Theresa Smith's Blog, page 42

The Week That Was…

My daughter left to go back to uni at the start of this week after a month home, the longest we’d had her with us since she finished high school more than two years ago. Her college had closed for a month due to Covid. We’ll miss her, but she’s never too far away, and I love seeing her happily living life to the fullest. What more could any mother want?

School is well and truly back in full swing and so is football. Friday nights are back under the lights, and…all right, I kind of love it.

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Joke of the week:

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What I’ve been watching:

A movie about the pandemic…I know, what was I thinking, but it focused more on the capacity for corruption and crime when the world is in crisis and in need of particular goods and services. Some good actors in it too. Not a bad watch at all.

And, she’s back! The long awaited season four of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dropped this week and so far, it’s as brilliant and sharp as ever.

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What I’ve been reading:

What a sad reading week I’ve had. I haven’t even finished one book, just slowly making my way through this glorious one.

Book mail was good this week, making me very keen to get back into my regular reading routine.

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Until next week…

Book Review: The Islands by Emily Brugman

About the Book:

In the mid-1950s, a small group of Finnish migrants set up camp on Little Rat, a tiny island in an archipelago off the coast of Western Australia. The crayfishing industry is in its infancy, and the islands, haunted though they are by past shipwrecks, possess an indefinable allure.

Drawn here by tragedy, Onni Saari is soon hooked by the stark beauty of the landscape and the slivers of jutting coral onto which the crayfishers build their precarious huts. Could these reefs, teeming with the elusive and lucrative cray, hold the key to a good life?

The Islands is the sweeping story of the Saari family: Onni, an industrious and ambitious young man, grappling with the loss of a loved one; his wife Alva, quiet but stoic, seeking a sense of belonging between the ramshackle camps of the islands and the dusty suburban lots of the mainland; and their pensive daughter Hilda, who dreams of becoming the skipper of her own boat. As the Saari’s try to build their future in Australia, their lives entwine with those of the fishing families of Little Rat, in myriad and unexpected ways.

A stunning, insightful story of a search for home.

Published by Allen & Unwin

Released 1st February 2022

My Thoughts:

Hauntingly atmospheric and written with such a depth of feeling, The Islands was a magnificent read, one that I lingered over and relished from beginning to end.

I am drawn to stories of migration, particularly set in the era that this one was. My grandparents came to Australia in the early 1950s from Belgium, they travelled over with some other friends who had decided along with them on a fresh start. I could relate to so much of this story; I grew up in a bilingual household, the English mixed with Flemish, living one kind of life with my Australian born family and a whole other one with my Belgian family and their community that had grown extensively from the few that had travelled over to Australia together. It is a distinctly unique experience to be a part of a migrant family. You have a foot in each world, a sense at times that you are also neither one nor the other, but a curious new blend of two vastly diverse cultures – even down through the generations. Emily Brugman captured this feeling with such precision, within each of the characters.

The Islands themselves were so vividly brought to life, the history leaping off the page and immersing me into the remote and enclosed world that they all inhabited whilst living there. This is not a part of Australia that I knew very much about, so I was fascinated by the day to day living, the industry, and of course, the haunting history. I just loved how much the islands worked their way into the very psyche of those who lived there, becoming a refuge, a talisman even of a new life and home to hang onto. This was evident in the way they all floundered when on the mainland, as though they had been displaced for a second time.

“Life is a gasp of air in an eternity of not breathing.”

The way this story ended was achingly beautiful. I highly recommend this one. A solid five star read.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

Book Review: One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

About the Book:

When Cleo’s editor requests that she marry herself on a remote island for her dating column, she envisions skinny-dipping in the crystalline waters and revelling in the blissful quiet.

But when she arrives at Otter Lodge, Mack, a grumpy, yet undeniably handsome American, insists that her cosy cottage is actually his. With no beds to spare and a storm fast approaching, they’re trapped.

Can what began as a disastrous double-booking turn into something more? And might this one night on the island change both of their lives forever?

Published by Penguin Random House Australia – Penguin General UK

Released 15th February 2022

My Thoughts:

Josie Silver has such a talent for delivering meaningful and heart-warming contemporary fiction. One Night on the Island is her third novel, I’ve read them all and enjoyed each of them immensely. I still don’t know why her novels aren’t being adapted into movies – they are utterly perfect for the screen.

What initially struck me as slightly absurd – marrying yourself – turned out to be incredibly life affirming and highly relatable. This novel is about so much more than two people from different walks of life being stuck in a remote cabin together. Is there love within these pages? Yes, but the love story doesn’t take on a predictable trajectory, and it’s also not the only point of the story. First and foremost, the focus of this story is on loving yourself and prioritising your own happiness; making meaningful connections with people who reciprocate, as opposed to empty friendships of convenience was another solid theme.

