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A Month of Sundays
For over ten years, Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone have been in an online book club, but they have never met face to face. Until now...
Determined to enjoy her imminent retirement, Adele invites her fellow bibliophiles to help her house-sit in the Blue Mountains. It's a tantalising opportunity to spend a month walking in the fresh air, napping by the fire and, of course, reading and talking about books.
But these aren't just any books: each member has been asked to choose a book which will teach the others more about her. And with each woman facing a crossroads in her life, it turns out there's a lot for them to learn, not just about their fellow book-clubbers, but also about themselves.
Liz Byrski has written a beautiful novel about the joy and comfort reading a good book can bring to us all.
Determined to enjoy her imminent retirement, Adele invites her fellow bibliophiles to help her house-sit in the Blue Mountains. It's a tantalising opportunity to spend a month walking in the fresh air, napping by the fire and, of course, reading and talking about books.
But these aren't just any books: each member has been asked to choose a book which will teach the others more about her. And with each woman facing a crossroads in her life, it turns out there's a lot for them to learn, not just about their fellow book-clubbers, but also about themselves.
Liz Byrski has written a beautiful novel about the joy and comfort reading a good book can bring to us all.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2018
173 people are currently reading
1522 people want to read
About the author
Liz Byrski
30 books198 followersLiz Byrski is a writer and broadcaster with more than 40 years experience in the British and Australian media. She is the author of eleven non-fiction books and five novels, and her work has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines.
In the nineties Liz was a broadcaster and executive producer with ABC Radio in Perth and later an advisor to a minister in the Western Australian State Government; she now lectures in Professional and Creative Writing at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, and has PhD in writing with a focus on feminist popular fiction.
Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.
After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.
Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.
In the nineties Liz was a broadcaster and executive producer with ABC Radio in Perth and later an advisor to a minister in the Western Australian State Government; she now lectures in Professional and Creative Writing at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, and has PhD in writing with a focus on feminist popular fiction.
Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.
After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.
Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
October 26, 2018
I thought this was a really entertaining and interesting book and in fact once I got involved I found it very hard to put down. There were so many things to enjoy.
Firstly it is a book about books and who doesn't enjoy that! The four main characters are all members of a book club so we get to enjoy their discussions about their chosen books as well as frequent references to other authors they have read.
Then they all meet up in a house in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, a part of the country very familiar to me. All of those little towns up there are full of coffee shops and art and craft shops and the author creates the atmosphere perfectly.
And then of course there are the characters who all turn out to be the kind of people you would like to know. Over the course of the story they each disclose their individual issues and develop a bond which is obviously going to help support them all in the future.
I do not intend to belittle it at all when I say this would be a perfect book to read on a plane or in a doctor's waiting room, the reason being that once you have entered Byrski's very well written world it is almost impossible to be distracted by anything.
Firstly it is a book about books and who doesn't enjoy that! The four main characters are all members of a book club so we get to enjoy their discussions about their chosen books as well as frequent references to other authors they have read.
Then they all meet up in a house in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, a part of the country very familiar to me. All of those little towns up there are full of coffee shops and art and craft shops and the author creates the atmosphere perfectly.
And then of course there are the characters who all turn out to be the kind of people you would like to know. Over the course of the story they each disclose their individual issues and develop a bond which is obviously going to help support them all in the future.
I do not intend to belittle it at all when I say this would be a perfect book to read on a plane or in a doctor's waiting room, the reason being that once you have entered Byrski's very well written world it is almost impossible to be distracted by anything.
August 19, 2019
4.5★
Being part of an online book club can be a bunch of fun, how amazing would if be if you got the chance to meet some of those people in real life. That’s exactly what Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone decide to do after being a part of their online book club for the past ten years. When the club set out ten years ago, there were more members, but over the years the numbers decreased, leaving these four women who still had their regular meeting via Skype.
Adele is asked to house sit for a friend in the Blue Mountains for a month and she can invite some friends along too if she desires to. Adele thinks this could be the perfect place for her and her book club friends to get together. After quite a bit of discussion amongst the women it is decided and so they all start to prepare for their getaway in the Blue Mountains.
To get to know each other it’s decided each woman was to bring a book, which meant something to them. They had to provide a copy for each woman to read and each Sunday they would discuss it. Their days were filled with relaxing walks, reading and enjoying each others company and getting to know a bit more about each other.
Having only read one other book by this author which I enjoyed I must say this book was better than I imagined it to be. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book and I would love to visit the Blue Mountains. I could just imagine being curled up on a comfy couch by a lovely warm, open fire, now wouldn’t that be heaven for a bookworm. Highly recommended.
Being part of an online book club can be a bunch of fun, how amazing would if be if you got the chance to meet some of those people in real life. That’s exactly what Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone decide to do after being a part of their online book club for the past ten years. When the club set out ten years ago, there were more members, but over the years the numbers decreased, leaving these four women who still had their regular meeting via Skype.
Adele is asked to house sit for a friend in the Blue Mountains for a month and she can invite some friends along too if she desires to. Adele thinks this could be the perfect place for her and her book club friends to get together. After quite a bit of discussion amongst the women it is decided and so they all start to prepare for their getaway in the Blue Mountains.
To get to know each other it’s decided each woman was to bring a book, which meant something to them. They had to provide a copy for each woman to read and each Sunday they would discuss it. Their days were filled with relaxing walks, reading and enjoying each others company and getting to know a bit more about each other.
Having only read one other book by this author which I enjoyed I must say this book was better than I imagined it to be. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book and I would love to visit the Blue Mountains. I could just imagine being curled up on a comfy couch by a lovely warm, open fire, now wouldn’t that be heaven for a bookworm. Highly recommended.
June 16, 2018
The four women; Ros from Sydney, Adele from Adelaide, Judy from Mandurah near Perth, and Simone from Tasmania have had their weekly book club meetings via Skype, always online, never having met one another. The group had been larger but had dwindled over the years; the four were friends but in saying that, hardly knew one another. When a friend of Adele’s asked her to house-sit in the Blue Mountains – take some friends if she wanted – Adele immediately thought of the book club ladies. Her trepidation at sending the email to them all was unwarranted, as all three gave a resoundingly positive yes!
Each member was to choose a book that had meaning to them; to bring four copies and when it was that person’s turn, hand out the copy leaving a week to read it. Then come Sunday, it was discussion time. As the days moved forward, in among the brisk walks in the sunshine; the sharing of the beauty of the area; and of course, the joy of having Ros’ dog Clooney to fuss over – everyone realized that these women in their sixties and seventies, had a past which had affected their current lives, and themselves. They were at the stage of needing to learn why they were as they were, and whether it was possible to let the past remain in the past – to make peace with it.
Would those very special books, chosen with love by the four book club women, help in defining them? And would four women, previously unknown to each other, other than an online presence, manage to get on for four weeks in the same house?
A Month of Sundays by Aussie author Liz Byrski is an exceptional, emotional and brilliant read! I can’t fault the writing, the story, the fabulous women – and of course being about books, I’m going to look up each and every book they read for their book club get together each Sunday (and I won't say what they are here as it'll spoil the element of surprise for a new reader). I want to be taught yoga by Simone – I identified so much with Adele – I felt a deep empathy for Ros; and loved Clooney – and wanted to give Judy a big hug. Such an excellent read – Ms Byrski doesn’t disappoint. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Pan Macmillan AU for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
Each member was to choose a book that had meaning to them; to bring four copies and when it was that person’s turn, hand out the copy leaving a week to read it. Then come Sunday, it was discussion time. As the days moved forward, in among the brisk walks in the sunshine; the sharing of the beauty of the area; and of course, the joy of having Ros’ dog Clooney to fuss over – everyone realized that these women in their sixties and seventies, had a past which had affected their current lives, and themselves. They were at the stage of needing to learn why they were as they were, and whether it was possible to let the past remain in the past – to make peace with it.
Would those very special books, chosen with love by the four book club women, help in defining them? And would four women, previously unknown to each other, other than an online presence, manage to get on for four weeks in the same house?
A Month of Sundays by Aussie author Liz Byrski is an exceptional, emotional and brilliant read! I can’t fault the writing, the story, the fabulous women – and of course being about books, I’m going to look up each and every book they read for their book club get together each Sunday (and I won't say what they are here as it'll spoil the element of surprise for a new reader). I want to be taught yoga by Simone – I identified so much with Adele – I felt a deep empathy for Ros; and loved Clooney – and wanted to give Judy a big hug. Such an excellent read – Ms Byrski doesn’t disappoint. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Pan Macmillan AU for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
July 2, 2018
I must admit that when I first started this book, I was afraid that I might not like it. The blurb felt a little bit old for me, and there wasn’t too much appeal about a group of older women discussing books that they have read. But oh how wrong I was! This was one of the most delightful, yet deep and thoughtful books that I have read in a very long time. One of those rare ones that actually make you stop and evaluate how you are feeling about your life, and leave you with warm fuzzy feelings throughout, and a bit of emptiness after finishing the last page.
Four retiring-aged women, Adele, Ros, Judy and Simone have been in an online book club for years. They enjoy the weekly Skype catch up’s, but have never met each other face to face. When Adele agrees to house sit in the Blue Mountains, she invites them all to join her for a whole month. She gets all of them to choose one book that will help the others get to know them, and to bring three copies. Each Sunday they will discuss the book, and enjoy the sights and relaxation of the Blue Mountains in the meantime. Excited and nervous about finally meeting each other in person, the four of them make their way from different parts of the country, to the cottage in the Blue Mountains.
