Books – since May

It’s been a while since I’ve updated my reading and listening books but one of the nice things about long haul travel is lots of reading and listening time. So here’s what I’ve been through since May and as usual I am always looking for new ideas of good reads.

Tommo and Hawk – (Audible) Bryce Courtney. 

Second in the trilogy set during the period of Australia becoming an independent country. I enjoyed this one almost as much as the potato factory and learned a lot about the New Zealand whaling industry too. Like the first book there is an abrupt and shocking ending. Terrific

Solomon’s Sons (Audible) Bryce Courtney 

The final in the trilogy and my least favourite of the three. Maybe because there was a lot about war in it – in particular Gallipoli which is not really my thing to read about but I felt the characters were far less fleshed out and real than the fantastic people in the first to books.

The Girls – Emma Cline

Based on Manson cult but from perspective of adult looking back on her 15 year old self. You know this is not going to be a light and fun read but the lead up to the eventual denouement keeps you reading. 

This must be the place – Maggie o’Farrell. 

Unresolved Relationships over decades are always a good read. I liked the first 3/4 of the book better than the end and the female lead – the former actress – was a character I found rather irritating – but I enjoyed the male storyteller’s perspective. 

One for my Baby – Tony Parsons. 

I liked this as it was set in Hong Kong and London – two places I know quite well but really these locations are the backdrop for a man who has a lot of growing up to do after a tragedy impact him. If you grew up in the UK, especially London, you will appreciate his writing and there are times when he is quite funny.

White Gardenia – (Audible) Belinda Alexander 

Interesting story about White Russians in Harbin and Shanghai who subsequently get deported to Australia via the Philippines. Well researched on life in Australia and the migrant camps at that time but I found the characters a bit annoying. Also this is one where I forgot to check I liked the readers voice before I bought it – and frankly I didn’t!

The Dry -Jane Harper. 

Although this is a ripping crime story set in country Victoria, Australia – it is also a story about how tough it can be to live in such places and the abundance of secrets of small towns – especially when the long drought threatens everyone’s livelihoods and at times their commons sense as well. Well written.

The Glass Room – Simon Mawer.

I really liked this story about a beautiful house built in the Czech Republic before the war and revolution and what happens to the house and the people in it over the following decades. The house has many lives and ends up being one of the strongest characters in the book – even though any house is only a reflection of those who live in it. 

Truly Madly Guilty – Liane Moriarty. 

This is the same writer of Big Little Lies so if you enjoyed that you will enjoy this. An entertaining read for a flight with, as you would expect with that title, lots of guilt being felt all round – but why? Well you need to read it to find out.

Five Star Billionaire – Tash Aw

Four Malaysians find themselves in Shanghai trying to deal with what life has thrown them. Mostly the stories are separate but with some intersections along the way and some redemption too. The star is that saucy and demanding mistress – Shanghai – having lived there myself I enjoyed the way the writer shows how the city drives behaviours and actions as it sucks you into its vortex.

Commonwealth – Ann Patchett

Understated story of two families that spans around 50 years from the 60’s and two states in the US. It is strong on sibling rivalries, relationships and eventually maturity. Not that much happens so it is a slow burn but very subtly written as is the case with many of her books.

A Fraction of the Whole – Steve Tolz.

I loved this book. It is mostly about a father and son and includes some entertaining if somewhat outrageous short stories within the broader novel. This is very cleverly done – being both laugh out loud funny and sad at the same time. There are some other characters – but not many – although I loved the criminal who is desperate to write a guide on how to be a good criminal – very funny segments.

Not my Father’s Son – Alan Cumming

This autobiography was one I listened to on Audible. It is read by Alan Cumming (it’s not usual for the author to read their own works but in the case of this wonderful actor he does an excellent job telling his own story). The book jumps back and forth neatly between “then” and “now” and is actually a fascinating story about his background, relationship with his very difficult father and other family mysteries that came to light after he was part of the TV program “Who do you think you are”?  I thought this was excellent.

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Books I’m reading while travelling

While I am resting in Melbourne before my next trip here is an update on the books I’ve read on my travels – warning there are no business or management books here (!).

Source: Books I’m reading while travelling

Books I’m reading while travelling

Books I’ve been reading on my travels – warning there are no business or management books here (!).
Miss You – Kate Eberlen

Quirky kind of sliding doors theme with a touch of the Rosie Project – an easy read and great for a long flight.

The Sense of an Ending – Julian Barnes

A story covering a few decades and how perspectives of things that happen at different times in your life change as you get older and sometimes wiser. Well written and good read

The Gustav Sonata – Rose Tremain

I’ve yet to read any book by Rose Tremain that doesn’t have me thinking about it for days afterwards. They are all so different from one another too. This one is set in Switzerland and tells about the lifelong relationship between two boys – Gustav and Anton – the story of a neutral country that demands it’s people remain dispassionate about everything – and how difficult that actually can be. Loved it. I think there are a few of hers I have yet to read – sadly not enough. She is brilliant.

