Monkey Grip | 
so-soWithout any real plot or drive, Monkey Grip didn‘t exactly blow me away – but there are many moments of beautiful prose, like little glimpses of Garner‘s greatness to come. It might not be the best one of hers to start with if you‘re new to her work, but if you‘re already hooked and want to see where it all began, give it a go. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/monkey-grip-helen-garner/
pickIt‘s about time I read this book! My first for 2022. Garner writes like no one else but I must admit I was troubled by a lot of it, Especially where her daughter was concerned. I found it hard not to be judgemental and to comprehend that Nora is obviously an intelligent woman who is choosing to live this life. 33 is old enough to know better.
#Ozfiction
#3Books #BasedOnTrueStories
Monkey Grip and Moral Hazard are both based on particular periods in their authors' lives, The Lost Life is based on an episode in the life of TS Eliot. All #ozfiction.
#ThinkLocalGiveAway
Congratulations on your Litsyversary, Barbara, and thanks for this give-away.
There are lots of books set in Melbourne, many of them in my part of it. Monkey Grip is a classic from the 1970s about a young woman living a bohemian life in a share house with her young child and junkie boyfriend. It is at least semi autobiographical. I could take you to the house where it happened, about 15 minutes walk from here. The area has👇
#CoolOldBooks #RomanAClef
A fictionalised account of Helen Garner's life in the early 70's in a share house in North Fitzroy with a young daughter and a heroin addicted lover. It caused a stir when it was published in 1977 but is now considered an Australian classic #ozliterature
#ReadingResolutions #Journal
Garner‘s first novel Monkey Grip was basically a rewrite of her diaries at the time. She has copped a lot of flak over the years for allegedly confusing fact and fiction.
1. So excited to be going to see Australian award winning authors, Helen Garner and Kim Scott talk to a sold out crowd about why literature matters TONIGHT as part of the #PerthWritersFestival2018 😍👏📚❤️.
2. 162cm
3. We moved to Perth, Western Australia from Melbourne in 1987, so...31 years. Current house for almost 10 years.
4. True Stories by Helen Garner & Midnight in the Garden Of Good & Evil by John Berendt for Book Club.
#friyayintro
#spookyoctober #takesplacenearme
This is the Monkey Grip house, the share hose where Helen Garner lived when the events in the story happened. North Fitzroy has changed a bit in 40 years.
pickFinished this on the plane coming home today I really enjoyed it, very intense, it's a time and a lifestyle so foreign to me. It's incredible to see how far Helen Garner has come as a writer but for a first book it's incredible. That's #1977 of #readmymilestone done
We have had a family emergency and had to fly to NZ for the week - this is my first quiet moment - reading this Aussie classic for the first time. The red edges are amazing #helengarner
pickInner suburban Melbourne in 1975. Nora loves Javo who in turn loves drugs. I went along for the ride. Helen Garner is one of my absolute favourite writers and this, her first novel, has been on my TBR for some time. The book is based on her diaries and I enjoyed looking through this window into her bohemian early 30s. The book has a rambling, aimlessness about it and as always her writing is exquisite. 👏
Day 11. #setinabelovedlocation #17booklove The book I'm #currentlyreading just happens to be set in my beloved home town, Melbourne, Australia ❤. I was born and raised there, until my family relocated to Perth, Western Australia (incidentally, the most isolated capital city in the world) when I was 16. I still have friends and family in Melbourne and manage to get back there once a year 👍.
#LitsyPartyOfOne in a grandstand. This is how I spend most of my Friday nights in summer: watching my son compete in Athletics. I do try to bring my book along and sneak it out for a read (when he's not running of course!). Really enjoying Helen Garner's first book (1977), having read most of her contemporary stuff. Party on Littens around the globe 🌏 🎉🤓🎈🎊👍
#currentlyreading Starting this today. Helen Garner is one of my favourite authors and I have read most of her nonfiction. Monkey Grip was her first published book (1977). It's a novel but Garner has since admitted it was based on her diaries. As a child I remember my mum raving about it. I'll be interested to see what I make of it as an adult, about the same age as my mum would have been when she first read it.
so-soHave to be honest here, it took me months to finish this book. I actually don't dislike it; maybe I was just never really in the mood for it (read it for a reading challenge). Maybe it was because I was reading it digitally, which is usually fine but... Maybe it was that I could not identify with the drug use... I don't know.
I liked certain descriptions, the setting, and the overall idea; I just really could not connect. Maybe I will try again.
pickWhen I was first thinking about how to pay tribute to Helen Garner's birthday, I wondered if I could emulate any aspects of her semi-autobiographical novels. I decided against moving into a share house with my daughter and falling in love with a heroin addict. Nevertheless, this 1977 #australianclassic is worth a read. For the Aussies amongst you, yes this is a photo of Noni from Playschool, who played Nora in the 1982 film adaptation 😀.
#novembertbr Here are a few I'm looking at this month
#photoadaynov16
@RealLifeReading
"I wanted him to go away (he was carrying his belongings on his back: 'I'll stay away for a couple of days,' he said, 'and you can come and visit me.') because be was driving me crazy; but I wanted him to stay because when he was himself I loved him."
My copy is a bit worse for the wear, but I kinda like it. it feels like it suits the contents of the book.
pickI really liked this window into the life of the Australian 1970s bohemian ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Starting another Helen Garner. What a world 😊
It's #recommendsday!! I've been thinking about this book a lot recently. It's raw and awesome.