From the beginning I realised there was going to be something magical about this book. From the moment they met each other in the house I struggled to put this book down. The writing is absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere in the cottage is so comforting, I could almost feel it through the pages. I was so at ease with the characters that Byrski created that they felt like old friends.
I absolutely loved the concept of how they chose a book a week and related it back to their life. It worked wonderfully. The tone and relevance of the discussions that the characters had about each book flowed flawlessly and at times I was quite taken back by the depth of the conversations and somehow the writing made me reflect on my own life in relevance to what they were talking about.
It had some delightfully funny laugh-out-loud moments, and also some more sombre ones.
I’m not going to talk about the books that they chose because part of the magic of this story was the anticipation of what the book was, the reveal was almost like a climactic event to each character, it would totally spoil it to look them up first. I found myself so excited to see what book each woman chose, and even though I hadn’t read most of them I could still relate to their discussions about it. And then I was surprised that I had actually read the last book, and could relate even more to what they were talking about because I had experienced similar feelings as I had read it.
What a fabulous story, for the young and young-at-heart alike!
Would I recommend A Month of Sundays?
Absolutely! There was something wonderful about the writing. I am very interested to give her other books a try.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of A Month of Sundays to review!
For more reviews, check out my BLOG
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Four retiring-aged women, Adele, Ros, Judy and Simone have been in an online book club for years. They enjoy the weekly Skype catch up’s, but have never met each other face to face. When Adele agrees to house sit in the Blue Mountains, she invites them all to join her for a whole month. She gets all of them to choose one book that will help the others get to know them, and to bring three copies. Each Sunday they will discuss the book, and enjoy the sights and relaxation of the Blue Mountains in the meantime. Excited and nervous about finally meeting each other in person, the four of them make their way from different parts of the country, to the cottage in the Blue Mountains.
From the beginning I realised there was going to be something magical about this book. From the moment they met each other in the house I struggled to put this book down. The writing is absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere in the cottage is so comforting, I could almost feel it through the pages. I was so at ease with the characters that Byrski created that they felt like old friends.
I absolutely loved the concept of how they chose a book a week and related it back to their life. It worked wonderfully. The tone and relevance of the discussions that the characters had about each book flowed flawlessly and at times I was quite taken back by the depth of the conversations and somehow the writing made me reflect on my own life in relevance to what they were talking about.
It had some delightfully funny laugh-out-loud moments, and also some more sombre ones.
I’m not going to talk about the books that they chose because part of the magic of this story was the anticipation of what the book was, the reveal was almost like a climactic event to each character, it would totally spoil it to look them up first. I found myself so excited to see what book each woman chose, and even though I hadn’t read most of them I could still relate to their discussions about it. And then I was surprised that I had actually read the last book, and could relate even more to what they were talking about because I had experienced similar feelings as I had read it.
What a fabulous story, for the young and young-at-heart alike!
Would I recommend A Month of Sundays?
Absolutely! There was something wonderful about the writing. I am very interested to give her other books a try.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of A Month of Sundays to review!
For more reviews, check out my BLOG
February 28, 2025
EXCERPT: At each meeting they talk energetically about books, the ones they've been reading and frequently others as well, but very little else. Since they've been reduced to four it has seemed pleasantly intimate, but they are still just four women, hardly a club at all. Four women who have never actually met, reading and talking books one Sunday afternoon a month on Skype. They have been steadfast in the face of frozen screens, visual distortions, the stubborn refusal of the sound to work and the frequent dropouts, all of which have irritated but not deterred them.
'I wonder if we'll ever have the chance to actually be in the same room together,' Judy had ventured sometime last year.
'Why risk messing up something that works well?' Ros had responded. 'We don't really know each other, which is possibly a good thing, because we don't have to tolerate each other's irritating habits in person. Face to face we could end up loathing each other and dropping out. End of book club!'
It had brought that meeting to a strange and somewhat awkward close. Adele had thought this was just plain rude, but then Ros could be blunt like that. Adele has often found her quite confronting and wonders if Ros has any idea how rough it can be to be on the sharp end of her opinions. On this occasion it had seemed that they'd all held their breath for a month wondering whether the tension would bleed through to the next meeting. Adele had feared that this latest thoughtless comment might bring the club to an end, but it hadn't. As soon as they were next assembled online Ros had apologised. 'Foot in mouth, so sorry,' she'd said, and they had laughed about it and moved on.
And now they do have that chance to meet because Marian - who had dropped out of the club years ago - had emailed Adele this morning.
We're heading off in July to visit the children and grandchildren in Germany, and then spend a couple of weeks in Spain, Marian had written. You mentioned once that you wouldn't mind housesitting for us, so I thought I'd see if you're still up for it. I think you said you were retiring this month so maybe you'd be free to come over here? I know how you love the Blue Mountains. You're welcome to bring a friend or friends with you. It occurred to me that you might want to bring the remaining stalwarts from the book club. Now it's down to four you could easily fit in. Gwenda would still come in to clean and doesn't mind doing some cooking if you want, so you could organise that with her. And Ray is always willing to help out with any maintenance problems. We'd be so happy if we knew you were looking after the place for us. Anyway, let us know that you think.
Adele had read the message through several times. The timing was great - the house would be free from late July until mid-September. She could be there all or part of the time. She pictured herself in that beautiful old house with its glorious views, popping out for coffee or lunch, browsing the lovely little shops in Leura and the galleries in Blackheath. And then she thought more about Marian's suggestion. Should she invite the others - Judy, Ros and Simone - to join her? There were great walks, a huge wood-burning stove and shelves full of books, CDs and DVDs. If she could persuade them to come for four weeks they could each choose a book and discuss one each week. All the things she would do alone they could do together or individually. As she'd though more about it Adele decided that Judy and Simone would go for it, but Ros . . . well, Ros might be tricky. She was the sort of person who could dismantle anu argument, see through the gaps in any plan and give you that sceptical, sometimes withering, look over the top of her glasses. But by then, Adele was committed. The more she thought about it the more she liked the idea, and she'd whizzed off the email.
Now, as she reads it yet again, she thinks it embarrassingly naive, as though a breathless teenager, rather than a mature woman of more than a certain age, had written it. She'll be on tenterhooks now until they respond. The old anxiety about what other people might think of her - about looking stupid, or ignorant, or pushy, too assertive or not assertive enough - surges through her. Sometimes she thinks she's overcome this burdensome characteristic, but then she finds herself once again at its mercy.
ABOUT 'A MONTH OF SUNDAYS': For over ten years, Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone have been in an online book club, but they have never met face to face. Until now...
Determined to enjoy her imminent retirement, Adele invites her fellow bibliophiles to help her house-sit in the Blue Mountains. It's a tantalising opportunity to spend a month walking in the fresh air, napping by the fire and, of course, reading and talking about books.
But these aren't just any books: each member has been asked to choose a book which will teach the others more about her. And with each woman facing a crossroads in her life, it turns out there's a lot for them to learn, not just about their fellow book-clubbers, but also about themselves.
MY THOUGHTS: I have been a fan of Liz Byrski for a number of years. I love her stories of women, stronger than they imagine themselves to be, friendship and community. She creates characters I would like to know, to become friends with, and these four women, Ros from Sydney, Adele from Adelaide, Judy from Mandurah, WA, and Simone from Hobart, are no exception. I would have loved to have moved into that lovely old home in the Blue Mountains with them and Ros's delightful cocker-spaniel, Clooney.
The women are all very different in character and lifestyles, but all complement one another. They each have their own traits and foibles, and each is facing a watershed moment in their lives.
It is an emotional experience living alongside these women, who have known one another for a long time but only superficially, develop a liking and respect for one another. The remit Adele has given the other three women is this: Please choose a book that will tell us all something significant about you. Be prepared to be honest about why you have chosen it and why it matters to you. This makes it more than just a suggested read, it is an invitation from each one of us to the others to get to know you better.
And that's just what they do.
If you love books about books (I have an exciting reading list culled from this read) with wonderful characters, don't pass this by. Of all the Liz Byrski books I have read - this is my favorite. I really don't want to return it to the library!
Two favorite quotes: . . . this is part of the magic of books, you can read something you don't actually like but still be impressed or moved by it. And even something that is quite distasteful cans trike some profound note within you, so you still read on.
We talk about books. We make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#AMonthofSundays @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.
After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.
Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.
'I wonder if we'll ever have the chance to actually be in the same room together,' Judy had ventured sometime last year.
'Why risk messing up something that works well?' Ros had responded. 'We don't really know each other, which is possibly a good thing, because we don't have to tolerate each other's irritating habits in person. Face to face we could end up loathing each other and dropping out. End of book club!'
It had brought that meeting to a strange and somewhat awkward close. Adele had thought this was just plain rude, but then Ros could be blunt like that. Adele has often found her quite confronting and wonders if Ros has any idea how rough it can be to be on the sharp end of her opinions. On this occasion it had seemed that they'd all held their breath for a month wondering whether the tension would bleed through to the next meeting. Adele had feared that this latest thoughtless comment might bring the club to an end, but it hadn't. As soon as they were next assembled online Ros had apologised. 'Foot in mouth, so sorry,' she'd said, and they had laughed about it and moved on.