With its atmospheric setting – a tiny remote island off the wild coast of Ireland peopled with entertaining and distinctly Irish characters – One Night on the Island is a satisfying and heart-warming story embedded with timely themes: a novel that has it all.

Thanks is extended to the publisher for the review copy.

The Week That Was…

I wanted to share some garden progress with you this week. First, I did some enhancements on the garden area around the pool. Amazing what a difference a few bags of mulch can do.

And then there’s my balcony garden which in the space of a year has flourished and expanded from three plants to this and now feels like my own little oasis.

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What Zeus has been doing:

Yeah, I have nothing. I don’t know what’s going on here. Maybe he overheard us referring to this space as a garden ‘bed’ and got confused?

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Joke of the week:

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What I’ve been watching:

After chatting with my hairdresser this week, she persuaded me to give this one another try. I’m not fully convinced even halfway though the series, but I’m willing to see it through.

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What I’ve been reading:

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To finish up, I’ll leave you with this image of the lovely painting my daughter gave me for Christmas. After gifting it to me, she immediately took it back to keep working on it. This week, I was finally allowed to hang it on the wall.

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Until next week…

Book Review: The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe

About the Book:

A captivating historical novel based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, the first Black student to attend the prestigious Vassar College by – passing as white. For fans of The Vanishing Half and The Gilded Age.

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only African-American student ever to attend Vassar. With her olive complexion and dark hair, she has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Lottie Taylor, an heiress of one of New York’s most prominent families.

Though Anita has kept herself at a distance from her classmates, Lottie’s sphere of influence is inescapable, her energy irresistible, and the two become fast friends. Pulled into her elite world, Anita learns what it’s like to be treated as a wealthy, educated white woman – the person everyone believes her to be – and even finds herself in a heady romance with a well-off Harvard student. But when Lottie becomes curious about Anita’s family the situation becomes particularly perilous, and as Anita’s graduation looms, those closest to her will be the ones to dangerously threaten her secret.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Gilded Age, an era when old money traditions collided with modern ideas, The Gilded Years is a story of hope, sacrifice and betrayal – and a gripping account of how one woman dared to risk everything for the chance at a better life.

Published by Simon & Schuster Australia

Released February 2022

My Thoughts:

Historical fiction inspired by actual history featuring real people has long been a favourite of mine within the genre and coupled with reading that this novel is soon to be a movie produced by Reece Witherspoon, my expectations going in were high. This story had so much potential, and indeed, the research is extensive, this was obvious from the outset, at least in terms of setting the scene within the era. Vassar shines and is immediately on display in all its Gilded era glory. The author also pays particular attention to detailing the growing industrialisation of society and all that it brought in terms of increased comfort for the wealthy.

However, as a fictional biography, it falls short. Far more airtime was given to Lottie Taylor, the main character’s roommate and instant best friend. Lottie was a tiresome character though, entirely cliché, a veritable cardboard cut-out of the spoiled heiress who does nothing except indulge in attention seeking behaviour for every moment she’s awake. The writing was on the wall about her from the start so there were no surprises to be had when she started to show her true nature towards Anita. And then there was the whole college vibe, these women were twenty-two to twenty-four years old and yet they acted like giggly schoolgirls obsessed with gossip, fashion, and men, as opposed to the intelligent and well educated young women they were supposed to be. I kept reading and waiting for the actual story to begin but by page 250, I had to acknowledge that, sadly, this was the story. Gossip Girl meets Sweet Valley High dressed up as The Age of Innocence fan fiction.

So, what of Anita? I never really got a true sense of her, not enough to form any attachment to her or develop any interest in her fate. I was left unconvinced about her, particularly the most important thing, what I thought the novel was going to be about: what it might have been like to be passing yourself off as white in an overtly racist environment. To me, Anita’s feelings and experiences were described only in passing and in a manner that came off very obviously as being done so by an author who honestly didn’t know what such a thing would feel like. Consequently, I was left with this void of not ever getting to the bones of Anita’s story and who she was.

This novel really bothered me as it progressed. So much potential, utterly wasted on frippery. It may well make for an entertaining film, but don’t go expecting anything of substance if the novel is anything to go by. And now I’m going to be rolling my eyes for months every time I see someone on social media gushing about this novel – which they inevitably will. Not on my list of recommendations.

+ ½

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

Book Review: The Royal Game by Anne O’Brien

About the Book:

The spellbinding new historical novel from the Sunday Times bestseller Anne O’Brien.

