Meg and Rose Noire assist the police chief and his team with their enquiries, discovering a number of other law breakers along the way. As with other Meg Langslow books animals feature prominently including chickens, geese, sheep, a heifer and dogs. The story is set over three eventful days and is another entertaining addition to previous Meg Langslow books. Murder Most Fowl is number 29 in this series of books byDonna Andrews.
The Fitzroy Football Club was founded in 1883 as part of the VFA (Victorian Football Association). The team became a foundation member of the VFL (Victorian Football League) in 1896-97. In the 1980s teams were formed in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia and in 1990 the VFL became the AFL (Australian Football League).
The death of the Fitzroy Football Club by Russell Holmesby, as the subtitle of the book states, is 'the story of Fitzroy's demise in the words of the men and women who lost their club'. The book focuses on the years from the 1970s to 1996 and contains excerpts from interviews with former players, coaches and administrators from the club as well comments at the time from AFL administrators.
Basically the AFL wanted to reduce the number of Victorian teams in the competion and increase its prescence in other Australian states. South Melbourne had already transferred to Sydney to become the Sydney Swans and after looking at a number of merger options involving several clubs the decision was made that Fitzroy would merge with the Brisbane Bears to become the Brisbane Lions.
Since then many supporters transferred their allegience to the merged team while some now support other clubs. Many have decided not to support any AFL team. The Fitzroy Football Club currently has a team playing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association so the name lives on.
Fitzroy as a VFL or AFL team may be gone but has not been forgotten with references to the club often occurring in novels including the Jack Irish series by Peter Temple.
Fitzroy Football Club – Wikipedia
Australian Rules Football - Britannica
Jim Daley and Brian Scott are kept busy investigating multiple cases that arise at the same time. When a small aeroplane crash lands at Machrie Aiport the bodies of two dead men are discovered on board. It is soon obvious that the men were dead before take-off requiring many questions to be answered. Then Hamish disappears while out on his boat and a full scale search is implemented to find him. Meanwhile Chief Superintendant Carrie Symmington is being threatened by someone from her past. While Jim Daley and Brian Scott attempt to solve these cases, Iolo Harris from MI5 arrives on the scene to investigate possible links to environmental terrorists who are thought to be operating in the area.
There is much tension in this book as the investigations proceed interspersed with humour from time to time. Some of the action occurs across the waters in County Antrim. Although matters appear to be resolved, at the end of the novel the detectives do not have all of the answers they want. They are only too aware of cover-ups being implemented and there is nothing they can do about it.
Another excellent book from Denzil Meyrik, a great story teller.
On TV dramas everything gets tied up, they catch the killer and get resolution. They have a chuckle and make a quip, end credits, tune in next week. (p294)The Big Chill, the second book in The Skelfs series by Douglas Johnstone is a book where there are a number of investigations but although new information is discovered, not all cases are completely resolved.
By the end of the book Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah had " a dead homeless addict whose father refused to acknowledge him because he was gay. They had a woman who had lied to her daughter her whole life. A suicide to end the horror of terminal cancer. And a killer on the loose." (p294)
The novel, set in Edinburgh, is about three generations of women in the Skelf family who attempt to run the family business - a funeral parlour and a private investigation agency. It is a story about the lives of these three women and also about the lives of the people they encounter in their work. The women face many personal challenges which they try to resolve as well as being professional in their work.
A Dark Matter, the first book in the series provides much of the background for The Big Chill. The Great Silence, recently published, will continue the story of this determined family and their attempts to assist others.
When a body is discovered buried in a peat bog, Karen Pierie and Jason Murray investigate. It appears that the body was buried possibly in 1995 and was never reported missing. Found with the body is a new 1940s motor bike. A similar bike is located in the bog nearby. Chapters of the book therefore deal with events occurring in 2018, or 1944 or 1995.
Discovering the name of the murdered man, who killed him and why is only one of the cases being investigated. Karen is also trying to discover the perpetrator of a series of rapes in the 1980s and also help a friend solve a recent murder.
Broken Ground is another absorbing crime novel by Val McDermid - well worth reading.
Set in North Devon, England, The Heron's Cry is the second book in the new Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves.
When Matthew Venn is called to investigate the murder of Dr Nigel Yeo it is obvious that this is not going to be a simple case to solve. The murder occurred at an art studio used by Dr Yeo's daughter, Eve, and the murder weapon was a shard of glass from a vase that Eve had made. Investigations revealed that Dr Yeo had been researching the treatment of mental patients by medical authorities, including the death of a young man several years earlier. Who would want Nigel Yeo dead and why?