And now they do have that chance to meet because Marian - who had dropped out of the club years ago - had emailed Adele this morning.
We're heading off in July to visit the children and grandchildren in Germany, and then spend a couple of weeks in Spain, Marian had written. You mentioned once that you wouldn't mind housesitting for us, so I thought I'd see if you're still up for it. I think you said you were retiring this month so maybe you'd be free to come over here? I know how you love the Blue Mountains. You're welcome to bring a friend or friends with you. It occurred to me that you might want to bring the remaining stalwarts from the book club. Now it's down to four you could easily fit in. Gwenda would still come in to clean and doesn't mind doing some cooking if you want, so you could organise that with her. And Ray is always willing to help out with any maintenance problems. We'd be so happy if we knew you were looking after the place for us. Anyway, let us know that you think.
Adele had read the message through several times. The timing was great - the house would be free from late July until mid-September. She could be there all or part of the time. She pictured herself in that beautiful old house with its glorious views, popping out for coffee or lunch, browsing the lovely little shops in Leura and the galleries in Blackheath. And then she thought more about Marian's suggestion. Should she invite the others - Judy, Ros and Simone - to join her? There were great walks, a huge wood-burning stove and shelves full of books, CDs and DVDs. If she could persuade them to come for four weeks they could each choose a book and discuss one each week. All the things she would do alone they could do together or individually. As she'd though more about it Adele decided that Judy and Simone would go for it, but Ros . . . well, Ros might be tricky. She was the sort of person who could dismantle anu argument, see through the gaps in any plan and give you that sceptical, sometimes withering, look over the top of her glasses. But by then, Adele was committed. The more she thought about it the more she liked the idea, and she'd whizzed off the email.
Now, as she reads it yet again, she thinks it embarrassingly naive, as though a breathless teenager, rather than a mature woman of more than a certain age, had written it. She'll be on tenterhooks now until they respond. The old anxiety about what other people might think of her - about looking stupid, or ignorant, or pushy, too assertive or not assertive enough - surges through her. Sometimes she thinks she's overcome this burdensome characteristic, but then she finds herself once again at its mercy.
ABOUT 'A MONTH OF SUNDAYS': For over ten years, Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone have been in an online book club, but they have never met face to face. Until now...
Determined to enjoy her imminent retirement, Adele invites her fellow bibliophiles to help her house-sit in the Blue Mountains. It's a tantalising opportunity to spend a month walking in the fresh air, napping by the fire and, of course, reading and talking about books.
But these aren't just any books: each member has been asked to choose a book which will teach the others more about her. And with each woman facing a crossroads in her life, it turns out there's a lot for them to learn, not just about their fellow book-clubbers, but also about themselves.
MY THOUGHTS: I have been a fan of Liz Byrski for a number of years. I love her stories of women, stronger than they imagine themselves to be, friendship and community. She creates characters I would like to know, to become friends with, and these four women, Ros from Sydney, Adele from Adelaide, Judy from Mandurah, WA, and Simone from Hobart, are no exception. I would have loved to have moved into that lovely old home in the Blue Mountains with them and Ros's delightful cocker-spaniel, Clooney.
The women are all very different in character and lifestyles, but all complement one another. They each have their own traits and foibles, and each is facing a watershed moment in their lives.
It is an emotional experience living alongside these women, who have known one another for a long time but only superficially, develop a liking and respect for one another. The remit Adele has given the other three women is this: Please choose a book that will tell us all something significant about you. Be prepared to be honest about why you have chosen it and why it matters to you. This makes it more than just a suggested read, it is an invitation from each one of us to the others to get to know you better.
And that's just what they do.
If you love books about books (I have an exciting reading list culled from this read) with wonderful characters, don't pass this by. Of all the Liz Byrski books I have read - this is my favorite. I really don't want to return it to the library!
Two favorite quotes: . . . this is part of the magic of books, you can read something you don't actually like but still be impressed or moved by it. And even something that is quite distasteful cans trike some profound note within you, so you still read on.
We talk about books. We make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#AMonthofSundays @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.
After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.
Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.
July 4, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Liz Byrski is a local writer that I have had the pleasure of listening to speak about her writing in person. I have also enjoyed reading both her fiction and non fiction titles. A Month of Sundays marks Bryski’s tenth book release and it was a book that I liked very much. A Month of Sundays is a book full of heart and light touches of humour. It is a special novel, that shows us just how important books and female friendships are to our lifeblood.
Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone are all part of an established online book club, which has been functioning for over ten years. Although they have conversed online, they have never met in a face to face situation. Adele, one of the book club members who is on the cusp of retirement, is given an opportunity to house sit a cottage in the stunning Blue Mountains region. Adele decides it would be the perfect time to invite along her online book club friends and finally make that face to face connection. As much as this is a great opportunity for the group to make a personal connection, Adele hopes the women will get the chance to relax, enjoy the country surroundings and perhaps indulge in a few book related discussions. To move things along in this direction, each member of the book club has been asked to share a favourite book that best expresses who they are. But, each member of the club is at turning point in their life, of varying degrees. The time away is the ideal opportunity for these women to take a good look at themselves and make some changes in their life before they depart the Blue Mountains retreat.
Told with a delicate balance of insight, humour and character introspection, A Month of Sundays proved to be a lovely all round read. I read this book on a cold winter’s night and it was the perfect novel to curl up with beside a roaring fire. There was a feel good quality about this book, despite some of sad themes touched on in the novel. A Month of Sundays is a heart-warming tale that reminds us of the power of female friendships and how a love of books can definitely enrich your life.
Although there is an accessible light touch approach to A Month of Sundays, it is quite a reflective style read. It will implore you to explore your own relationships, choices and make you realise that it is never too late in life to make some hard changes. I really admired this aspect of the novel. It is a hard process to scrutinize yourself in the way this group of women do, but the support and encouragement they received from each other was a joy to be a part of.
Byrski has always been a strong advocate for mature women and she takes care to ensure that they receive the full treatment in her book, rather than taking a back seat. Each of the four characters featured in the book are between 60 and 70 plus, so Byrski works hard to shine a light on the experiences of older women. On the whole, I could still connect to these varied issues and themes, I was able to see some similar experiences in the older female figures in my own life (family and friends). A Month of Sundays is a character driven novel, therefore there is plenty to discover about each of the ladies and even the gorgeous pet dog Clooney (apt name!), which was an interesting journey overall.
As A Month of Sundays revolves around a book club, expect plenty of book related ground covered in this novel. I loved the whole concept of an online book club and how Byrski decided that these women had to finally meet after a decade of connecting online. Byrski has obviously conducted a great deal of research in this area and I feel like she has a passion for understanding this area, as it comes across quite clearly in this novel. Personally, I loved the dialogue between the characters and their discussion of the books that was chosen to be very personal to them. On a side note, I would have loved a list of the books featured in A Month of Sundays to be included at the back of the novel, as I am keen to investigate the titles featured.
My final mention in this review of A Month of Sundays is the setting. Thank you Liz Byrski for featuring the Blue Mountains as the central stage for your book club retreat. The Blue Mountains is still up there on my travel bucket list and Byrski’s descriptions of this picturesque part of our country just piqued my interest even further to visit. I’m sure readers will appreciate this aspect of the novel too, Byrski’s prose highlights the natural beauty, clean air and tranquillity of the region. Likewise, it was a great idea to situate the four protagonists in different parts of Australia and have them all converge onto the central location of Sydney. It was a highlight to see Mandurah, the next suburb to where I live in Western Australia, featured so prominently in this novel.
A heartfelt journey await readers of all ages should they choose to read A Month of Sundays. This is the ideal winter warmer, as it ties together a memorable story revolving around books, female friendships and the final parting message, that it is never too late to embrace change.
*I wish to thank the publisher, Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A Month of Sundays is book #72 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
Liz Byrski is a local writer that I have had the pleasure of listening to speak about her writing in person. I have also enjoyed reading both her fiction and non fiction titles. A Month of Sundays marks Bryski’s tenth book release and it was a book that I liked very much. A Month of Sundays is a book full of heart and light touches of humour. It is a special novel, that shows us just how important books and female friendships are to our lifeblood.
Ros, Adele, Judy and Simone are all part of an established online book club, which has been functioning for over ten years. Although they have conversed online, they have never met in a face to face situation. Adele, one of the book club members who is on the cusp of retirement, is given an opportunity to house sit a cottage in the stunning Blue Mountains region. Adele decides it would be the perfect time to invite along her online book club friends and finally make that face to face connection. As much as this is a great opportunity for the group to make a personal connection, Adele hopes the women will get the chance to relax, enjoy the country surroundings and perhaps indulge in a few book related discussions. To move things along in this direction, each member of the book club has been asked to share a favourite book that best expresses who they are. But, each member of the club is at turning point in their life, of varying degrees. The time away is the ideal opportunity for these women to take a good look at themselves and make some changes in their life before they depart the Blue Mountains retreat.
Told with a delicate balance of insight, humour and character introspection, A Month of Sundays proved to be a lovely all round read. I read this book on a cold winter’s night and it was the perfect novel to curl up with beside a roaring fire. There was a feel good quality about this book, despite some of sad themes touched on in the novel. A Month of Sundays is a heart-warming tale that reminds us of the power of female friendships and how a love of books can definitely enrich your life.
