Theresa Smith's Blog, page 121
October 23, 2018
New Release Book Review: The Football Whisperer by Mel A Rowe
About the Book:
When life makes you play a whole new game…
In a spectacular career-threatening clash, professional footballer, Brendan Ward, is injured. Devastated and desperate to recover before facing risky surgery, Ward’s wacky family search alternative remedies that Ward refuses to try.
The local racetrack’s Reiki Master, Zara Phelps, specialises in thoroughbreds and won’t touch people—especially famous footballers. But Zara’s father, an avid fan of Ward’s Club, forces her to make that first house-call.
Ward is shocked-at-first-sight of meeting Zara, sparking a connection that is far too intense to ignore.
Zara, in turn, fights her attraction to Ward, who not only tests her professional ethics but also awakens her deepest fear—falling in love again.
But Ward has never let a man get away from him in a game, and won’t surrender what he feels for Zara, and in need of her help, he finds himself far from his fans, coaches, and his team. Stranded in the country, amongst ex-car-thieves and a stalking pit bull, Ward faces his biggest challenges while trying to heal. But at what risk – the love of his life or the life he loves?
If you enjoy quirky characters and witty dialogue, then you’ll love The Football Whisperer.
My Thoughts:
The Football Whisperer is a such a lovely novel, warm-hearted and witty, with a clear focus on healing, facing your fears, and loving without reserve.
I will admit that I wasn’t too keen on Brendan Ward at the beginning of this novel, our injured footballer. He came across to me as impatient with everything and everyone, overly spoilt by his mother and dismissively rude to his sister – although, in all fairness on this point, she really was a bit hard to take! He seemed to have little grasp on the world beyond the borders of his football universe. When he meets Zara’s family, it’s immediately apparent that he can’t wrap his head around their dynamics. The idea that you take someone into your home to help them, even if they do have a sketchy background, was not something that happened in Ward’s world. And this is where he began to get interesting as a character, because once he was removed from his comfort zone, and consequently pushed into scenarios he’d never been in before, we began to see beneath the outer layer of Ward, the fear he was nursing, the untapped trauma left over from his horrific injury. I absolutely loved how Max, a traumatised and wounded rescued pit bull, decided to make Ward his person. And correspondingly, how Ward, who was not a dog person at all and who was also more than a little wary of Max, found himself bonding with this animal in a way that saw the two of them recovering from trauma together. I always love a story that involves animals healing humans and vice versa – I got both in this novel!
Zara on the other hand, I connected to instantly. I was particularly fascinated by her career as a practitioner of Reiki. She was such a loving person and the secret she was nursing saddened me greatly. She really did bring the best out in Ward and I enjoyed witnessing the way he chipped at her armour, persisting with her and not giving her any room to shut him out. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics within her family, a domestic set up quite familiar to me as I see this often out here where I live. I love how she was putting her skills and knowledge to use by treating horses. Despite the terrible thing that occurred in her past to turn her away from treating people, she hadn’t abandoned her calling, instead shifting her focus onto animals; I admired her for this. The connection between Zara and Ward sizzled from the outset but she did a great job at keeping the focus on healing his injury for as long as she did. The way she dug in a bit deeper too, understanding the trauma that lay beneath his injury was a testimony to her holistic approach to her work.
The Football Whisperer is well written with its engaging scenes, witty dialogue, and unique band of characters. The more serious undertone threaded into the narrative that takes a closer look at healing your way back from trauma is balanced by the lighter moments and the blossoming romance between Ward and Zara. By aligning the experiences of traumatised animals with traumatised humans, Mel has given us a novel that highlights these healing connections in a thought provoking context. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction.
Behind the Pen with Mel A Rowe
Today I am delighted to welcome Mel A Rowe to Behind the Pen, sharing with us a few of her favourites. Over to you Mel…
What is your favourite and why…
Character from your latest release, The Football Whisperer?
It’s Brendan Ward, the unlikely hero in The Football Whisperer. He’s such a likeable character who isn’t the alpha male at all. He bickers with his sister. Loves his mother. Hangs with the boys in his bachelor pad. Gets paid to play football and doing as he’s told by the coach. Basically, the guy is spoilt.
Yet, after suffering a career-changing injury, Ward is thrown into a whole new world. He realises how insular his world is as a professional footballer only seeing as far as the next game. I enjoyed this character’s goofy, humorous approach to life while facing his fears.
Scene from the Football Whisperer?
It’s the alley scene near the end of the book, not giving too much away… This highly emotional scene rushed from fear to fun in only a few pages. It conveyed many issues and emotions within their words and body language. Unlike the lush countryside or lighter scenes throughout the book, we’re taken to an ugly back alley. It’s so raw as the couple’s black-moment; do they break-up or make-up?
It has one of my favourite lines from the story in that scene:
‘… a newspaper page floated like a magic carpet on the wind, somersaulting across the pavement only to disappear around the corner. It was like a page of someone’s story, gone, but never truly forgotten.’
Movie of all time?
Titanic! I love this epic movie. I adore the costumes, the grandeur of the ship, and Rose’s story, watching her evolve into this strong woman in charge of her own destiny. Even if it is a tragic love story, it’s a classic.
Book you always keep a copy of and recommend to others?
Jumping from romantic movies to horror— it’s Stephen King’s, The Talisman.
He co-wrote this with Peter Straub and I’ve dragged my copy all over Australia since a teenager. It now sits safely on my keeper-shelf, where I’ll brush-off my dog-eared copy to revisit the magic between the covers.
