The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club in Aussie Readers

Jun 05, 2017 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

It was 1978 and Fairvale Station had been in the Baxter family for generations. Now Sybil and Joe ran and cared deeply for the property and had raised two children - Lachlan and Ben – but Lachie wasn’t interested in inheriting the station. He wasn’t interested in anything to do with his family or the Territory – when he left without a word, Sybil and Joe were shocked and saddened. But Ben loved the property and was happy to help his father run it until such time as he took over the reins.

Ben ha It was 1978 and Fairvale Station had been in the Baxter family for generations. Now Sybil and Joe ran and cared deeply for the property and had raised two children - Lachlan and Ben – but Lachie wasn’t interested in inheriting the station. He wasn’t interested in anything to do with his family or the Territory – when he left without a word, Sybil and Joe were shocked and saddened. But Ben loved the property and was happy to help his father run it until such time as he took over the reins.

Ben had been to London for a wedding, and whilst there had met Kate. They had immediately clicked and before long were married. When Kate joined Ben on Fairvale Station, she knew the adjustment to the vast difference in conditions might take some time to get used to. But she was a hard worker and happy to do her share.

When Sybil decided to form a book club to introduce Kate to some people, it didn’t take long for her plan to fall into place. Her dearest friend Rita who was a Royal Flying Doctor nurse and based in Alice Springs would of course be a part of it. Della, who was a Texan girl and recently moved to Australia to work at the nearby Ghost River Station; and Sallyanne from Katherine, the mother to three young children and whose husband liked to drink too much, completed the group of women.

As the women’s friendships sparked and deepened, their lives continued in the harsh environment of the Northern Territory. The wet season – the dry season – two vastly different environments which ruled the lives of the many and varied people on stations in the area. The isolation of each small community; the only way of communication an open line where everyone knew what was going on. Small dramas and large – day to day events; everything was an important part of life…

The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is the debut novel by Aussie author Sophie Green and it is absolutely brilliant in my opinion! The friendships between the five women shows how important it is, not just in the vastness of the Australian outback to have that contact, but everywhere; to be able to stave off loneliness and have a friend nearby if you’re in need of comfort. I loved the list of the year’s highlighted events at the beginning of each section indicating a new year. When I read through each item I’d suddenly realise just how long ago a particular event had happened. I also smiled with pleasure that the book club’s first book was Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a delightfully refreshing novel which I thoroughly enjoyed, and highly recommend.

With thanks to Hachette Australia for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
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Oct 17, 2017 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-list-2017, fiction, 4-stars, australian-authors, gr-giveaways, owned

This was an enjoyable read set mostly in the Northern Territory at the end of the 1970’s/early 1980’s.

The descriptions of life in the Northern Territory were wonderful - of how life revolves around “the wet” and “the dry”, and the vibrant colours with new life. Although I’ve never been up that way, it is described just how I imagine it! And such a hard life - especially at that time, since there was no internet and even phones weren’t commonplace!

I really enjoyed getting caught up in the lives o ...more

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Aug 12, 2017 Helen rated it it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish a beautifully written story about five woman who come together in the outback for a book club. Sybil Baxter is the matriarch of Fairvale Station she came here as a young bride many years ago and is very happy with her husband Joe they have two sons and a daughter in law of course life is never perfect but is what you make of it and Sybil worries about her young English daughter in law Kate and hence the book club is formed never thinking how mu I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish a beautifully written story about five woman who come together in the outback for a book club. Sybil Baxter is the matriarch of Fairvale Station she came here as a young bride many years ago and is very happy with her husband Joe they have two sons and a daughter in law of course life is never perfect but is what you make of it and Sybil worries about her young English daughter in law Kate and hence the book club is formed never thinking how much it would help all five of them.

Sybil invites her best friend Rita who is living in Alice Springs working with the flying Doctors then daughter in law Kate and also Della a young woman from Texas working on the neighbouring station Ghost River and Sallyanne a young mother from the town of Katherine to join her in being the first members of the book club, this starts strong friendships between all five and they discuss more than books over their three years, of course they cannot meet as often as they would like because of the weather there is no travelling in the wet season.

I loved getting to know these woman and the people that are in their lives the strength that they show through some very tough times the outback can be a hard place to live and these woman rock. There are men in their lives that work hard and show their love and there are some men that just don’t. I felt like I was there with these Ladies as they discussed the books their first book is one that I loved and read in one sitting, and had me smiling, but above all I loved how they helped each other through thick and thin.

This book is set between 1978 and 1981 I married in 1977 so there was a lot of familiar events and incidents that I knew about and MS Green made me feel close to the characters even though I have never visited the outback it is a place I would love to go to. The book club was a fabulous idea, I am sure that even though the stations have lots of workers the woman could often feel lonely.

I don’t want to give too much away just the this is a fabulous read with a cast of amazing characters that I highly recommend, it is moving and shows so much emotion there were tears and smiles there is joy and yes there is heartache but that is to be expected in life and MS Green has done it so well. There is an ending that will leave you smiling seeing characters get their HEA and leave you with hope for others. I loved this one thank you it is one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
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Jul 23, 2017 Janine rated it really liked it

A lovely story set in Katherine in the NT. It described life on a property that is very isolated and has only two seasons - wet and dry. Sylvia & her husband and son live and work on the property but she craves the company of other women and begins a book club with a group of women in the area. The book tells the story of each of them and their lives and was a great little page turner. Very pleasant read for me, would recommend to readers who enjoy books about female friendship.
Thank you to Net ...more

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Sep 20, 2021 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021

I really enjoyed this book, it has much more depth than I expected, having read other book-club books. Women supporting women in the fascinating outback near Katherine. The book club was just a way of bringing the 5 women together - they could only meet once or twice a year because of weather and distance, but the relationships forged at that inaugural meeting provided a powerful network, and gave them strength and encouragement when needed. I found the women believable, likeable and interesting ...more

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Mar 16, 2018 Tracey rated it liked it

Shelves: historical, australian, fiction, romance, humour, 2018

Five women each in their own way are isolated are invited by Sybil to join the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. Fairvale is sprawling property in the Northern Territory that closes down over the wet season and waits for the dry season to run the steers and make ends meet.

Sybil who is the matriarch of the Baxter family, that runs Fairvale, is facing upheaval in her life. One of her sons Lachlan has turned his back on the family and the other Ben has recently returned from overseas with a new British w ...more

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Jan 20, 2018 Lucinda rated it really liked it

I enjoyed the aspect of Australian life that I know nothing about, being a suburbanite. I liked the way the stories entwined and that they weren't all happy endings. ...more

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Nov 09, 2020 Alexandra rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020

2.5 Reading about life on a station in the NT was interesting, and made me want to visit one. But that was the only appeal for me.

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Jun 04, 2017 Tango rated it liked it · review of another edition

A pleasant read with likeable characters. I would have liked the books read as part of the book club to be a stronger element, but maybe that's just my book nerdiness! ...more

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Dec 05, 2022 Gaynor rated it really liked it

A possible marriage between races, but it didn't happen because of the fear of potential racism. Instances of domestic violence. An uncoventional occupation for a woman at the time - jillaroo.
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