Then another body is discovered also stabbed with a shard of glass.
DI Matthew Venn and his team DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May work hard trying to establish links between three probable suicides and the two deaths in order to solve the crimes. They also have personal challenges to resolve.
The Heron's Cry is welcome addition to a new series dealing not only with crimes to be solved but with the lives of the police involved in solving the crimes as well as the life of the local community.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the most famous books in English literature. Liza Picard has written the book, Chaucer's People: everyday lives in medieval England, to provide additional information about the characters and their lives as portrayed in Chaucer's work. The description of the chararacters are divided into four sections - Country Life, City Life, Religious Life and the Armed Services.
The first chapter deals, not surprisingly, with the Wife of Bath with sections on her appearance providing additional information on clothes worn by women in the fourteenth century; the wool trade as the Wife of Bath was a weaver; matrimony as the Wife of Bath had been married five times; pilgrimages describing some of the many pilgrimage locations visited by the Wife of Bath plus general information about going on a pilgrimage. The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks is a novel based on the character of the Wife of Bath in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
The chapter on the Ploughman also begins with his appearance then discusses agricultural methods of the period; the Great Pestilence of 1348-9 and its effect on agricultural workers; the Poll Tax to help cover expenses for the war with France; the Rebellion of 1381 or 'Peasant's Revolt'. Appendix A, at the end of the book, provides additional information about the unrest.
Consequently the 23 chapters and the epilogue help the reader gain a greater understanding of the people who went on the pilgrimage in Chaucer's tale but also provides a very readable account of the everyday life of ordinary people in fourteen century England. A must read for anyone interested in this period of English history.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen was the first children's book by Alan Garner and was originally published in 1960. Set in Cheshire on Alderley Edge, an area well known to the author, the reader is taken on an adventure into a world inhabited by an array of characters primarily from Welsh, Nordic and Cheshire myths and legends.
The story begins with the 'Legend of Alderley' - the tale of farmer who encountered a wizard who wanted to purchase his horse. While in the wizard's cave the farmer was allowed to take some precious stones in payment for the horse but he also inadvertently removed the Firefrost.
When Susan and Colin stayed on a farm with Gowther and Bess it soon became obvious that strange and possibly dangerous forces were gathering in the area. While the children explored the Edge they encountered Selina Place who tried to entice the children into her car. On another occasion they were chased by the svart-alfar (goblins) until the wizard, Cadellin, rescued them, showed them Fundindelve and told them about the missing Firefrost - the Weirdstone of Brisingamen.
When the stone was stolen Susan and Colin are determined to find it to return to Cadellin. During their often dangerous adventure they encounter dwarves, witches, goblins and elves among the host of magical and mythical characters. The sequel to this story is The Moon of Gomrath.
Published by Unlock the Past, Buried Treasure by Paul Milner provides information about records available in some English counties that may provide information not readily available in the major genealogical databases.
Most parishes in England have records that have been stored, often for cenuries, regarding activities and the lives of people living in the parish. Birth, death and marriage records are normally readily available however other records kept by the Church may also be useful for some family history enquiries.
Records can include Settlement and Removal records relating to people who have become a recipient of assistance from the Poor Laws and Acts of Settlement (usually relating to a person's place of birth); Bastardy records relating to illegitimate births; Apprenticeship records - those apprenticed by consent and those bound out by parish authorities; Vestry Minutes; Churchwarden Accounts and Churchwarden Expenses; Lists of Jurors; Constable Accounts - the constable was responsible for maintaining law and order in the parish; Militia Records; Confirmation Lists; Church restoration list of donors.
The author provides a guide for locating parish chest records as well as a list of 10 things to remember when using parish chest records. There is also a bibliography and index.
The story begins several days before Christmas and it is snowing. As well as visitors from Meg's extended family Meg and Michael have the 'pleasure' of having a cantankerous artist in residence in the library. His job is to paint pictures of birds for Meg's grandfather's new book and is currently camped at Meg's house having refused to work in the allocated place set up for him at the zoo. Then there are the two wombats in the basement, part of a biofluroscent project being undertaken by Meg's nephew, Kevin, for Meg's grandfather.
Michael and the boys are away for a short holiday involving snow actitities so Meg is kept busy juggling with expected and unexpected problems. Life becomes more complicated when a body is found in the library.
