Glorious Exploits

Glorious Exploits is the first novel by Irish author, Ferdia Lennon. The story is set in Syracuse in 412 BC during the Peloponnesian War - the conflict between Athens and Sparta that lasted from 431 until 404 BC. While attempting to invade Syracuse in Sicily the Athenians were defeated with many soldiers being captured and left to die in a quarry outside the town. Occasionally citizens from the town would visit the quarry to view the starving prisoners in their chains.

Gelon and Lampo are two unemployed potters who occasionally visit the quarry, taking small amounts of food and drink for some of the prisoners. Gelon, a fan of the plays of Euripides, decides to give food to those prisoners able to recite lines from plays, particularly Medea. Lampo agrees to help and the two men decide to become directors of a production to be staged in the quarry. As well as Medea they plan to stage another play by Euripides, The Trojan Women.

There are many challenges to be overcome before the performance but the two men push on enlisting assistance in obtaining finance, costumes, scenery, music and, of course, choosing the actors to perform the play. The play also needs to be promoted to ensure an audience for the performance. It is not smooth sailing but eventually it all comes together. Despite some initial hesitation, the plays appear to have made a good impression on the audience. Then disaster occurs.

There are many wonderful characters portrayed in this novel with its universal themes of friendship, loyalty, the horrors of war, compassion, love and loss, grief and how an appreciation of art and literature can be a unifying force for all people despite other differences.

The story is told by Lampo using Irish dialect. I found it took a while to work out what was going but after a few chapters I became thoroughly involved with the characters and story being told. Although the setting is more than two thousand years ago, unfortunately the message of the story is still valid today.

Glorious Exploits is the book read by the Monash Alumni Book Club in February 2025.

The Battle of the Generals

Australian author, Roland Perry, has written a readable account of the battle of egos between MacArthur and Blamey during the second World War in his latest book, The battle of the generals: MacArthur, Blamey and the defence of Australia in World War II.

The Americans, led by General Douglas MacArthur, arrived in Australia in 1942 after the Japanese army captured the Philippines. MacArthur was determined to return to the Philippines as soon as possible to retake the islands but the attempted invasion of Papua New Guinea by the Japanese slowed down his plans. 

General Blamey was in charge of the Australian forces but MacArthur ensured that he was in charge of military proceedings even though the Australian soldiers were far more experienced than their American counterparts as they had experience fighting overseas before returning to Australia to defend their country.

The Australian forces did most of the fighting in Papua New Guinea although some American units were involved towards the end of the campaign. MacArthur's publicity campaign, however, made it look as if he was responsible for allied victories. When the campaign to retake the Philippines began, MacArthur was determined that Australian troops should not be involved as they might be shown to be superior to American forces. There was also tension between the American navy and other military forces.

When the Japanese began attacking the Australian coastline the Australian government tried to obtain additional aeroplanes and ships from the UK and the USA but MacArthur indicated to the Americans that Australia was well supplied. This did not improve the relationship between Blamey and MacArthur. Winston Churchill had made it clear that his emphasis was on Europe though some equipment was sent towards the end of the war.

Both the generals had character flaws that impeded relationships with troops and other military and political leaders from time to time. However, reading this book, I felt more sympathetic towards General Blamey who had extensive previous military experience in both the First and Second World Wars compared with his American counterpart who had his eyes set on political aspirations once the war was over.

Fire and Bones

Temperance Brennan's plans for a holiday with Andrew Ryan are destroyed when she is asked to travel to Washington DC to investigate a fire at a house at Foggy Bottom. It is believed that there may have been four people in the house at the time of the fire but then a fifth body is discovered in the sub-basement. Investigations suggest that the fifth body may have been in the house since the 1940s and Tempe is determined to discover more about this mystery as well as uncovering the identity of the recent deaths. 

Then there is another fire in the neighbourhood. Both houses were owned by the same company. When the son of one of the company owners is also shot there is obviously a vendetta against the company and Tempe naturally wants to help in the investigation.

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs, the twenty-third novel in the Temperance Brennan series, is a fast paced crime novel that does not disappoint.

After the Flood

After the Flood opens with an account of the collapse of a dam wall in Brazil, resulting in many deaths including the partner and unborn child of an Australian working in the country for a multinational company. 

