Family Trust by Peter Wilson is a snappy thriller that had me engaged throughout.
If you like hanging around a bunch of rich, or wannabe rich, characteFamily Trust by Peter Wilson is a snappy thriller that had me engaged throughout.
If you like hanging around a bunch of rich, or wannabe rich, characters with a propensity to behave appallingly, well this cast is for you.
Based in Sydney (I need to get back there again soon), we have two tycoon families where one of the patriarchs pushes the idea of a Family Trust. The objective being, to bind the families together to create an amalgamated dynasty when a marriage occurs between both family lines. This will result in the married couple receiving the funds contained withing the trust. After three generations – that will be billions of Aussie dollars.
So, it’s fair to say, there are shenanigans at play. I usually like to hang my hat on a character I really like in books like this, but I found it tricky here because as the story progressed I didn’t know who to trust.
If you like a fast-paced thriller, where you will be guessing who is good and who’s rotten all wrapped up in three generations of internecine skullduggery – this is one for you.
Many thanks to the author for furnishing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an objective review.
Sometimes a brief sojourn into a different genre is a refreshing exercise. Crimson Lake, by Candice Fox is a crime thriller, with more than one mysterSometimes a brief sojourn into a different genre is a refreshing exercise. Crimson Lake, by Candice Fox is a crime thriller, with more than one mystery to solve, interesting characters, it’s nicely paced and a lot of fun. It was engaging, I looked forward to picking it up, and felt guilty leaving Don Quixote on his own a little too much. His escapades had to wait.
Police officer, Ted – is accused of a crime, a horrible sex-crime involving a young girl, a crime he says he did not commit, despite the overwhelming evidence. The courts suspend the case, and he is allowed to be a free man – but this can end at any time. He moves from New South Wales to a small town, just outside of my hometown of Cairns, in Tropical Far North Queensland.
He hooks up with Amanda, a heavily tattooed middle aged private investigator, who marches to a different beat. She’s quite mad. Ted uses his police skills, to help PI Amanda try and solve the mysterious disappearance of a local author. There is more than one crime here to solve, it’s all credible, and interesting. There’s also a wonderful cast of unusual characters around the place.
Advice to Readers - This book paints a picture of Cairns being a redneck’s paradise. Full of beer swilling hoons, crocodiles, snakes, mangroves, jungles, swamps, sugar cane and geese (yes, geese!). To set the record straight, many of us are very civilised – I for one, knit my own yoghurt, grow cushions, listen to Enya, brush my teeth (daily), and put my shorts on to answer the front door (usually). You don’t get more civilised than that my friends!!
I really enjoyed this, it was intriguing and a lot of fun, and the local touches of the Cairns Hospital and the Mortuary (my workplaces before retirement), Holloways Beach, the Esplanade, and many other places made me whoop with delight!!
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is a classic story about family and love. I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into when I picked up thThe Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is a classic story about family and love. I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into when I picked up this chunky book – but yes, the importance of family and the vagaries of love predominate.
This epic covers three generations of the Cleary family. We start around 1915 with Paddy and Fee Cleary scraping a living in rural New Zealand – they are poor but manage to make do. Their progeny mushrooms into a bunch of boys and a gorgeous girl called Meggie – a main character. Paddy receives a call from an auntie in Australia running a cattle and sheep farm in remote far Northwest New South Wales. This ‘interesting’ auntie invites the family to take over the farm called Drogheda when she passes – along with her vast inheritance.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? However, it all gets a bit complicated and messy. The most interesting character for me in this story is Father Ralph de Bricassart. This character was terrible conflicted – he loves Meggie with all his heart, but his love and devotion to God – as a Catholic priest – make this love story as memorable as it gets. Father Ralph is on a trajectory that will take him to the Vatican, he's very handsome, charming, intelligent (the bastard!!) and turns heads wherever he goes.
There’s one detestable guy in this, a bloke called Luke O’Neill. This man is a tosser of the highest order – I won’t give anything away for those who haven’t read this, but I felt like shaking him. He treated my favourite character in this story deploringly. In fact, his journey also took us to Far North Queensland (even Cairns where I live). McCullough describes the intolerable humidity of FNQ perfectly – everything from the sweet smell to the suffocating moisture.
Fun Fact: BTW I thought I saw Luke O’Neill down Cairns main street the other day, I was determined to confront him but, you see - I have this dodgy knee and I’m still a little particular about social distancing, so I vehemently muttered something rude under my breath as I walked past him. He got the message alright!!!!