Meg's extended family rally around to help her solve challenges that arise, including the loss of power to the house for some time. Needless to say all problems are resolved in time for everyone to enjoy a festive Christmas.
At this time, England was divided into different regions and with a new enemy there were many battles to defend land from the newcomers. In 937 Athelstan and his army defeated Vikings and Scottish armies at the Battle of Brunanbruh and he is generally referred to as the first King of a united England. There were many changes of power until the Norman Conquest in 1066. [British History Timeline - Angle-Saxons and Vikings]
In The Anglo-Saxons: a history of the beginnings of England Marc Morris has written a comprehensive account of this turbulent period of British history. The author examines how England became a Christian country plus the recreation of towns, and the establishment of shires and boroughs. We learn about some of the leaders at the time including King Offa, Alfred the Great, Aethelstan and Aetheled the Unready as well as many of the religious leaders and queens. The story can only be told from the available resources and many of the records have been lost.
The book has extensive notes and bibliography plus index as well as many illustrations (colour and black and white) and maps.
Coming from southern Australia, Greta has difficulty acclimatising to life in the northern outback, including the extreme weather, the environment, bushfires and being observed by the native curlews. This is complicated further when she tries to discover dynamics between Joel's family members and the real story concerning events in her husband's past. Her experiences on the property also force her to remember and come to accept tragic events in her past. This atmospheric family saga is another welcome addition to Australian fiction.
It is winter in Three Pines between Christmas and New Year and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache receives an unusual request to arrange security for a speaker at the local university. He becomes concerned when he realises that the speaker is Professor Abigail Robinson, a statitician who has examined the effects of COVID-19 on the country's economy and has come up with a solution that is not only immoral but threatens to divide the country.
Armand wants to have the lecture cancelled without success and part way through Professor Robinson's talk there is a distraction in the crowd followed by an attempt to murder the speaker. Days later, on New Year's Eve, when the members of the Three Pines community are celebrating, a body is found in the woods. Armand, Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Isabelle Lacoste investigate.
Investigating this crime proves far from easy especially as more is revealed about the past lives of the most obvious suspects. The detectives are not just solving a crime. To do so, they need to try to understand why people become involved in horrendous deeds then attempt to justify their actions through subsequent good deeds. They also need to explore their own beliefs and feelings and yet rationally investigate the crimes laid before them. There is also the need to unravel the thin line between free speech and hate speech.
In each new book it is good to meet the members of the Three Pines community once more as they support each other through joyous or difficult times.The books in this series are not just crime novels. They are a study of individuals living and supporting each other in a close community. There are also snippits of poetry, philosopy, art and politics scattered throughout the novel futher providing readers with a three dimensional understanding of the characters. This book is another addition to a great series.
In Treasure & Dirt Chris Hammer has given us another complex outback thriller set in northern New South Wales near the Queensland border. The setting for the book including the sand and especially the heat, play an important role in this story about the investigation of the death of Jonas McGee, a local miner. Near the outback settlement of Finnegan's Gap the body of the opal miner is found at the bottom of the mine shaft. Not only is he dead but he has been crucified.
Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic arrives in the town from Sydney to investigate with the assistance of Detective Constable Nell Buchannan who has travelled to the area from Bourke. Two members of the forensic team also arrive on the plane from Sydney with Ivan Lucic. However one member of the team remained in Sydney.
Detective Inspector Morris Montifore has been ordered to remain in Sydney to answer charges brought by Professional Standards following a case that he and Ivan had recently successfully solved. It soon becomes obvious that Ivan may also be under suspicion. Meanwhile there is a case to be solved.
This is not the first crime to have been investigated by Sydney police at Finnegan's Gap. Morris Montifore and another detective had investigated the suspected murder of a young man, associated with a religious sect, fifteen years earlier but were recalled before investigations were concluded.
During their investigations, Ivan and Nell become aware of questionable activities occurring at large mining complexes in the area. It is soon evident that there are many secrets from the past which may affect the investigation. Ivan and Nell meet a range of eccentric characters, some involved in other crimes, but their main concern is solving McGee's murder.
There are many twists and turns as the investigators attempt to unravel what is really happening in the community. Another great Australian crime novel by Chris Hammer.
Set in France during the Second World War and in 2015, The Riveira House by Natasha Lester introduces the reader to an aspect of the German occupation of France - one that involves the theft of paintings and other works of art from galleries and private collections, especially those owned by Jewish families.
