Theresa Smith's Blog, page 85
January 21, 2020
Book Review: Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
About the Book:
A wonderfully original, emotionally complex novel that delves into why Cassandra burned a treasure trove of letters written by her sister, Jane Austen – an act of destruction that has troubled academics for centuries.
1840: twenty three years after the death of her famous sister Jane, Cassandra Austen returns to the village of Kintbury, and the home of her family’s friends, the Fowles.
She knows that, in some dusty corner of the sprawling vicarage, there is a cache of family letters which hold secrets she is desperate should not be revealed.
As Cassandra recalls her youth and her relationship with her brilliant yet complex sister, she pieces together buried truths about Jane’s history, and her own. And she faces a stark choice: should she act to protect Jane’s reputation? Or leave the contents of the letters to go unguarded into posterity …
Based on a literary mystery that has long puzzled biographers and academics, Miss Austen is a wonderfully original and emotionally complex novel about the loves and lives of Cassandra and Jane Austen.
My Thoughts:
‘Happy endings are there for us somewhere, woven into the mix of life’s fabric. We just have to search the detail, follow the pattern, to find the one that should be our own.’
Despite having read and loved Jane Austen’s novels for decades now, I’ve never taken it upon myself to find out anything about her, so the literary mystery that this novel is inspired by was entirely new to me. Partially narrated by Cassandra Austen, Jane’s beloved sister, and partially epistolary, Miss Austen is a delightful family story of love, humour, obligation and sadness, with a touch of mystery. Gill Hornby has set the story up in a way that allows the reader to get to know Jane both personally, through letters, and within the context of her family. However, the author does point out, that the letters contained within the novel are wholly fictional. Even so, a great deal of research has informed the story and my feeling overall while reading was that I was getting a good sense of not just who Jane was, but all of the Austen family.
‘Jane had only two moods: sullen and silent, or brittle and wicked. Neither was easy on the household, and only Cassy could manage her. Mrs Austen was quite close to despair. But then she did not notice that which had struck Cassy. Those foul moods persisted only until the moment when Jane was free to pick up her pen. After an hour or two alone with her thoughts and her writing, she returned – as if purified – to something almost like calm. And at night, when it was just the two of them in their room, she was the happiest of all.’
Cassandra is the true heroine of this story and I enjoyed spending time with her immensely. She has her own story tinged with tragedy and loss, directed by obligation, love, and a promise made in haste. She was a woman who was fundamentally good, selfless, always kind, intelligent and frequently amusing, yet far from perfect, making her an entirely likeable narrator. That her own story, so entwined with Jane’s, needed protection as well, even if it was just for privacy rather than reputation, came as no surprise.
‘Worse yet was the fear that these letters might somehow fall into the hands of a stranger. Cassandra could never surrender the hope that there would one day be a greater appetite for Jane’s novels; that this could bring a new interest in the life of the author had long been a matter of dread. Now in that moment, she felt the dawning awareness of a whole other danger. For was there not a chance – remote and, yes, possibly ridiculous – that even her own life might then be trespass upon? After all, Jane’s story and her own could not be separated: they were bound tight together to form one complete history. On the fortunes of the other, each life had turned.’
Miss Austen really is an endearing novel and even though we shouldn’t go around judging books by their covers, I have to say: have you seen that cover?! It’s so beautiful, and while it’s hard to see from just a picture, all of the ‘stitching’ is embossed, giving it a realistic illusion. But you can rest assured, the story inside more than measures up to the lovely cover. I highly recommend this to Austen fans, along with those who love historical fiction, but I will just note, a familiarity with Jane Austen’s novels will greatly enhance your enjoyment of this one in terms of literary context.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of Miss Austen for review.
About the Author:
Gill Hornby is the author of the novels The Hive and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for young readers. She lives in Kintbury, England, with her husband and their four children.
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Miss Austen
Published by Century
Released 21st January 2020
January 20, 2020
Book Review: The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick
About the Book:
The Girls with No Names pulls readers into the gilded age of New York City in the 1910s, when suffragettes marched in the street, unions fought for better work conditions – and girls were confined to the House of Mercy for daring to break the rules.
Not far from Luella and Effie Tildon’s large family mansion in Inwood looms the House of Mercy, a work house for wayward girls. The sisters grow up under its shadow with the understanding that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters accidentally discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen older sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases.
