October Reading at Book Chat

The Promise Seed by Cass Moriarty
Moriarty writes an original story about an elderly man who befriends his ten-year-old neighbour, a boy suffering from abuse and neglect. The two bond over gardening and care of the old man’s chickens, and gradually the story of the elder man’s own childhood is uncovered. This is a very moving and haunting debut novel, well worth picking up.

The Rescuer by R S Hill
This Victorian mystery novel is set in 1873 on the River Torridge in Devon. Abigail March is the feisty daughter of a Canadian politician’s daughter, when she saves a woman from drowning in the flooded river. But soon after, the woman she rescued is murdered and a cache of smuggled weapons goes missing. When a man is arrested, Abigail and the defendant’s young brother realise a mistake has been made and work together to solve the case. A cracking read.

Call of the Outback by Marianne Van Velzen

This is a biography of Earnestine Hill, a 1930s journalist who travelled to the remotest parts of Australia to write for popular publications like Walkabout to bring the outback to everyday Australians. She also wrote bestselling books, including The Great Australian Loneliness and Flying Doctor Calling. A fascinating story about a trailblazing adventurer and nomad.

The Railwayman’s Wife by Ashley Hay

The lives of three people in small town Australia become entwined in this novel, as each tries to find new purpose after horrific events. When Annika loses her husband in a railway accident, she finds herself trying to piece her life back together, taking a job at the railway institute library. Here she meets Roy, a struggling poet, damaged by his war-time experiences, and Frank a doctor plagued by terrible guilt. The writing is very lyrical and evocative, building to a thoughtful ending.

See Me by Nicholas Sparks
At first this novel seems to be a love story, the first half or so developing around two people from opposite sides of the tracks and their getting to know each other. But who is leaving dead roses in Maria’s car as well as sending threatening messages? Can it have something to do with Maria’s work as a lawyer? The story is a little slow to get going but picks up pace towards the end. Published just last year, we can only wonder when the movie will be coming out.

Posted by Flaxmere Library Book Chat