Searching for Charlotte

In Searching for Charlotte, two sisters, authors Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell, set out to find the true story about their great x4 grandmother, Charlotte Waring Atkinson, who travelled to Australia in 1826 to work as a governess for members of the Macarthur family. The authors knew of many family stories about Charlotte and her husband, James Atkinson, but what was fact and what was fiction?  But what were the circumstances that brought Charlotte to New South Wales, why did the daughter of an apparently well off family need to work as a governess and what were the connections between the names of houses in New South Wales with locations in England? They also knew that Charlotte was the author of the first Australian children's book, A Mother's Offering to her Children - a compilation of lessons for children told in a fictional setting.

For part of the research Kate and Belinda visited family related locations in New South Wales and in England. On the trip to England they took their two daughters with them. When in England they visited villages, looked for possible family properties, explored churches and graveyards and generally looked for clues as to what life may have been like for their ancestors. 

The sisters arrived in England in June expecting the weather to be warm but it was often cold and wet. We have made similar expeditions to England in August and walked in the rain looking for family gravestones or buildings so I can sympathise. Still it is all part of the adventure of family history research and as the authors record, there is a special feeling locating a place where ancestors lived, worked or walked.

The book provides a useful guide for those researching their own family stories. It also provides a picture of what it was like living in Kent in the early nineteenth century. Comparisons are sometimes made to the works of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte. Life in colonial New South Wales is also described -colonists attitudes to aboriginies, free seelers and convicts, bushrangers and women living in a male dominant society. 

The authors contribute different chapters to the book and repetition in the telling of the story does occur. However Searching for Charlotte generally provdes a readable account of tackling a project to reveal the truth about a family story.

Photos, detailed notes, a bibliography and an index provide clues to additional information.

Radio Girl

The subtitle of Radio Girl by David Dufty is 'The story of the extraordinary Mrs Mac, pioneering engineer and wartime legend'. This is truely the story of an incredible woman.

Florence Violet Granville was born in Melbourne in1890 and known as Violet though later in her life she was always referred to as Mrs Mac. The author records not only the story of Mrs Mac's life but also her importance in promoting equal rights for women when choosing the career they want. The book also provides valuable information about the role of signaling systems during the Second World War, particularly the use of Morse code.

Violet was initially a maths teacher but she wanted to be an electrical engineer which was an unacceptable career for a woman. She eventually managed to enrol in a course at Sydney Technical College obtaining her diploma in 1923. Meanwhile she managed a radio sales and repair shop where customers introduced her to crystal sets and amateur radio. She also increased her interest in Morse code. This led to her becoming the first female certificated radio telegraphist in Australia, the first woman in Australia to hold an amateur wireless licence and the first female member of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

In the 1930s Mrs Mac set up The Electrical Association for Women (Australia) where women could safely learn to use electrical appliances. She wrote a cookbook containing basic recipes for cooking on electric appliances as well as articles and a children's book promoting safety around electricity.

With the onset of war Mrs Mac established the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps to train women to become telegraphists. Much resistance was encountered in the acceptance of these women in military service but Mrs Mac persisted and eventually the WRANS was established allowing trained female telegraphists to assist in the war effort. The WESC also trained many servicemen, particularly potential airmen, to use Morse code and other signaling methods. Some American servicemen also attended her course. After the war she concentrated on teaching merchant seamen signaling systems.

The work done by Mrs Mac and her team during the Second World War was voluntary. Eventually the value of her work was recognised when she received an OBE in 1950. Mrs Mac died in 1982.

Until this book was published earlier this year the value of Mrs Mac's contribution to the Australian services during the war and her pioneering work in promoting safe use of electricity in this country was largely forgotten. Hopefully this book will help promote the legacy of a remarkable and determined woman.

Extensive notes, bibliography and index.

Australian Dictionary of Biography article

The Falcon Always Wings Twice

Like all the books in this series by Donna Andrews there is lots of humour and intrigue plus a horde of zany characters as well as a murder to keep the reader guessing.

In this novel Meg and other family members assist her grandmother, Cordelia, run a Renaissance Faire at her craft centre near Biscuit Mountain. As part of the attractions Michael has organised a troupe of actors to perform for visitors throughout each day of the faire. Meg and her former teacher, with the assistance of her two sons, provide demonstrations in blacksmithing throughout the day when she isn't finding solutions if things do not quite go to plan. When one of the actors is found murdered in the nearby woods Meg is involved in assisting the police with their enquiries as well as trying to ensure that there is as little disruption to the faire as possible.

In The Falcon Always Wings Twice the featured bird is the falcon and we learn much about these birds when Meg's grandfather decides to assist the falconer. The Falcon Always Wings Twice is the 27th book in the Meg Langslow Mystery series. A good holiday read.

The Thursday Murder Club

Richard Osman is well known for co-hosting the British show, Pointless, as well as appearing on a range of comedy quiz shows. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel and the first in a new series of crime novels set in a retirement village.

Coopers Chase is home to a number elderly residents from a variety of backgrounds who enjoy the many social and other activities available in the village. On Thursday mornings members of the Thursday Murder Club meet to review the files of cold cases that they have acquired. Elizabeth, Penelope, Ibrahim and Ron are the original club members but when Penelope had a stroke, resulting in permanent hospitalisation, Joyce joined the group. When someone they know is murdered The Thursday Murder Club members are determined to become involved in solving a real crime and soon manoeuvre their way into 'assisting' the police in their investigation. The four club members use their wide range of experience and contacts to gain access to information not readily available to the police. They are also not afraid to create situations to obtain information that they require.

Richard Osman has created an amusing, endearing, resourceful group of characters who discover that they are not only trying to discover the perpetrator of one murder but also need to solve two other crimes as well. I look forward to meeting the members of The Thursday Murder Club in the next volume of this series.

Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook

This novel by Celia Rees takes the reader into a world where the German people struggled to survive, where defeated Nazis maintained their now underground networks and where there was divided opinion as to whether captured Nazis should be tried for their crimes or used to provide useful information to the victorious nations establishing a new power regime - East versus West.

