The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Kate F house 15th May

Kate F, Kate G, Therese, Bronwyn, Wendy, Lynn, Kate S, Fiona, Pauline and Cathy all gathered last Wednesday night to discuss The Light Between Oceans. Apologies from Jenny, Genny, Sue Gi and Sue Ge.

This months book, "The Light between Oceans" was a outstanding story loved by all. It is set off south-west Western Australia, on a remote island, Janus Rock and the small mainland port, named Port Partageuse, with beautifully described landscape and characters, in a post WW1 world.


Kate G kicked off the discussion with a rapturous endorsement of the story. The beautiful story of the dilemma that unveiled, delighted Kate throughout. When asked to rate the book out of 5 she gave it a 10+!
The discussion went on what a delightful story and incredible sadness and joy the events revealed as we read about the discovery of the baby and the ethical dilemma and consequences of Isabel's decisions. With Tom's ever present conscience doubting the correctness of Isabel's decision.

The beautiful description throughout the story, such as Tom's first moments on Janus Rock alone,

"Then, a moments stillness. Not silence: the waves still shattered on the rocks, the wind screeched around his ears, and a loose door on one of the storage sheds banged a disgruntled drumbeat. But something inside Tom was still for the first time in years."

We talked about the sadness of Isabel at not being able to have children, how none of us could ever really understand how hard that was for her, and of her beautiful relationship with Lucy.
We loved the wonderful other characters in the story, of Bluey and Ralph, Bill and Violet, (Isabel's parents), Hannah and her sister Gwen and their father Septimus, the policemen and of course Lucy/ Grace.
We talked about post war life. The difficulty Tom had adjusting to life after the war, why he had been allowed to stay alive. Violet coping with the loss of both her sons. The attitude of the town to Frank, the "Hun" which had started the whole sorry story. The utter sadness which Lucy had to deal with, loosing all she knew, her parents and grandparents and then the slow rebuilding of her life beginning with Septimus's help.
The ending we agreed led to many buckets of tears, of wanting a "Hollywood" ending where it is all happy and contentment.
It was a outstanding story loved by all.

Average rating by all

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Cathy's Chronicles

Congratulations to 

• Sue Gi becoming a grandmother.

• Kate G announced her Son got engaged. And she's very pleased.

• Therese moves to her new house this weekend.

• Pauline's son is off to USA in June.

• Cathy's daughter is in USA now, and she's staying for a year!

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NEXT BOOK

Selected by Bronwyn 

Wolf Hall  

By Hilary Mantel 

On June 12

Venue TBA 

then Wendy on July 10

then Kate G on August 7

then Therese on September 4

then Genny on October 2

then Jenny on October 30

Love Anthony

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova 17th April 2013
This week we all gathered at Sue Ge..'s house for a wonderful discussion on "Love Anthony".
Thankyou Sue for welcoming us with three white balloons on the letterbox, a glass full of white rocks and some welcoming cranberry and vodka martinis. Apologies from Wendy on holidays in Tassie, Jenny heading north in school holidays and Lynn.
Kate G, Kate F, Sue Gi, Therese, Pauline, Fiona, Genny, Bronwyn, Kate S, Sue Ge and I all agreed this was a wonderful book that looked into the world of autism, friendship, marriage and love in a beautiful setting on Nantucket island.
Lynn (absent on holidays) opened the discussion via an email read out by Sue detailing her enjoyment of the book.
As the story of the lives of Beth and Olivia developed the gradual collision of the characters lives emerged. Some felt the characters were a little remiss in not remembering that they had "met" on a previous occasion, but the world of coincidence and random events has touched all our lives. The channeling of Anthony's voice through the book Beth was writing was to some a little contrived, but all agreed it was a wonderful way to introduce the life of someone with autism. The author, Lisa Genova has indeed been well researched in autism and as with the other books we have read (Left Neglected and Still Alice) learned a lot through a beautiful story.
The pictures from Pauline's book on Nantucket helped the images we had drawn in our heads come alive. A little stay on the island around Daffodil Day would be welcome to us all! At $6000 a week for a house on "Fat Ladies beach (now called Ladies beach), we'll need to put aside a few pennies to save for that holiday! Kate S pointed out that Australia has far superior beaches of greater length and access ability than anywhere in the US!
The under story of Beth's book it was felt, especially by Kate G, could have been extended more, as the voice of the life of an autistic child's world was compelling. The description of the rooms in which Anthony's world is lived was a revelation of an autistic mind.
The teacher experiences of Kate F and Sue Gi and Bronwyn with autistic children were shared. As well, many of us have had some experiences of the some of the qualities of someone with autism.
The homework assignment from the marriage councilor that Beth took so long to answer of:-
What I need to feel Wanted, - What I need to feel Safe,  -What I need to feel Happy and  -What I need to feel Loved, was the question we all ask of our lives, be it marriage, our family, our careers. It was the beautiful way she described what the reason being born with autism was all about.
The wonderful characters that made up the book club and the friendships, helped us to reaffirm what our book club means to us. Although we are not about to provide "book themed" dinners for our turn at book club hosting! Our manageable but tasty suppers with small tokens of our books is far more achievable in our busy worlds, and all we really need is a chance to catch up and enjoy chatting about our lives and our experience with the books.
We had been saddened by Therese's mothers death this month and offer her our deepest sympathies. Her life is incredibly full at the moment with her move from her house of 31 years to her new house in Kurrajong, with a month in between living out of a suitcase. Our prayer and thoughts are with you through this time and offer our love and help.