As a multi-genre-writer, this novel brilliantly demonstrates the use of various genres. It blends urban fantasy, adventure, humour, and horror, in this epic journey of a young man trying to save his mother. It’s a story that has something for everyone.
Fashion accessory that despite having plenty of, you still keep collecting?
Backpacks—that’s a fashion accessory, right?
It used to be all about handbags in my life in the corporate world, and backpacks are still technically bags. I have overnight packs, expedition trekker’s packs, day packs, multi-day packs, wet packs, bike packs, camera packs, hydration packs, laptop tech-packs etc…
You can never have enough bags. (*cough—backpacks)
Treat you indulge in?
Home-made iced coffees.
You’ll find many NT locals love their iced coffee because fresh milk is rare. With no dairy this far north, our milk arrives in trucks or kept in boxes to live in the cupboard. So, having fresh milk, with dollops of vanilla ice cream, and a dash of Bickford’s Iced Coffee Syrup is my divine break from the intense summer heat we endure.
Place to be?
The Northern Territory. I’m biased because it’s where I live. Like my tagline: A writer & weekend wanderer, I’ve travelled the northern coastline and its many islands. I’ve visited many indigenous inlands and followed the escarpments, discovering ancient rock art or to swim in secluded waterfalls.
Here you can cross floodplains by air-boat that resemble inland seas. Only to return four months later and drive across the same terrain creating your own dust storm beneath your 4×4’s tyres. It’s such a dramatic, every changing landscape, few individuals will ever have the privilege to experience.
It’s a unique country of pure air, with no cars, no phone towers, no buildings, just lots of open space and the story of its people. The wildlife is amazing—besides the man-eating crocodiles—we have over 1/3rd of Australia’s bird population within this one region. Let’s not forget the spectacular stargazing, where you’ll never see a night sky so ginormous.
The Northern Territory is truly a magical, untouched, timeless wilderness that I describe, along with the unique culture, in my upcoming outback series set for release in 2019.
Season of the year?
As mentioned above, I live in the Top End of Australia where we have three seasons:
The Wet Season (Summer) where it rains for months and is the cyclone season. Everything floods. Roads are closed, and you can literally see the grass growing.
The Dry Season (Winter) where we get no rain for six months allowing everything to dry out from the Wet. This time of the year, you’re guaranteed blue skies and no humidity. It’s also when we receive thousands of tourists escaping the southern Australian winters.
The Build-up (Spring) Also known as, The Troppo Season or The Mango Season. It’s horrendous! With 36-40C days with 90% + humidity, it’s like walking around in hot soup. Rain turns to steam when it hits the ground, swimming pools become warm baths, and all you do is pray for rain.
And so, my favourite time is … (*drum roll*)
The change-over between the Wet and the Dry (Autumn) also known by the locals as the Knock-em-downs. Roads are re-opened. The intense heat and humidity have disappeared with the monsoons leaving everything green. The amazing array of colourful birds haven’t migrated yet, and they gather in the many abundant billabongs. Rivers are full of turtles, stingrays, even sharks, and the favourite fisherman’s trophy—the mighty barramundi. Oh, and, for some unknown reason—no flies that time of year.
You can check out my Instagram feed to discover how big and beautiful my backyard truly is.
If you enjoy quirky families, small towns, or want to know more about the rich life hidden within a cattle station in the heart of the Territorian outback, join me at: MelAROWE.com
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About The Football Whisperer :
When life makes you play a whole new game…
In a spectacular career-threatening clash, professional footballer, Brendan Ward, is injured. Devastated and desperate to recover before facing risky surgery, Ward’s wacky family search alternative remedies that Ward refuses to try.
The local racetrack’s Reiki Master, Zara Phelps, specialises in thoroughbreds and won’t touch people—especially famous footballers. But Zara’s father, an avid fan of Ward’s Club, forces her to make that first house-call.
Ward is shocked-at-first-sight of meeting Zara, sparking a connection that is far too intense to ignore.
Zara, in turn, fights her attraction to Ward, who not only tests her professional ethics but also awakens her deepest fear—falling in love again.
But Ward has never let a man get away from him in a game, and won’t surrender what he feels for Zara, and in need of her help, he finds himself far from his fans, coaches, and his team. Stranded in the country, amongst ex-car-thieves and a stalking pit bull, Ward faces his biggest challenges while trying to heal. But at what risk – the love of his life or the life he loves?
If you enjoy quirky characters and witty dialogue, then you’ll love The Football Whisperer.
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October 22, 2018
New Release Book Review: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
About the Book:
There are times when destiny and love collide. This story is one of them.
From the number one bestselling author of The Notebook and Two by Two comes an unforgettable tale of enduring love . . . Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. After six years with her boyfriend, she is no longer sure what she wants, and when her father becomes ill she heads to her family’s cottage at Sunset Beach in North Carolina to make some difficult decisions.
Tru Walls has been summoned across an ocean from where he was born and raised in Zimbabwe by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. In journeying to Sunset Beach, Tru hopes to unravel the mystery surrounding his mother’s life, but the letter will lead him in an unexpected direction.
When these two strangers’ paths cross, their chance encounter sets in motion a heart-breaking story – one that will transcend decades, continents and the workings of fate.