In 1939 we meet Eliane Dufort who initially works at Le Louvre until many of the artworks are removed from Paris to try and keep them out of the hands of the Germans when they invade Paris. She then works with Rose Valland at a smaller gallery used by the Germans to store their stolen loot before sending the items back to Germany. Eliane and Rose work under cover to try and keep a record of the stolen paintings and where they have been sent. It is hoped that after the war the items may be returned to their rightful owners.
Eliane lives with her family who run a brasserie in Paris. When it is known that the Germans will take Paris, Eliane's family leave the city to seek safety in the countryside while Xavier, an artist and her lover, takes his father back to England. Her brother, Luc, is working for the Resistance and is often away.
In 2015 Remy Lang retreats to a home that she has inherited on the French Riviera. Remy runs a vintage fashion business online which she plans to continue to operate as she grieves for the loss of her husband and daughter, killed in a car accident. When she discovers an art catalogue recording French artworks stolen during the Second World War, Remy is surprised to see a picture of a painting that she has at her family home in Sydney. Helped by Adam, a photographer, she investigates the history of the painting and learns more about her family history.
The Riviera House is a work of historical fiction and romance. It is also a study of grief and learning to create a new life while still remembering good times from the past.
Other books by Natasha Lester based on events in France during the Second World War include The French Photographer, The Paris Seamstress and The Paris Secret.
Although this book is a work of historical fiction, many of the charcters are based on real people including Rose Valland. The author's note at the back of the novel provides interesting information about the writing of the book.
Marie Benedict has written a novel, The Mystery of Mrs Christie, based on the disappearance of Agatha Christie, providing a possible explanation that may, or may not, be true. The story is in two interleaving parts. 'The Manuscript' purports to cover events between 1912 when Agatha first met Archie Christie and the day of her disappearance in 1926. This document was meant to be opened only if she never returned. The second section of the book describes events that occurred in the eleven days that Agatha was missing including her husband's reaction to his wife's disappearance.
By writing 'The Manuscript' the author introduces the idea of unreliable narrator also used by Agatha Christie in some of her novels. One theme of the book questions the notion, held at the time, that wives were expected to always put their husband's needs above the needs of other family members.
Whatever the reason for Agatha Christie's disappearance it did not harm the sales of her books making her one of the most popular crime novelists at the time.
When the world's most famous mystery writer vanished - New York Times 11 June 2019
At the end of the previous book, Drowned Wednesday, Arthur and Leaf had planned to return home to check what was happening in their world until they discovered that a spirit eater had found a way through the door of the House and was impersonating Arthur back home. Leaf volunteered to return to Earth to locate the item belonging to Arthur that the spirit eater was using to feed its power. Meanwhile Arthur and Suzy remained to try and sort out some of the problems occurring in the House. However when Lord Thursday drafted Arthur into the army for one hundred years, life became even more complicated for Arthur.
In the first half of this novel Garth Nix tells the story by alternating chapters explaining what is happening to Leaf, Arthur or Suzy interspersed with an occasional general chapter. In the second part of the book a chronological occunt of events is provided focussing on Arthur and his encounters with Sir Arthur, part four of the Will and the Piper. Another exciting installment in the series.
Lady Friday is the fifth volume in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix.
The story this time starts when Leaf returns home only to discover that her aunt, along with hundreds of other people, has been transferred to a different world by Lady Friday who has enjoys experiencing the memories of people from Earth. Leaf has to return to at least rescue her aunt.
Meanwhile Arthur is watching what The Piper is doing to avoid further battles. He also needs to rescue Suzie and Fred who, as former Pipers Children, find themselves once again under his power.
Much of the action of the novel occurs in various parts of Lady Friday's Scriptorium and there are many references to old style binding of books and printing methods. Eventually Arthur locates part five of the Will and also locates the Fifth Key. Arthur plans to return home to ensure that his mother is safe, however he knows that he also has other issues to resolve in the House.
In this book we meet Superior Saturday who has ordered her denizens and Piper's children to build a tower of cubes so that she can reach the Incomparable Gardens, commanded by Lord Sunday, situated above the tower. Sorcery is her main tool and she has lookouts to ensure that no other sorcery enters her world to threaten her plans. She is also intent on destroying the sections of the house below the Upper House and causing havoc in the other realms.