Although there is an accessible light touch approach to A Month of Sundays, it is quite a reflective style read. It will implore you to explore your own relationships, choices and make you realise that it is never too late in life to make some hard changes. I really admired this aspect of the novel. It is a hard process to scrutinize yourself in the way this group of women do, but the support and encouragement they received from each other was a joy to be a part of.
Byrski has always been a strong advocate for mature women and she takes care to ensure that they receive the full treatment in her book, rather than taking a back seat. Each of the four characters featured in the book are between 60 and 70 plus, so Byrski works hard to shine a light on the experiences of older women. On the whole, I could still connect to these varied issues and themes, I was able to see some similar experiences in the older female figures in my own life (family and friends). A Month of Sundays is a character driven novel, therefore there is plenty to discover about each of the ladies and even the gorgeous pet dog Clooney (apt name!), which was an interesting journey overall.
As A Month of Sundays revolves around a book club, expect plenty of book related ground covered in this novel. I loved the whole concept of an online book club and how Byrski decided that these women had to finally meet after a decade of connecting online. Byrski has obviously conducted a great deal of research in this area and I feel like she has a passion for understanding this area, as it comes across quite clearly in this novel. Personally, I loved the dialogue between the characters and their discussion of the books that was chosen to be very personal to them. On a side note, I would have loved a list of the books featured in A Month of Sundays to be included at the back of the novel, as I am keen to investigate the titles featured.
My final mention in this review of A Month of Sundays is the setting. Thank you Liz Byrski for featuring the Blue Mountains as the central stage for your book club retreat. The Blue Mountains is still up there on my travel bucket list and Byrski’s descriptions of this picturesque part of our country just piqued my interest even further to visit. I’m sure readers will appreciate this aspect of the novel too, Byrski’s prose highlights the natural beauty, clean air and tranquillity of the region. Likewise, it was a great idea to situate the four protagonists in different parts of Australia and have them all converge onto the central location of Sydney. It was a highlight to see Mandurah, the next suburb to where I live in Western Australia, featured so prominently in this novel.
A heartfelt journey await readers of all ages should they choose to read A Month of Sundays. This is the ideal winter warmer, as it ties together a memorable story revolving around books, female friendships and the final parting message, that it is never too late to embrace change.
*I wish to thank the publisher, Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A Month of Sundays is book #72 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
January 14, 2019
For years four women have been in an online book club. They talk about their books through Skype so they know what each other look like but have never met. That is until Adele proposes they meet together in The Blue Mountains. The plan is that over four weeks they will each share a book that is meaningful to them. Each person will bring four copies of the book. During the week, each woman will read the book choice and then discuss it on the Sunday. Ros, from Paddington Sydney, Adela from Mandurah Western Australia, Simone from Hobart and Adele from Adelaide are all women are close to retirement age and older. Ros also brings along her constant canine company, Clooney. The choice of books and the time spent in close proximity with each other uncovers a lot about each woman’s past and the things that have shaped them. And just maybe it will bring some changes for the future?
What’s not to like about a book about books and reading, featuring mature aged women who have had their share of good and bad times in life? From the lovely bookish cover, which made me think of a stay years ago at Varuna, I was quick to settle with this book and get to know the four women. I loved the back stories of each of the women, even though a couple did seem overly dramatic or unusual. I liked how different the women and their experiences are from each other. I loved the way they opened up to each other. I appreciated that the books were revealed to the reader each week and not given all at once. A couple of the books mentioned I might need to get hold of to read.
The setting of the Blue Mountains and little townships like Leura are beautifully described. Though I did wonder at one stage when one of the women had booked a cab to take her from the house in the Blue Mountains to Sydney airport. To me that seemed a bit of a stretch, as it would have cost a fortune.
This is a book about books but also about women’s experiences in life, about life changes, getting older and about friendship. I really enjoyed it. Just the sort of book to curl up with and just maybe find some of your own thoughts or experiences echoed in these pages. Another great Liz Byrski book.
What’s not to like about a book about books and reading, featuring mature aged women who have had their share of good and bad times in life? From the lovely bookish cover, which made me think of a stay years ago at Varuna, I was quick to settle with this book and get to know the four women. I loved the back stories of each of the women, even though a couple did seem overly dramatic or unusual. I liked how different the women and their experiences are from each other. I loved the way they opened up to each other. I appreciated that the books were revealed to the reader each week and not given all at once. A couple of the books mentioned I might need to get hold of to read.
The setting of the Blue Mountains and little townships like Leura are beautifully described. Though I did wonder at one stage when one of the women had booked a cab to take her from the house in the Blue Mountains to Sydney airport. To me that seemed a bit of a stretch, as it would have cost a fortune.
This is a book about books but also about women’s experiences in life, about life changes, getting older and about friendship. I really enjoyed it. Just the sort of book to curl up with and just maybe find some of your own thoughts or experiences echoed in these pages. Another great Liz Byrski book.
March 9, 2023
Women's literature isn't a favourite genre of mine, so when I received A Month of Sundays by Liz Byrski for review back in June 2018, I wasn't in any particular hurry to get to it. An intriguing premise and beautiful cover held promise I might enjoy this, but I haven't picked it up until now in a concerted effort in 2020 to try and reduce my unsolicited TBR pile.
Mature female characters Adele, Ros, Simone and Judy have belonged to an online book club for years but have never met face-to-face. When Adele agrees to house-sit a property in the Blue Mountains, she decides on a whim to invite the other three women for a bookclub getaway. All four women are facing different challenges in their lives, and accept the invitation for different reasons.
The trip will be about rest, recreation and reading. Each woman is to bring along a book for bookclub that tells the group something about themselves and enough copies for all participants to read. Taking it in turns, the women will read a book a week and discuss one each Sunday, hence the title, A Month of Sundays.
Once I was able to keep the characters' lives straight in my head, I warmed to the setting and social interaction between the women quite quickly. Their book discussions were my favourite part of the novel - naturally - and their growing friendships were a 'feel good' guilty pleasure.
The problems each of the characters were dealing with were of interest, despite the fact that the women were at least two decades or more older than me. The familiar Australian setting of the Blue Mountains was also a plus.
A Month of Sundays by Australian author Liz Byrski is a novel about ageing, the joy of reading and the importance of deep and meaningful friendships. It was an unexpected delight to read and I can highly recommend it.
* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *
Mature female characters Adele, Ros, Simone and Judy have belonged to an online book club for years but have never met face-to-face. When Adele agrees to house-sit a property in the Blue Mountains, she decides on a whim to invite the other three women for a bookclub getaway. All four women are facing different challenges in their lives, and accept the invitation for different reasons.
The trip will be about rest, recreation and reading. Each woman is to bring along a book for bookclub that tells the group something about themselves and enough copies for all participants to read. Taking it in turns, the women will read a book a week and discuss one each Sunday, hence the title, A Month of Sundays.
Once I was able to keep the characters' lives straight in my head, I warmed to the setting and social interaction between the women quite quickly. Their book discussions were my favourite part of the novel - naturally - and their growing friendships were a 'feel good' guilty pleasure.
The problems each of the characters were dealing with were of interest, despite the fact that the women were at least two decades or more older than me. The familiar Australian setting of the Blue Mountains was also a plus.
A Month of Sundays by Australian author Liz Byrski is a novel about ageing, the joy of reading and the importance of deep and meaningful friendships. It was an unexpected delight to read and I can highly recommend it.
* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *
October 26, 2018
What a joy to read, Liz Brynski has done it again, a fabulous book. Many of those who read this book will be of a similar age to the 4 main female characters and are at the beginning of this journey for which will be able to identify with many aspects of the story. Rather than being a “chook” book commented by one reader, as opposed to a “chick” book?, there is quite a bit of wisdom that Liz Brynski has incorporated within the read.
Ros to Judy “with regards to the death of Maddie,.....the need to conserve emotional energy”...and only with age can this be realised, the ability to let go after a life of family and/or work and decision making is realised slowly. Maddie is one of those “needy” people, the need to be recognised, the need to be wanted etc, so draining for those around them and for Judy to have a sense of relief at her death fully understandable.
The 4 women, Adele, Ros, Judy and Simone have been involved with an online book club and over time have developed a sixth sense to the personalities of each other. All are dealing with that time in life when new directions and changes are in the process of taking place and difficult but necessary decisions have to be made. Change is difficult for everyone, particularly when it’s a decision forced upon you, such as Ros and her initial inability to face her new debilitating health problems that is a double whammy after losing her husband in a freak accident.
Judy is a victim of her own success in her craft/knitting business and is emotionally and physically drowning in it. Given her past history of continually running from one situation to another her business has been the only thing that has given her purpose in life. Also, she has been unable to move on from personal relationships involving her ex but not divorced from her husband and his partner her former girlfriend, strangely this occurrence happens more than one would imagine, the need to hang on, the third wheel?
Simone has been a successful teacher now retired she had taken up teaching Yoga which gives her a sense of calm holding at bay the inner churning of memories of youth and the unexplained disappearances of the two men she had grown up with and of the love she had felt from their mother Claire, love not experienced from her own parents. She has done an internet search and it isn’t until she is in the Blue Mountains with the others that she explores this finding. This becomes an emotional roller coaster ride for Simone with some terrible truths being exposed.