My Thoughts:
I’ve long been a fan of Nicholas Sparks, which I know is fully in contradiction to my general disinterest in romance novels, but there’s something about the emotion he injects into his stories that gets me every time. However, Every Breath, his latest release, well, this is difficult for me to admit, but…I was underwhelmed. For a start, I didn’t cry at all, not even a lump in my throat, and this is unheard of. I have never been dry eyed while reading a Nicholas Sparks novel in the past. I feel somewhat unfulfilled now. In saying this though, it’s still a lovely story with plenty of heartfelt moments, don’t get me wrong, it just didn’t stretch my emotions quite the way some of his other novels have.
In this classic story of insta-love, Tru and Hope meet on the beach where they are both biding their time. Within a couple of days, they are deeply in love. It’s a stretch, I know, but it’s what comes after that is the point of this story, because of course, fate intends on dividing them.
‘He turned away, unable to face her. He’d always believed that anything was possible when it came to love, that any obstacle could be overcome. Wasn’t that a truth that nearly everyone took for granted?’
There are two things that I particularly enjoyed about this novel. The first was learning about Tru’s job as a game guide. That Nicholas Sparks loves Africa is very much evident within the pages of this novel. Any of the passages to do with Africa were infused with such a heady atmosphere, the sense of place well grounded and ripe for the reader’s enjoyment.
The second thing I really enjoyed was the whole concept of ‘Kindred Spirit’, which Nicholas assures us in his end notes is a real place. The idea of a mail box in the middle of nowhere existing for the sole purpose of people leaving letters filled with the words they can’t, for whatever reason, say or deliver to their intended recipient, is deeply moving. How uplifting, to think that a person could read a letter intended for someone else but read it at exactly the right time for it to make a profound influence upon their own life. Or even the idea of using the letterbox to connect to someone who you have lost track of. I did love how Nicholas created a story to specifically revolve around such an incredible concept.
‘If there was one question she could have answered, it was simply this: Why does love always seem to require sacrifice?’
Overall, Every Breath is a moving love story, about destiny and timing, about never giving up and never letting go. It moves along at a gentle pace, one of those stories that is more about the journey than the big pivotal moments. I appreciated the intent of this novel, and even though it didn’t make me cry, Nicholas Sparks still reigns supreme when it comes to classic romantic fiction.
October 21, 2018
Book Review: The Beguiled by Thomas Cullinan
About the Book:
A classic slice of Southern Gothic, shot through with psychological suspense.
When an injured Union soldier is found in the Virginia woods as the Civil War rages, he is brought to the nearby Miss Martha Farnsworth Seminary for Young Ladies to recover. For the sheltered girls and their teachers, the arrival of the attractive John McBurney is a thrilling distraction from normal life. But before long, McBurney’s presence will turn them against each other and upend all their lives – with potentially devastating consequences. Combining psychological suspense with humour and romantic drama, The Beguiled is a wildly entertaining novel of sexual tension and repression, and of rivalry, jealousy and, ultimately, vengeance.
My Thoughts:
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with this novel, but goodness! As far as classic reads go, this is a pearler. It’s a modern classic, given it was published in 1966, but a classic nonetheless. It absolutely ripples with atmosphere, set in Virginia (the South) during the American Civil War. The sense of time and place is vividly recreated; the old Southern customs standing strong against the incoming Yankee tide while also fraying them at the edges. The Beguiled has a gothic feel to it: the isolation of the school, the thick vein of foreboding running right through the narrative, the powerlessness of the women and girls, stuck in the middle of nowhere with war raging around them, isolated from trustworthy assistance, and the sense of impropriety simmering below the surface.
‘I didn’t have any notion then how much evil we got in us, all of us. Seems like none of us ever stop to think how evil can collect in us…how one little mean thought can pile on another ‘til finally we got a mighty load of badness stacked up inside us…and then all it takes is maybe one nasty word to set off the trigger in us…and maybe that’s some little triflin thing that wouldn’t even have raised our tempers in a calmer time…and then we rush ahead and do things we coulda sworn to the Lord Almighty in the beginning we never had in us to do.’
The Beguiled is told in the first person, alternating between each of the women and girls that live at the school. We only ever experience John McBurney through their impressions. The style of story telling was very intimate, and consequently, extremely absorbing. It is a rather long novel but it reels you in, the suspense securing your attention, along with the beautiful writing and strong character development. Thomas Cullinan has a brilliant sense of humour and his characters, with their introspective musings and entitled cutting remarks were incredibly entertaining, particularly little Marie and Emily. I enjoyed discovering the backstories of each, teasing out the relationship dynamics, and getting a sense of the pecking order within the house. There were moments of such ridiculousness when it came to John McBurney’s outrageous conduct coupled with the most extraordinarily obvious lies he repeatedly told; yet it all worked so well within the context in which it was presented. The way he charmed his way into the household, systematically taking each woman’s measure and then setting about pressing the right buttons on each to serve whatever purpose he deigned necessary at the time. He was indeed a first class charlatan, a priceless creation on the part of Thomas Cullinan.
I really enjoyed this novel. I feel that The Beguiled is an excellent example of fiction written by an author who knew exactly what they were doing at every step of their story. I have been told that the film doesn’t do this novel justice. I’m yet to see the film so I can’t confirm or deny this claim, but if you have doubts about this novel based on the film, I do urge you to set them aside and give it a go. This is one classic that is well worth picking up and getting lost in.
