A Hundred Small Lessons in Aussie Readers

Mar 22, 2017 Brenda rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, contemporary-fiction, uncorrected-proof, reviewing-by-request, own-read, arc, 2017-release, historical-fiction, won

When Elsie Gormley fell one morning in her home, the home she’d lived in with Clem for sixty two years, her age and frailty meant her son Don and daughter Elaine had to make the decision to put her in a nursing home. Clem had died decades before and Elsie still missed him acutely. And now with her mind wandering, drifting back to the years when her twins had been small and Clem was by her side, Elsie was reminded of the happiness they had known as a family; in the little house they’d made their When Elsie Gormley fell one morning in her home, the home she’d lived in with Clem for sixty two years, her age and frailty meant her son Don and daughter Elaine had to make the decision to put her in a nursing home. Clem had died decades before and Elsie still missed him acutely. And now with her mind wandering, drifting back to the years when her twins had been small and Clem was by her side, Elsie was reminded of the happiness they had known as a family; in the little house they’d made their home.

Ben Carter was originally from Brisbane and together he and wife Lucy Kiss had travelled to more places than they cared to remember because of Ben’s job. Now with their small son Tom at only one year old, Lucy and Ben decided to return to Brisbane to make a family home and settle down. Elsie’s little house seemed to call to a fanciful Lucy – the luck of it coming on sale as they were looking seemed like an omen. Lucy knew Elsie was handing over her beloved house to the new family.

Young and in love, Ben and Lucy hadn’t realised the difference a child would make to their carefree lives. But suddenly minor tensions arose between the young parents with Tom oblivious; getting up to the usual mischief as only a toddler can. When Ben had to fly overseas for a few days for work, Lucy was filled with a tension she hadn’t known she could hold. And Tom seemed to be into everything. What was happening around her in the dark of night, when Lucy heard the noises? Was it just the creaking of an old house? Was it possums in the roof? Or was it much more?

A Hundred Small Lessons by Aussie author Ashley Hay is a gentle, lyrical look at the passing of life; the drifting of the years and the intervening events which go to form everything we know. It’s a look at love and motherhood; at the elderly and at youth. Set in the heat of the Australian summer with storms, rains and flooding (much like it is now actually!), A Hundred Small Lessons is a beautiful novel that I thoroughly enjoyed, and highly recommend. And I love the cover! Jacaranda trees in flower - my favourite!

With thanks to Allen & Unwin and Bookstr for my uncorrected ARC to read and review.
...more

28 likes · Like · see review

Dec 18, 2017 Michael Livingston rated it liked it

This is a lovely book about Brisbane, home, family and chance connections between people. The coincidences and connections felt a bit *too* neat at times, but it's a very enjoyable read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review