Adele just on retirement grappling with her own insecurities regarding her future organises the holiday where the 4 will meet for the first time in person. A woman who also could be described as a victim of her own success for it is her work that gives her the reason to get out of bed each day, never having stopped to smell the roses or have close friends, she has not invested any time in planning for the after work life. A regimented predictable life. Anxious Adele however is “addicted to this state of confusion and anxiety, as pointed out by the terrible Astrid” and thinking that she has offended continually apologises. It is through Judy that Adele is given some new purpose which in turn will solve Judy’s dilemma regarding her business.
The 4 women gain so much from this rewarding time that stay longer than first envisaged and later with decisions made they face the past and move on with new futures.
Ros to Judy “with regards to the death of Maddie,.....the need to conserve emotional energy”...and only with age can this be realised, the ability to let go after a life of family and/or work and decision making is realised slowly. Maddie is one of those “needy” people, the need to be recognised, the need to be wanted etc, so draining for those around them and for Judy to have a sense of relief at her death fully understandable.
The 4 women, Adele, Ros, Judy and Simone have been involved with an online book club and over time have developed a sixth sense to the personalities of each other. All are dealing with that time in life when new directions and changes are in the process of taking place and difficult but necessary decisions have to be made. Change is difficult for everyone, particularly when it’s a decision forced upon you, such as Ros and her initial inability to face her new debilitating health problems that is a double whammy after losing her husband in a freak accident.
Judy is a victim of her own success in her craft/knitting business and is emotionally and physically drowning in it. Given her past history of continually running from one situation to another her business has been the only thing that has given her purpose in life. Also, she has been unable to move on from personal relationships involving her ex but not divorced from her husband and his partner her former girlfriend, strangely this occurrence happens more than one would imagine, the need to hang on, the third wheel?
Simone has been a successful teacher now retired she had taken up teaching Yoga which gives her a sense of calm holding at bay the inner churning of memories of youth and the unexplained disappearances of the two men she had grown up with and of the love she had felt from their mother Claire, love not experienced from her own parents. She has done an internet search and it isn’t until she is in the Blue Mountains with the others that she explores this finding. This becomes an emotional roller coaster ride for Simone with some terrible truths being exposed.
Adele just on retirement grappling with her own insecurities regarding her future organises the holiday where the 4 will meet for the first time in person. A woman who also could be described as a victim of her own success for it is her work that gives her the reason to get out of bed each day, never having stopped to smell the roses or have close friends, she has not invested any time in planning for the after work life. A regimented predictable life. Anxious Adele however is “addicted to this state of confusion and anxiety, as pointed out by the terrible Astrid” and thinking that she has offended continually apologises. It is through Judy that Adele is given some new purpose which in turn will solve Judy’s dilemma regarding her business.
The 4 women gain so much from this rewarding time that stay longer than first envisaged and later with decisions made they face the past and move on with new futures.
April 17, 2019
Liz Byrski’s tenth fiction novel A Month of Sundays tells the story of an online book club who agree to house sit together.
Having never met in real life, each woman brings a book to share with the fellow members. The books should tell their fellow members something about their personality and are discussed each Sunday.
As an avid reader and book club member, I was really looking forward to this book. Sadly, it failed to meet my expectations.
I found the characters frustrating, they were constantly keeping secrets only to reveal them 20 predictable pages later can and, like the story, were underdeveloped.
I desperately wanted to read this book and were so disappointed it didn’t live up to expectations.
Having never met in real life, each woman brings a book to share with the fellow members. The books should tell their fellow members something about their personality and are discussed each Sunday.
As an avid reader and book club member, I was really looking forward to this book. Sadly, it failed to meet my expectations.
I found the characters frustrating, they were constantly keeping secrets only to reveal them 20 predictable pages later can and, like the story, were underdeveloped.
I desperately wanted to read this book and were so disappointed it didn’t live up to expectations.
July 23, 2020
3and a half stars. This is a pleasant read with a group of old ladies meeting in person after being members of an online book club for years. They all have various melodramas going on in their lives and as introverted types I could see parts of myself in each of their personalities. They spend a month or so in a house in the blue mountains.
A quote late in the book sets out how books are important to readers:
“We talk about books, we make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.”
The women go from being isolated to close friends and being important in each other’s lives, no real surprising outcomes.
A quote late in the book sets out how books are important to readers:
“We talk about books, we make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.”
The women go from being isolated to close friends and being important in each other’s lives, no real surprising outcomes.
July 18, 2018
I’m sure it will come as no surprise to any of you that a book about reading books was always going to be a winner for me. Liz Byrski’s latest novel, A Month of Sundays, proves just what I’ve believed for my whole life: that books are therapy. If you read the right book at the right time, it can change your life. And so it was for Ros, Adele, Simone and June, each at an individual crossroads, coming together to meet in person for the first time, each armed with a book that told the others something important about themselves.
“She can feel the warmth of the fire in front of her and the comforting presence of the other women, and knows she is in the right place…
…And she sees that this is where she might mend herself, where she will stitch together the seams that are strained or have already come apart.”
This is very much a novel about the joy of reading, what we draw from books, why we read, and the many ways in which it connects us to others and the world around us. I loved how each woman not only realised things about themselves while discussing their own books, but also through reading the ones put forward by the others. As their time together progressed, they realised that not only were each of them at an individual crossroads, but collectively, as a group, they needed to consider where they would go from here, as they had all grown rather fond of each other’s company. The book discussions were of course the highlight for me with this novel, but I also drew a lot from the emotional journeys each woman traversed. I loved the connectivity and parallels they made between their chosen books and their own lives. I also appreciated the dissemination of the individual responses to the books read, particularly when there was contention between these responses. It made me think of my own reading and reviewing, and the reviewers that I follow, and all the different reactions we usually have to the same books.
“Ros stares down at the book on her lap, thinking about what’s been said about liking or not liking a book. ‘I suppose that this is part of the magic of books, you can read something you don’t actually like but still be impressed or moved by it. And even something that is quite distasteful can strike some profound note within you, so you still read on. Liking or not liking is not always the most important thing about a book, is it?’”
A Month of Sundays is the perfect novel to curl up with on a winters day; just make sure you do so with a big cup of tea – the ladies are always drinking tea in this story. Liz Byrski has crafted a glorious celebration of reading to mark her tenth novel, and I assure you, it’s a story that will warm your heart.
“This is us, this is what we do. We talk about books, we make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.”
Thanks is extended to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy of A Month of Sundays for review.
“She can feel the warmth of the fire in front of her and the comforting presence of the other women, and knows she is in the right place…
…And she sees that this is where she might mend herself, where she will stitch together the seams that are strained or have already come apart.”
This is very much a novel about the joy of reading, what we draw from books, why we read, and the many ways in which it connects us to others and the world around us. I loved how each woman not only realised things about themselves while discussing their own books, but also through reading the ones put forward by the others. As their time together progressed, they realised that not only were each of them at an individual crossroads, but collectively, as a group, they needed to consider where they would go from here, as they had all grown rather fond of each other’s company. The book discussions were of course the highlight for me with this novel, but I also drew a lot from the emotional journeys each woman traversed. I loved the connectivity and parallels they made between their chosen books and their own lives. I also appreciated the dissemination of the individual responses to the books read, particularly when there was contention between these responses. It made me think of my own reading and reviewing, and the reviewers that I follow, and all the different reactions we usually have to the same books.
“Ros stares down at the book on her lap, thinking about what’s been said about liking or not liking a book. ‘I suppose that this is part of the magic of books, you can read something you don’t actually like but still be impressed or moved by it. And even something that is quite distasteful can strike some profound note within you, so you still read on. Liking or not liking is not always the most important thing about a book, is it?’”
A Month of Sundays is the perfect novel to curl up with on a winters day; just make sure you do so with a big cup of tea – the ladies are always drinking tea in this story. Liz Byrski has crafted a glorious celebration of reading to mark her tenth novel, and I assure you, it’s a story that will warm your heart.
“This is us, this is what we do. We talk about books, we make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.”
Thanks is extended to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy of A Month of Sundays for review.
May 28, 2020
I don’t think I’ve read a Liz Byrski that I haven’t enjoyed, however this one was my favourite of hers so far. A book about a bookclub in the Blue Mountains - what’s not to like?!!!
I was also interested by some of the books that were chosen for the book club, and am now considering reading some of them myself!
I liked finding out more about all the women and their backgrounds and what had led them to where they were in life. I felt I knew the least about Adele by the end of the story, but I could see shades of myself in Judy and Simone and, to a lesser extent, Ros.
I was also interested by some of the books that were chosen for the book club, and am now considering reading some of them myself!
I liked finding out more about all the women and their backgrounds and what had led them to where they were in life. I felt I knew the least about Adele by the end of the story, but I could see shades of myself in Judy and Simone and, to a lesser extent, Ros.
October 21, 2018
This book was sent to me by the publisher for my honest review.
I loved the idea of this book, four book club friends meeting and discussing books. Yes they are all older ladies, but I am not ageist especially in my reading. Unfortunately though, for me, this book fell flat.
It was just too much emotional drama. So many long-winded deep and meaningful conversations. Even the way that they analyse their books was exhausting, yes they set an assignment but it seemed improbable that they all had these existential crisis going on. I just wanted some light-hearted conversation without the underlying “meaning” which the author felt compelled to spell out for us even though it was obvious. I actually found myself trying to speed read just so it was finished because you could see plain as day how it would end.