October 19, 2018
Bingo! The Beguiled by Thomas Cullinan
Bingo Saturday is now getting down to the pointy end of the categories. This week, after much procrastination over which square to tick off, I finally settled on the following:
A forgotten classic
What exactly constitutes a forgotten classic though? The more I thought about it, the more grey this category became. In essence, I thought a forgotten classic could be a novel that is no longer well known, but once was. It could also be a classic that you’ve never heard of, but that then becomes troublesome as a definition because what I haven’t heard of could actually be quite well known to another reader. In the end, I chose my forgotten classic based on the following reasons:
Since its publication in 1966, it has been made into two films (1970 and 2017).
Penguin has published it in 2017 under its Modern Classics range, and Penguin pretty much are the experts when it comes to classics so I’m siding with them.
The book in question is The Beguiled, published in 1966 and written by Thomas Cullinan. Described as “A classic slice of Southern Gothic, shot through with psychological suspense“, I found this novel beautifully written, intensely atmospheric and filled with a gripping sense of foreboding. I am yet to write my full review though (it’s been a busy week).
Here’s the book description:
When an injured Union soldier is found in the Virginia woods as the civil War rages, he is brought to the nearby Miss Martha Farnsworth Seminary for Young Ladies to recover. For the sheltered girls and their teachers, the arrival of the attractive John McBurney is a thrilling distraction from normal life. But before long, McBurney’s presence will turn them against each other and upend all their lives – with potentially devastating consequences.
Goodreads lists four covers, the original hardback, the paperback that came after, and the two film tie-ins (pictured below in this order):
I’m quite taken with the original hardback but the paperback is kind of creepy and Clint Eastwood just looks like a corpse propped up against the gate in his film tie-in cover. The 2017 film tie-in captures the atmosphere and era of the novel quite well, so the first and last covers are definitely my preferred.
I am yet to watch the 2017 film but I have it sitting here on the back burner waiting for a spare two hours. I’ll pass on the 1970 version. My review will be up in the coming week.
This year I’m playing book bingo with Mrs B’s Book Reviews. On the first and third Saturday of each month, we’ll post our latest entry. We’re not telling each other in advance what we’re currently reading or what square we’ll be filling next; any coincidences are exactly that – and just add to the fun!
Follow our card below if you’d like to join in, and please let us know if you do so we can check out what you’re reading.
Now I’m off to check out what square Mrs B has marked off for this round. See you over there!
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October 18, 2018
New Release Book Review: The Witches of St Petersburg by Imogen Edwards-Jones
About the Book:
Brimming with black magic, sex and intrigue, a gorgeous historical novel for fans of Dinah Jefferies and Santa Montefiore.
The Russian Empire is on the verge of collapse. Revolution is in the air. The starving stalk the streets of St Petersburg and yet the Imperial Court still commute between their estates and organise their lavish balls.
Two sisters arrive in the city. Princesses from Montenegro; they are famed for their wild beauty and mystical powers. Initially ridiculed and outcast as the daughters of a provincial ‘Goat King’, they react in the only way they know how. They befriend the isolated Tsarina Alexandra and, using their gifts, they help her in her increasingly desperate quest to give birth to a son and heir. The circle closes. The girls are the gateway. Gurus, clairvoyants, holy fools and charlatans all try their luck. Then in one last, doomed, throw of the dice, the sisters introduce Rasputin into the Russian Court…
Based on the true story of the lives of Princess Militza and Princess Anastasia of Montenegro during the dying days of the Russian Empire, The Witches of St Petersburg is a tale of love, lust, power and betrayal at the heart of the Romanov Court.
My Thoughts:
I read a non-fiction book earlier this year about the Romanovs and it piqued my interest. My knowledge of Russian history, from any era, is incredibly sketchy, so this seemed like a novel I could sink into. The Witches of St Petersburg was certainly rich in the history of its era, particularly the ins and outs of court life; there was a gossipy vibe that ran through the narrative, one had to read closely and resist the urge to skim as the author wove a lot of necessary information into these gossipy passages. I did enjoy these at first, but this novel is very long and prone to repetition, particularly via this type of scene. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of, Russian royalty, and everyone seemed to have similar first names and titles. The list at the beginning of the novel was not helpful when you’re reading an ebook, it’s just far too much effort to flip back and forth all the time. Further testimony to the length of the novel is the fact that Rasputin doesn’t make an appearance until past the half way mark. I was a little confused prior to this, wondering where he was as I’d formed the impression he was a major player in the novel. Despite these quibbles, I still enjoyed The Witches of St Petersburg. Militza in particular was a favourite, I found her tenacity and foresight admirable. I don’t for a minute believe that she and her sister Stana were motivated by anything other than securing their own social statuses, but still, they ingratiated themselves and wove their brand of magic right into the heart of the Imperial palace, something many before them had tried and failed at. Yet despite the favour bestowed upon them by the royal couple, the ‘Black Princesses’ as they were known, had many enemies and had to tread a careful path, forever looking over their shoulders.
‘Mikitza could feel a wave of irritation. Why was Stana always so indiscreet? The maid didn’t need to know about their family, their business. Ever since the wedding the sisters had deliberately decided to keep their “customs” to themselves. And although there was an embryonic movement amongst the more enlightened at the fringes of St Petersburg society, it was not so long ago that witches were being hounded, dunked and burnt. Women still had to make cakes and hold “phantom” tea parties, even if they were going to do something so rudimentarily primitive as tasseomancy – reading tea leaves. So both she and Stana had to be careful to protect themselves.’