In addition to love and family, a third major theme here is Christianity, particularly the Catholic version. The sacrifice mere men of the cloth need to commit to is no small thing, the torment must tear many priests to bits. Hey, listen, I have only mentioned a few of the great characters here – there are many, many more – such as the acerbic Justine, the beautiful boy Dane, fighting Frank, earnest Paddy, ever so patient Rein – and so, so many more. If you read this or have read this – no doubt one or more of these characters has or will wedge themselves in your mind or heart. I’ve stuffed a couple of them in my heart that’s for sure.
The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself and die singing. At the very instant the thorn enters there is no awareness of the dying to come; it simply sings and sings until there is not the life left to utter another note. But we, put the thorns in our breasts, we know. We understand. And still, we do it. Still, we do it
Doesn’t that take your breath away? McCullough’s prose here is a bit special. There were many ‘oh gosh’ instances in this epic, a few moments causing me to stop and ponder, and a couple where my heart fell through the floor. Oh man.
Stories like this aren’t just intergenerational tales about people and families. More importantly, they are stories that make us reflect on our own life, our own relationships and that is what this reading game is all about I suppose.
Just finished this book and review & it's 11pm here – I will sleep very, very well tonight indeed. Goodnight.
Robbie Arnott born in Launceston, lives in Hobart – a Tasmanian. Two beautiful cities and a gorgeous state, wilderness on steroids. One of my favouritRobbie Arnott born in Launceston, lives in Hobart – a Tasmanian. Two beautiful cities and a gorgeous state, wilderness on steroids. One of my favourite places.
Limberlost, Arnott’s third novel, is about an Apple farming rural family in Tasmania around the time of WWII.
The father seems preoccupied with the fact two of his sons are off fighting the war leaving young Ned at home, with his older sister to help around the orchard. Ned is a wonderful little man, a great character – he pulls on the heartstrings that’s for sure. He hunts rabbits so he can sell the pelts for the army to make slouch hats – as worn by Aussie soldiers (see below). Ned wants to buy a boat with the money earned from his rabbit pelts. But the thing about this young guy is, he just seems a bit uncertain of himself and he is always, I mean always, seeking external validation from his father and older sister.
[image]
ANZAC WWI Soldier wearing the characteristic Slouch Hat
At first glance the characters in this book appear a little underdeveloped. Particualarly the characters not called “Ned”, and in my view this seemed to read as a young adult story. But the more one reads this story, the more we see the slow meandering threads come together. This also applies to the various random anecdotes and jumps in time, these also make sense the more the reader proceeds.
Arnott ever so cleverly pulls it all together to craft an emotionally potent story. I finished this last night at around 1am – and after reading the last few pages, I said “wow”. You all know that sort of ending? Well, this is one of those reads – I really liked it.
I will have trouble explaining this – so here goes. Ned has an experience in this story that produces a specific visceral feeling within him. A real – and I quote “swelling, a ripping expansion, a hugeness that rang through him for the length of his life.” Something he never felt, nor could reproduce again.
Does anyone else have this sort of ‘one-off’ specific, abject, heartrending feeling? Something caused by an earlier experience that can never be reproduced, and something never felt again – even during other crises in our lives. I do – from a time when I was 10 years old. This feeling seems just around the corner but also unreachable – it plagues me sometimes. Well Arnott describes this with such precision in the closing part of this story – I found it chilling.
Yes, there are some confronting scenes of animals being shot, or drowning and being caught in horrible leg traps, some are still alive after many hours. Something I find distressing at the best of times, but the pull of the story kept me going. I think I will remember this and young Ned for a while.
Many thanks to Ebba for buddy reading this one with me, always a pleasure!! But, I’m not so sure Ebba enjoyed this one as much as I did. Or it could have been the fact I sent so many pictures of Quolls and Bilbies to her, she became a little bit overwhelmed!!!
All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien is this author’s debut novel. The story is based in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta. This suburb has a large conAll That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien is this author’s debut novel. The story is based in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta. This suburb has a large contingent of European and South East Asian immigrants – particularly from Vietnam. As an aside, of the twenty thousand or more who live in Cabramatta, over forty percent identify as Buddhists.
This story involves a young Vietnamese Australian woman called Ky who returns home to Cabramatta from her job a journalist in Melbourne following the murder of her younger brother Denny. Denny was beaten to death in a popular Vietnamese restaurant called Lucky 8, there were numerous people in the restaurant that night, but no-one saw anything. Ky is surprised to discover the police didn’t order an autopsy and haven’t identified any suspects, despite the murder occurring in such a public place. She goes about attempting find the killer/s.