I also struggled with the fact they were having these “awakening” in what was essentially a bubble. They were in a house together in the Blue Mountains for weeks. I remember being quite a different person when I was at camp as a teenager but eventually when I came home and reality settled in, I remained the person I had always been. I feel that give the characters a year and they will slip back into their regular ways.
Older readers may find this book enjoyable but it just didn’t resonate with me. I might actually pass it onto my husband grandmother to see her thoughts.
I loved the idea of this book, four book club friends meeting and discussing books. Yes they are all older ladies, but I am not ageist especially in my reading. Unfortunately though, for me, this book fell flat.
It was just too much emotional drama. So many long-winded deep and meaningful conversations. Even the way that they analyse their books was exhausting, yes they set an assignment but it seemed improbable that they all had these existential crisis going on. I just wanted some light-hearted conversation without the underlying “meaning” which the author felt compelled to spell out for us even though it was obvious. I actually found myself trying to speed read just so it was finished because you could see plain as day how it would end.
I also struggled with the fact they were having these “awakening” in what was essentially a bubble. They were in a house together in the Blue Mountains for weeks. I remember being quite a different person when I was at camp as a teenager but eventually when I came home and reality settled in, I remained the person I had always been. I feel that give the characters a year and they will slip back into their regular ways.
Older readers may find this book enjoyable but it just didn’t resonate with me. I might actually pass it onto my husband grandmother to see her thoughts.
September 17, 2018
I love airport books. Weird I know but to date I have not hated a book I bought in an airport prior to getting on a plane. I love the fact you have time to ponder, deliberate and like really what else are you doing with the two hours you have before boarding? Eat bad food? Buying make up?? The joy of knowing there are hours to fill with what ever you choose to read is simply one of the best bits about long distance travel. Many will extol the virtues of their online readers. I get it, truely I do but for me that doesn’t compete with the pleasure of the pre flight perusal.
So this trip I chose “A Month of Sunday’s”. So good. Four woman who were part of an online book club get to connect in real time and life. One of them was house sitting immediately post retirement and convinced the other three to join her in the Blue Mountains. It is a beautiful story of transitions and ageing.
The pace is perfect and the insights great for any age. Although I suspect I would struggle a little with the content if I was in my 20’s. I loved that it was Australian while I was in Australia but again this book would be great to read anywhere any time.
I only wish my book club was so insightful and fun.
So this trip I chose “A Month of Sunday’s”. So good. Four woman who were part of an online book club get to connect in real time and life. One of them was house sitting immediately post retirement and convinced the other three to join her in the Blue Mountains. It is a beautiful story of transitions and ageing.
The pace is perfect and the insights great for any age. Although I suspect I would struggle a little with the content if I was in my 20’s. I loved that it was Australian while I was in Australia but again this book would be great to read anywhere any time.
I only wish my book club was so insightful and fun.
April 23, 2021
Adored this novel! Four women each coming to terms with their own lives, discovering themselves and each other through the books they discuss and 6 weeks of holidaying together.
It helped of course that some of the books they discuss are written by authors who's work I admire.
I'd read a couple of the books and found myself nodding in agreement with what each character was saying. I was so immersed in the story I felt like I was there.
Thoroughly excellent, straightforward, articulate fiction.
It's the first of Liz Byrski's that I've read but it won't be the last.
It helped of course that some of the books they discuss are written by authors who's work I admire.
I'd read a couple of the books and found myself nodding in agreement with what each character was saying. I was so immersed in the story I felt like I was there.
Thoroughly excellent, straightforward, articulate fiction.
It's the first of Liz Byrski's that I've read but it won't be the last.
October 16, 2018
3 3/4 rounded up. I am calling this genre "chook-lit" as it is not only of my generation, but my style of writing about us. I have several Goodread friends who I would enjoy meeting, but maybe not to this extent. Very serious topics surface, and all of them realise they are at an important Turning Point in their lives. Really enjoyed this sense of place(s) , and the firm but kind support to make better choices.
July 21, 2018
It’s hard to find something more appealing than a book that celebrates books and that was a large part of the reason I jumped to read A Month Of Sundays, the 10th fiction novel from Australian writer Liz Byrski. It centres around four women who have been part of an online book club for over a decade, meeting regularly via Skype regularly to discuss their chosen book. They have always kept those conversations focused on the books and know relatively little about each other’s day to day lives. That changes when Adele invites the three other women to spend several weeks with her in the Blue Mountains while she house sits. A very organised person, Adele also requests they each bring a book special to them that will help the other women understand the person they are better.
All of the women are in their sixties or early seventies and they’re also all experiencing periods of change in their lives. Some of those changes are health related and the downsides of getting older, some are to do with transitioning to the next period of their lives and some are due to events of the past that are still haunting them. These are not things that they’ve ever discussed with members of the book club before but with their staying together in the same house, slowly they begin to confide their stories.
I haven’t been to the Blue Mountains for many years but it’s a beautiful setting for such a retreat. There are long walks to take, lookouts to see and the surroundings are full of beauty and the local shops quirky and interesting to explore. But what I really loved about this story was the talk of the books the women had chosen and the way in which their discussions explored the character of the women and their issues, fears and traits. I haven’t read any of the books that the women chose to bring and share as saying something about them but I found myself adding them to my Wishlist and looking them up, to learn more about them. It also made me think about what book I would take in that sort of situation. I think that for someone who reads as much as I do, it’s hard to narrow it down like that. It’s not a favourite book (although that would actually be just as difficult probably) but a book that also helps the others reading it understand something fundamental about the person who has chosen to share it. It would have to be a book that I identified with strongly as exploring something relative to me or that was deeply a part of my personality. It’s not an easy decision and to be honest, I still haven’t decided! I had such fun thinking about it though, books that I’ve read at various parts of my life. I love a book that references other books (and there’s plenty of that in here, not just the four books the women chose) and one that pays homage to a love of literature and how it can bring people together, engage spirited debate and build a strong friendship between four women.
I’m a lot younger than the women in the story and quite a lot of their concerns and issues are not mine but it didn’t mean that I couldn’t connect with them and all of their stories. They are all quite different and their budding friendships are not without their troubles as they get to know each other but as their little holidays rolls on they share so much about their lives, both past and present and they confide their fears for the future. I felt for each of them in their various situations – I think of them all I probably related to a combination of Judy and Adele. Their ways of dealing with things are quite similar to my ways and I can see myself possibly becoming something like Judy, quite isolated.
All in all this was a charming and thought provoking read that I enjoyed a lot. It’s written with warmth and humour but with an exploration of quite serious issues facing women who are at this stage in their lives.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
All of the women are in their sixties or early seventies and they’re also all experiencing periods of change in their lives. Some of those changes are health related and the downsides of getting older, some are to do with transitioning to the next period of their lives and some are due to events of the past that are still haunting them. These are not things that they’ve ever discussed with members of the book club before but with their staying together in the same house, slowly they begin to confide their stories.
I haven’t been to the Blue Mountains for many years but it’s a beautiful setting for such a retreat. There are long walks to take, lookouts to see and the surroundings are full of beauty and the local shops quirky and interesting to explore. But what I really loved about this story was the talk of the books the women had chosen and the way in which their discussions explored the character of the women and their issues, fears and traits. I haven’t read any of the books that the women chose to bring and share as saying something about them but I found myself adding them to my Wishlist and looking them up, to learn more about them. It also made me think about what book I would take in that sort of situation. I think that for someone who reads as much as I do, it’s hard to narrow it down like that. It’s not a favourite book (although that would actually be just as difficult probably) but a book that also helps the others reading it understand something fundamental about the person who has chosen to share it. It would have to be a book that I identified with strongly as exploring something relative to me or that was deeply a part of my personality. It’s not an easy decision and to be honest, I still haven’t decided! I had such fun thinking about it though, books that I’ve read at various parts of my life. I love a book that references other books (and there’s plenty of that in here, not just the four books the women chose) and one that pays homage to a love of literature and how it can bring people together, engage spirited debate and build a strong friendship between four women.
I’m a lot younger than the women in the story and quite a lot of their concerns and issues are not mine but it didn’t mean that I couldn’t connect with them and all of their stories. They are all quite different and their budding friendships are not without their troubles as they get to know each other but as their little holidays rolls on they share so much about their lives, both past and present and they confide their fears for the future. I felt for each of them in their various situations – I think of them all I probably related to a combination of Judy and Adele. Their ways of dealing with things are quite similar to my ways and I can see myself possibly becoming something like Judy, quite isolated.
All in all this was a charming and thought provoking read that I enjoyed a lot. It’s written with warmth and humour but with an exploration of quite serious issues facing women who are at this stage in their lives.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
July 26, 2018
I received a copy of this book from Pan Macmillian Australia in exchange for an honest review, this doesn't influence my thoughts on the book.
Initially, I loved the idea of this novel, 4 women who had been connected as part of an online book club, yet never met? Until one day, Adele invites her fellow book lovers down to the Blue Mountains, where cozy book chats by the fire ensue.
