Zoom meeting Tuesday May 12

We will be having a Zoom meeting on Tuesday May 12 at 2 pm in lieu of our usual face to face meeting.

I will contact members of the group by email with details.

Check the titles

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Reading

What we read in March 2020

Hello everyone

Here is the list of books that we have read recently.
Hopefully you will find some in here to inspire you.
All the best.
Kerrie

Heather

I have obviously read many books whilst confined to home over the past few weeks. They include, amongst others, 

several in the Shetland series by Anne Cleeves;  

Kiss the Girls and make them Cry by Mary Higgins Clarke; 

Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan – an enjoyable read set in England during the war with a few parallels to our current situation (restrictions on food and travel, etc.); 

The Lying Room by Nicci French;  

The Lace Weaver by Lauren Chater and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

The last three I recommend -   

The Lying Room –A woman in a twenty year routine marriage has a fling but on visiting the lover’s pied- à- terre she finds him murdered.  She wipes down and sanitises everything, however, whilst cleaning she has taken off her bangle and forgets to take it when she leaves. She has a difficult relationship with her teenaged daughter and whilst innocent of the murder, the more she lies the more entangled her life becomes (“What tangled webs we weave …. ….. .. ……. .. …….”).

The Lace Weaver – set in Estonia in the 1940’s amid the horrors of Stalin’s regime and Hitler’s Nazis. A small group of women knit traditional shawls and scarves to intricate patterns handed down for generations. They sell them at local markets for a small amount until that is banned, but some of the women are determined to keep their legacy alive.  This brought back many wonderful childhood memories of much time spent with my grandmother (both she and my mother wee tremendous knitters). When I was young my grandmother used to knit the finest, cobwebby stoles in white or black with silver or gold lurex thread running through them. The yarn was as fine as sewing thread and the knitting needles as thin as sewing needles.  The end product definitely passed the ‘wedding ring test’ as in the book and I only wish that I had one today, but alas she gave them all away.

The Silent Patient –is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husband―and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive, with a twist at the end that you would probably not see coming! I won’t spoil it for you! I believe there is also a movie.

Perhaps you could remind readers about the click and collect system at some libraries whilst they are closed.

 [see a post on this blog]

Happy reading and thank heavens for good books to occupy us during these tenuous times. Stay safe and well everyone!

Helene

U3A Reading for Pleasure group read Australian (Adelaide) Hannah Kent’s ‘THE GOOD PEOPLE’, her second. Her first was ‘BURIAL RITES’, which I’ve been lent, but not yet read. 

In two minds how I feel about ‘THE GOOD PEOPLE’; well researched, covers some ‘taboo’ subjects that are so common, need recognition. Set in an older Ireland. 

Grim overall, I thought. 


Cindy
SUNSHINE SISTERS by Jane Green
& THE PEACOCK EMPORIUM by Jojo Moyes.

Jan N

THE HUNTER'S WIFE by Katherine Scholes

SECRETS - Lesley Pearse

THE LIGHT AFTER THE WAR - Anita Abriel

KISS THE GIRLS AND MAKE THEM CRY - Mary Higgins Clark

PARIS FOR ONE - JoJo Moyes (downloaded from Apple Books to my iPad for $1.99. Great very short story for reading between other books)

Barbara W

The Clergyman’s Wife – Molly Greeley.  This is the story of Charlotte Collins nee Lucas who married the vicar of Hunsford.   Charlotte is the cousin of Elizabeth, who marries Mr Darcy (Pride and Prejudice).  Charlotte becomes enamoured with a local farmer who lives in the local Parish.  It’s a lovely story and a very easy read.

Suspect – Robert Crais.  This was an audio book.  A great story which kept me engrossed.  Would have been hard to put down if it had been the book.  It’s the story of an Army dog who’s first handler was killed and she had to be re-trained into the Police Force.  Maggie (the dog) was given to an Officer who was severely injured in a robbery where is partner was killed.  A great story about the dog around solving the robbery.

The Paris Model – Alexandra Joel.  Alexandra Joel is an Australian author who has worked in and around the fashion industry for many years.  This story was inspired by a real story and real event.  Many of the names and events involved with the House of Dior were actual, although the names were changed.  It was a good story and the plot was very good, although the ending was a little bit predictable.  A great. light read.

River Run – Nicole Alexander.  This was an audio book that I read some years ago.  It was equally enjoyable as an audio book.  It’s the story of a family’s very large sheep property in western NSW and the intrigues woven around the family.  A good story.

Journey to Munich – Jacqueline Winspear.  This was another audio book which had a very good story and kept me interested to the end.  It’s the story of a widow who has previously worked for the British Secret Service and is asked to do one last job, rescuing a UK citizen who is being held at Dachau prison by the Gestapo.

The Boundary Fence – Alissa Callen.  This is the story of Ella Quinlivan, a country Vet living in a small town in rural Australia, and her next door neighbour who runs a bison farm.  Each of them have different but tragic stories.  It’s a good story, although a bit predictable, and a n easy read.

Barbara A

THE STRANGER, Kate  Riordan

THE SHADOW HOUR, Kate  Riordan

PAST IMPERFECT, Julian  Fellowes
Please note everyone that Barbara's husband Robert died unexpectedly on Tuesday 7 April.

Suzanne - having a shoulder replacement
ANGELS OF MERCY
intending to read
THE PARIS MODEL
HER MOTHER'S SECRET, Natasha Lester
A KISS FROM MR FITZGERALD, Natasha Lester
THE GERMAN GIRL
THE DAUGHTER'S TALE
WILD ASPARAGUS, WILD STRAWBERRIES

Meredith

Have just finished reading THE WEDDING DRESS MAKER by Leah Fleming

A story of a single mother and her life trying to provide for her son. A easy read as

I can’t seem to concentrate with all that is going  on at the moment.

Spent today moving 2 tons of wood so we can survive the winter.

Kerrie
I've had a good month, mainly because I have been travelling and sitting around in Tampa with nothing to do. Not much apart from crime fiction though. I read most of them as e-books on my Kindle

1. 4.5, DAY OF THE DEAD, Nicci French
2. 4.5, EVEN DOGS IN THE WILD, Ian Rankin
3. 4.7, DEATH IS NOW MY NEIGHBOUR, Colin Dexter - audio book  
4. 4.5, THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ, Heather Morris - not crime fiction 
5. 4.5, NINE PERFECT STRANGERS, Liane Moriarty - Australian author 
6. 4.5, MR NOBODY, Catherine Steadman
7. 4.3, CHICKEN FEED, Minette Walters
8. 4.5, THE WIFE AND THE WIDOW, Christian White - Australian  
9. 4.5, THEIR LITTLE SECRET, Mark Billingham
10. 4.6. THE LONG CALL, Ann Cleeves
11. 4.5, GONE BY MIDNIGHT, Candice Fox - Australian 
12. 4.4, THE AU PAIR, Emma Rous  
13. 4.4, A MATTER OF MOTIVE, Margot Kinberg
14. 4.2, DARKNESS FOR LIGHT, Emma Viskic - Australian 
15. 4.8, BLOOD RIVER, Tony Cavanaugh - Australian