At the end  of the Second World War English schoolteacher, Edith Graham, decided that she needed a change so applied to join the Control Commission helping to reestablish schools in Germany. However her life became more complicated when she was also approached to report on unusual activity or people of interest to the British spy networks. 

Her friends Dori and Adeline supported Vera Atkins in an attempt to find what happened to four members of the SOE believed to have been captured during the War and Edith agreed to also share information and help them. Knowing that their mail would be censored the women developed a code hidden in information about meals and recipes that Edith collected and circulated.

Cold War Germany was a divided country with British, American and Russian sectors and Edith became aware of the emerging power struggle occurring between these nations as they targeted former Nazis who may be of benefit to their countries. Germany was definitely a dangerous place to be at this time and establishing the truth was difficult. Who should Edith trust?

Reviews in this blog of other books about the SOE (Special Operations Executive) 

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff - review

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester - review

Miss Austen

Cassandra Austen (Cassy) was the elder sister of the eighteenth century author, Jane Austen and therefore officially had the title Miss Austen. The two sisters never married and shared a close relationship living in a variety of locations in England after the death of their father. After Jane died in 1817 it is known that Cassy located and destroyed much of the correspondence written by and to Jane, especially any letters that may be misinterpreted and possibly damage Jane's reputation.

In Miss Austen by Gill Hornby the author provides a fictional account of how and why Cassy may have done this. The focus of the story is very much on Cassy though it does show the relationship between the two sisters and other family members and friends. The novel also provides a social history of village life in the first half of the eighteenth century as it focusses on the challenges of unmarried women, especially older women. Themes from some of Jane Austen's novels can also be noted as the story unfolds. Miss Austen would be enjoyed by readers who enjoy reading the novels of Jane Austen and works about the life of the novelist.

In the front of the book is a useful list of members of the Austen family and their extended family, most of whom appear in this novel.

Trust

Trust, the new novel by Chris Hammer is definitey a novel that is difficult to put down. Fortunately I borrowed a copy from the library on Friday so was able to spend the weekend reading. Trust is the third book in a series about journalist and author, Martin Scarsdale and Mandy Blonde. Scrublands and Silver were set in rural Australia but the city of Sydney is the setting for Trust. A map at the front of the book allows the reader to follow where the action is taking place. 

The novel begins with Martin playing on the beach with Mandy's son, Liam when he receives a voicemail message from Mandy - a scream. Rushing back to their house Martin discovers that Mandy has disappeared and there is a man lying on the floor.

The plot of the novel contains two main stories that as investigations proceed emerge into one. Martin soon realises that there is a large part of Mandy's former life that she has not revealed to him and the past has now come to confront her. Meanwhile Martin's former editor, Max, has asked him to help investigate and write a potentially explosive story but will not reveal any details until they meet. Martin heads to Sydney to find and support Mandy but also agrees to meet Max. When he discovers that Max has been murdered he knows that he must continue to investigate the story that has cost Max his life.

This is a story of large scale corruption in many spheres, a police undercover investigation, duplicity, nepotism, surveillance, computer fraud, kidnapping and, of course, murder. As well as investigating what has and is currently occurring, Martin has to write the story and get it out to the public before authorities prevent him from making it public or the opposition publish first. 

Mandy also has to decide to come to terms with what has happened in the past and to move on with her life. She also has to learn to trust again. 

This book is another great read in the Aussie noir genre.

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill

This is the fourth in a series of books written by Sophie Hannah in the style of Agatha Christie with the main character being the famous Hercule Poirot. Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool (the narrator of the story) travel by bus to Kingfisher Hill, a country estate in Surrey, never suspecting that an unexpected invitation to the home of Richard Devonport will result in the need to solve a series of crimes.

Richard's brother Frank was murdered by his fiancee, Helen, who confessed to the crime and is currently in prison. But did she really commit the murder and if so, why? Complications arise when Richard's sister, Barbara, also confesses to having murdered Frank. 

On the bus trip Poirot and Catchpool meet two other passengers who leave the bus before they reach Kingfisher Hill. Who are these women and how does their behaviour affect the story? Then, who is the mystery woman who is found murdered in the Devonport house and who killed her? Many questions with answers to be uncovered by Poirot.

The pace of the book is slow, especially in the first half, as the plot and its mysteries are gradually revealed and eventually solved.

The Darkest Evening

This book is the ninth title in the Vera Stanhope series of books by Ann Cleeves who is also the author of the Shetland book series. The story takes place during a cold Northumberland winter, the week before Christmas with Vera Stanhope encountering freezing temperatures and deep snow drifts when driving home at the end of the day. By contrast I began reading The Darkest Evening in Melbourne a month before Christmas on a sunny day with an expected maximum temperature of 34 degrees Celsius. 

After taking a wrong turn Vera comes across a car with the front door open parked on the side of the road. The driver is missing but Vera discovers a toddler in the back of the car. Vera rescues the toddler and takes him to a nearby house to seek asistance. Shortly afterwards the body of a young woman is discovered in the snow outside the house.

Detective Chief Inspector Stanhope and her team encounter many challenges as they attempt to discover the murderer and why the crime was committed. It is soon obvious that obtaining the truth will not be easy as many of the local residents have secrets that they do not want revealed. Vera is also forced to review her feelings regarding estranged family members who become involved as the body was discovered in their garden.

This is the first book that I have read by Ann Cleeves and it will not be the last.

On a Barbarous Coast

On 10 June 1770 the ship Endeavour hit a reef leaving a gaping hole in the hull. The crew managed to reduce the effects of the leak long enough for the ship to reach a safe location where it could be safely repaired, allowing them to continue the journey. The ship arrived at what was later known as Cooktown on 17 June 1770 and remained there for seven weeks while repairs were completed. Artist, Sydney Parkinson, described in his journal the area where this event took place as 'on a barbarous coast'. 

This novel by Craig Cormick and Harold Ludwick provides an alternative account of events after the ship hit the reef:

Panic set in aboard the ship as it was obvious that the vessel would sink. Four men including the midshipman, Matra, managed to escape in a small boat used by Joseph Banks when on expeditions to investigate new flora and wildlife. Once on shore, this group of men needed to discover how to work together in order to survive. They needed shelter and they needed food. The men knew that they were being observed by natives and they were also aware of a crocodile that patrolled the beach and river where they had landed. It all seemed an impossible task even after salvaging a few supplies that had washed up on shore as the ship sank. When more survivors from the ship joined their camp additional challenges occurred.