Was Denny – who was a high achieving senior school student and a good boy – involved in the gangland drug scene, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
This book is far more than a murder mystery, it’s also a glimpse into the lives of Vietnamese immigrants, who came over to Australia in large numbers following the Vietnam War. As Ky interviews various people in the local community the reader will learn some of the challenges and issues this community have needed to navigate in a country that used to openly employ a ‘White Australia’ policy. I found the interaction between Ky and her parents particularly interesting, as her parents had their heads and hearts very much in Vietnam, and the juxtaposition Ky needed to navigate between her parent’s ‘old ways and the expectations of living in a bustling city like Sydney was challenging.
I enjoyed the murder/mystery aspect of this story, but I found the narrative of this immigrant enclave far more fascinating. However, I found it a little distracting the way the author frequently switched from ‘murder investigation mode’ to ‘SE Asian immigrant mode’ - the latter usually involving flashbacks.
Having said that, this is a sound effort and for those who have an interest in a different type of murder/mystery this might very well be right down your alley.
3 Stars
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for a review....more
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty was a very enjoyable read.
The story revolves around Stan and Joy Delaney, a couple of tennis tragics – having runApples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty was a very enjoyable read.
The story revolves around Stan and Joy Delaney, a couple of tennis tragics – having run a Tennis Academy in Sydney for many years. They have now sold their business and have four adult children, Logan, Amy, Troy and Brooke. Parents and kids alike were all terrific tennis players, just on the cusp of ‘making it’. As with any large family, there’s some interesting interplay between family members, such as sibling rivalries, jealousies – resentments and the parents have the usual smattering of issues you’d expect from any long-term married couple. This alone is interesting enough for a story.
Enter Savannah, a mysterious girl who comes into the lives of the Delaney family. This turns the family on its head – the reader is left guessing what this young woman is all about, why is she there?
You know, I’m not sure if it was the familiarity of Australian life (in Sydney), the sport of Tennis – which, along with cricket is a staple of the Aussie sporting diet over the summer months, or the writing. It’s probably all of these factors that made this a very enjoyable read for me. I found it fresh and lively and I was looking forward to picking it up after a day at work. The ending was a little unexpected, which was good.
If you enjoy a mystery with a good dash of family drama – you’ll probably enjoy this one.
4 Stars
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my review....more
Catch us the Foxes is the first novel by Aussie author Nicola West is a lively mystery/thriller and is certainly worth a read.
This story centres arouCatch us the Foxes is the first novel by Aussie author Nicola West is a lively mystery/thriller and is certainly worth a read.
This story centres around the small coastal New South Wales town of Kiama located approximately 90km south of Sydney. The main character here is a young journalist called Marlowe “Lo” Robertson, the daughter of a local police officer. Incidentally, the author is also the daughter of a rural copper. Lo discovers the body of her best friend Lily Williams after a dodgy ride on the ghost train at her town’s annual fairground show. Lily’s body has some ‘cultish’ looking images carved into her back. Lo uses her journalistic skills and natural curiosity to find out who is responsible for this horrible crime, sometimes putting herself in peril. I really liked Lo, and felt like I was with her every step of the way.
The author skillfully introduces the reader to several likely suspects. All are gradually introduced in believable aliquots, particularly as the story moves into its latter stages. Of course, the dodgy markings on Lily’s back introduce the possible concept of a local cult being responsible. There is a real dark, moody atmosphere created here – not unlike the well-known Wicker Man tale. It all sounds a bit horrible.
The pacing of this book is very good, it reads quickly due to the gripping narrative. It’s fair to say there isn’t much in the way of detailed descriptions of this beautiful part of the world, as this story is largely dialogue based. That’s okay – it works. I really like the Australian-ness (is that a word?) of the exchanges between the characters, naturally I found that very familiar. Especially the bits involving the wonderful city of Sydney.
I won’t say if there is a massive shock or surprise when one discovers the final reveal, but I will tell you – there are several credible suspects throughout, it certainly kept this reader totally engaged and guessing. Make sure to read the Epilogue!!
I have one small gripe. Ms West referred to a ‘tap’ as a ‘faucet’ – I’m afraid if the latter was said in this country, most people would be left scratching their heads. This was obviously to indulge our American friends.
A really good read, most enjoyable and highly recommended.