This novel is steeped in the supernatural, dark witchcraft and old world paganism. Militza is quite a powerful witch, more so than her sister Stana, although she seemed to need Stana’s energy for some of the more complex spells, so the two were rarely apart. This close relationship between the sisters was formidable, and while Militza was particularly protective of her younger sister, she retained her authority as the older, and more powerful sister, and rarely ceded to Stana’s wishes. It was Militza who had the closer relationship with the Tsarina Alix, and it was also Militza who was more involved with Rasputin. Although in his case, she believed she had conjured him through dark magic, believing herself to be his maker and controller. She was quite mistaken on this, Rasputin’s appearance in line with her spell more coincidence than design. Rasputin himself was richly characterised, he was a force on the page and took command of the scenes he was in. Not the most admirable of characters, a charlatan and sexual deviant, yet the charisma he supposedly had in real life was certainly realised on the page by the author, along with the repulsion he ignited in others.
‘Stana shook her head. “Militza, you can’t consort with the dead and expect to be left alone.”
“Says who?”
“Do you think you’re the only person who can dance with the Devil and expect him to listen when you ask to stop?”
“I have looked the Devil in the eye.” Militza raised her eyebrows, sounding pleased with herself. “All those séances, all those times we have used the Ouija board, where do you think I went?”
“You are scaring me now.”
“Don’t be so weak. You have known about our power all your life; it goes back centuries. Now is the time to use it.”
“But you will open Pandora’s Box!”
“And then…” said Militza, stubbing her cigarette in a silver ashtray, “I shall close it.”
The shallowness of court life was well depicted, how easily people fell in and out of favour. It was a cut throat circle to move in. I was somewhat taken aback by the prevalent use of cocaine and the high interest in mystics along with the superstitious beliefs many held fast to. One can almost see quite clearly why the revolution eventuated if the events within this novel are based on even a grain of truth. A drugged out Tsar deferring to his ailing wife who was afraid of everything and a virtual puppet for Rasputin. Hardly a pair to instil confidence. All in all this was an entertaining read, a vivid representation of the entwined lives of the Montenegro sisters with the Romanovs and the ill-famed Rasputin in the years leading up to the Russian revolution. An intriguing blend of historical and paranormal fiction.
October 17, 2018
New Release Book Review: The Year of the Farmer by Rosalie Ham
About the Book:
In a quiet farming town somewhere in country New South Wales, war is brewing.
The last few years have been punishingly dry, especially for the farmers, but otherwise, it’s all Neralie Mackintosh’s fault. If she’d never left town then her ex, the hapless but extremely eligible Mitchell Bishop, would never have fallen into the clutches of the truly awful Mandy, who now lords it over everyone as if she owns the place.
So, now that Neralie has returned to run the local pub, the whole town is determined to reinstate her to her rightful position in the social order. But Mandy Bishop has other ideas. Meanwhile the head of the local water board – Glenys ‘Gravedigger’ Dingle – is looking for a way to line her pockets at the expense of hardworking farmers already up to their eyes in debt. And Mandy and Neralie’s war may be just the chance she was looking for…
A darkly satirical novel of a small country town battling the elements and one another, from the bestselling author of The Dressmaker.
My Thoughts:
Rosalie Ham has returned in a blaze of glory with her latest novel, The Year of the Farmer. It’s a cracking read, full of dark satire and quick wit, peopled with a cast of memorable characters.
‘We, the riparians, and your other clients, the farmers, want you to ask old Glenys Gravedigger Dingle how we are meant to do two shits instead of one without anything to shit. How much of the area’s production will vanish because of water buybacks? How will I run my store when most of my customers have no money? When can we all expect to die from fatigue and starvation, and how much money will all you water traders make out of our water?’
Rich in characterisation, Rosalie has created the ultimate villain in Mandy Bishop. I tried to feel sorry for Mandy, I really did, but she was just too loathsome. Some people are just beyond redemption and get exactly what they deserve – as is the case with Mandy. But goodness, what an outrageous woman. I couldn’t believe the nerve of her with half the stuff she did. Completely ruthless and entirely without guile. I disliked her for many things but it was her deliberate disregard for the wellbeing of her elderly father-in-law that put the final nail in her coffin for me. I can’t stand people who mistreat the elderly. In the end, she was one of those people who’d shoot her own foot off just to make her point. In other words, an idiot. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the town close ranks against Mandy, who was proving herself just as much of a scourge on the environment as the drought.
There’s a message peeking out through all of the satire, about farming and the strain hard times can bring to entire communities. I’d never given much thought to water as a resource for corruption but Rosalie crafted a scenario that was entirely credible and rather alarming to contemplate. She spotlights the challenges of modern farming, leaving no part unexamined. It’s not an easy life, a daily fight for survival that only the fittest and most tenacious can survive. There was much to muse on within the pages of this novel.
The Year of the Farmer is a highly entertaining novel, purely Australian and full snark and heart in equal measure. Fans of Rosalie’s previous novels will revel in this latest offering.
October 16, 2018
Behind the Pen with Tracey Allen from Carpe Librum
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I’m quite excited about today’s Behind the Pen as my guest is fellow blogger Tracey Allen, author of Carpe Librum, a blog containing book reviews, giveaways and author interviews.
When and why did you start your blog? Had you been reviewing on a different platform (such as Goodreads) before that?
I started my blog in 2005 as a way to record my opinions before noticing I was beginning to rely on it as a place to record my thoughts on the books I was reading. I posted my first book review in March 2006 and didn’t join GoodReads until February 2011, so I had been reviewing on my blog for 5 years by that time. I remember weighing up the decision to publish my reviews on GoodReads as well or have them exclusively on my blog but ended up posting them both places; which is what most bloggers do now too.
What is your most definitive blogging highlight to date?