There are two narrators telling the story. Mantra recounting the situation from the point of view of those shipwrecked and Garrgiil, an aboriginal boy, providing the viewpoint of the natives watching the scene unfolding before them. From Garrgiil we learn about Aboriginal life, traditions and beliefs in that region. From Matra we learn not only about the efforts to survive in a strange land and the mistrust that existed amongst those shipwrecked, but also about incidents that occurred during their two years at sea, particularly encounters with natives in other islands visited. Matra aslo considers the effects of colonisation on countries such as Australia and attempts to warn Garrgiil of impending threats to the natives' lifestyle when Europeans decide to settle in the area.

In this alternative account of the ending of Cook's exploration of the Queensland coast, the authors encourage the reader to think about the effects of colonisation on a land and the people already living there and to consider the belief systems and association with the land that existed for thousands of years before the arrivals of Europeans.

Cook's landing on the Australian coast 

Death in Daylesford

This new Phryne Fisher mystery, number 21 in the series, is set in Daylesford and Hepworth Springs where Phryne and Dot have gone for a week's holiday after receiving a mysterious invitation from a stranger. Captain Herbert Spenser runs a retreat for shell-shocked soldiers who served during World War I and he invites Phryne to visit the premises, possibly in the hope that she will support the work he is doing. Needless to say the visit results in anything but a quiet holiday.

Shortly after arriving in the area, Phryne learns of the mysterious disappearance of a number of women, the death of a young man who fell through a train window some weeks earlier followed by two more  deaths which she witnesses the week she arrives. She is not impressed with the local policeman but fortunately Detective Inspector Brian Kelly arrives to take over the investigation and they work co-operatively to solve the mysteries. Descriptions of Dayleford and surrounding area during the late 1920s form the background to the novel along with an assortment of local residents.

Meanwhile back in Melbourne, Detective Inspector Jack Robinson is away on special assignment leaving Detective Sergeant Hugh Collins working with another officer. Members of Phryne's extended household - Tinker, Ruth and Jane - who remain in Melbourne also discover that they have a mystery to solve when Tinker discovers a body floating in the sea he and a school friend of the girls disappears. Working with Hugh they endeavour to solve the case. Consequently there are lots of mysteries to solve plus stories to tell when Phryne and Dot return home.

The Lost Jewels

When Kate Kirby is offered the assignment of viewing and writing about items in the Cheapside Hoard she readily accepts the assignment. Working with photographer, Marcus Holt, she travels to London, India and Sri Lanka as she endeavours to uncover the story of some of the jewels, their significance and how they were mined.

The novel reveals the history of the jewels via a number of time frames - 1666 and the Great Fire of London which also ravaged Cheapside where many London jewellers worked, the lives of young boys in Sri Lanka scratching a living from the dirt as they hoped to find a precious gemstone, 1912 when a hoard of precious jewellery was uncovered on an excavation sight in London as well as the present day with Kate and Marcus trying to piece together the story.

Kate also believed that there was a family connection to the Cheapside Hoard via her great grandmother, Essie, who grew up in Cheapside before suddenly relocating to Boston, USA, and this is an important thread in the story. Poverty in parts of London in the early twentieth century and the work of the suffragette movement to improve life for women also form a background to the story.

Kirsty Manning has written a fascinating novel incorporating historical fact with an absorbing story. A list of further reading is provided at the end of the book for those interested in reading more about the period covered, especially in London.

The Cheapside Hoard - most of th collection is held by the Museum of London and will be on display from 2024. A general Google search for Cheapside Hoard images is also worth a look.

The Cedar Tree

When Brandon O'Riain, step sister Molly and cousin, Sean flee Ireland in 1864 for a new life in Australia they were unprepared for what the future might bring in this different country. Conflicts between Irish settlers, between  the Irish and the English, between Catholics and Protestants are themes throughout this family saga. 

The story is initially set in the 1860s in Ireland and then in New South Wales where the brothers earn a living cutting cedar in the Richmond Valley. In the 1940s we meet Stella and Joe who try their luck on a sheep property in western New South Wales. When disaster occurs Stella returns to the home of her brother-in-law until she can make new plans. While there she hopes to discover the secret as to the cause of a major rift in family relations.Stubborness is a family trait.

Although a work of fiction a stream of historical facts occur throughout the novel enabling the reader to appreciate another aspect of Australian history and perhaps understand some of the challenges faced by Irish immigrants.

Irish in Australia - https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/irish-culture/irish-culture-irish-in-australia

House of Earth and Blood

Sarah J Maas has written a number of series of fantasy books for young adults. This is the first title in a new series for adults.

Bryce Quinlin, part human, part fae, is known as being a party girl with a reputation for trying most things. When her inseparable friend Danika was found murdered in her apartment Bryce's life dramatically changed. When the crimes that occurred at the time of Danika's death start recurring Bryce is commanded to help investigate. Hunt Athalar, an enslaved fallen angel, is ordered to assist and protect her. As they struggle to uncover the truth it soon becomes obvious that their lives and the future of Crescent City is in danger.

We are introduced to a wide variety of citizens of Crecent City. Many have extreme supernatural powers - some good and some evil. It soon becomes obvious that a power struggle is in progress. Determining who can be trusted is a major theme as the story comes to a dramatic conclusion.in this book of 799 pages. 

I found the first section of the book very heavy going, primarily because of the language used to demonstrate the wild life lived by the characters before Danika's death. Fortunately I kept reading, for once the author concentrated on writing about Bryce and Hunter's struggle to locate the truth the book was hard to put down.

Honeybee

When fourteen year old Sam Watson was standing on the bridge of an overpass planning to jump he noticed an elderly man further along the bridge watching him. Sam changed his mind and eventually a friendship formed between Sam and Vic. 

As the story, told by Sam, develops we learn of the lives of Sam and Vic and their struggle to continue living. Sam has escaped from an unhappy home environment while Vic mourns the death of his wife and companion, Edie. Sam also struggles in accepting who he is and how he wants to live his life. Over time he meets Aggie and Peter who also befriend and assist him.