Yet, as a book lover, even though I appreciated the connection that these ladies, as readers, made between themselves and their selected books, why they loved their chosen tomes, and why the specific book impacted their lives, I was wanting more from this book! I appreciate how much each of these ladies grew throughout the book, but I found it tricky to connect with them emotionally, I mean, they were in their 60's and over, and whilst Ros and Judy, Simone and Adele too, all had their tribulations, I was hoping for more bookish love throughout!
Initially, I loved the idea of this novel, 4 women who had been connected as part of an online book club, yet never met? Until one day, Adele invites her fellow book lovers down to the Blue Mountains, where cozy book chats by the fire ensue.
Yet, as a book lover, even though I appreciated the connection that these ladies, as readers, made between themselves and their selected books, why they loved their chosen tomes, and why the specific book impacted their lives, I was wanting more from this book! I appreciate how much each of these ladies grew throughout the book, but I found it tricky to connect with them emotionally, I mean, they were in their 60's and over, and whilst Ros and Judy, Simone and Adele too, all had their tribulations, I was hoping for more bookish love throughout!
February 27, 2019
A deeply thoughtful book that captures you from the opening pages, and tells a story of four mature women who only know each other through the connection of their online book club, who meet up when one of them is asked to house-sit a cottage in the Blue Mountains. The author creates the atmosphere of the relaxing countryside which you get to discover and share with the women. You also get to enjoy the interesting and thought provoking book discussions with them, all the while learning their backstories, personalities, and future paths with them. As they develop a bond with each other, you come to know each of them and possibly (probably) see people you know in them - or maybe even yourself. You may even want to read, or re-read, those books they discuss.
I will look out more of Liz Byrski's writing, such was the enjoyment of this first of her books I've read.
I will look out more of Liz Byrski's writing, such was the enjoyment of this first of her books I've read.
April 26, 2019
I picked this off the shop shelf because of the cover. I kept reading it because of the content. A book of four women in their sixties and seventies who are part of an online bookclub. It's a character driven book, but the plot inserts itself in a satisfying way. In short, I was really taken by this book. Must be my age!! And I have found a new fave author.
September 11, 2019
A Month of Sunday’s, Liz Byrski’s tenth novel, is told with warmth, humour and wisdom.
When Adele is offered an opportunity to housesit a cottage in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales for a month, she nervously decides to invite the other three members of her online book club, whom have known each other for a decade, but whom have never met in person, to join her. Simone, from Tasmania, is excited by the prospect, while Judy, from Western Australia, is uncertain, but in desperate need of a break from her business. Usually Ros, who lives in Sydney, would never agree to spending weeks with women who are essentially strangers, but bad news has left her with a need to escape. At a crossroads in their lives, the retreat becomes an opportunity for the women to not only get to know one another better, but also themselves.
Thoughtfully exploring the themes of ageing, memory, personal growth, and friendship, A Month of Sunday’s by Liz Byrski is an engaging character driven novel. I love that this book features women in their late 60’s to 70’s, I was moved by the author’s examination of the issues facing these particular mature women, such as retirement, illness and grief, and the support and strength they find within each other.
“We’re all single and we’re all getting older; each of us has had to face something serious since we’ve been here. That’s a bond. This is no longer just a book club. It can be much more; it can have a life long after we leave here.”
This is also a novel that celebrates the ways in which literature can enrich our lives. So that the women get to know one another during the retreat, Adele suggests that each chooses a book of personal significance to share each week. The resulting lively discussions allow the women to communicate and explore who they were, who they are, and what they want moving forward.
“This is us, this is what we do. We talk about books, we make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.”
While I think A Month of Sunday’s is particularly suited to a mature aged readership, who are more likely to identify with the characters and their issues, I also think it would be an excellent bookclub choice, and any bibliophile can relate to the author's observations about the value of books.
When Adele is offered an opportunity to housesit a cottage in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales for a month, she nervously decides to invite the other three members of her online book club, whom have known each other for a decade, but whom have never met in person, to join her. Simone, from Tasmania, is excited by the prospect, while Judy, from Western Australia, is uncertain, but in desperate need of a break from her business. Usually Ros, who lives in Sydney, would never agree to spending weeks with women who are essentially strangers, but bad news has left her with a need to escape. At a crossroads in their lives, the retreat becomes an opportunity for the women to not only get to know one another better, but also themselves.
Thoughtfully exploring the themes of ageing, memory, personal growth, and friendship, A Month of Sunday’s by Liz Byrski is an engaging character driven novel. I love that this book features women in their late 60’s to 70’s, I was moved by the author’s examination of the issues facing these particular mature women, such as retirement, illness and grief, and the support and strength they find within each other.
“We’re all single and we’re all getting older; each of us has had to face something serious since we’ve been here. That’s a bond. This is no longer just a book club. It can be much more; it can have a life long after we leave here.”
This is also a novel that celebrates the ways in which literature can enrich our lives. So that the women get to know one another during the retreat, Adele suggests that each chooses a book of personal significance to share each week. The resulting lively discussions allow the women to communicate and explore who they were, who they are, and what they want moving forward.
“This is us, this is what we do. We talk about books, we make them work in our own lives: walk through the doors they open for us, cross the bridges they lay out for us, and pick and choose what we need to take away from them.”
While I think A Month of Sunday’s is particularly suited to a mature aged readership, who are more likely to identify with the characters and their issues, I also think it would be an excellent bookclub choice, and any bibliophile can relate to the author's observations about the value of books.
April 24, 2021
Lovely story! Just right for me in the days I read it. At the time, I had several books "cracked open" but when I saw this book listed by a member of the Facebook Group 52-Book-Club-2021 I was drawn to it. I enjoyed the build up to the friendships, and stepping inside each of their individual journeys from the past, their current situation, and their hope for the future. Also, an added interest for me was their choice of books to read together, which was a book choice that was one that spoke to them for whatever reason (I added these books to my TBR List). The story of four women coming together in friendship reminded me of a lovely circle of women friends I am part of. A really good read. I'll be searching out more books by the author, Liz Byrski.
July 13, 2025
cute lil story about 4 old ladies in a book club. deals with a lot of themes like female friendship, grief, aging, identity etc. it's nothing mind-blowing but still an enjoyable read.
May 9, 2021
Well I loved this book. The writing was well paced and I felt like I got to know all of the characters.
November 29, 2025
I enjoyed it! I would be interested to explore more books by the same author. It's a slow, nice book :)
April 23, 2020
A book club that spans the country, linking women over a shared appreciation for books and discussion, has, over the decades, been reduced to just four members. Adele, from Adelaide; Judy from Mandurah, WA; Simone from Hobart and Ros, a widower, from Sydney are all that remain. Now in their 60s and 70s, they are facing great changes and upheavals in their life, be it in the form of work, family or their health. When Adele retires and is offered the chance to house-sit for her cousin in the Blue Mountains of NSW, she has the idea to invite the other three book club members for a chance to meet face-to-face for the first time and discuss books that reveal something about themselves.
The other women jump at the chance as an escape from their situations, to get a change of scenery and to meet each other. Adele is an anxious woman desperate to please others and make things run smoothly, a seemingly timid woman who doesn't push back - characteristics seemingly at odds with her work as CEO of her own successful business. Simone teaches yoga to the elderly and has reached calm acceptance of who she is, a calm that is tested when she discovers a horrifying truth about her family. Judy runs her own yarn and knitting shop and hasn't had a break in decades; it's taken over her life and she doesn't know how to let go or rest. And Ros has just been given a life-changing diagnosis that means the end of her cello-playing career.
Over the course of the month they discuss the books that are important to them, reveal truths about themselves and learn how to overcome their fears. A Month of Sundays is an endearing tribute to the lives of women, the personal value of books and reading, and to the idea that life doesn't end at 60. Or 70.
This book was selected as the first for a new local book club for mums that I'm a part of - sadly, our first meeting will have to be online because of COVID19 restrictions, but at least we have already met. It's an apt book, even if we are all a fair bit younger than the Liz Byrski's characters. There is still a lot in these women that I can relate to, like Adele and Judy's anxiety, Adele's need to make others happy and keep things smooth between people; Ros's introversion; their hard work ethic and high personal standards and so on. Interestingly, none of these women have a partner in life. Only Ros and Judy were married, and while Ros's beloved husband James died in a tragic accident in London, Judy is married in name only: she left her husband who is in a relationship with their friend Donna, making for an odd threesome. They just never bothered to get divorced. Adele and Simone are both single mothers: Adele from a period in her youth when she had flings, Simone courtesy of a generous male friend and a turkey baster. Two of the women admit to being asexual, and that is a reality that doesn't get talked about. There's so much pressure on women to remain sexually active throughout their lives, when really - especially after children - so many women lose interest altogether. Simone says she was never interested but went through the motions, trying to keep others happy, and that rings true too.
Their personalities are distinct enough but it took a while for that to emerge. At first, I kept mixing them up in my head a bit. Judy and Adele are quite similar in some ways, and most of them immigrated to Australia - Simone from Italy, Adele and Judy from England. Judy and Ros are in their 70s, Simone and Adele in their 60s. They all felt familiar to me, in various ways, like I have known these women. I, like Judy, would be intimidated by Simone's effortless elegance and confidence. I, like Adele, would be intimidated by Ros's crotchety retorts. I, like Judy, would worry about what I'd left behind. Probably the one I have the least in common with is Simone.
Each has their own issue to deal with. Adele must toughen up and live for herself. Judy must let go of the reins and give herself a break. Ros must face up to her diagnosis and the changes it will mean in her life. And Simone must reexamine the past and her own complicity in it.