Next Book is:-
The light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman on May 15 at Kate F house.
Where we will be able to look at photos of our newest grandmothers' grandchild !!!!!!!!!!

Bookclub houskeeping

Thanks Sue for choosing this book, we all loved Lisa Genova's "Left Neglected" so much. 

It would be a good idea to start reading this long weekend so we don't run out of time at the end. 

Next meeting April 17.

I've changed the order slightly as Jenny can't do her turn soon. If it doesn't suit let me know.

2013

Sue Gi      January 23      Still Missing

Lynn          February 20   The Street Sweeper

Cathy        March 20        All That I Am

Sue Ge     April 17

Kate F       May 15

Bronwyn   June 12

Wendy      July 10

Therese    August 7

Kate G      September 4

Genny      October 2

Jenny       October 30

Fiona        November 27

Pauline    December          

I was looking at the book list and thought it would be nice to start a discussion on some of our favourite and not so favourite books that we have read over the past 13 and a bit years.

I'll start with our very first book, and I know not everyone read it, but its been a popular book, and a film, so you can start by writing what you remember about it and the beginnings of the book club. It also takes you back to what your life was like all those years ago.

I can remember reading this book and being captivated by its story. It had been a while since I had read a novel and to have the opportunity to join a bookclub excited me. This book was hard to put down and I remember feeling guilty about dedicating time to reading it. There was an overwhelming drive to the story. Even now, I can picture the gloomy house as my mind drew a picture of the vivid description of the house. I can even remember a part of the story where someone is running down stairs to a lake and the fear and anticipation of what would unfold. 

I can remember the gathering at Fiona's house, a rare opportunity to have time away from family commitments. I can remember thinking at the time that this was the beginning of something good and planning what I would have to do to my house to accommodate a bookclub gathering!!!

At the end of 1999, Geraldine still hadn't started school ! She's in her last year now ! Bernadette was finishing year 3, Frances was about to go to high school,  and Angela was in year 8. !!!

Funny how in your head you feel the same, but when you have children you notice how everyone is changing around you.

So either add your comments to this item or email something longer and I will post it for all to read.

All That I Am

 Cathy's house this month 18th March 2013

Apologies from Fiona, Wendy, Sue G, Sue Gil, Pauline, Jenny

All That I Am by Anna Funder

We had a lively discussion last night on Anna Funder's latest novel, "All That I Am", looking at the largely unknown history of the social democrats in Germany before the second world war. I was relived to discover that I wasn't alone in feeling that the book's beginning was confusing, and that the characters "voice" in different time zone was an unnecessary commencement to the story. Kate F  agreed on a confusing beginning, causing her to start again to place time and people with the events.
A good deal needed to be read before a enthralling story took off. At this point all agreed on an interesting story full of brave ideologically strong characters which developed into a rich story, depicting history in a time, little of us had read about before.
The character of Ruth was someone Lynn felt the story could have followed to a much later age than in the story. There was a real connection to the places in Sydney and especially around Bondi mentioned in the story. To have heard more about how her life was when she got out of Germany and arrived in Sydney, before she became the old women recollecting her pre war self.
There were parts in the story which I found incredibly gripping. When you suddenly realized that there was a connection to something Hans had done and what was now unraveling. You wanted to shout out to warn Ruth and Dora not to stay where they were but to keep on running. But this is exactly how it was for the refugees of this and any era where you don't know who to trust or where is safe. Reading about the boat load of refugees being turned away from a safe port, knowing they were returned to Europe to a dreadful fate. Makes you think about current refugees coming to Australia seeking safety from persecution. How history has many lessons for us all.
Dora was my favorite character. She was so brave and driven. She had such a believable original ideology, of the social democrat voice in Germany. It caused her to risk everything. To speak out and educate. As time went on her message changed to educate everyone in Germany and the world about what was happening as Hitler rose to power. She believed to her very end that when people listened and believed her they would change and the disaster that was coming could be stopped.

Bronwyn was able to read some great parts out to us that helped her reflect on moving sections of the story. Unfortunately I can't remember them.(Bronwyn could you please add them in the comments)

There were places in Germany and France that Kate S had just returned from which made the story's location relate to her. Therese had visited I parts in Germany which told of the sad story of the lives lost because of Hitler.
For those of us who finished the book it was a great read and I hope inspires others to keep on reading the story.

Having had a long discussion we moved outside to the deck. We were blessed with a mild night and were able to enjoyed a supper of brownies and fruit and yogurt and caught up on the events in our families. Therese's news that she had sold her house, left us with both happy and sad feelings. Glad for her that she was for filling her dream but sad she was moving away.
Lynn was pleased to tell us of Anthony's new career, and the dramas of the interviews.

Next book will be at Sue Gee house on April 17
‘Love Anthony’ by Lisa Genova