Hello Again
As the weather cools, I think we all need to stock up on some more good books! I wish I could use wet weather as the reason, but not yet.
Our group last week was small but fun—thank you to those who came, or contributed by email, for your gems to share.
NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 19th June 11.00 a.m. (Third Tuesday of the month)
Goondiwindi Library 100 Marshall Street Goondiwindi Ph: 07 4671 7470
Ilona
Goondiwindi Library
Feature
Our featured authors this month were:
Gail Jones, Australian author who writes in quite a range of settings and social situations, exploring and unmasking human emotions andinteractions. There are a number of Gail’s booksavailable through our library group and we highlighted five different ones.
Juliet Marillier, a New Zealand-born author of predominantly historical fantasy. We focused on two of her trilogies in which we can access all the books through the library catalogue, so if you want to start a new series, new author, come in and check it out.
Some of the Books Recommended
See What I Have Done —
Sarah Schmidt – historical fiction based on Lizzie Borden. (Thanks Pam)
My Italian Bulldozer —
Alexander McCall Smith. (Thanks Bob)
Lingering Doubts
re-examining the Brisbane Arcade Murder of 1947, written by members ofthe accused’s family. (Thanks Cherry)
Gurindji Journey —
Minoru Hokari – a Japanesescholar’s experience of living with the Australianindigenous Gurindji people. (Thanks Bronwen)
The End of Sleep —
Rowan Somerville. (Thanks Alice). Looking forward to your comments next month, Bob)
The Shadow of the Wind –
Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Currently on loan to another library, but can be ordered back in.
A Gentleman in Moscow –
Amor Towles. (Thanks Barb)
Dear Banjo –
Sasha Wasley – Australian rural fiction set in the vast Kimberley region.
A Place With Heart –
Jennie Jones – Australian rural fiction with a setting of modern problems of graffiti, vandalism and drugs.
NON-FICTION
Baby Boomers – Helen Townsend – A nostalgic collection of memories, quips, humour—and yes, recipes – from Australia in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The quips included and the copies of some of the advertisements are just precious!
The Boy From Baradine — Craig Emerson’s story.
From the bush of Baradine to the corridors of Canberra, this is Craig Emerson’s story of triumph and courage over adversity. It is an unusual ex- politician’s memoir. It is a deeply human tale of trauma and triumph, of fear and fun, of character overcoming adversity. It will also inspire young people that it is possible to succeed from the most unlikely of personal circumstances.
Journey of a Thousand Storms – Kooshyar Karimi
Dr Kooshyar Karimi, tells his gripping personal story of surviving prison in Iran and life as a refugee before finding success in Australia. Kooshyar Karimi had two careers in Iran, one as a doctor and one as an award-winning translator. Until he was kidnapped by the Intelligence Service. Behind his professional success, Kooshyar was a rebel on several fronts. Marginalised since boyhood as a Jew in a fundamentalist Islamic state, he was a member of a political group that opposed the government. He’d also been using his medical skills illegally, to save unmarried pregnant women from death by stoning. Snatched from the street by the secret service, he was jailed and tortured and then forced to spy for the regime, before finally escaping to Turkey. There he faced a whole new struggle to keep his family safe while awaiting refugee status from the UN. He was forbidden to work and at the mercy of corrupt police, con men and red tape. Then life became more dangerous still, when the Intelligence Service tracked him down and used his mother, back in Iran, as blackmail.
Next Month (so far….)
Fiction
Clare MacIntosh
Clare Mackintosh spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant now writes full time. She lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children.
Tea Cooper
Author of Australian contemporary and historical fiction; interesting settings and research.
Non-Fiction
Now I know I said we would look at her story this month—but I didn’t! So, we’ll try again.
Lillian Armfield—Australia’s first female detective.
By the late 1920s, eastern Sydney was the heartland of organised crime and the notorious turf battles known as the Razor Wars. Lillian Armfield paved the way for the women of today’s police force and her amazing story is also a compelling chapter in Australian true crime history.
HAVE A LAUGH – Post Turtles (Thanks Pam)
While stitching a cut on the hand o a 75 year old farmer, whose hand was caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to politicians and their role as our leaders.
The old cockie said, “Well, as I see it, most politicians are ‘Post turtles’”.
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a ‘post turtle’ was. The old farmer said, “When you’re driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a post turtle.”
The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain. “You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there, he’s elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of half-wit put him up there to begin with.”