But her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone. Effie suspects her father has made good on his threat to send Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s escape from the House of Mercy seems impossible – unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on each other and their tenuous friendship to survive.
Home for Unwanted Girls meets The Dollhouse in this atmospheric, heart-warming story that explores not only the historical House of Mercy, but the lives – and secrets – of the girls who stayed there.
My Thoughts:
Another appalling hidden history about mistreatment of women dusted off and at last given its due attention. The Girls with No Names is about the American version of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries, an atrocious institutional system designed to keep women – and young girls – in line that lasted too long into the twentieth century. This novel is so good. The writing, the treatment if its history, the characters, the storyline – I am so impressed and so grateful to the author for writing it.
‘The shadows of tree branches stretched over the ceiling, reflections of an outer world I could no longer reach. I thought of the simplicity of a tree branch, and of all the things I took for granted, pen and paper even more so. The House of Mercy was a world unto itself, a thing of cold entrapment, boredom, mindless physical labour, spiritual practice, redemption, cleansing of our souls and sins. And hard work, mostly just hard work.’
This is utmost a story about women and the lack of agency they had over their own lives in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – truth be told, long before that and long after too, but that period is the era in which this novel is set. Serena Burdick gives us the story through the gaze of three women, and from here, through the connections these women have with other women, she has achieved a well rounded portrayal of feminine oppression in America in the years preceding WWI. I was particularly drawn to Mable’s story, utterly tragic on so many levels and all too common for the times. I was also utterly horrified by how young the girls committed to these institutions were. How could a girl less than ten years of age be considered corrupted and in need of institutionalisation? It beggars belief, but those who dive into history know it is all too true.
‘The dead occupied so much space inside me, you could say it was inevitable.’
The Girls with No Names would make an excellent film (fingers crossed, producers seem to be mining books for ideas left right and centre nowadays). The themes of love and loyalty play out superbly and while my heart broke a bit at the end, it also lifted in hope. I love a novel that can reward its readers with proper fulfilment through its ending. There’s so much in this novel, but it’s paced well and plotted with finesse. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction inspired by actuality.
Thanks is extended to for providing me with a copy of The Girls with No Names for review.
About the Author:
Serena Burdick graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in California before moving to New York City to pursue a degree in English Literature at Brooklyn College. Author of Girl In The Afternoon, she lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
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The Girls with No Names
Published by
Released 20th January 2020
January 19, 2020
Book Review: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
About the Book:
The unforgettable story of a mother and son fleeing a drug-cartel to cross the US-Mexico border.
‘I couldn’t put it down. I’ll never stop thinking about it’ Ann Patchett
‘One hell of a novel about a good woman on the run with her beautiful boy’ Stephen King
FEAR KEEPS THEM RUNNING. HOPE KEEPS THEM ALIVE.
Vivid, visceral, utterly compelling, AMERICAN DIRT is the first novel to explore the experience of attempting to illegally cross the US-Mexico border. Described as ‘A Grapes of Wrath for our times’ (Don Winslow) it is a story that will leave you utterly changed.
Yesterday, Lydia had a bookshop.
Yesterday, Lydia was married to a journalist.
Yesterday, she was with everyone she loved most in the world.
Today, her eight-year-old son Luca is all she has left.
For him, she will carry a machete strapped to her leg.
For him, she will leap onto the roof of a high speed train.
For him, she will find the strength to keep running.
My Thoughts:
‘In 2017, a migrant died every twenty-one hours along the United States-Mexico border.’
American Dirt is a novel that has a very clear and well-timed agenda. In light of the current leadership in the US and the anti-migrant sentiment prevalent, Lydia’s story is a powerful reminder about the need for a global human rights focus within immigration policies.
The lives of so many people in so many places around the world are horrific on an incomprehensible scale and those of us who are so fortunate to live in safety and comfort should understand what it means to be a migrant; to fully appreciate that the lengths refugees go to when attempting to enter a country is measurable with their desperation and the risk against their lives, not because they are dishonest and trying to take a short cut. The corruption surrounding entry into the US via Mexico is tragic; the de-humanising resentment directed towards those who actually do make it across the border is even more so. I cannot believe we live in a world where citizens of a nation that uphold themselves as world leaders go ‘migrant hunting’. I am appalled at the lack of humanity and question the moral fabric of any society that turns a blind eye to this.
