An evening together without leaving the house

Thursday Book Club is back this week! Book Recommendations from Lockdown

An evening together without leaving the house

Dear Friends,
Congratulations to Amanda Lohrey, winner of this year's Miles Franklin Literary Award. Judge and Mitchell Librarian, Richard Neville, described her winning novel, The Labyrinth, as '“an elegiac novel, soaked in sadness...a beautifully written reflection on the conflicts between parents and children, men and women, and the value and purpose of creative work.”

Courtesy of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Anna K and Campbell M are the winners of tickets to my online interview with Lisa Jewell on Wednesday. For those of you who missed out, you can still register for the event here. Lisa Jewell is an international sensation with a great story as to how she became a writer and how she manages to come up with a new book every year. What better way to spend a Wednesday evening at home?

For half an hour of stimulating, friendly conversation without leaving the house, join us at Thursday Book Club this week.
Here's the link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8521042343

And don't forget that next week, Kathryn Heyman will be dropping by to talk about her memoir, Fury.

I'll look forward to your company.

NEWS

Congratulations to Amanda Lohrey, this year's winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel, The Labyrinth.

Even though Covid put paid to my in-person interview with Mark Brandi at Berkelouw Books, you can catch him online courtesy of Avid Reader. He'll be discussing his new novel, The Others, at 6.30pm on Monday 26 July. You can register for the event here.

Andy Muir hosts this month's BAD All About Crime podcas t. Listen to Andy's terrific interview with Michael Heyward, publisher of crime writer, Peter Temple, winner of the 2010 Miles Franklin Literary Award and creator of the inimitable Jack Irish.

Lisa Jewell is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. On Wednesday 21 July, she'll be joining me online from London to talk about her gripping new novel, The Night She Disappeared. You can book your tickets here.

Varuna, The National Writers House, offers a range of fellowships to support writers across all genres and at all stages of a writing career. Applications are open now. You can find more details here.

I’ll look forward to your company at Thursday Book Club this week.

What is Thursday Book Club? Thursday Book Club is a relaxed, friendly book club connecting readers online. Each Thursday we meet on Zoom from 8 - 8.30pm. There are no scheduled books to read: we simply chat about books we like & books we’re reading. Once a month, a guest writer joins us.

Zoom in as you can – it doesn’t matter if you’re late or have to leave early. Just join my Zoom conference room between 8pm and 8.30pm on Thursdays by clicking on this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8521042343

If prompted, here are the details to manually enter:

Meeting ID: 852 104 2343

Password: 886196

On 29 July, Kathryn Heyman will be joining us to talk about her memoir, Fury.

The story of what happens when, as a young woman, Kathryn escapes the aftermath of a sexual assault trial to join the crew of a prawn trawler, Fury is a terrific read. I expected it to be confronting and compelling - which it is - but I didn't expect it to be so funny, as Kathryn Heyman looks back on her younger self with a mixture of protectiveness, pride, bemusement and humour.

Thursday Book Club Recommendations

My Recommendation

The Chase by Candice Fox

Noela B

The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison by Meredith Jaffé
Two Steps Onward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist
The Attachment by Ailsa Piper and Tony Doherty
Sinning Across Spain by Ailsa Piper

Hazel H

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Anna K

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
A Round-Heeled Woman by Jane Juska
The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff

Bernadette O

Still Life by Sarah Winman
Bass Rock by Evie Wyld
Honeybee by Craig Silvey

Campbell M

The Making of Martin Sparrow by Peter Cochrane
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
New & Selected Poems by Peter Nicholson

Cristina H

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Ravi S

The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish

Take care,

PS. Would you like me to drop in to your book club?

If your book club has chosen to read The Deceptions or The Teacher’s Secret, I’d be delighted to attend your meeting by Zoom (whether your group is meeting online or gathering together in person) to answer any of your questions. To schedule a date, please email me here.