In December 2013 I achieved the major milestone of 100,000 hits and celebrating my 10 Year Blogiversary in June 2015 was a huge highlight for me.
In December 2017 I celebrated 1,000,000 hits which was a massive accomplishment and something I’m incredibly proud of. It took a lot of work to get there though.
Approximately how many books do you read each week?
Eeek, I read a lot less than you Theresa, but my goal is to read 65 books – and 20,000 pages – this year. This works out to be a book every 5.6 days, or a little more than one a week. I’m comfortably ahead of my goal so far, so we’ll see where I end up.
Do you review every single book you read?
I don’t review children’s books I read with nieces and nephews and may leave out the occasional cook book or craft book, so I guess I review almost all of the books I read.
What do you do when you finish reading a book? Do you write up your review before settling into a new book?
When I finish a book I often let it ‘sit’ and percolate in my mind a few days before reviewing it. I’ll never wait to settle into a new book, life’s too short for that! Sometimes I’ll finish books in quick succession, so if I start to get more than 3 reviews behind then I’ll feel a bit anxious about it.
Do you have a particular reviewing process? For example, do you take notes while reading or use sticky notes to mark places you want to remember within a book? Or do you just think about it all at the end?
I read in bed, so sometimes I’ll send an email to myself from my phone with a page number of a quote I want to remember. Other times I’ll start the draft of my review on my blog and enter thoughts and ideas I have on the book while I’m reading it. I’m mostly motivated to do this for books I’m not enjoying much and I’ll record the reasons for disinterest or irritation so that I don’t forget them when it comes time to write the review.
What authors and types of books do you love the most?
I love books that keep me turning the pages; either a riveting plot, fascinating character or terrific writing. Over the years I’ve come to enjoy historical fiction the most, but I always seek variety in the books I read. I try to incorporate at least one classic per year, and this year it was Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. (I hated it by the way). Favourite authors include: Philippa Gregory, Stephen King, Ken Follett, Kate Forsyth and Kate Morton.
Are there any genres you really don’t enjoy at all?
I’m not fond of romance novels, and if a book contains too much romance I can lose interest quickly. This means I’m generally not into chick lit (sorry guys) although there can be the odd exception. I’m also not into spy thrillers or espionage novels, and if a blurb starts with the mention of a virus or MI6, I’m out. Oh, and you’ll never see me reading biographies about sporting celebrites or political science books either.
Do you have an all-time favourite book? Why is this book so significant to you?
I don’t think I’m alone in saying this is one of the hardest questions for an avid reader to answer. For many years my favourite book was A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole before it became Cloudstreet by Tim Winton, but now I’m not sure. I’m going to have to ask for a pass on this one I think.
What is your favourite character of all time from a novel and why?
I love the character from A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole because I’d love to have the vocabulary of Ignatius J Reilly. Professor Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series has to be my favourite character of all time though. He’s an interesting villain throughout the series but you only learn later that he loved Harry the entire time, and his self-sacrifice is heart wrenching.
What is your favourite scene from a novel and why?
My favourite scene would have to be the ending of Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. It’s the most memorable scene in a book for me because it made me cry and that hardly ever happens when I’m reading. The ending of the novel is a happy one for the character of Fish and yet also a tragedy for his family members. It’s such a fine balance of climax and conclusion that it’s the most memorable and perfect ending imaginable.
What book is currently on your bedside table?
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak has been on my bedside table for a while. It’s a whopper and I’ve been struggling a little to get through it. The story is told by an omniscient narrator who is actually one of the characters. How’s that even possible?
What is the best book you have read this year?
My favourite book so far this year has to be Dear Fahrenheit 451: A Librarian’s Love Letters and Break-Up Notes to Her Books by Annie Spence. Just holding the stunning edition I have brought a smile to my face, and it truly celebrated my love of books in an intelligent, funny, refreshing and exciting way. Loved it!
Let’s talk about book to movie/TV series adaptations. Best one in your opinion? And what has been the worst?
The Green Mile by Stephen King is an all-time favourite of mine. I still remember being excited to hear Harry Potter was going to be adapted for the big screen and wondering who was going to play Dumbledore. An adaptation I was disappointed in was Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice; I felt the film didn’t do the book justice.
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Can you tell us something about yourself that not many people would know?
My blog wasn’t called Carpe Librum when I started it. I love to cross stitch and I’m afraid of spiders.
If you could trade places for a week with any other person, living or dead, real or fiction, who would it be and why?
I’d trade places with Nostradamus and find out if he really could see into the future. Even if he couldn’t, what better way to spend a week than sitting around in the 1500s writing creepy quatrains on vellum and dabbling in a little astronomy and alchemy. He was also an apothecary and was into necromancy. Now that’d be a week to remember!
Perhaps the only other answer here is I’d trade places with God. In doing so, I’d find out if God was real or fiction and then I’d know everything.
Tracey Allen is the author of Carpe Librum Blog
In addition to her blog, you can connect with Tracey in the following places:
Twitter: @Carpe_Librum1 GoodReads: CarpeLibrum LibraryThing: Carpe_Librum
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October 15, 2018
New Release Book Review: The Second Cure by Margaret Morgan
About the Book:
Control the brain and you control the world. In a fractured nation, two women are left with a choice – risk all to bring humanity together or let it fall apart.
A pandemic is racing through our world, changing people subtly but irrevocably. The first sign for some is losing their faith. For others it comes as violent outpourings of creativity, reckless driving and seeing visions.