‘“The trucks look more like vigilantes than carteleros.”
“How can you tell?” Choncho asks.
“They’re not fancy enough to be narcos. And if they’re vigilantes, as I suspect, they’ve probably gone migrant-hunting up the trail on the far side. We wait here. They’ll eventually go back to the trucks and we can pass after they leave.”’
American Dirt is a powerful novel and necessary reading. While it examines the migration between Mexico and the US, the core themes are globally applicable. Never have I felt the weight of my Western privilege more than while reading this novel. Needless to say, this is highly recommended reading, and while it is devastating, it’s also incredibly brilliant, and of great importance. Within every migrant beats a human heart. They are not other. They are us born elsewhere. I could go on and on as to why this novel has had so much impact on me. I could list all the times it made my heart hurt. The many ways in which it made me cry. How it resulted in me losing sleep, lying awake for ages, unable to get these characters out of my mind. Instead though, I will simply implore you to read it. And tell people about it. Read it with your book club, if you have one. Just read it.
‘She scrambles the few feet down the gravelly embankment to where the rusty red fence digs into the earth, and she wraps her fingers around two of the thick red posts and leans her forehead against the bars, and she can see very clearly then, that the fence is only a psychological barrier, and that the real impediment to crossing here is the technology on the other side. There’s a dirt road over there that follows the jagged landscape wherever it leads. The road is worn smooth by the regular accommodation of the heavy tires of the United States Border Patrol. Soledad cannot see them, but she can sense them there, just out of sight. She sees the evidence of their proximity in the whirring electronics mounted on tall poles that dot the hillsides. She doesn’t know what those contraptions are –cameras or sensors or lights or speakers –but whatever they are, she can sense that they’re aware of her presence. She sticks her hand through the fence and wiggles her fingers on the other side. Her fingers are in el norte. She spits through the fence. Only to leave a piece of herself there on American dirt.’
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a NetGalley copy of American Dirt for review.
About the Author:
Jeanine Cummins is the author of three books: the novels The Outside Boy and The Crooked Branch and one true crime work, A Rip in Heaven. She lives in New York with her husband and two children.
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American Dirt
Published by Hachette Australia – Tinder Press
Released 21st January 2020
January 16, 2020
The Week That Was…
Full disclosure: tomorrow is my birthday. As a birthday treat, my sons came to the movies with me to see Dolittle. My older son doesn’t do things like this much anymore, it’s usually just me and my youngest seeing movies together nowadays, so it really was a birthday gift to all go out together.
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Dolittle really was fabulously entertaining. I highly recommend seeing it.
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Joke of the week:
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I go back to work next Wednesday after a long break, I’ve been off since the start of December. I’ve been cramming some extra TV in as the end approaches as once I’m back at work, there will be significantly less time for TV.
What I’ve been watching:
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(Season 2 of Big Little Lies)
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Both of these were an excellent way to pass the time!
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Book of the Week:
Inspired by my viewing…
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What I’m reading right now:
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Until next week…
January 15, 2020
Life According to Literature Tag
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Seen now on Brona’s Books and ANZ LitLovers LitBlog, I thought I might give this meme a go. Links go to my reviews.
THE RULES: Using only books you have read during the year (2019), answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. Let me know below, if you’ve joined in too.
Describe yourself: Your Own Kind Of Girl
How do you feel: We Must Be Brave
Describe where you currently live: Island on the Edge of the World
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Where the Light Enters
Your favourite form of transportation: The Night Tiger
Your best friend is: The Chocolate Maker’s Wife
You and your friends are: Imperfect
What’s the weather like: Sixty Summers
You fear: Where the Dead Go
What is the best advice you have to give: When All is Said
Thought for the day: There Was Still Love
How would I like to die: Diving Into Glass
My soul’s present condition: Gravity is The Thing
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This was hard! 
January 14, 2020
Book Review: The Diamond Hunter by Fiona McIntosh
About the Book:
When six-year-old Clementine Knight loses her mother to malaria during the 1870s diamond rush in southern Africa, she is left to be raised by her destitute, alcoholic father, James. Much of Clementine’s care falls to their trusty Zulu companion, Joseph One-Shoe, and the unlikely pair form an unbreakable bond.