This is a readable and moving account of the journey of a young man learning to trust and understand others and himself.

Mister Monday

Currently my granddaughter and I are reading Mister Monday by Garth Nix, the first book in the Keys to the Kingdom series. Recently I found two summaries that I wrote in 2004 about Mister Monday and the second book in the series, Grim Tuesday. We have also read Drowned Wednesday (book 3)

Mister Monday

Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Arthur is safe – but his world is not. Along with the key comes a plague brought by bizarre creatures from another realm. A stranger named Mister Monday, his avenging messengers with bloodstained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to get the key back – even if it means destroying Arthur and everything around him. Desperate, Arthur escapes to the mysterious House that has appeared in town – a house that only he can see. Maybe there he can unravel the secrets of the key – and discover his true fate.

 Grim Tuesday

Arthur is summoned back to the House to retrieve the second key and release the second part of the will. He and Suzy continue their adventure venturing into Grim Tuesday's deep pit, scaling the glass pyramid, sailing to a sun to rescue the second part of the will and finally repairing the breach in the wall to stop Nothing entering the Kingdom. Lots of action and tension in this adventure.

There are seven books in the Keys to the Kingdom series.

 

 Drowned Wednesday

Leaf is visiting Arthur in hospital when a large wave carries them both out to sea and many adventures.

Drowned Wednesday had summoned Arthur to ask for his assistance but in the meantime he encounters the Raised Rats, the crew of the ship (The Moth) including Dr Samandros, Sunscorch and Captain Catapillow and learns of the dreaded pirate, Feverfew, who wants to rule the seas. 

In order to restore order as well as assist Drowned Wednesday who has been turned into an extremely large, very hungry whale, Arthur needs to find the third part of the will and the third key.

The Survivors

Another suspenseful novel from Australian author, Jane Harper. Unlike her previous novels set in outback communities or in mountain ranges, this story is set in Evelyn Bay on the southern coast of Tasmania, a popular seaside location in the summer. However the tourist season is over when Kieran, Mia and their new baby return to the town where they grew up to assist Kieran's mother, Verity, sort through and pack up years of belongings as she and her husband, Brian, need to move to the city. Brian has dementia and needs special care.

Many of their former friends still live in Evelyn Bay but it soon becomes obvious that Kieran's return revives tensions in the town as he was considered to be responsible for an accident that occurred twelve years previously, an accident resulting in the death of his brother, Finn, and Finn's friend, Toby. Kieran has never forgiven himself for what happened that day and the guilt he feels brings back bad memories and fears. 

When a young girl is discovered murdered on the beach shortly after Kieran and Mia arrive the tensions in the town increase, new accusations arise and hidden secrets are exposed. The unsolved disappearance of a fourteen year old girl at the same time of the drowning of the two young men also needs to be solved.

As in her other novels the landscape is a major feature of the novel and in this story the unforgiving nature of the sea, the sinister atmosphere of the caves along with the presence of The Survivors, a memorial to those involved in a ship wreck now guarding the bay, are constantly present. But much of the novel also concetrates on the feelings, memories, rumours and suspicions of the townspeople who remember the events of the past and are concerned that another murder has occurred in their small community. The many layers of past and present events intertwine as the investigation into what really happened proceed.

The Women's Pages

Tilly Galloway is a journalist on the Daily Herald in Sydney when Victory in the Pacific is declared. Tilly joins in the celebrations however her feelings of joy are tampered by not knowing what happened to her husband, Archie, last heard from in New Guinea in 1942.

This novel by Victoria Purman concerns the effects of the Second World War on Australians in Sydney as well as on those returning from overseas. The novel also deals with the livelihoods of women who worked during the war and were expected to return to their previous existence once the war ended. Working in newspapers, a man's world, Tilly faces discrimination as she tries to prove that women can write as well, or better, than some men. Another major theme in the book concerns the attempts of unions to gain better working conditions for workers, especially on the wharves and in factories. Much historical research has obviously gone into the writing of this novel where the author writes about the effects of war on a family from a poorer area of Sydney and the problems for returned soldiers in adapting once again to civilian life.

This is a novel of hope and resilience as Tilly and her friends and family rebuild their lives after the war.

The Cake Maker's Wish

Australian author, Josephine Moon, has set most of this book in the Cotswolds in England. Olivia and her young son, Darcy, leave Tasmania for England when they have the opportunity to become involved in the Renaissance Project, a project to encourage members of families who once lived in Stoneden to return to help revitalise the village. Olivia's grandmother left Snowden in the 1960s to come to Australia and returning to her grandmother's homeland not only provides Olivia and her son with the opportunity for a new start but also a chance to learn a little of her family history. Living in England also means that she and Darcy are closer to Norway where Darcy's father lives and hopefully Darcy will finally be able to meet his father.

Olivia is a cake maker and the members of the village arranged that she could set up her business in one of the vacant shops named Rambling Rose. Olivia is not the only newcomer to the village involved in the project. The new arrivals are welcomed by many of the villagers however it soon becomes apparent that not everyone wants the project to succeed. Olivia and Darcy, however, soon make new friends as they strive to become part of the village community and work to make the Renaissance Projet a success. Olivia encounters a number of challenges and eventually must decide how and where she wants to live her life.

At the end of the book is a recipe for the Persian Love Cake featured in the novel plus discussion notes for book clubs.

All the devils are here

Another 'cannot put this book down until finished' read from Louise Penny.

All the devils are here is number 16 in the Armand Gamache Mystery series however, instead of being set in The Pines in Canada, the action takes place in Paris where Armand and Reine-Marie are visiting their children who live in that city. 

Shortly after arriving in Paris Armand's godfather, Stephen Horowitz, is deliberately run down outside a restaurant and one of his friends is murdered. Armand and his son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, are determined to investigate especially when it is clear that someone is also trying to discredit Stephen and the work that he has done. Armand uses his contacts within the Paris police force to ensure that the matter is taken seriously.

Jean-Guy now works in Paris for a firm, GHS Engineering, and gradually becomes suspicious that all is not as it should be. As he and Armand investigate the Stephen Horowitz case they become convinced that GHS Engineering is somehow involved.

