Member: RobinDawson

The Brotherhood site is good and I have to refrain from looking there as it is just so tempting and the books are very cheap especially when you just want a reading copy. You can also pick up very obscure titles that are hard to find elsewhere and those out of print. It is supporting a good cause too so you dont feel too guilty about buying MORE books LOL.

I have Madame Bovary on my shelf and I am ashamed to say that it is so far unread. I missed a lot of those classics in my younger reading life and I am trying to rectify that fact. I like those new cheap penguin editions ( orange and white covers) and I have bought a few since they were released... Summer Crossing by Truman Capote
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Madame Bovary by Flaubert.

I am reading 1984 by Orwell at the moment for my next bookgroup meeting and this is such a remarkable story considering it was written so long ago. His vision for a future world has some eerie coincidences.

I gave 'Platform' by Michel Houellebecq a try and I have to say he might be an acquired taste! There is a certain shock factor and he is very controversial. Still he is on the list of the 1001 Books you must read before you die so I will be interested to hear what you think. Great that your son recommended it too as it is always interesting to get their perspective on shared books and as you say encourage your love of books and reading.

I really liked 'A Soldiers Return' which is the first book in a trilogy by Melvyn Bragg and this one (The Maid of Buttermere) is well reviewed at Amazon. This is a Bookcrossing book which arrived with His Illegal Self as part of a bookring bonus bag.

I noticed you have read The Tall Man. I have nominated this at my online group (Lisa's) for next years Non fiction slot and hoping it is selected. I bought from Readings online and they very kindly sent me a copy autographed by the author so that will definitely be a keeper.

Happy reading

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 1:51 am (EST) on Nov 11, 2009

Just noticed your rating for both A Fine Balance and The Road and two of my favourite reads. Have you read any other McCarthy? No Country For Old Men is one of his best IMO.
I have just received a copy of The Heart is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers from http://brotherhoodbooks.org.au/browse and I see it is one of your favourites too.

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 12:40 am (EST) on Nov 4, 2009

Yes that is me. Do you visit Lisa's blog? I see she is in your member connections. Yes I have been a member at ANZLitlovers since its beginnings back in 2002. Dont forget The First Tuesday Bookclub will be repeated on Sunday November 7th at 4:30pm on ABC1 and 7:00pm on ABC2.

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 12:30 am (EST) on Nov 4, 2009

Hi Robin

I can see I was not as enamoured as you with Ransom. Did you watch The First Tuesday Bookclub last evening? David Marr was a guest panelist and at the segment where they discuss what they have been reading he praised this novel most highly also. I read this with my bookgroup and I did borrow a copy of The Iliad the version translated by Robert Fagles and looked for this part of the story. It is a massive translation and difficult to decipher due to the dense writing and would take a more scholarly brain than mine!! LOL

I see you have also enjoyed Bob Carr and his reading life( I will go over to your review when I have finished here) I do enjoy books about books and will look for this one.

Wuthering Heights was an audio book and I did watch the recent TV production on the ABC concluding on Sunday evening. It was quite a modern take and not all too successful I agree. I vividly remember seeing the black and white film also as an impressionable teenager starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier and it left me sobbing uncontrollably and that experience left and indelible mark.

Happy Reading

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 8:32 pm (EST) on Nov 3, 2009

Hi Robin

I enjoyed your review of Gilead. I have this on my shelf and from the numerous reviews I have read I have preconceived notions that it might be difficult and one to read another time. I am currently reading a new author to me Henning Mankell. This is not one of his crime series featuring Wallander but a stand alone novel ' Italian Shoes'. I have also just read 'The Collector' by John Fowles as they are discussing this one tonight on The First Tuesday Bookclub.

Jenny //*_*\

posted by jeniwren at 5:32 am (EST) on Jul 7, 2009

Hi Robin

I have to agree re The Secret Scripture. One of those books that resonate and I still think about Rosanne. I too read in the SMH this morning about that impending enquiry in Ireland and one can only be sceptical about the Catholic church in view of its previous handlings of these matters.

Re The Road and I think it would be a good discussion book. I like McCarthy although he has a particular writing style that doesnt appeal to everyone. I loved No Country For Old Men and All The Pretty Horses. I read Blood Meridian with my bookgroup and it generated lively discussion.........very violent stuff but when you look past the gore there are some beautiful descriptions of the desert landscape.

I noticed your recent rating for the Kate Grenville. I didnt like it that much just an ok read for me.