Meanwhile the sleepers had returned to Earth, guided by Leaf and Arthur. Not long after their arrival Arthur receives a message from his brother alerting him that part of the city is about to be attacked by the army. Arthur places a shield around the hospital but knowing that this is not a permanent solution returns to the Kingdom to finish his quest and save his family. Leaf stays to try and save the sleepers.
Arthur realises that it is too late to worry about turning into a denizen. He understands that he must use his powers to complete his quest to retrieve part six and part seven of the will and the two remaining keys. Arthur and Susy must find a way into the tower unseen and once again receive help from the Raised Rats. Once in the tower Arthur and Susy encounter a world of bureaucracy and sorcery. In each section of the tower the denizens carry umbrellas of different colours indicating their rank. Arthur and Leaf have to avoid the Sorcerous Supernumeraries and especially the Internal Auditors if they are to be successful in their quest. The book ends with a series of cliff hangers which lead the reader into the final volume of the Keys to the Kingdom.
The seventh and final volume of the series, The Keys to the Kingdom, by Garth Nix continues where book six finished. In the previous books Arthur has rescued the first six keys and parts of the Will but the seventh key and final part of the Will remain to be located and it is unlikely that Lord Sunday will give in easily.
Meanwhile Suzy and Leaf are also involved in the battles that are systematically destroying the Lower and Middle houses, trying to save what is left of the House and the Outer Realms, including Arthur and Leaf's home and families back on Earth. Initially they carry out the orders of Dame Primus, with the help of Dr Scamandros and Giac, to open and enlarge elevators to take the troops to the Incomparable Gardens and into Lord Sunday's domain.
As the story draws to a close Arthur continually strives to remember that he is a boy with feelings and compassion and has to resist the urge to destroy his enemies which occasionally surges through him as his power increases.Once he gains part seven of the Will and the seventh key there are still hard decisions to be made.
NB: March 2022
My eleven year old grand-daughter and I have just finished sharing the reading this series which we started at the beginning of 2021. She became totally involved as the story evolved and identified with the characters, particularly Suzy and Leaf as well as Arthur. As we read the books we discussed how the author created different settings in each book, explored new vocabulary, enjoyed the cliff hangers and talked about what might happen next. When we came to sections primarily with dialogue spoken by Susy or Leaf or both of them, my grand-daughter would make sure that she read those sections. As well as all the action and plot twists we enjoyed the humour throughout the books and how characters or events in earlier volumes reappeared as the story progressed. During this time my grand-daughter has developed from someone who read because she had to into an enthusiastic reader. Thank you Garth Nix.
When we were unable to read together in person due to COVID-19 lockdowns or weekends or holidays, we continued the reading via online sessions.
Meanwhile my nine year old grandson (almost ten), who has occasionally listened to his sister reading parts of the books, has now decided that he also wants to read The Keys to the Kingdom series. We began Mister Monday this week.
In 1993, when Alex Grant was sunbaking on a beach in Croatia she was recognised by a girl that she went to school with many years prviously. During the conversation Alex is invited to a funeral, an unusual way to spend a holiday, and also visits the Puharich family's creamery where fine cheese is made. Returning to Perth, Australia, Alex is invited to visit the family creamery at Margaret River.
Alex is a journalist and enjoys the opportunity of writing food related stories but also the occasional investigative piece. Her boss encourages her to visit Margaret River and write a piece about the business dealings of the elusive Puharich family in this country. Needless to say Alex's investigations reveal more than she bargained for, including danger, when she wants to discover just a little bit more for her story.
Needless to say there is also the opportunity to try interesting food, especially cheese, and Alex makes the most of it. A note on the back cover of the book declares:
Warning: contains nuts, sulphites, gluten, eggs, uggs, platform sneakers and vats of lactose.
And did I mention that Alex also loves shoes!
Fromage is the first book in the Alex Grant series and is the first novel by Sally Scott. I look forward to the next installment.
When Ross Garvie crashes the car he was driving and killing three of his mates, the resulting blood test shows a DNA connection to the main suspect of the unsolved murder of Tina McDonald twenty years previously.
While Karen is investigating this link she is informed of the suicide or murder of a young man, Gabriel Abbott, on a bench by Loch Leven. This case had nothing to do with her work until it was revealed that Gabriel's mother had died in a small plane crash twenty years previously and the cause of the crash was never completely resolved. Her interest is further spiked when it is revealed that Gabriel had been investigating his family tree.
Complications arise in resolving both of these cases as arguments about the legality of releasing information about a person's DNA ensure. It is also argued that families may have rights to the privacy regarding possible crimes of family members in the distant past. Karen's argument that a victim's family has a right to closure, knowing how a loved one died, is not shared by all parties.