The solving of a crime is only one aspect of this book series. The relationships between the characters and their interactions with each other are important features. In this series Armand endeavours to discover what has caused the breakdown between him and his son, Daniel, and attempts to resolve it. 

In this novel a number of characters provide expertise in solving the crime including Reine-Marie, a retired librarian, and a number of her friends who are archivists and librarians in Paris. The city of Paris and its history also play an important role in the story. 

I am really looking forward to meeting Armand Gamache and his family and friends again in the next book in series.

All Our Shimmering Skies

Darwin 1942 and the Japanese bomb the town. 

Molly Hook lives with her father and uncle and works in the family business as a gravedigger. She is badly treated by the men who are responsible for her well-being and has already unsuccessfully attempted to run away from home. Consequently when the bombs start to fall Molly takes her chance and heads into the bush to locate Longcoat Bob, the man she believes placed a curse on her family many years previously. On the journey Molly joins forces with Greta, an actress who had a realtionship with Molly's uncle, and Yukio, a Japanese pilot whose plane lands in the bush.

Twelve year old Molly lost her mother some years earlier but has been left with the belief that she can communicate with the sky and at times even receives a present from the sky. The first present is a gold mining pan that had belonged to her grandfather and scratched on to the pan are directions to locate the place where her grandfather once found gold. To most people the directions are obscure but Molly, who like her grandfather and mother loves to read poetry and plays, is able to decipher the clues as she and her friends go on their voyage of discovery.

The descriptions of the Australian landscape are paramount to the story, especially when seen through the eyes of the Japanese pilot. Some of the descriptions read like poetry, particularly when the wetlands with the wide variety of plants and wildlife are described. The trio encounter danger but they also learn resiliance as they discover more about themselves and things in life that are important. The desriptions of the bombing of Darwin vividly portray the horror of that event in Australian history.

The cover of the book captures the magical qualities of this beautifully written Australian story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Here we are

In the summer of 1959 a show is held each evening in the pavilion at the end of Brighton pier. Ronnie Deane is a magician performing under the stage name Pablo with his assistant Evie White (Eve). The compere of the show is Jack Robinson (real name Jack Robbins). Here we are by Graham Swift is about the relationship between this trio of friends.

Initially the story also recounts the events in the life of a young boy sent to the country to live with strangers who became his defacto family during World War II, the relationship with his mother and his desire to be a great musician. A friend suggests that he should perform his act during the summer season on the pier but that he also needs an assistant which is when he is introduced to Evie. As the season progresses, the popularity of the magician's act increases until by the end of the season it is the star act of the show. The latter part of the novel provides Evie's viewpoint reflecting on that summer of 1959 and her almost fifty years of marriage with her husband who died the previous year. 

This short novel takes us into a world of magic and illusion and how it is percieved and can affect the lives of others. What is real and what is illusion?

COVID-19 Musings - Masks

The topic for Week 14 of #SLVMemoryBank is Cover Up - Face masks. From Thursday 23 July the wearing of face masks in Melbourne when away from home has been mandatory.

Fortunately we had purchased masks with filters which we have now become used to wearing if going shopping or going for a walk as exercise.

The masks took some getting used to and it is definitely harder to breathe when walking uphill wearing a mask. There are lots of small hills in our area. When we go for a walk we share airpods to listen to listen to music on Spotify via the phone. The first time I went for  a walk wearing a mask I concentrated on breathing, initially through my mouth before relaxing enough to breath normally. By the end of the walk I was able to sing quietly to some of the music.One advantage of a mask is that you can sing quietly without the fear of attracting attention.

Currently I am experimenting with making masks in the hope of creating one that does not place too much pressure on my face causing neuralgia pains. 

First attempt but now that I have made one it should be easier to make others in differnt colours and fabrics.

Meanwhile other members of the family are, of course, wearing masks.

Children under 12 do not have to wear masks however they are all prepared.

Most people in our area wear masks and also observe social distancing. With Stage 4 restrictions which began in Melbourne on 3 August leaving home is further restricted to exercise outside your property (if essential) once a day for up to a maximum of one hour a day. Shopping is restricted allowing one person from each house shopping at a centre no further than 5 km from home. This should greatly reduce the number of people in the streets at one time.

When we went for a walk on the first day of Stage 4 restrictions we only saw about six people, mainly walking dogs. Everyone observed social distancing etiquette when passing other pedestrians. By contrast there were lots of people out the previous day, a number of the younger ones encroaching on the space of others.

Communication can be a problem when wearing a mask. I always used to smile at people when we passed but now I acknowledge them with a wave.

By the time restrictions are eased we should all be so used to wearing masks that we will continue wearing them until the danger from COVID-19 has passed. Last time people, especially in shopping centres, started to ignore social distancing. Wearing masks should help when that time comes again.

I started writing this post in July and it is now October and restrictions have been slightly modified. We can now go for a walk for up to two hours a day and more than one person can go shopping.  

 

The wearing of masks continues to be mandatory in Victoria and will problably continue to be so for some months yet. Most people comply however some people seem to have the strange idea that wearing a mask so that it only covers the chin or hangs like a necklace around the neck will protect the wearer, and anyone they they encounter, from COVID-19. Some people wear the mask with the nose exposed.

 

There is an an exception to mask wearing while you are smoking or having a drink. From time to time you see people, not wearing a mask, pushing trolleys while they have a cup in their hand. I guess they think that they are making a statement about having to wear a mask. In the supermarket yesterday we saw a superior young man walking around the supermarket with a cup in his hand. Presumably it was a cup of coffee but he did not appear to be drinking any of it.

 

Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who is doing the right thing when it comes to mask wearing.

Troubled Blood

 Troubled Blood is the fifth book in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (J K Rowling). Strike and Robin are partners of the detective agency set up by Strike in the first book in the series.The firm now has three subcontractors on staff plus Pat who does the admin work and all the staff are busy on a variety of cases. Strike is then approached by the daughter of a woman who was probably murdered forty years ago to try and find out what happened to her mother. This is the first cold case handled by the agency and Strike and Robin accept the challenge.