When the two men uncover a large, flawless diamond, James believes he has finally secured their future, but the discovery of the priceless gem comes at a huge cost. A dark bargain is struck to do whatever it takes to return Clementine to a respectable life at the Grant family’s sprawling estate in northern England – while the diamond disappears.
Years on, long-buried memories of Clementine’s childhood in Africa and her beloved Joseph One-Shoe are triggered, as she questions who she can trust. To solve the mystery of what happened to her loved ones all those years ago, she must confront a painful history and finally bring justice to bear.
From the harsh desert of Africa’s Kimberley diamond mine to the misty, green plains of northern England, The Diamond Hunter is a breathtaking adventure story about trust and betrayal, the ultimate quest for truth, and a love that is truly priceless.
My Thoughts:
The Diamond Hunter is a rich and full story in the tradition of a grand Victorian family saga. I really enjoyed this latest release by Fiona McIntosh. There is so much happening within the pages of this story, yet, it’s all perfectly paced with a stellar plot that had me entranced from start to finish.
‘She felt instantly illuminated and free. It was as if a door was yawning open and she was being ushered through it – back to childhood, the butterfly her guide. She could smell Africa; she could taste it on the wind and hear the haunting sounds of the wilderness in her soul. It was spring in Kimberley and butterflies were emerging to paint the air with their bright orange wings. As a child she had always thought that a famed artist must have come up with the elegant design painted on their wings, the orange striking against the black and white tips.’
There were characters within this story that I loved, some that I hated, and some that had so many shades of grey to them that I couldn’t settle on anything other than empathy. You know you’re reading a special book when both the characters and the plot stand out as exceptional. I loved the history that this story builds from: the diamonds, Africa, female emancipation, the emancipation of slaves; all set against a backdrop of the British Empire in the Victorian era.
‘Don’t feel bad, feel driven – take action. There’s always room for more compassion in the world.’
Inspired in part by the author’s own childhood, I felt that this story had a realistic edge to it that nudged it over the line from being a good book to a great one. Issues were portrayed with both historical accuracy and sensitivity, a delicate balance that only very skilled writers seem able to accomplish. It’s no wonder Fiona McIntosh is one of Australia’s favourite authors with a long waiting list for her masterclasses. She sure knows how to craft a brilliantly captivating story. Highly recommended.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Diamond Hunter for review.
About the Author:
Fiona McIntosh is an internationally bestselling author of novels for adults and children. She co-founded an award-winning travel magazine with her husband, which they ran for fifteen years while raising their twin sons before she became a full-time author. Fiona roams the world researching and drawing inspiration for her novels, and runs a series of highly respected fiction masterclasses. She calls South Australia home.
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The Diamond Hunter
Published by Penguin Random House Australia
Released November 2019
January 13, 2020
Book Review: Springtime – A Ghost Story by Michelle de Kretser
About the Book:
‘Picking up her pace, Frances saw a woman in the shadowy depths of the garden. She wore a wide hat and a trailing pink dress; a white hand emerged from her sleeve. There came upon Frances a sensation that sometimes overtook her when she was looking at a painting: space was foreshortened, time stilled.’
When Frances met Charlie at a party in Melbourne he was married with a young son.
Now Charlie and Frances live in Sydney with her dog, Rod, and an unshakeable sense that they have tipped the world on its axis. Everything is alien, unfamiliar, exotic: haunting, even.
A rare, beguiling and brilliant ghost story by Miles Franklin Literary Award-winner Michelle de Kretser.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoy Michelle de Kretser’s writing. Just take this passage as a case in point:
‘One of the things that had been said in Melbourne when she announced that she was moving to Sydney was, You’ll miss the parks. Other things included: There are no good bookshops there. And, What will you do for food?’
Classic! She does this so well, in so many different ways, and manages to convey so much about Australian society through this sharply delivered, witty, and observational tone.
‘Frances had reminded Joseph that she didn’t eat meat. Joseph texted back: No problem. He served a platter of oysters and announced marinated duck breasts to follow. Rising to fire the barbeque, he told Frances, ‘Don’t worry, there is plenty of extra salad for you.’ Joseph believed that if you didn’t eat meat you weren’t hungry.