Interest from senior police in the cases only occurrs when attempts are made on Karen's life by one of the suspects and it is no longer possible to avoid investigating further.
Out of Bounds by Val Mcdermid is the fourth book in the Karen Pirie series and is another dramatic and thought provoking book to read.
Josh Widdicombe lived in the small village of Haytor Vale in Devon and attended a very small primary school in another village three miles away in Ilsington. Not overly keen on participating in sport, Josh spent much of his early life watching televison. In this book he describes some of the television programs that were watched in his formative years when a limited number of televison stations existed.
The period covered is primarily from 1990 to 2000. One of his favourite programs in his younger days was the Australian show, Neighbours, which was screened twice a day. By the end of the 1990s Josh had completed secondary school, where he worked hard at being unnoticed, before studying at Manchester University.
The book looks at a range of television programs popular at the time and the effect television had on a young boy living in a village with his hippie parents. The book also looks at the early development and acceptance of other technology including computer games and the internet. Josh also provides a picture of what it was like growing up in a small English village in the 1990s. An interesting piece of humourous nostalgia.
Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti is on long service leave when he is offered a temporary promotion to investigate a death that occurred 32 years earlier and had originally been classed as an accident. He leaves his home in Adelaide to travel north along the Stuart Highway eventually arriving at a roadhouse stop not far from where the body was discovered and 300 km south of the small town of Cutters End.
When interviewing the people originally associated with the case Mark meets again two people from his schooldays, Ingrid and Joanne, and he suspects that there is information that they are not disclosing.
While working with Senior Constable Jagdeep Kaup at Cutters End it is soon clear that this is not the only mystery case in the area over the years. A number of young women had disappeared from the area and a discovery at the sight of the presumed accident, unrelated to the original case, confirmed that this was not the only case requiring investigation.
As well providing a well written crime novel encapsulating life in small outback communities the author examines past attitudes and cover-ups relating to family violence and assault as well as the possible dangers of hitch hiking in the outback. I look forward to reading the next book by this author.
Creating a workable vaccine is only one part of the task when making a vaccine to defeat a pandemic that is killing millions of people throughout the world. Acquiring sufficient funding to develop a vaccine and then finding a pharmaceutical company able to make and distribute large quanties of the vaccine is only one part of the equation.
The vaccine has to go through many testing procedures that take months before final approval is granted by a variety of medical boards throughout the world. Then there was the media wanting a story. One piece of bad press could destroy public support for a project as well as provide fuel for conspiracy theories circulating about vaccines throughout the world. Derogatory comments from polititians, including those from other countries, also provided issues when trying to establish public confidence in a new vaccine.
The two authors write different chapters in this reader friendly description of working on the project which took over their lives in 2020. The chapters also often include accounts of how working on the project affected their family lives. An original premise for writing a book about the vaccine for the general public was, by explaining how the vaccine was developed, to tackle concerns of anti-vaxxers.
But the chief emphasis is on the need to defeat a pandemic. At the beginning of each chapter there is a summary of the growing number of cases and deaths up to a point in time which emphasises how rapidly the vaccine was spreading. The authors also emphasise that the work is far from over. The vaccine is mutating and alterations to the vaccine may be needed in the future to counter variants. There is also an awareness that another disease could be around the corner and preparations need to be made to tackle the next health challenge.
This is a book that everyone should read, those of us who have been vaccinated against the virus as well as those who are hesitating.
Meet me in Bendigo is a romantic comedy written by Eva Scott. While Annalisa struggles to save her store she joins an online community group as GoldFieldsGirl to test the waters for public opinion abot the new Carpenter's store. While online GoldFieldsGirl meets GardenerGuy94 and they strike up an online friendship.
Meanwhile Ed Carpenter arrives in Wongilly to make the owners of the hardware store an offer of money to close the store down. The first person he sees is Annalisa who he immediately recognises as GoldFieldsGirl although he does not, at this point, realise that she is the owner of the store that his family company wants to close.
Eventually Annalisa and Ed meet at the store and although there is a definite attraction between the two of them, Ed knows that the next few weeks or even months are not going to be easy. As in all good romantic comedies all is resolved satisfactorally, but there are many twists and turns before this can happen.
Annalisa not only has to sort out her feelings for Ed but has also to decide how she really wants to live her life. Ed also has decisions to make as he plans to leave his family's business and start a new career for himself.