England, 1444. Three women challenge the course of history…

King Henry VI’s grip on the crown hangs by a thread as the Wars of the Roses starts to tear England apart. And from the ashes of war, the House of Paston begins its rise to power.

Led by three visionary women, the Pastons are a family from humble peasant beginnings who rely upon cunning, raw ambition, and good fortune in order to survive.

Their ability to plot and scheme sees them overcome imprisonment, violence, and betrayal, to eventually secure for their family a castle and a place at the heart of the Yorkist Court. But success breeds jealousy and brings them dangerous enemies…

An inspirational story of courage and resilience, The Royal Game, charts the rise of three remarkable women from obscurity to the very heart of Court politics and intrigue.

Published by HarperCollins Publishers Australia

Released September 2021

My Thoughts:

A splendid historical fiction saga that heralds the beginning of a new series. Anne O’Brien is a master at writing royal historical fiction, she has an ability to not get bogged down in the politics whilst still conveying the key points of the politics in an extremely readable fashion.

I had never heard of the Paston family – no surprises there, they existed in the 15th century, and while I am an avid fan of royal history, I’m not that well read to know of every family throughout English history. The interesting thing about this family, and this novel, is that they were prolific letter writers and being a family of lawyers, they were also meticulous about keeping personal records, all of which has stood the test of time. So, Anne O’Brien had a literal treasure trove of primary sources with which to piece together this family’s history and craft a story of their comings and goings against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses.

And what a fascinating story it is. Told through the eyes of three women, but predominantly through Margaret Paston’s eyes – the wife of the head of the family – we bear witness to the extreme volatility of life in the 15th century. It was a time where nothing was certain, not even the property you owned, which could be taken by force and destroyed with no recourse. Kingmaking was rife and loyalties were fickle; it was an extremely dangerous time for all, no matter your class or status. I was astonished and fascinated by the way in which nothing was certain. You could own your property, but if some neighbouring Duke decided to take it, they just would. They would just move in, evict you by force or take possession while you were away, and that was it. You could try and fight it in the courts all you liked, but if you eventually won your property back – more through bribes and cunning than legal rights – the invader would just destroy everything before leaving so that all you got back was a pile of rubble and junk. And so, this happened, over and over, to the Paston family.

I loved the focus on the women, not only the observation of events from their perspective, but the way in which the decisions made about their lives by others impacted upon them. My heart ached for Elizabeth Paston, who was treated abominably by her mother and ignored by her brothers. Fatherless, she had to rely on her brothers to find her a husband, but they were too occupied with their own affairs and any suitor that came along was rejected by her mother for insubstantial reasons. The poor woman was trapped and abused, with no ability to escape at all and no capacity to make decisions, for without a husband she was the property of her mother. I adored Margaret Paston, the wife of John, eldest son, and head of the family. She was clever, a woman who knew what was required to be a successful wife of a noble family, yet still retained a decency and kindness that was to be admired. Her empathy for her sister-in-law Elizabeth’s situation was perhaps the only reason it ever changed.

It wasn’t until the end of the novel that I discovered this was to become a series. While I’m not a huge fan of reading a series, I do like an historical one such as this, and I wasn’t quite ready to be done with this family yet, so I look forward to the next release, hopefully coming later this year. Recommended for fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, this is high quality historical fiction. Anne O’Brien is a favourite of mine within this genre and topic. The Royal Game is a captivating saga that made me feel as though I had stepped right into another world for the duration.

*Book 1 in my 22 in 2022 challenge*

Book Review: Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland

About the Book:

Two bodies.

One long hot summer.

A town that will never be the same.

When Adam Lawson’s wrecked car is found a kilometre from Daisy Baker’s body, the whole town assumes it’s an open and shut case. But Jesse Redpath isn’t from Canticle Creek. Where she comes from, the truth often hides in plain sight, but only if you know where to look.

When Jesse starts to ask awkward questions, she uncovers a town full of contradictions and a cast of characters with dark pasts, secrets to hide and even more to lose.

As the temperature soars, and the ground bakes, the wilderness surrounding Canticle Creek becomes a powderkeg waiting to explode.

All it needs is one spark.

Published by Ultimo Press

Released December 2021

My Thoughts:

Australian crime fiction really is at the top of its game as a genre of quality, in my opinion. The bar has been set high and our authors are clearing it with room to spare. Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland was such a compelling read. With its sophisticated plot and well fleshed out characters, I raced through this one, reluctant to put it down, thinking about it all the while when I wasn’t reading it. The main characters were all realistic and easy to like and the villains were all suitably convincing – particularly the main perpetrator who really had me fooled with his artful misdirection!

