Welcome to Litsy!

Made quick work of my December #bookspin pick by…not finishing it. I knew this was headed for the DNF pile when I had to look up 10 words in the first few pages, and the unstable mother displayed a penchant for speaking in Shakespeare quotes. I have nothing against learning new words, but it felt very much like a book that was going to prioritize style over story, and I just don‘t have the energy for that kind of thing right now. Next!

Australian authors don‘t come much more iconic than John Marsden.

I was lucky enough to hear him speak at a few events, had a couple of books signed and grew up during his most prolific years - think I‘ve read most of them.

He‘ll be missed.

I really enjoyed this book about intrepid Jean Paget who leads a group of imprisoned women around wartime Malaya, comes into some money, and makes a life for herself in Australia. This is a quiet love story, but mostly Jean‘s story, and you can‘t help but root for this practical, can-do character who in building a life for herself also builds a town for her life.

I couldn‘t resist, Carolyn, when you said I could open your gift 😉. Thank you so much for these two books, both look fantastic. I always love Tsiolkas and I hadn‘t heard of the tagged book but the Litsy reviews are very promising! You‘re the best 😘😘

One from my TBR

#Family
#ChristmasCheer
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#Family ?‍?‍?‍???☠️

#ChristmasCheer ?°❆⛄⋆.ೃ࿔?*:･❄️

#BookNerd ???

I know that Shute was an Englishman who spent parts of his life in Australia, but I wonder if he spent time in the Pacific Northwest. He writes so fondly of it in the start of this novel, and it is also featured in On the Beach.
#PNW #Australia #Modernism

A curious story of a family in early 80s Melbourne who appear to have a perfect life until dexter meets an old flame at the airport. When Elizabeth introduces her wild sister Vicki and her on-off boyfriend Philip to the dynamics of Athena + Dexter's life, it causes ripples from which they may not recover. Perfect writing and dialogue, which held my interest but not characters to who I warmed. I will try the author again as I know she is well loved

Made it to the Post Office without getting attacked by a bird! #aussiesecretsanta

It‘s definitely starting to feel like Christmas now that I‘ve wrapped my first gift up! ☺️