I was delighted that the books they group discussed were all new to me. They begin with the set book for their bookclub, an Australian classic from 1978 called Tirra Lirra by the River by Jessica Anderson. I felt almost ashamed that I haven't read it and, indeed, had barely heard of it. At the risk of spoilers, the other books they discussed are Sacred Country by Rose Tremain (1992); the memoir Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett (2004); Unless by Carol Shields (2002); and An Equal Music by Vikram Seth (1999). Each story represents something pivotal and important about the woman who shares it, and I found their discussions interesting. Byrski does a good job of constructing different perspectives about each book, with the Patchett one in particular sparking an argument as to what's really happening. I found myself wishing the women would talk about other books as well - or maybe I just want Liz Byrski to write a book about books! (I really loved Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose, totally reinvigorated me!)
Where the book disappointed me was in the writing. It's not that it's bad writing, not at all, it's that there's no verisimilitude. If you wanted to understand the difference between "fiction" and "literature", as categories, this would be a good example. And as a reader, I don't care all that much for being told everything. At first, it just seemed like a lot of exposition but it turns out this is just how Byrski writes. It's also written in present tense, and anyone who knows me knows how much I hate present tense. Unnecessary to say the least, and often incorrectly or poorly used. The trouble with it, for me, is that once you notice it it really stands out, and feels like a hindrance to a story. It reeks of 'fad' and 'gimmick' now. Go back, hm, fifteen years and you'd be hard pressed to find a single book written in present tense. When oh when will this fad end? Simple past tense is stronger, more versatile and doesn't stick in my throat.
Aside from this quibble, A Month of Sundays was a really enjoyable read with some wonderful moments, like when Judy throws her knitting in the fire, or when the women touch on gender politics in their discussions (it doesn't happen often enough for my liking, and I would hate to think that it would alienate female readers - the painful irony of patriarchy). The characters became familiar and their bond with each other, strong. While they all come from places of never having these kinds of female friendships (the type celebrated by Sam George-Allen in Witches: What Women Do Together ), and in many ways were quite alone, it did make me reflect on how I've never had a group of women to call my own, and in fact I find it very hard to make one, or find one - see, I don't even know. I think you have to find women you can have a shared interest with (as Witches explores) and I've just never been obsessive about anything. Except books, perhaps. Byrski's characters come together because of books, but it's not what keeps them together. Wanting to help each other, caring about each other even when they barely knew each other, being willing to listen and let others into their lives - maybe that comes with age. Maybe I'm an old soul, but I would love that. A Month of Sundays is testament to the strength of female bonds, and I did love it for that.
Also, it really made me want to revisit the Blue Mountains! It's been nearly 2 decades since I've been but I still remember how beautiful it was and how much I wanted to live there.
The other women jump at the chance as an escape from their situations, to get a change of scenery and to meet each other. Adele is an anxious woman desperate to please others and make things run smoothly, a seemingly timid woman who doesn't push back - characteristics seemingly at odds with her work as CEO of her own successful business. Simone teaches yoga to the elderly and has reached calm acceptance of who she is, a calm that is tested when she discovers a horrifying truth about her family. Judy runs her own yarn and knitting shop and hasn't had a break in decades; it's taken over her life and she doesn't know how to let go or rest. And Ros has just been given a life-changing diagnosis that means the end of her cello-playing career.
Over the course of the month they discuss the books that are important to them, reveal truths about themselves and learn how to overcome their fears. A Month of Sundays is an endearing tribute to the lives of women, the personal value of books and reading, and to the idea that life doesn't end at 60. Or 70.
This book was selected as the first for a new local book club for mums that I'm a part of - sadly, our first meeting will have to be online because of COVID19 restrictions, but at least we have already met. It's an apt book, even if we are all a fair bit younger than the Liz Byrski's characters. There is still a lot in these women that I can relate to, like Adele and Judy's anxiety, Adele's need to make others happy and keep things smooth between people; Ros's introversion; their hard work ethic and high personal standards and so on. Interestingly, none of these women have a partner in life. Only Ros and Judy were married, and while Ros's beloved husband James died in a tragic accident in London, Judy is married in name only: she left her husband who is in a relationship with their friend Donna, making for an odd threesome. They just never bothered to get divorced. Adele and Simone are both single mothers: Adele from a period in her youth when she had flings, Simone courtesy of a generous male friend and a turkey baster. Two of the women admit to being asexual, and that is a reality that doesn't get talked about. There's so much pressure on women to remain sexually active throughout their lives, when really - especially after children - so many women lose interest altogether. Simone says she was never interested but went through the motions, trying to keep others happy, and that rings true too.
Their personalities are distinct enough but it took a while for that to emerge. At first, I kept mixing them up in my head a bit. Judy and Adele are quite similar in some ways, and most of them immigrated to Australia - Simone from Italy, Adele and Judy from England. Judy and Ros are in their 70s, Simone and Adele in their 60s. They all felt familiar to me, in various ways, like I have known these women. I, like Judy, would be intimidated by Simone's effortless elegance and confidence. I, like Adele, would be intimidated by Ros's crotchety retorts. I, like Judy, would worry about what I'd left behind. Probably the one I have the least in common with is Simone.
Each has their own issue to deal with. Adele must toughen up and live for herself. Judy must let go of the reins and give herself a break. Ros must face up to her diagnosis and the changes it will mean in her life. And Simone must reexamine the past and her own complicity in it.
I was delighted that the books they group discussed were all new to me. They begin with the set book for their bookclub, an Australian classic from 1978 called Tirra Lirra by the River by Jessica Anderson. I felt almost ashamed that I haven't read it and, indeed, had barely heard of it. At the risk of spoilers, the other books they discussed are Sacred Country by Rose Tremain (1992); the memoir Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett (2004); Unless by Carol Shields (2002); and An Equal Music by Vikram Seth (1999). Each story represents something pivotal and important about the woman who shares it, and I found their discussions interesting. Byrski does a good job of constructing different perspectives about each book, with the Patchett one in particular sparking an argument as to what's really happening. I found myself wishing the women would talk about other books as well - or maybe I just want Liz Byrski to write a book about books! (I really loved Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose, totally reinvigorated me!)
Where the book disappointed me was in the writing. It's not that it's bad writing, not at all, it's that there's no verisimilitude. If you wanted to understand the difference between "fiction" and "literature", as categories, this would be a good example. And as a reader, I don't care all that much for being told everything. At first, it just seemed like a lot of exposition but it turns out this is just how Byrski writes. It's also written in present tense, and anyone who knows me knows how much I hate present tense. Unnecessary to say the least, and often incorrectly or poorly used. The trouble with it, for me, is that once you notice it it really stands out, and feels like a hindrance to a story. It reeks of 'fad' and 'gimmick' now. Go back, hm, fifteen years and you'd be hard pressed to find a single book written in present tense. When oh when will this fad end? Simple past tense is stronger, more versatile and doesn't stick in my throat.
Aside from this quibble, A Month of Sundays was a really enjoyable read with some wonderful moments, like when Judy throws her knitting in the fire, or when the women touch on gender politics in their discussions (it doesn't happen often enough for my liking, and I would hate to think that it would alienate female readers - the painful irony of patriarchy). The characters became familiar and their bond with each other, strong. While they all come from places of never having these kinds of female friendships (the type celebrated by Sam George-Allen in Witches: What Women Do Together ), and in many ways were quite alone, it did make me reflect on how I've never had a group of women to call my own, and in fact I find it very hard to make one, or find one - see, I don't even know. I think you have to find women you can have a shared interest with (as Witches explores) and I've just never been obsessive about anything. Except books, perhaps. Byrski's characters come together because of books, but it's not what keeps them together. Wanting to help each other, caring about each other even when they barely knew each other, being willing to listen and let others into their lives - maybe that comes with age. Maybe I'm an old soul, but I would love that. A Month of Sundays is testament to the strength of female bonds, and I did love it for that.
Also, it really made me want to revisit the Blue Mountains! It's been nearly 2 decades since I've been but I still remember how beautiful it was and how much I wanted to live there.
July 27, 2018
A thoroughly enjoyable read!
September 7, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable read! The premise - four elderly women who have previously discussed books on Skype meet up for a month - was bound to appeal to me as as elderly book lover myself. Some of the changes that the women went through seemed a little improbable and some of the dialogue a little staged but overall this worked very well for me. I particularly appreciated the Sunday discussions of books each woman chose as I had read most of them and so experienced the enjoyment of them again second hand. This is the 'light read' for my own online book group later in the year and I'm sure it will fit the bill - light and easy but with enough depth to sustain interest and promote discussion. Also, I loved Clooney, the dog! Three and a half stars rounded up.
February 15, 2019
It took me a while to get into this book, especially keeping track of the four main characters, however once I got to know them, I started enjoying this book much more.
It wasn't until closer to the end that a scene hit me between the eyes and resonated with where I am right now. Though I don't think I'll be singing karaoke any time soon!
I enjoyed reading about women in their 60s going through a change in life and discovering who they are.
It wasn't until closer to the end that a scene hit me between the eyes and resonated with where I am right now. Though I don't think I'll be singing karaoke any time soon!
I enjoyed reading about women in their 60s going through a change in life and discovering who they are.
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