The story is told using multiply stories and time frames which can be confusing but eventually began to make sense about half way through the novel. This style allows the reader to understand some of the background of the characters' lives that lead to revealing why events may have occurred and why people reacted the way that they did.
It is a story about migrants to Australia from Greece but also an American who returned to Australia after World War II. It is the story about generations of families, their relationships and about love. It is also Emily's story as she tries to discover more about her father as well as more about herself and how she wants to really live her life. But mainly it is the story of Vasilis Mallios, known as Lucky, and how he created and lost a chain of restaurants but always had hope that he might find success once more.
One day Matthew was at the park reading a book about the Arctic when a crow (raven) approached him. Matthew shared a muffin with the hungry bird before returning home. Later that night the bird tapped on Matthew's window and introduced himself as Lewis Carmichael. Lewis suggested that he and Matthew should go and explore the Arctic in a hot air balloon that was parked on the roof of Matthew's house.
So began a great adventure including observing polar bears, Arctic woolves, Arctic owls, snow geese and walruses. But also during the adventure Matthew learned new life skills in order to survive and his self confidence increased as he tackled tasks and had to make decisions. It was a different Matthew who returned home after his great adventure.
The story by Sofie Laguna is illustrated by Marc McBride. The text and the detailed illustrations are all in blue and complement each other well. My nine year old grandson enjoyed examining the illustrations as we read The Song of Lewis Carmichael together. He also looked aout for lines of the 'song' throughout the text. A most enjoyable book.
Elle has always had a close relationship with her grandmother and after her grandmother's death she recognised the need to fulfill her Gran's wishes to return her ashes to her former home in Scotland. Elle's parents are horified when they hear of her plan. Her mother is convinced that Elle is wasting her life when, unlike her sister and brothers, she did not finish her university course and had moved home to Jessup's Creek where she worked in the local supermarket. However, Elle decides that the trip to Scotland might help her to decide how she she really wants to live her life.
Elle and Gran had talked about exploring Scotland together but the plan did not eventuate. However a bucket list of places to visit had been prepared. The trip also provided the opportunity to meet family who still lived in Scotland. There was also a mystery to solve - Why did Gran and her father relocate to Australia? Elle hoped that a two week visit to Scotland would not only provide the time to explore the country that Gran had talked about but also provide the break for Elle to think more clearly about what she wanted to do. She loved to draw but had only done a short art course at a community centre. Anyway art would probably not be a reliable way to make a living, not in her mother's eyes anyway.
Once in Scotland Elle feels at home in the country and enjoys exploring, especially with her cousins. Gran had wanted her ashes scattered neat the ruins of an old castle that had featured in family stories. It is when looking for the location that meant so much to Gran that events occur that change Elle's life.
Having spent two weeks in Scotland in 2014 I can understand how Elle immediately felt that she belonged, especially having family connections with the country and having visited some of the locations mentioned in the book.
Elle's aunt and cousins lived at Portsoy and a few days before I started reading the book, the mystery puzzle on Jigsaw Explorer featured a view of Portsoy harbour. I was obviously meant to read this book at this time.
When Elizabeth receives a letter realating to a former case she has to investigate, especially as the sender of the letter died many years previously. The letter leads her to a former colleague who needs her help as a gangster is looking for him and a bag of diamonds that he may have stolen. The members of the Thursday Murder Club insist on becoming involved in the case.The Secret Service is also interested.
Meanwhile Donna and Chris from the local police are trying to build a case against Connie the local drug dealer and when one member of the Thursday Murday Club is mugged the other members plan their revenge.
Amongst the murders and hunt for diamonds there is plenty of humour as the members of the Thursday Murder Club investigate and Joyce reflects upon the proceedings in her regular journal entries. The books in the Thursday Murder Club series are fun to read.Relax and enjoy the ride.
But the Pot Koorok, the Turongs and the Nyols were not only concerned about the grader and bulldozer encroaching on their space and destroying the trees - they were also concerned about the arrival of the Nargun, an ancient spirit rock that had arrived in their terrain after travelling 800 miles from Victoria. Simon, Charlie and Edie, with the help of the Potkoorok had to devise a plan to encourage the Nargun to move from their area.
The Nargun and the Stars won the Children's Book of the Year Award in 1974. A five part mini series based on the book was screened on the ABC in 1981. The Nargun and the Stars was also performed as a play in 2009.