The duck breasts arrived, and a plate of coloured leaves for Frances. “I used to be fussy about food,” remarked Vanessa. She had that penetrating, well-bred voice which, no matter what it says, enters the Australian ear like glass. “But I was in Sri Lanka two Christmases ago. The tsunami? When I saw what people went through, I made up my mind to always eat whatever was on my plate.”’
Springtime is a short little book, a novella by my definition, although it is only about 80 pages. It’s sub-titled as a ghost story. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by what I got. This is a new edition, the story was first published in 2014. If you’re looking for an amusing and thought provoking little nibble of a read, then this is the ideal book for you. If you’ve never read Michelle de Kretser and have wondered if her books would be your cup of tea, this is a good way to sample her talent. Highly recommended.
Thanks is extended to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of Springtime for review.
About the Author:
Michelle de Kretser was born in Sri Lanka and emigrated to Australia when she was 14. Educated in Melbourne and Paris, Michelle has worked as a university tutor, an editor and a book reviewer. She is the author of The Rose Grower, The Hamilton Case, which won the Commonwealth Prize (SE Asia and Pacific region) and the UK Encore Prize, and The Lost Dog, which was widely praised by writers such as AS Byatt, Hilary Mantel and William Boyd and won a swag of awards, including: the 2008 NSW Premier’s Book of the Year Award and the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, and the 2008 ALS Gold Medal. The Lost Dog was also shortlisted for the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction, the Western Australian Premier’s Australia-Asia Literary Award, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Asia-Pacific Region) and Orange Prize’s Shadow Youth Panel. It was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Orange Prize for Fiction. Her fourth novel, Questions of Travel, received 14 honours, including winning the 2013 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Her latest novel, The Life to Come, is the winner of the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Award and 2019 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Stella Prize.
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Springtime – A Ghost Story
Published by Allen & Unwin
Released 7th January 2020 (New Edition)
First Published 2014
January 12, 2020
Book Review: Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
About the Book:
A thrilling story told in the form of an extended oral history, Daisy Jones and the Six transports the reader to the world of ’70’s rock ‘n roll; creative chaos, musical alchemy and an iconic sound.
There was Daisy, rock and roll force of nature, brilliant songwriter and unapologetic drug addict, the half-feral child who rose to superstardom.
There was Camila, the frontman’s wife, too strong-willed to let the band implode – and all too aware of the electric connection between her husband and Daisy.
There was Karen, ice-cool keyboardist, a ferociously independent woman in a world that wasn’t ready for her.
And there were the men surrounding them: the feuding, egotistical Dunne brothers, the angry guitarist chafing on the sidelines, the drummer binge-drinking on his boat, the bassist trying to start a family amid a hedonistic world tour. They were creative minds striking sparks from each other, ready to go up in flames.
It’s never just about the music…
My Thoughts:
Well, it was bound to happen. After a run of five and four star reads, it was inevitable I’d hit a wall at some stage. In my defence, this is not the sort of book I’d usually choose to read, so it’s probably no surprise that it really didn’t float my boat. It is, however, the six degrees title for January, and also my local book club title, hence it making its way onto my reading list. Generally speaking, I quite enjoy music biographies, so I’m not adverse to reading about rock stars and their lifestyles. I do find the 1970s sex, drugs and rock’n’roll scene particularly distasteful though; it’s truly not my favourite music era and I find it repulsive to read about how much alcohol and drugs a person can consume without dying. So, from the get go, this was probably not the best book to reader fit. Clearly, this is all my problem and not the book’s fault. But it does offer you some context.
In terms of creativity though, this novel is clever and unique. It’s set up from the beginning as a non-fiction account of a real band, there’s even a dummy ‘author’ note at the start, and the book finishes with the lyrics of each song from the fictional Daisy Jones and The Six album. The entire story unfolds in transcript format, extracts from all of the interviews the ‘author’ did organised chronologically to chart the rise and fall of the band. Stylistically, it’s clever, but for me, it made for very flat and boring reading. It put me in mind of my early journalism tasks, reading through transcripts to rewrite into news stories. Except this had a lot more pages. I posted on Facebook that I wasn’t really enjoying this book and the overwhelming response was that it was excellent…as an audio book. I can see how that would be the case, particularly if the narration was spot on, which it must be because so many people recommended it. I believe it’s being made into a TV series. Again, I can see how this would work. There’s something about the story that lends itself to being heard and watched. It’s just not (for me) very readable – all tell and no show.
