Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

This would be one one of the happiest books that I have read.

It is not often that everyone one on The Book Club on Channel 2 all enjoy the same book so I immediately reserved a copy from the library. Obviously the publicity from the program convinced many others that they should also read the book as there was quite a wait for my turn - but it was worth it.

Miss Pettigrew is a forty something governess who is sent for an interview to the wrong address by the employment agency. This error changed Miss Pettigrew's life. Not only did she meet actress and night club singer, Delysia LaFosse, but also many of her friends (and lovers). Miss Pettigrew found herself in an entirely new world and to her surprise she enjoyed it.

This was a book that I did not want to put down. The book only describes the events of one day but is full of joy and hope and discovery as Miss Pettigrew explores this new world and opportunities. I am so glad that I read this book and spent a day with Miss Pettigrew.

Winifred Watson wrote this book in 1938. Fortunately it was republished in 2000 by Persephone Books with the latest reprint in 2015. 

The Book Club (replay of review) 2 May 2017

The North Water

 

This has been described as a dark book and it is.

I only read this novel by Ian McGuire as I received notification that it was the book to be discussed in the Read with Raf book club on ABC Melbourne radio  for July. Out of interest I decided to borrow a copy from the library.

I almost gave up reading it on several occasions but did end up finishing the novel. The beginning, in particular, is heavy going as the main characters are introduced. I found it difficult to like any of them. However as the story unfolded I did become involved in the story about the the exploits of members of a whaling ship in the Arctic and their fight for survival when disaster strikes.I suspect that, in general, this may be a book that is enjoyed more by male readers.

Review in The Guardian 19 February 2016

Review in The New York Times 11 April 2016

Read with Raf review (audio file) July 2017

In 2021 The North Water was shown as a television series in Foxtel.  I decided not to watch it - still recovering from reading the book.