Question 7

In Question 7 Richard Flanagan weaves biography, history, memoir and historical fiction in one book. Some of the topics covered include the experiences of the author's father as a prisoner of war in Japan, Leo Szilard and the bombing of Hiroshima, relationship between H G Wells and Rebecca West, a look at the little known futuristic books by H G Wells including one on an atomic bomb, treatment of Indigenous peoples in Tasmania, rivers and near death experiences - snippets of his family story and observations on world events and life are all interwoven in one short book.

The title of the book, Question 7, is based on a question asked by Anton Chekhov in his story, Questions Posed by a Mad Mathematician.

This title was one of the books considered for possible discussion by the Monash Alumni Book Club in March 2026. 

Richard Flanagan Question 7 - Whispering Gums March 2024

Question 7 - ANZ LitLovers Lit Blog January 2024

Question 7 review - The Guardian November 2023

The atomic bomb and a near death experience ... - The Conversation November 2023

In the Time of Five Pumpkins

In the Time of Five Pumpkins is the 26th book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. Over the years I have enjoyed reading many titles in this series. My mother also enjoyed reading about the activities of Precious Ramotswe and her friends as they investigated activities that occurred in their neighbourhood.

A husband asks the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to prove that his wife is cheating on him. Life then becomes complicated for the agency when the wife employs Precious to prove that her husband has been cheating on her. Precious' husband has an unwanted adventure when he goes fishing in a boat on a local dam. The locals are concerned as to when the rains will finally come and hopefully Mma Potokwani's pumpkins will grow. 

These are some of the concerns that feature in the latest installment in the series. Another pleasant, relaxing read about a small community in Botswana. 

Code of Silence: How Australian women helped win the war

A number of books have been written about the importance of codebreaking to win the Second World War. In Code of Silence Diana Thorp has written an informative account of the importance of Australian women during World War II who carried out top secret work for the military in the efforts to defeat the Japanese advance towards our country.

The book is based on interviews and written accounts by women who secretly worked in many locations throughout the country. The women were involved in collecting and deciphering messages intercepted from the enemy and passing them on to authorities. Some worked in intelligence, others worked in logistics or various supporting roles. They were all aware of the importance of secrecy and were careful to never discuss their work, including with family.

The book also provides background information about the effect of war on Australia as well as on the lives of some of the women when the war ended. This book is an important contribution to understanding the history of Australia during the Second World War as well as the role of women in the twentieth century. Detailed bibliography and notes are at the back of the book. 

The author ends her book with the following:

The small number of women in this book represent the thousands who voluntarily transformed their lives to take on unprecedented roles in the fight for their country. Their contributions were extraordinary, yet most remain unknown. This book is an attempt to reclaim, and to remember, these women's place in our history. 

The Haunting of Hill House

Hill House had a reputation for being haunted. As Dr Montague was interested in studying psychic disturbances he decided to rent the house for three months in order to study the house and any events that may occur. He invited a group of people to join him including Eleanor, Theodora and Luke. It soon became obvious that Hill House was not an ordinary home. But what was really happening there and why?

All the characters in The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson were affected by events occurring in the house but it is Eleanor who is the main focus of the story. Eleanor's mother had recently died and Eleanor had been her carer for many years. At 32 Eleanor has a fractured relationship with her sister and has no friends. She agreed to become involved in Dr Montague's investigation to restart her life and hopefully work out who she really is and what she wants from life. However Eleanor discovered more than she really wanted to.

The Haunting of Hill House is one of the texts for year 11 English. 

The Runner

Set in Richmond, Victoria, in 1919 we meet Charlie Feehan who lives with his mother and baby brother. The house was in a slum area in Richmond and the family struggled to survive, especially after the death of Charlie's father several months before. Charlie attended the local school but decided to try for a job as a runner for the local gangster, Squizzy Taylor, to provide the family with extra cash. Charlie's mother did not approve of her son working for Squizzy Taylor so Charlie had to keep the job a secret.

Mr and Mrs Redmond lived next door to Charlie's family and helped them when they could. Knowing that Charlie was an excellent runner, Mr Redmond offered to train Charlie to run in the annual mile race at Ballarat. After working for Squizzy Taylor for a while, Charlie decided that a safer career option would be take up Mr Redmond's offer.

The Runner, by Robert Newton, is a novel about challenges faced by many families trying to survive after the First World War. Squizzy Taylor was a real person whose gangster activities expanded into Fitzroy until he was killed in October 1927. Most of the other characters are fictional. Themes in the book include poverty, friendship, grief, organised crime, ambition and adolescence.

The Runner is one of the novels studied by my grandson in year eight. 

Eighteen: A history of Britain in 18 young lives

Eighteen stories about the lives of a selection of eighteen young people which compare their lives at eighteen with their later achievements. The chronologically arranged stories also provide an overview of the history of Britain from the seventh century until modern times.

Some of the individuals from history who appear in this book include The Venerable Bede, Empress Matilda, Geoffrey Chaucer, Jacques Francis, Queen Elizabeth I, Fionnghal (Flora MacDonald) Nic Dhomhnaill, Horatio Nelson, Mary Anning, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Vita Sackville-West, C S Lewis, Rosalind Franklin, Richard Burton and Vivienne Westwood.

For many of the young people in this book life held many challenges, particularly in their younger years, and for some it took many years to decide the path they wanted to follow. Some, of course, knew from an early age, what they hoped to do. 

In Eighteen by Alice Loxton, the author stresses that in order to achieve individuals need a mentor, someone who can offer encouragement and point the young person in the right direction to eventually find what they really want from life. This is a readable book encompassing both history and stories of how individuals achieved success. Another excellent book of history by Alice Loxton.

The Endless Sky

The Endless Sky is the 31st novel by Australian author, Di Morrissey. I read a number of her earlier titles many years ago and especially enjoyed those set in the Kimberley. This novel is mainly set in western Queensland among fossil fields in the red earth or in a set of secluded underground caves. 

Nicole and Stacie travelled to the region to seek a setting for a television show. They did not know what to expect when they set out but soon discover a new world with scenery they have not previously experienced. In the outback they learn about the world of fossils, including fossil smuggling, and the meaning of the land to the local indigenous people. When they are told that the caves and surrounding area are under threat from a secret potential development they decide that they should use their program to expose the impending threat to the area. A man that they met early in their adventure disappears so they naturally want to know what happened to him and why he left the camp.

As with Di Morrissey's other novels the setting of the book is a focal point and her descriptions of the landscape and sky are impressive. However much of the story is told through the dialogue of the characters and this does not quite work as disappointingly the dialogue resembles a monotone voice after a while. The book has an important story to tell but, in my opinion, it is not a must-read novel.