4 Stars
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review...more
The rhythms of the sea’s tides are the only things we humans have not yet destroyed
The environmental crisis we are facing is the bleak theme running tThe rhythms of the sea’s tides are the only things we humans have not yet destroyed
The environmental crisis we are facing is the bleak theme running through this story. The way humankind has trashed the joint, leaving animals extinct, or close to extinction, habitats irrevocably changed and this ever-warming planet of ours.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy I have mixed feelings about. The author uses her main character, Franny Stone, and the Arctic Tern as vehicles to demonstrate the consequences of humankind’s antics but also to tell story of this young woman. Franny is a wayward soul; through her maternal line she has inherited the capacity to wander and ‘go missing’. She’s even a sleepwalker – it’s fair to say Franny is the ultimate restless soul. You know – I find sleepwalkers a fairly ‘spooky crew’, I couldn’t imagine sleeping in the same room as someone who might just happen to be silently sorting through my sock drawer at 3am, that would freak me out completely!!
Anyway, this story is set sometime in the future when many species of animal are extinct. Franny travels to Greenland (boy, I’d love to go there!) to follow the Arctic Tern on its last migration to the Antarctic. I am not sure who or how they ascertained I was the last migration. Anyhoo this is apparently the longest migration of all, as they fly to the Antarctic and then back to the Arctic, all within a year!!!!!
To achieve this, Franny talks a skipper of a fishing vessel, the Saghani, to take her on a journey to follow several birds she has placed electronic trackers on during a field trip. Now during this journey, the author takes us back to various periods of Franny’s life and thus reveals a dark and troubled past It also describes her upbringing, family, and her marriage to University Professor Niall. The reader is presented with the problem of trying to decide what Franny is running to or running from.
Humanity is a f*cking plague upon the world.
Can’t argue with that, I mean – we’ve hardly covered ourselves in glory.
Mmmmmmm……………..look, I didn’t mind this story but it lost me a bit, maybe because I found the whole – “sweet talking a fishing boat captain” to take on a passenger to follow a flock of birds the whole length of the world thing a bit…….fanciful. I loved the environmental message, but this part was a bit too fantastical for my mind. Particularly as this is a book which is trying to relate some very important messages using some pretty hefty themes – a weak link like an extremely unlikely storyline didn’t cut it for me.
However, as a devout and practising atheist I did appreciate this passage
…….and maybe it’s right that our bodies dissolve into the earth, giving our energy back to it, feeding the little creatures in the ground and giving nutrients to the soil, and maybe it’s right our consciousness rests. The thought is peaceful. .
Too right it is, I LOVE that idea, I don’t want to be banging around in some place among the clouds (scared of heights) talking to people I’ve never met (shy) and probably have nothing in common with, minding my manners – I’d like to give my carbon back to Mother Earth and let my consciousness fade away – to me that sounds restful, peaceful and appropriate
Maybe my rating is a bit harsh, because I did learn a few things about birds (an animal I am terrified of) and the environment and I was plonked into the near future when we’ve gone past the tipping point and animals and habitats have disappeared and changed forever.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is an absolute gem.
Simsion is an Australian author who is also an IT consultant and data analyst, he is currently The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is an absolute gem.
Simsion is an Australian author who is also an IT consultant and data analyst, he is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Melbourne University, in 2007 he enrolled in a screenwriting course and now he has written several best-selling novels. This certainly won’t be the last book of his I’ll read. I’m making a MASSIVE assumption here but judging by the fact he’s an IT guy and a data analyst, he may have some direct experience of being on ‘the spectrum’ himself, or of working with others who are.
Truth is, most of us are on some sort of spectrum. Defining normal is fruitless. For example, when a pathology laboratory gives you a Serum Sodium result, we specify a range whereby 95% of the population can be found, but you may be in the 5% of people who are outside the so-called ‘normal range’ – and still be considered okay. Hence the more appropriate term ‘Reference Range’. What is normal?
To be sure, it must be enormously more complicated if measuring indices of psychological well-being. This is not a dry synopsis of psychological conditions, it is a rollicking, interesting, amusing and delightful love story.
Professor Don Tillman is a forty-something, Genetics Scientist and displays certain behaviours that are a little challenging to friends and associates. For example, he allocates specific days of the week for the same meal (thus achieving efficiencies in time and resources), he times his showers to the second and maps out every minute of every day for each activity and wears quick dry clothing. His personal activities are given titles and called projects such as ‘The Wife Project’, this is a well-developed questionnaire he has created to screen possible life-partners. He has never experienced a second date.