There were, however, some stand out quotes that I wanted to include here, and it’s through these you’ll see perhaps why this book is enjoying so much popularity. It has a strong feminist current running through it – hence it gaining the Reece Witherspoon sticker of approval. I also just want to point out that I liked the little twist towards the end where we find out who the ‘author’ is. That was nicely done.
‘That’s how it was back then. I was just supposed to be the inspiration for some man’s great idea. Well, fuck that. That’s why I started writing my own stuff.’
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‘She was a drug addict. The type of addict that thinks that other people don’t know she’s using, which is maybe the worst type of addict of all.’
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‘Eddie: Daisy showed up in a thin tank top and these tiny cutoff shorts. Barely covered anything.
Daisy: I run hot and I always have. I am not going to sit around sweating my ass off just so men can feel more comfortable. It’s not my responsibility to not turn them on. It’s their responsibility to not be an asshole.’
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‘I don’t believe in soul mates anymore and I’m not looking for anything. But if I did believe in them, I’d believe your soul mate was somebody who had all the things you didn’t, that needed all the things you had. Not somebody who’s suffering from the same stuff you are.’
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‘I wanted drugs and sex and angst. That’s what I wanted. Back then I thought that the other type of love … I thought that was for other types of people. Honestly, I thought that type of love didn’t exist for women like me. Love like that was for women like Camila. I distinctly remember thinking that.’
And my absolute favourite:
‘Camila: It’s not my place to say what happened that day. All I will say is that you show up for your friends on their hardest days. And you hold their hand through the roughest parts. Life is about who is holding your hand and, I think, whose hand you commit to holding.’
+1/2
About the Author:
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of several novels, including The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Forever, Interrupted. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their daughter, and their dog.
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Daisy Jones and The Six
Published by Penguin Random House Australia
First Released March 2019
January 10, 2020
#BookBingo2020 – Round 1: Set in a time of war
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More and more when I read novels set during the era of WWII, I am seeking ones that explore life on the home front, rather than in the occupied territories. Mainly because I’ve read a lot of WWII fiction and as with any topic, I like a bit of variation. The Storm Beyond the Tides is set on an island off the coast of Maine, USA.
Prior to reading this, I had no idea that these Maine Islands were so involved in WWII. Not only were there military bases there, but German U-Boats within range. And this is what home front WWII fiction can bring to readers – a whole new perspective on the ‘world’ part of WWII. It was all quite fascinating but equally as grave and the sacrifice that communities within these small islands made cannot be overstated and nor should it be forgotten.
Whilst romance provides the catalyst for many events throughout the novel, I wouldn’t pin this story down as a mere war time romantic tale. It has a lot more substance than that and explores many themes around discrimination and tolerance, socioeconomic imbalances, and family obligation.
Visit my full review on this book here.
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I’ve teamed up once again with Mrs B’s Book Reviews and The Book Muse. It’s going to be a little different for 2020, the card has less squares, allowing us to run bingo on the second Saturday of each month. Also, for the first time since beginning bingo, I haven’t specified genre, type, or even fiction or non-fiction for the categories. 2020 is all about themes, and from there, the choice is wide open.
Hope to see you joining in! If you want to play along, just tag us on social media with your bingo posts each month. You can also join the Page by Page Book Club with Theresa Smith Writes over on Facebook, where we all post in the same place on the same date and chat over each other’s entries. Alternatively, drop a link each month into the comments of my Saturday bingo post so I can follow your progress blog to blog.
#BookBingo2020
January 9, 2020
The Week That Was…
What I’ve been watching:
Thoroughly enjoyed this film!
And this:
Which more than lived up to my sky high expectations.
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Book of the Week:
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Joke of the week:
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Most of my Facebook timeline is currently featuring stories and videos about Koala well being.
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This is my favourite video from the week, courtesy of ABC’s Landline:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2798313516895544&id=105735272820062
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Still haven’t managed to hunt down a packet of these:
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Popular opinion indicates that this might not be a bad outcome!
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What I’m reading right now:
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Until next week…