The disappearance of Dr Margot Bamborough occupies the team for more than a year, along with the other cases on which they are working. The more that Strike and Robin investigate the longer the list of possible suspects grows. After forty years many of the people they wish to talk to have died or disappeared making the challenge of finding what really happened more difficult.

Strike and Robin also have issues in their private lives requiring their attention. The aunt who looked after Strike when he was a boy is dying from cancer and he makes a number of trips to Cornwall to visit his aunt uncle. Meanwhile, Robin's husband is determined to make their divorce proceedings as difficult as possible. Strike also keeps receiving messages from family members wanting him to attend a function for his father's band's new album which is about to be released. As Strike has only seen his father twice in his life he declines the invitations. 

This novel therefore largely focuses on the lives of the two main characters as well as the cases they are endeavouring to solve. It is a good read even though at 927 pages it is a hefty tome.

Utopia Avenue

David Mitchell, (the author, not the comedian and actor) has written this novel about two years in the life of a British band formed in 1967. Folksinger, Elf Holloway, blues base guitarist, Dean Moss, guitarist Jasper de Zoet and jazz drummer, Griff Griffin combine their extensive talents to form a psychedelic, pop, rock, folk band named Utopia Avenue. 

The story of how these musicians met and learned to work together to showcase their music forms the basis of the novel which is divided into sections reflecting their three LPs. Music runs throughout the novel, not just the story of the band and the lives of the individual band members, but scattered throughout the book are names of musicians from the late 1960s. For those of us who grew up in the 1960s the book takes us on a musical trip back to our youth.

The book is definitely about life in the 1960s and sex, drugs and rock ' n' roll, but it also portrays four very different individuals as they have the chance to develop their talent and be accepted in the higher regions of the pop music world at that time. 

As the story evolves  all the characters have to come to terms with who they really are and decide on the lives they really want to live. Dean struggles to reconcile his relationship with his father. As a person with schizophrenia, Jasper also has to face his demons from the past as well as in the present. Each chapter focusses on one character but through that character's story the story of the group as a whole is devolped. I really enjoyed through fiction this brief glimpse into a world of music past.

Grown Ups

Grown Ups by Irish author, Marian Keyes, is about the Casey family - three brothers, their wives, children plus extended family members. Through the stories of the wives of the brothers the plot evolves allowing the reader to also get to know the other members of this large family.

Jessie, married to Johnny, loves organising, and paying for, large family gatherings that everyone must attend. She runs her own business with the assistance of her husband and is definitely a control freak. Cara married Ed, a botanist and quieter member of the trio of brothers. Cara has a successful job working in reception at a swish hotel but she has low self esteem. Nell designs sets for stage productions and recently married Liam. As the family saga evolves Nell questions why she married her husband. 

There are also nine children - two from Jessie's first marriage plus three from her relationship with Johnny, Cara and Ed have two sons while Liam has two daughters from a previous marriage. All the children seem to like each other and generally get along well together at the many family functions they attend. 

It can be confusing, especially at first, working out who is who in this novel, but fortunately there is a family tree at the beginning of the book to check if necessary.

 At Johnny's birthday party Cara, who is not well, blurts out a number of family secrets that effectively destabilise the relationships between the grown ups present. During the book the reader has learned, ofter via back stories, of the questionable behaviour of some of the adults, though needless to say chaos occurs when family secrets are publically aired. Re-evaluation of lifestyle plus some introspection is required by the grown ups after Cara's revelations about members of the Casy family.

This a long but generally easy to read and often humourous book about an Irish dysfunctional family.

Jeremiah's Bell

The first book waiting for me at the library after the softening of the stage four lockdown in Melbourne was Jerimah's Bell by Denzil Merick, the latest in the DCI Daley series.

After a serious illness plus the threat of dismissal from the police force, James Daley returns to his position of DCI at Kinlock only to be encouter a series of mysterious deaths, threats and events from the past that need to be revealed. 

Alice Wenger has returned to Kintye to complete unfinished business started before her departure more than thirty years earlier. The Doig family - Alice's parents and three brothers - live in a small dilapidated, isolated house near the coast and keep to themselves. Rumour has it that the family has a sinister past, including causing ship wrecks and smuggling. It is shortly after Alice's return to Kintyre that the first death occurs. The police soon becaome aware that a former American gangster may be in the area.

Not only does Denzil Meyrick, a former policeman, write page turning crime stories but he also introduces the reader to the close knit community of Kinloch, based on Campbelltown, and its people. The setting for the stories in his series of books plus the development of the characters, particularly Jim Daley, Brian Scott, Hamish, Annie etc are important components of the book. An added thread in this book is the future of the County Hotel as the owners have decided to sell the building.

Each year I look forward to becoming immersed in the next book in this Scottish noir series. Jerimiah's Bell did not disappoint.

For further information about the region where the series of books are set:

Exploring the natural wonder of Campbelltown - The Scotsman 4 October 2014

 

Aboriginal Victorians: a history since 1800

Richard Broome has written a comprehensive study of the relationships between Aboriginal people and Europeans in Victoria since  first encounters in 1800. The book is divided into four sections: Wild Times: 1800-1854; Transformations: 1850-1886; Assimilationism: 1886-1970 and Renaissance: 1970 onwards. The book was published in 2005.

For my family history research I was particularly interested in part one of the book, especially information concerning the years 1834 to 1840 when ancestors had investments in the new settlement of Melbourne as well as properties in the Western District. Another branch of the family settled in Gippsland.

This section deals with initial encounters between the two groups and the reactions, on both sides, to encountering different people and very different lifestyles. The author looks at the impact of the arrival of Europeans on Aboriginal life and culture and attempts to provide viewpoints from both sides. Encounters in the new village of Melbourne were not necessarily the same as encounters in the bush.

The western district of Victoria was chosen for settlement because of the opportunity for grazing sheep on land which the Aborigines had cleared by fire to encourage grass for the grazing of kangaroos which they hunted. The concept of looking after land was different for both groups. The idea of remaining in one location and taking ownership of land to the exclusion of others was a foreign concept for indigenous populations. Sometimes the two groups managed to coexist with an element of give or take on both sides. However hostilities did occur with death and injuries to both Aborigines and European settlers.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Victoria, not just as a study of race relations but also as background to understanding how the state has developed.