Scientist Charlotte Zinn is close to a cure when her partner becomes infected. Overnight her understanding of the disease is turned upside down. Should she change the path of evolution?
As Australia is torn apart, reporter Brigid Bayliss is determined to uncover the dark truth behind the religious response to the outbreak.
Brigid and Charlotte find themselves on the frontline of a world splintering into far left and far right, with unexpected power to change the course of history. But at what cost?
Dark, thrilling and compulsively readable, The Second Cure is a provocative debut about control, courage and belief.
My Thoughts:
‘The cure, she called it, did you know that? Not the cure to stop the plague. This was the second cure she said.’
The Second Cure hit me like a bolt of lightning. I went into this novel with a fair amount of trepidation; science fiction is not really ‘my thing’. Or so I tell myself. But this year alone, I’ve read more science fiction than ever before and each of these novels has been brilliant. I’ve loved them. And so it is with The Second Cure, a genre blend of science fiction with dystopian themes written in a literary style. Utterly captivating, horrifyingly realistic and ultimately uplifting. I honestly can’t recommend this novel high enough.
Margaret Morgan writes with exception. She presents a type of science that is not very basic in a very accessible manner, which was really lucky for me because my brain tends to become overwhelmed very quickly once anything becomes scientific. But I really knew what was going on all the way through this novel. Too bad Margaret wasn’t my science teacher back in school. For anyone who has been contemplating reading The Second Cure but has held off because of a fear of the science themes, you can shelve those concerns. As well as writing with accessibility, Margaret has a way with words in general that seem to have them blending into the most beautifully atmospheric prose. I was gripped with a certain sense of place while reading The Second Cure. It’s a very immersive novel.
‘As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, the bush remained invisible, no cloud present to bounce back the light of the city. On moonlit nights she could see down to Bujwa Bay, a tucked-away pocket of the river that ran into the vast Hawkesbury and out into the Pacific Ocean. But tonight there was no moon, and the stars were sharp against the night, the Milky Way looking like the smear of cream its name suggested. From the pond below she could hear the knock-on-wood call of a striped marsh frog and from across the valley was the two-toned hoot of a solitary boobook. Crickets and the metallic ting of microbats. There was no breeze.’
The Second Cure has several narrators but the main two are scientist Charlie (Charlotte) and journalist Brigid. These two women are almost sisters-in-law. Charlie lives with, and is the partner of, Brigid’s brother Richard. Another character by the name of Winnie also has an impactful presence in the first part of the novel. She is Richard’s and Brigid’s mother. So you can see that this story revolves to a certain extent around a family. I really liked both Charlie and Brigid. Very different from each other, but both equally as passionate about their cause. For Brigid, her cause is the truth. She’s in it for the long haul and she’s determined to unmask a proselytising politician who is rising rapidly by capitalising on fear within society – I know, they all do that! But this guy…well, you really just need to read it. As a Queenslander (the setting of the more extreme parts of the novel), my face was doing a good impression of that little shocked face emoji while my stomach was churning over the extreme right wing politics. It’s fiction though…right? Charlie, after years of research, is working on a vaccine as well as a cure for the cat plague that has the world within its grip. Why does it matter if cats are dying? Well, it matters a lot, because everything is connected. If cats don’t exist, the population of rats boom, as one example. But it’s not just domestic cats dying, it’s big cats too, the lions and cheetahs and every type of cat all around the world. It’s wrecking havoc on the ecosystem. Furthermore, even though it’s a cat plague, it’s infecting humans, because they have become the host. The virus manifests itself in different ways, depending on the individual, something Margaret skilfully demonstrates by way of contrasting the experiences of her characters. When Richard becomes infected, his symptoms force Charlie to regard the progression of the disease in a new light. The need for a cure, and a vaccine, becomes all the more focused.
As a side note, on the topic of Charlie and Richard, I absolutely love the way Margaret sums up their relationship in this moment of introspection by Charlie:
‘At its worst, she worried that their relationship was little more than an exchange of facts and orgasms. He told her things about music and art. She told him things about science. They had good sex. Of course there were other exchanges, too. He provided the accommodation (free of mortgage or rent); she earned most of their money. She paid for the food; he bought it and cooked it. Just another symbiosis, like fungi and algae in lichen. But she loved him, and she knew he loved her. That added a buffer against imbalances, perhaps. Or maybe it magnified them. Was it true that in every relationship one person loved the other more?’
This novel spans a long timeline, more than fifteen years, but it’s split into two parts and jumps ahead in the second part, so it’s still very fast moving. It really is a novel for our times. It generated such a sense of unease within me, how familiar some of the themes seem when considered within the context of today’s society. I did not see the end result coming. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen with Charlie and Brigid. Were they going to pull off what they had each set out to do? And what is the second cure? How does it differ to the first cure and what is its purpose? It all ends in a way that is both devastating and uplifting at the same time. I was shocked and elated in equal measure. This novel is nothing short of brilliant. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
‘Charlie couldn’t endure listening. This was her work they were exploiting. Her work had built Capricornia. Without her cure, Effenberg would not have been able to build his regime and equally vile dictatorships across the world couldn’t have found their power. She’d been trying to stop extinctions, to do good science, and she had indeed succeeded, but the price…the price made her want to vomit.’
October 14, 2018
Behind the Pen with Rachel Nightingale
Today I warmly welcome Rachel Nightingale, author of the Tales of Tarya series, to Behind the Pen with a few of her favourites. Over to you Rachel!
What is your favourite…and why…
Character from one of your books?