As well as a cracking murder mystery, Canticle Creek is also an environmental story, one that looks specifically at the ever-present threat of bushfires and the catastrophic events that can unfold within minutes in an environment that is dry enough and hot enough. The sections specific to bushfire were incredibly well realised, I could envisage it all unfolding, minute by minute, and it was entirely frightening to contemplate.

There is a lot to like about this novel. The cover (such a stunning cover, I’d have it as a print on my wall), the storyline, the characters – particularly Jesse and Possum, the art, the nature, the respect it shows to the First Nations people of Central Australia; this really is a terrific novel, one that I can highly recommend.

+ 1/2

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

Book Review: The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley

About the Book:

Come home, if you remember.

The postcard has been held at the sorting office for ninety-one years, waiting to be delivered to Joe Tournier. On the front is a lighthouse – Eilean Mor, in the Outer Hebrides.

Joe has never left England, never even left London. He is a British slave, one of thousands throughout the French Empire. He has a job, a wife, a baby daughter.

But he also has flashes of a life he cannot remember and of a world that never existed – a world where English is spoken in England, and not French.

And now he has a postcard of a lighthouse built just six months ago, that was first written nearly one hundred years ago, by a stranger who seems to know him very well.

Joe’s journey to unravel the truth will take him from French-occupied London to a remote Scottish island, and back through time itself as he battles for his life – and for a very different future.

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing

Released August 2021

My Thoughts:

I’m quite partial to a time travel themed story, but they are a tricky beast to get right. They can’t be over complicated and in the same vein, they can’t be over simplified either – this is all for my liking, of course. I want to be absorbed in the tale and imagine that there is some chance, no matter how slim, that this might happen without everything becoming so technical and complicated that I have to overthink it to the point where I know for sure that it just isn’t credible at all. In The Kingdoms, the time travel was clever and entirely believable. I could envisage what was happening and imagine a world in which it was possible. That’s how well written this novel is.

The Kingdoms is historical fiction at its finest. A sophisticated plot that reimagines an alternate history wherein Napoleon was not defeated, and France now rules over most of Europe and all the United Kingdom. But the plot threads are many, because remember, this is a time travel story, so there is more than one version of events unspooling. The characters are so compelling, the lines of good versus evil blurred when the fate of the world is at stake. The world building within this novel is incredible, I was in awe of the author’s vision and imagination.

At the heart of this novel is a connection between two people that stretches across time and worlds, even piercing through lost memories. It was stunning and so incredibly heartfelt. That moment where it all falls into place, and all is revealed, had me in tears. This is such a wonderful novel, a brilliant blend of historical and speculative fiction that I urge fans of both genres to read.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

A Month of Reading: January

The first month of the year already gone. In some ways it’s flown by, in others, it’s felt like a year in itself. Reading wise, I’m off to a good start, because for the first time in at least a year and half, I have read 12 books for the month! That used to be my standard, for so long, but then everything went pear shaped in my life and I’ve struggled to get back that momentum. Here’s hoping 2022 will see me reading so much more again.

I am not doing any official reading challenges, but unofficially, I am doing a couple of things:

22 in 2022: I’m keeping this fairly flexible, but basically, I am going to try and read 22 books off of my shelves that are ‘own purchases’, not review books sent to me. These can either be print or e-book, the only rule I’m setting myself is that I bought it, as opposed to being sent it for free. I certainly have a lot to choose from!

Classics shelf: I am determined to read more from my classics shelf this year. I have a rough sketch in my head on what titles and when, just need to put it into action.

Finish that series: again, this is a very loose challenge I’ve set myself to finish the many series I’ve started and not completed. There are a few in particular I will be concentrating on and there will likely be some crossover with the 22 in 2022 challenge.

Over to this month:

Total Books Read for January – 12

Favourite book: The Maid by Nita Prose and The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

Least favourite book: Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham

Until next month…good reading!

The Week That Was…

My Covid quarantine ended midnight Tuesday of this week and I returned to work on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I am suffering the effects of ‘too much too soon’ this weekend, but I will be working shorter shifts over the coming weeks with days off in between, so hopefully I can avoid any further relapse.

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What Zeus has been doing:

I had to take this photo through the fly screen because if I came out onto the deck, he wouldn’t have stayed this way. But this is Zeus, everyday, from 5pm til 7pm, in his happy place wearing his happy face. It’s certainly a dog’s life!

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Quote of the week:

I saw this during the week and liked it enough to break from the weekly joke to share it.

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What I’ve been watching:

A little less TV this week because there’s been a lot more reading. But I did squeeze in a movie and started a new TV series.

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What I’ve been reading:

I haven’t had a reading week this good for a very long time!

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Until next week…