He meets the Beautiful Rosie, a bartender who smokes and is often late – thus not meeting some key criteria on his Wife-Project Questionnaire. They do become friends, in a sort of way, and this becomes a central theme of the story. Rosie also has an issue with her stepfather and wants to find out who her real father is, this is where Don’s expertise in genetics comes in handy and the so-called Father-Project comes to the fore.
I found Don’s interactions, and the situations he found himself in and the awkward exchanges and situations totally hilarious. The interplay between he and Rosie is fascinating, this is no ‘normal’ love story.
The author presents several study/discussion questions at the end of the story (maybe reinforcing an earlier assumption of mine) – one of these was:
”Does the humour in the novel come from Don’s awkward responses to social situations or the absurdity of falling in love in general? Do you feel as though you are laughing with Don or at Don?”.
My response to Q1 is: Both. Response to Q2: I was laughing at Don, because Don wasn’t laughing.
I need to declare a conflict of interest here; I am not an objective observer. As a laboratory scientist of 35-plus years experiece, I myself have certain proclivities and work with some who also possess these ‘amusing’ behaviours. When I was a teenager (and still), I could say the entire English cricket team backwards (that is, each word backwards), have also spent considerable time counting my teeth with my tongue (guess what?......it really does as I get older) and I have worked with people who take 20 minutes to wash their hands and walk on one side of their hallway when walking one way, and the other side when walking back – so as to ensure an even wearing of the carpet. But, in exchange, you (as the public) get people who are meticulous when it comes to attention to detail, understand complexity, love patterns and thrive on working things out.
Perhaps, this is one of the best messages in this book. For all the social awkwardness – people who live on the autism spectrum exhibit, they possess other qualities, and for all the social awkwardness and other socially unusual behaviours – there are some aptitudes required in certain professions and endeavours.
This is a charming book about acceptance (a term that is better than tolerance) and understanding. It’s also funny.
Touch, by Colleen McCullough has me in a bit of a bind, I am stuck between three and two stars. Two, because I don’t think this book will stay with meTouch, by Colleen McCullough has me in a bit of a bind, I am stuck between three and two stars. Two, because I don’t think this book will stay with me, I was in a hurry to finish it towards the end and from around a third of the way into the story it became a little too predictable. Three, because it was an expansive story, it had its interesting periods, as the author always researches her topics so thoroughly.
This historical piece is largely based in Australia, just over the Great Dividing Range out West from Sydney, beautiful country, in the late 1800’s. Elizabeth, a young Scottish girl is forced to marry Alexander, a self-made Scotsman, who has managed to accumulate massive wealth in gold mining. This is a loveless marriage, where both find ways to escape to their own separate world’s. Alexander finds his solace in his work and another woman called Ruby, and Elizabeth essentially withdraws into herself, the mansion, and their children.
This is standard fare for a love story, and as new characters are introduced it became a little too predictable for me, there weren’t many surprises. But McCullough did what she does very well and that is, drill down into various topics in great detail. She takes us through gold mining, the politics of the time, industrial relations, immigration, life in other countries – such as the US, medicine, Australian history and engineering. Her ability to explain a diverse number of topics in great depth kept me interested. Without this, I fear this may have just been a Mills and Boon effort.
I do need to say, Alexander was a selfish bastard a real ‘I want my cake and to eat it to’ kind of bloke. I don’t think he had any redeeming features at all. In fact, most of the characters were a bit wooden. So, without the academic interest in the wide scope of interesting subjects covered – this may have only been a 2-star effort.
Having just followed the story of Eli and his family and friends from the working class suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland - I can't help thinking similaHaving just followed the story of Eli and his family and friends from the working class suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland - I can't help thinking similar lives are being lead in such places all over the world. Admittedly, I did find some of the later plot development incredible, however, I believe that was probably needed to demonstrate the strong love and bonds between Eli and his brother Gus, his Mother, Stepfather, Slim and others - no matter how flawed these characters were or the extremely violent environment they lived in.
I wonder how overseas readers fared with this book - living in Queensland myself, there are so many references to Australiana and Brisbane in particular, I hope nothing was lost for these readers. No matter, the overall message (for me) of maintaining devotion and love for those closest to us, despite living in a world of poverty and extreme violence, would persist, no matter which part of the world you are from.
Lots of laughs, a few sobs and a handful of gasps too - a very good read....more
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