My favourite character has to be Luka. One of the reasons I wrote this series of books is that I fell in love with Pierrot when I was very young. He is the sad clown of the Commedia dell’Arte, the travelling players. He longs for the love of Columbine and that longing is at the heart of who he is. I think longing is such a sad, beautiful emotion and I really wanted to create a real person based on the Pierrot persona. At the same time I wanted to create a very different kind of a male hero – sensitive, quiet, someone who uses his heart and his intelligence to make a difference. Of course I was going to fall in love with him in the process!
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Scene from one of your books?
I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you! The problem with talking about any particular scene is that it will involve spoilers, since I’m writing the third book at the moment. What I can say is that I’m a very visual writer – I can picture things very clearly in my head as I get them on the page, and I’ve had readers tell me they get really clear pictures when they’re reading the scenes, so hopefully my visions become theirs! Related to that, writing a series of books where masks play a crucial role in the storytelling means I get to come up with some pretty intense imagery around wearing and using masks, so they’re the scenes I really enjoy. Masks can be deceptive, they can change identity and there is something fascinating about them. It’s a lot of fun to create scenes using them.
Movie of all time?
It has to be The Princess Bride. Perfectly scripted, beautifully acted, a fantasy story that doesn’t take it seriously. So, so funny. When it first came out I saw it at the cinema with my brother. The rest of the cinema was all families with children, and they were enjoying it, but my brother and I were laughing our heads off because it was so witty. The sword fight scene has to be the best one ever made for a movie. They trained for months to be able to do it, and watching it again you can see it’s really them – their faces are evident throughout. And of course Princess Buttercup’s costumes are gorgeous. I’m not surprised she grew up to become a kick-butt general in Wonder Woman. I hope my heroine, Mina, is in the Princess Buttercup mould. She definitely speaks out in the same way for what is right.
Book that you always keep a copy of and recommend to others?
Sorry, I’m going to get serious for a moment here. That would have to be The Chalice and the Blade, by Riane Eisler. I don’t understand why it’s not required reading for everyone. It talks about the difference between dominator cultures and partnership cultures, and re-examines what we know about history. Our culture is very much about certain people being at the top and imposing their will on others, through patriarchy, colonialism, racism and a bunch of other isms, but Eisler shows that this hasn’t always been the case and that there are other ways society can work. It’s a very positive, hopeful perspective to take. I wish it was better known.
Fashion accessory that despite having plenty of, you still keep collecting?
Just recently my scarves seem to be breeding. I taught in Hanoi (Vietnam) six times, and one of the best things to buy there is silk, so I ended up being gifted several, and buying several more. But I’m a bit of a fabricaholic too, so when I see a scarf in beautiful colours at an op shop I can’t help myself. Luckily they don’t take up much room. Now I need to find an artistic way to display them because they’re so pretty!
Drink that you enjoy everyday?
I’ve given up coffee, which I never, ever thought I’d be able to do. I don’t know if that means I can’t call myself a real writer now, because I know traditionally writers are fueled by coffee. But I have found some of Tea Too’s super-indulgent teas like Crème Brulee and Terrific Toffee, and they definitely hit the spot.
Treat you indulge in?
Once a fortnight I take myself off to the café for a unicorn cupcake, or at least cake with rainbow icing. I love buttercream icing, and I love rainbows, so it’s the perfect combination really. And I figure as a fantasy writer I can’t just eat ordinary biscuits or cakes. I post a regular rainbow cake picture on Instagram, and then force myself to eat the cake. It’s a burden, but I’m willing to suffer for my art.
Place to be?
Sitting in a café with a cuppa and a cupcake, preferably with a beautiful view out the window, while I work on my novel. My idea of total heaven. I know some people are seaside people and others love forests. I love both, so I don’t care what the view is as long as it gives me the chance to write with nature just a short glance away.
Person you admire?
That would be Tudor author Wendy J. Dunn. She is the most amazing mentor to other writers. She has such a generous heart. So much of what she does is about uplifting others. She has encouraged me so often when I have felt like giving up, sent me links to opportunities and competitions, read my work… She taught me the importance of being part of a community as a writer. On top of that Wendy writes wonderful books that let me lose myself in Tudor times for a while.
Season of the year?
I love autumn because it’s such a cool relief after the heat of the Australian summer, but I also love spring, when everything starts to come to life again. Summer and winter seem so long where I live, but those seasons of transition, which remind you that the world keeps turning and that change will come, they’re special to me.
More About Rachel:
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Rachel Nightingale was a highly imaginative child who used to pretend she was a gypsy wandering the woods on her way home from school. Once she realised creating stories gave her magical powers she decided to become a writer. Some years, and many diversions later, she is the author of Harlequin’s Riddle, published by Odyssey Books, and also, rather unexpectedly, an award winning playwright. Columbine’s Tale, the sequel to Harlequin, will be released in September 2018 and she is currently writing the final book of trilogy, which by complete coincidence is about the power of creativity to shape the world, whilst desperately trying to ignore all the other stories clamouring for her attention. She lives in regional Victoria with a very bossy cat, her family, and the cutest dog in the world.
The Tarya Trilogy is about the power of creativity and where it can take you. It was inspired by a quote by Broadway actor Alan Cumming about that in-between place you discover just before you step onstage and enter a different world – a place where anything is possible…
Connect with Rachel:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Pinterest
Instagram
Buy Links:
Harlequin’s Riddle (released 17 June 2017)
Columbine’s Tale (released 15 September 2018)