Code to Zero

This book was given to my husband some years ago so when I recently discovered it on the bookshelf I decided to read it. I had read Pillars of the Earth but had not read any of Ken Follett's crime / suspense novels.

Code to Zero is set in January 1958 when the first American satellite, Explorer I, was launched. The day of the proposed launch one of the scientists who has worked on the project is found semi-conscious in a toilet block in Washington. Luke has lost his memory and is dressed as a beggar with no money. He sets out to discover who he is and gradually realises that something important is to happen and that he should be there. He also soon realises that he is being followed and that someone is trying to kill him.

The suspense is maintained as the countdown for the launch is recorded in the chapter headings. There are also flashbacks to 1941 when we learn of the relationship between Luke, Anthony, Elspeth, Billie and Bern when students and later during the War. This is also a story of the Cold War in the 1950s and the rivalry between the USA and Russia. As Luke gradually recovers his memory he also has to establish who he can trust as he races against time to ensure that the launch of the satellite is a success.

Ducks, Newburyport

Ducks, Newburyport was the winner the fiction section of the James Tait Black Award for a book published in 2019. Lucy Ellman has written a substantial novel numbering 998 pages and I must admit that I did not read the book in its entirety. 

For the most part the book is written in one sentence. There are commas but where full stops should be used the author inserts the words 'the fact that'. The story is narrated by a housewife from Ohio and from this stream of conciousness we gradually learn about her family and her thoughts about the state of the world, particularly the USA, in the twenty-first century. Interspersed throughout the work is another story about a mountain lion who hunts for her cubs when they are taken away in a car. This second story is told in twenty-six short segments and normal puntuaction is used.

Themes throughout the book include motherhood, flashbacks to the narrator's early life including relationships with her parents and other family members, climate change and the environment, the USA in the time of President Trump, firearms, illness and death, her cooking and animals. References are frequently made to films and actors, authors and music. There are frequent references to books (for example the series by Laura Ingles Wilder and also the books of L M Montgomery) plus many quotations from a variety of sources. The title of the book is derived from an incident when her mother, as a child, almost drowned.

Once I was prepared to forget about the lack of fullstops and paragraphs and put the words 'the fact that' into the background I found that I became immersed in the writing and the jumping from one topic to another. I read 100 pages and dipped into other sections but, even in a pandemic, decided that I had other things to do.

Hamnet

The works of the playwright, William Shakespeare, have played an important part in English literature since the sixteenth century. Increasingly other works have been written based on his plays and poetry and also about his life - though little information about his life actually exists. There have also been numerous television programs, such as Upstart Crow, based on Shespeare as playwright and relations with his family. A recent film, All is True, also looked at the latter years of Shakepeare's life.

In this work of historical fiction, Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell tells the story of Shakespeare's family in Stratford-upon-Avon. The main character is Agnes (Anne) who marries the future bard when he is helping his father with his glovemaking business and teaching Latin to village school boys. It is obvious that William's mind is not on either of these jobs. When William and Agnes marry they live in a small building attached to his parents' house. Their lives are therefore intertwined with ther members of William's family, particularly his father who is definitely not easy to live with.

Eventually William goes to London to find suppliers for selling his father's gloves but while there becomes involved with the theatre as an actor and a writer and producer of plays. Meanwhile, back in Stratford-upon-Avon, Agnes looks after the three children - Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Judith was born a sickly child and Agnes did not want to risk taking her to London to live. From time to time the father visits his family but he is needed in London to supervise the productions that he has written. 

In 1596 the plague returns to London and the theatres are closed. The theatre companies therefore take the opportunity to tour their plays in nearby counties. Meanwhile the plague also comes to Shakespeare's house with tragic consequences. The rest of the novel explores the reactions of family members, particularly the parents, to the loss of a child.

This is a moving novel which provides interesting background as to what life may have been like at the end of sixteenth century England. The novel has now become the basis of a play performed by The Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Safe House

Emily Proudman's life was a mess. The London out-of-work actress had been filling in time temping but then she lost that job too. She had no spare money and is about to be homeless unless she can convince her parents to allow her to return home - just for a little while. Then her former boss, Scott Denny, offers her a job acting as housekeeper and odd-job person at his luxury estate in the south of France where she would be assisting his wife, Nina, and his daughter Aurelia.

Eventually Emily decides that she has no choice but to accept Scott's offer and finds herself living in a beautiful secluded property near the beach. She has her own living quarters and there is a pool. After meeting Scott's wife and daughter Emily feels that the arrangement might work - at least she will give it a try. Then Emily begins to notice things that she cannot explain and gradually becomes uneasy about her new environment, especially her relationship with Nina.

The story is told from the point of view of Emily and Scott and we gradually learn part of the back story as told by a third voice. Emily becomes aware that something sinister has occurred and that she must escape to save her life. At times during the book we learn a little about events that occurred when Emily and Nina were younger that may impact on current actions and relationships.

The author, Anna Downes, is English but now lives with her family in Australia. This is her first novel.

Fair Warning

Jack McEvoy is a journalist, working on the digital publication, Fair Warning. Returning home one evening he is approached by police who inform him that someone he once met has been murdered. They request his DNA. Needless to say Jack decides to investigate the story and discovers that this is not an isolated murder. He also discovers the link between all the murder victims - they have all had DNA tests with the firm GT23.

In this crime novel, Michael Connelly focuses on the challenges of investigative reporting in the twenty-first century and questions the possible misuse of DNA information if it falls into the wrong hands. He also delves into the dark web. As McEvoy attempts to write his story and solve the crime he is assisted by Emily Atwater, a fellow journalist, and Rachel Walling, a former member of the police force with whom he has worked on other cases.

Fair Warning is a tightly written, exciting  crime novel that I really enjoyed reading. I will now need to look for other works by Connelly, particularly The Poet and The Scarecrow which also feature Jack McEnvoy.

A Room Made of Leaves

This novel by Kate Grenville is based on the life of Elizabeth Macarthur who arrived in Australia with her husband in 1790. She was the first free woman to settle in this remote colony on the other side of the world from her home in Devon, England. 