Back in Broome, Detective Inspector Dan Clement misses his teenage daughter who lives with her mother in Perth. Meanwhile the police in the region are busy with a number of cases including dealing with animal rights protestors at the local abattoir, where cars had been torched weeks earlier, a break-in at the Early Childhood Centre resulting in drugs being destroyed, and a break-in at a small mining company in Halls Creek where explosives and a booster were stolen. 

Then the police learn of a brutal murder at a large cattle property off the Gibb River Road. The body had been staked out on the ground as if crucified and then run over repeatedly. Who is this man? What was he doing in such a remote location? And why would be be killed in such a brutal way?

The police gradually realise that the series of crimes could be related and may be connected to a larger crime.

As the plot is revealed we learn about the lives and concerns of the characters - the police and their families as well as those involved in expressing their views, often through illegal means. The terrain of the Kimberley region is also an important factor in the novel.

Dave Warner has written another fast paced crime novel in the Dan Clement series.

The Valley

Another great book by Chris Hammer. The Valley combines events occurring in 1988, then in the 1990s with an investigation in 2024. The story is revealed using a variety of voices as well as a general narrator.

Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic travel to The Valley near Saltwood in southern New South Wales to investigate a murder. This leads to the unravelling of a series of crimes, including murder, that had occurred in The Valley. For Nell, this investigation becomes personal when DNA tests reveal that she is related to the victim of the latest murder. She also learns more about the life of her mother.

There are many characters to follow in this sometimes complex plot but the author's creation of the small community in The Valley living near a forest, shear escarpments and a lake, surrounded by a national park, is an important feature of the book. The old goldmine is a focal point. Will reopening the mine provide a life-line for the local community? Who is behind the murders that have occurred over the years and why? As Nell and Ivan become increasingly aware of political corruption, who can be trusted?

Chris Hammer has written another Australian crime novel that is difficult to put down until the end of the book is reached.

Stone Yard Devotional

A woman returns to the area where she grew up after thirty-five years. The first place that she visits is the cemetery containing the graves of her parents. She then travels to the nearby monastic retreat where a group of nuns live but other people can stay for a short time. We do not know the name of this woman or what caused her to make the visit at this time. She is not a religious person but enjoys the quietness and structure of the life at the monastery. She stays for five days. Later she returns for good.

As the narrator records her story about her life at the monastery we learn about her relationship with her mother, who she deeply misses. We also learn a little about her early life at school, especially when a a fellow student from the school stays at the community for a time. There is also mention of a husband, but that is in passing. 

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood is not a life story but provides reflections on life as they relate to events in the present. At the monastery they are contending with a mouse plague. At first just a few, but then swarms of mice in the building and grounds. Then they learn that the body of a former sister at the monastery has been located overseas and will be returned. This is during COVID-19 so many obstacles occur before a final resting place for this sister can be arranged. Accompanying her is Helen Parry who for a variety of reasons is returning to the area where she grew up for a short time.

This novel explores long-term grief for the loss of a loved one. People are complex creatures and the novel also explores long-term feelings held by the woman and regret for past events. What is forgiveness and can a person truly forgive the actions of  others? Respect for the environment is another theme of the novel.

Australian author, Charlotte Wood, shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize

Scar Town

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks is the winner of the 2024 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year for Younger Readers. I borrowed a copy from the library and left it for my twelve year old grandson to find when we had our next reading session. As soon as he saw it his eyes lit up as he told me that they had been discussing this book at school. I then purchased a copy from Dymocks. 

Normally in our reading sessions my grandson and I share the reading - I often read the descriptive sections while he reads (and acts) the conversations or we might read alternate pages or paragraphs depending on the book. But this time my grandson picked up the book and started reading enthusiastically. I have not been allowed to read a word. Part way through the book he announced that this was the best book that he had ever read. But what is the book about?

Scarborough is a small town which has been drowned by a lake but during a drought some of the buildings appear again out of the water. Three children, Will, Dar and Juno (J), ride their bikes to the lake and swim to one of the houses. They break in and make a dramatic discovery. Will wants to inform the police but J asks him to wait for twenty-four hours while they attempt to discover information about what they have found.

This is a fast paced junior crime novel which keeps the reader guessing about what might have happened in the past. My grandson reads lots of books on his own as well as the books we enjoy reading together but, having observed his reaction to Scar Town, all I can say is thank you Tristan Bancks for writing a book that has captured my grandson's attention to such an extent. He has now investigated the school library for other books by this author.

Tristan Bancks sharing his inspiration for Scar Town - video.

Scar Town - CBCA