassie's place when we all hoped for a full house, with the exception of  '2 caps' who will be swimming up north with Marcellus.  Margy P's selection is 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans, and McLassie's choice is to come when the heater is ratcheted down a few notches at Fairford Street. 

Update:  Mclassie's book choice is 'Land' by Maggie O'Farrell.

Final note:  thanks to Kathy for her wonderful and comprehensive notes of the two books.    

Korea and Kops

(More background music while reading)

Walking through the newly planted garden at 2A High Street, Bonny, Tilly and Moggy respectively barked, yapped and said 'Hello' to six sensational bookclubbers 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 a torn shoulder tendon and Nobby 

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

So joining Mog was the sensational six including 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 (garter stitch; circular needles; knitted in one 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 in 2024.   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 to Mog as an uncomplicated and interesting read during 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' dour Methodist morality a little wearing as she chased down different avenues with her big stick - yet it created an entree for the author 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 victims, and female detective work contrasted with 'real' blokey policing.  

All agreed it was thoroughly researched and brought the atmosphere of an earlier Adelaide to life on its pages, making it an interesting, easy and 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).  

Mog's Oracle ponders the frisson ?

We somehow morphed seamlessly 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 made a leap of faith to realise her dream of opening the bookshop.  Cherrie took us from her lonely starting place in the early days of the bookshop, through her journey to find peace and happiness. Interestingly, it required her amazing busy-ness in managing the bookshop (although less stressful than working for the company), along with likeminded characters (including 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). The big question for discussion was whether there was 'frisson' between Yeongju and Seeungwoo by the books end.  And the answer ? - the jury is still out.  

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 the clincher about reading: it teaches you to 'reflect on yourself - and so hope to become a better person one day' (p 68).  Fabulous!!!  In the end the folksy but gentle and 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 a cheerful read (despite the Korean names that were hard to keep track of, and the fast Korean lifestyle).  

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 avoided glum global politics turning 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 for Megan.  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 on the last story of the night: and decided that if we're walking in Victoria Park's dog park (dogs on lead area), we will keep our 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). 

Post-script: Megan's choice 'The Names' by Florence Knapp 

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.