We know a lot about John Macarthur but not a great deal is known about his wife although she played an important part in the history of the new settlement. 

Elizabeth wrote a partial record of the trip to Australia and some correspondence sent home to family and friends has also survived. But does this provide a true picture of Elizabeth's life in Australia, especially as she knew that whatever she wrote would be read by her husband and circulated among family members and their friends? This could make it difficult to express her true feelings.

Kate Grenville has created the device that before she died Elizabeth wrote a full record of her life, telling the story as it really was. The record was lost but recently discovered by the author and presented in this book. However in the novel Elizabeth warns the reader - Do not believe too quickly! Quotations from Elizabeth's actual letters are provided in the book, often accompanied by comments from the fictional Elizabeth expressing the hope that the content of the letters should not be taken at face value.

The novel covers Elizabeth's early life, the event that led to her marrying John Macarthur and the decision to travel to Australia to improve his prospects and to make his fortune. It then recounts events that may have occurred during their first thirteen years in the colony. No secret is made of the fact that John Macarthur was not a pleasant man but, having married him, Elizabeth makes the best of a bad situation. It is when they obtain land for a farm that she has the opportunity to do something that she really enjoys, overseeing the development of the family's flock of sheep.

The novel creates a picture of what life in the colony may have been like for a woman like Elizabeth, the challenges faced with a young family and the loneliness. There was also the issue of having to try and pacify a husband who was prone to cause fights with his aquaintances.

The relationship between the indigenous population and the new settlers is also a feature of the novel.

Kate Grenville has written a number of novels set in the colony of New South Wales and, as well as providing a good story, they help provide a picture of what it may have been like living in the colony during that time. Readers may also like to investigate some of the actual events featuring in the novel.

I also had a family history interest in reading this novel. The historical record shows that after the period covered in this book there were a number of instances where John Macarthur expressed his view about one of my ancestors, an emancipist who had become successful in the colony.

Winner of the 2021 Christina Stead Prize for fiction in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards

Elizabeth Macarthur - Australian Dictionary of Biography

John Macarthur - Australian Dictionary of Biography

COVID-19 Musings - Special occasions

Special occasions is the eighth prompt in the State Library of Victoria #SLVMemoryBank project. Since March our family has had to be inventive in order to celebrate special occasions.

The last family gathering when we were all able to meet together was the day before lockdown officially started when our three children with their families met at our home for afternoon tea to celebrate my husband's birthday.

From the following day family visits were not allowed.

There are seven family birthdays in April and five in July so celebrating these occasions in 2020 has been a little different from in previous years. For some birthdays sending a message via Facebook served the purpose and let people know that we had not forgotten them. For other birthdays for members of immediate family we had to be a little more inventive.

Three grandchildren had birthdays in April so a time was organised for family members to connect at a specified time via computer. This at least provided the opportunity for all the family to sing happy birthday and to watch the birthday girl or boy blow out candles on their cake. The children also enjoyed interacting with each other online.

The major event that we missed in April was my mother's birthday. As her birthday is on Anzac Day members of the immediate family always remember the occasion and we try to spend time with Mum on that day. This year, however, it was not possible but Mum received lots of cards plus telephone calls from family members wishing her a happy birthday. Staff at the home where she lives signed a card for her and there was a special cake for her birthday. A photo was taken and circulated to family members.

Restrictions were again in place in July so once again we had to rely on the computer to convey messages. On my birthday I also received a number of cards in the mail from family and friends including cards made by two of my grandchildren.

Although first preference would have been for family members to be together to celebrate birthdays, in 2020 it has still been possible to celebrate these days, but in a different way.

The Jane Austen Society

In her book, Why Women Read Fiction, Helen Taylor includes a chapter about two books - Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre - that constantly appear as favourute books when women are quizzed about their reading. In the chapter she discusses the legacy of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, the enduring appeal of their work, reinterpretations and sequels of the novels, adaptions in other media plus the drawing power of locations associated with the authors.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner is one of the many novels that involve a connection to the work of English author, Jane Austen, as a key focus of the plot. This novel begins before the Second World War but mainly concentrates on the years immediately after the war.

The village of Chawton is the location for the book and the story concerns a group of residents who band together to try and protect the cottage which was once the home of the author. Love of the novels of Jane Austen is the link that brings together the initial eight members of the Jane Austen Society.  As the story develops we learn of the private problems and challenges individually faced by the characters but the friendships developed as they pursue their goal help them to readjust to life after the war.

There are frequent discussions about Jane Austen's novels including drawing parallels as to how the characters in the books might react to situations faced by the characters in the story. Discussions about favourite books and characters made me want to reread the Jane Austen novels. This book provides an enjoyable reading experience for the many people who enjoy reading the novels of Jane Austen.

This is a work of fiction and notes at the end of the book provide information about the actual establishment of the Jane Austen Society.

Jane Austen Society of the United Kingdom

There are Jane Austen Societies throughout the world including The Jane Austen Society of Australia and The Jane Austen Society of Melbourne.

Girl

Irish author, Edna O'Brien, has been witing for more than sixty years. Her latest novel, Girl, has been shortlisted for the James Tait Black award for a book published in 2019.

This is the story of Maryam, a young girl who with her classmates is abducted from the village school by members of the Boko Haram. The men had been looking for boys to turn into soldiers but when they only found girls the plans changed and the young students were taken as sex slaves.

Graphic descriptions are provided of the life of these young girls who were regularly raped and mistreated. Then Maryam married one of the soldiers and had a child. When the village was attacked one night Maryam escaped with the baby but her challenges were only beginning. She and another student, Buki, struggled to remain alive as they sought safety, but who can they trust? When Mayam was eventually reunited with her family she discovered that her problems were not over.

This is a moving story of the plight of many young women in Nigeria, persecuted because of religious rivalries and the strict structures in society which females are expected to adhere to. It is a story that needed to be told and is told well.

The novel was inspired after the abduction of a group of school girls in Nigeria by Boko Haram in 2014. In notes at the end of the book, the author writes briefly of research undertaken before writing the novel.

Girl by Edna O'Brien review - a masterclass of storytelling -  The Guardian 6 September 2019

276 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram six years ago - where are they now? - National Geographic March 2020.