Euphoria – Lily King

This one was recommended to me by my HR colleague and fellow book reader Sarah Traynor. It tells the story of a strong and willful woman who is an anthropologist in PNG – loosely based on Margaret Mead and her contemporaries experiences – with various tribes in that part of the world – but nevertheless fiction. Fascinating to understand how this profession works and how there are nuances in what different anthropologists choose to specialise in. As someone who has been lucky enough to visit some of the more remote parts of PNG I especially enjoyed this,

Any Human Heart – William Boyd

He is fast becoming one of my favourite writers – shades of John Irving with an ability to write about completely different topics. This one – which has also been made into a BBC series – is about the life of a man – sometimes simple, sad, unbelievable, spread over different countries and just a great way to see how a life can twist and turn on a dime. Excellent. I also loved his book Sweet Caress about a fictional character but interspersing real events into her story – from deb to photographer with many roles in between. Spans a number of decades.

A Little Life – Hanna Yanagihara

I finished this a few days ago but it had such a profound effect on me it has taken me a while to assimilate it all. This is a long book, but easy to read – that is, it is unputdownable but not easy in terms of its content. It includes unspeakable evil and pure love and is a roller coaster of a novel. I believe it has been nominated for many awards and deservedly so. It is the lifelong story of four male college buddies and how they stay in each others’ lives over the following decades – read it.

NEW SINCE JANUARY

This Must Be The Place  – Maggie o’Farrell. 

Unresolved Relationships over decades are always a good read. I liked the first 3/4 of the book better than the end and the female lead – the former actress – was a character I found rather irritating – but I did enjoy the male storyteller’s perspective. 

Eileen – Ottessa Moshfegh

 A very small but significant  period in a young girl’s life that allows her to break out of a boring life and small town. Tightly written but ending lacked the gusto of the first half in my view. However it was listed for the Booker prize so others may disagree. Maybe I have a thing about poor endings?

The Drowning Guard – Linda Lafferty 

I really liked this book. It is set in Constantinople during the time of the Ottoman Empire – an era I really like as my ancestors lived there for many centuries after leaving Spain. It is based on the sister of the sultan and the man who does the drowning of the men she has spent the night with – possible an even tougher  job than HR? 

NEW SINCE MARCH

The newest thing is that thanks to my friend Margot, I’ve discovered audio books. Why this has taken me so long is a mystery but honestly when you listen to a well read story it takes you back to being a child in junior school and leaves you free to imagine things much more vividly. The challenge now is which books to buy to read and which to listen. At the moment I am listening to  Australian novels only using Audible and reading others on the kindle. So newest updates are:

Happy People Read and Drink Coffee  – Agnes Martin-Lugand

A nice plane read – not too taxing about a woman finding her emotional wings again after losing her family in a tragedy.

Moon glow – Michael Chabon

This is the first time I had read Michael Chabon – a well known writer who has a wry observation about life and tells a readable story. This one is about this grandfather and his larger than life exploits which he chooses to share with his grandson when he knows he is dying. It is funny but also full of pathos and reminds us all that what fate has in store for us is not always in our control.

A Town Like Alice – audio book narrated by Robin Bailey

I’m sure most of my Australian friends would have read this book and indeed I had but so long ago I had forgotten it. So I really enjoyed this version, especially as I loved the narration style – but also I found it an interesting mix of an exciting story, an unusual heroine and hero in Jean Paget and Joe, an insight into Malaya during the war and the Australian outback after it as well as the lonely voice of the writer who in some way has fallen for the heroine but is much too much of a gentleman to admit it or do anything about it. In many ways it is dated and some of the references make you cringe with today’s political correctness in mind – but I do think it has stood the test of time.

The Potato Factory – Bryce Courteney narrated by Humphrey Bower

Thanks Tania for suggesting this one. Boy can Bryce Courteney write a good yarn in the style of a  modern day Charles Dickens type epic. This is the first of a trilogy based on the story of Ikey Solomon the notorious Jewish criminal in the east end of London in the mid 1800s who was subsequently transported to Australia. Two thirds of this book is set in Dickensian London and the last part inAustralia. It is just wonderful – the three main characters – Ikey, his wife Hannah and his partner and mistress Mary Abacus are brilliantly bought to life as is the awful environment they come from and end up in. Ikey is based on Fagin – the fence for stolen goods who trained young urchins to pick pockets for him as seen and read by many of us in the book and musical of Oliver. This book is a homage to Australia and really helps explain the mindset of the convicts who came to Australia and how they vowed that their new lives would never be the same as they were in England. It certainly explains a lot about the “fair go” and “tall poppy” syndromes. I can’t wait to hear the second and third parts of the trilogy

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