A special edition of The Nargun and the Stars, illustrated with atmospheric drawings by Robert Ingpen, was published in 1988 after Patricia Wrightson the Hans Christian Andersen Medal award for writing and Robert Ingpen won the Hans Christian Andersen Medal illustration award in 1986.
Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400) worked in a number of roles relating to the English Court and for many years enjoyed the patronage of John of Gaunt, son of Edward III. On his travels overseas he discovered the popularity of French poetry and started writing English poems. Chaucer never completed his best known work, The Canterbury Tales. This was before the invention of the printing press and hand written sections of the work were circulated amongst those wanting to read it. The order in which Chaucer planned for the parts of the book to finally appear is not known.
The style of English in which Chaucer wrote is very different from today. In 1951 Nevill Coghill translated Chaucer's work into modern English which is what people normally read today. The edition I looked at was in the Penguin Classics series. For those wanting to read a version of the original text, it is available on Project Gutenberg.
In The Canterbury Tales a large group of men and women are making a pilgrimage to Canterbury. To while away the time during the journey each member of the group is provided with the opportunity to tell two stories. Interaction between the group members is often revealed in the general prologue or in the prologue (when provided) before a tale. The tension between some group members - the miller, the reeve and the cook for example -is shown by the tales they choose to tell.
The prologue of The Wife of Bath's Tale was the starting point for Karen Brook's novel. Before telling her story the wife provides information about herself including the fact that she has been married five times, on three occasions to men many years older than her. The prologue and the tale itself deal with attitudes at the time towards women and their place in a society run by men.
This entertaining work has come to be accepted as a commentary on life in fourteenth century England.
As Karen investigates the case, it soon becomes obvious that this is not just a local crime but is connected to events that occurred during the Balkan War in the 1990s. A number of parallel stories, including accounts of events that occurred during the war and the lasting effect of war on individuals and relationships, are provided throughout the novel until the truth is finally uncovered.
When Misha walks into the police station to report a missing person, she is transferred to Karen's department as the 'missing person' disappeared twenty-two years previously during the Miners' Strike of 1984. It was believed by his family and the local community that he had deliberately disappeared to Nottingham with five of the local workers. Consequently no one wanted anything to do with him. Misha needs him found as her son has a rare blood disease and her father's blood may be able to save him. When Karen decides to investigate the disappearance of Mick Prentice she discovers more than she anticipated.
Meanwhile Sir Broderick Maclennan Grant has demanded that DCI Pirie should further investigate the murder of his daughter, Catriona, and the disappearance of his grandson, Adam, also twenty- two years previously. The case has been re-opened as a journalist on holiday in Italy recognised a poster associated with the original crime in a deserted house. She also noticed recent blood stains on the floor of the house.
The sections describing the two two cases are interwoven, as are the time frames of events in 1984 and 2007. Descriptions of events during the 1984 Miners' Strike feature in the novel as Karen and Phil work to discover the truth.
Lachlan Macquarie was governor of the Colony of NSW from January 1810 until February 1822. During that twelve years, the settlement changed from a collection of ramshackle buildings to a town with planned streets and architectually designed public buildings. It was no longer just a convict settlement but also a community for free settlers to live - those who had arrived from overseas and decided to make their home in the colony plus the convicts who had served their sentence. He also ensured that emancipists (former convicts) were actively involved in the new colony and were treated as equals with free settlers. Elizabeth Macquarie actively supported the changes that were made to improve life in the Colony.
John Macarthur arrived in NSW as an officer in the army and stayed. After been given large land grants he specialised in establishing sheep farming in the Colony. He also became actively involved in political issues and on two occasions returned to England in order to defend himself for some of his actions, including his involvement in the plot to remove Governor Bligh from office. In his absence Elizabeth Macarthur successfully ran and expanded the family business.
During Macquarie's time in NSW both the Elizabeths became friends and supported each other in their endeavours to improve life in the Colony, particularly when not everyone (including John Macarthur) approved the changes introduced by the Macquaries.
Although a work of fiction, the book is based on historical fact and provides a picture of life in the Colony at the time. The names of many of the inhabitants of Sydney appear throughout the book including Simeon Lord, my great x 3 grandfather. The novel also explores how women at the time could play an active part in business and community activities but needed to ensure that their activities were not seen to usurp the role played by their husbands.
Other books on this period include:
A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville (novel about Elizabeth Macarthur)
Mrs M by Luke Slattery (novel about Elizabeth Macquarie)