Lucky you being able to visit the Sydney Writers Festival too. I am hoping Ramona Koval will be bringing some of the events to the Bookshow on Radio National. I must check the website as they may have some events broadcast on there.

I am just going into town to take youngest son to work and to pick up a book for my next bookgroup read..The Lost Life by Steven Carroll. I hope this is better than The Time We have Taken as that was a big disappointment.

Kind regards

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 12:50 am (EST) on May 20, 2009

Noticed that you liked The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in reviewing my new novel and posting your comments here (as well as on a few other book-related sites). I thought you might like my novel since it's been compared to that novel by a number of reviewers. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like. Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 9:24 pm (EST) on Apr 17, 2009

Hi Robin

So pleased to hear you enjoyed Gideon Mack and I have read your excellent review too. I have just finished reading One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson. This is the second of a trilogy featuring Jackson Brodie and I really enjoyed Case Histories which introduced his character. Atkinson is a favourite and loved her debut Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

The Grapes of Wrath is hard going? This was discussed on the First Tuesday Bookclub and the feelings were mixed with the panet either loving or hating so not sure if I want to read this myself. However I do have a copy and may pick it up one day.

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 9:14 pm (EST) on Mar 22, 2009

Hmmm, maybe I have been harsh on Joe Cinque....it has been a long time since I read it or Songlines but I figured the test on these should be whether they live on as memorable books and I seem to recall I thought the Joe Cinque story was a bit laboured?

I haven't read the Brink one yet - it is on my list to take to South Africa and I will add your suggestion to the list too. I have just finished Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) and thought it was brilliant - an unusual story and so beautifully told - highly recommend it if you haven't already read.

posted by kittykat11 at 6:05 am (EST) on Feb 16, 2009

Hello, Robin, yes indeed I was a teacher of Indonesian in a primary school, and president of VILTA, the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers Association for quite a while too. I really loved teaching it, but alas, my principal decided to put me back in charge of a grade and these days I'm teacher-librarian, which I love even more.
I think if I come back in another life I'll be an historian because I do love it. I am writing three histories at the moment (and not making enough progress on any of them LOL) and my Great Australian Novel (with even less progress made, lately) is about the perils of doing Family History.
What about you?

posted by gunung at 5:19 am (EST) on Feb 13, 2009

Hi Robin

Re Rev Road and my bookgroup. Well we all thought it was a great book except for one who thought it was too depressing! A really great discussion book though and we talked in depth for a few hours and I found some questions online that really helped it along. We also picked our next two reads and The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas is next followed by To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Yes and I did give it a perfect crown of stars and I have just found a copy of the Easter Parade at http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/... very cheap and it is winging its way to me at the moment. This is a great site and postage free to Australia. The Bookshow on Radio National spoke about Yates last week and this was recommended as another stand out novel written in the 70's.

Oh yes The Testament of Gideon Mack , one of my favourites EVER!! This was shortlisted for the Booker a few years ago. And As Meat Loves Salt was brilliant too and like you mentioned it is one of those books that has slipped under the radar and deserves more readers.

Best go as I have an early start for work in the morning and I need to finish my current book 'The Zookeepers War' by Conte for bookgroup discussion which starts on Sunday.

Bye Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 5:25 am (EST) on Feb 6, 2009

Just read your excellent review for Rev Road and have given you a thumbs up =)
Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 8:14 pm (EST) on Feb 4, 2009

Hi RobinDawson

Nice to have a new *book* friend here at LT. I noticed you have given a near perfect rating for Revolutionary Road. A wonderful book and I am meeting with my bookgroup tomorrow evening to discuss this one. I really want to read more Yates now and it seems Easter Parade is quite good according to the reviews I have read. I tried to read the Emma Darwin but just couldnt get into it.

We share quite a few books and it will be nice getting to know you better and I shall be watching your library additions with interest. BTW I also know gunung who is in my online bookgroup here in Australia.

regards

Jenny

posted by jeniwren at 1:54 am (EST) on Feb 4, 2009

Hi Robin
I was interested to see your review of The Tyrant's Novel - I agree that the political message got in the way of the story. Have you read Richard Flanagan's The Unknown Terrorist? That was the same, a book written for political purposes and utterly unlike Flanagan's usual work. Both these authors think it's important to address current issues in Australia, and I agree, but I think Nadine Gordimer and Andre Brink were much less heavy-handed - and therefore more effective - in their writing about South Africa than Keneally and Flanagan have been.
Lisa

posted by gunung at 6:55 pm (EST) on Jan 22, 2009

Hi Robin
Robin Dawson (the other one *grin*) was the sports teacher at Springvale West Primary school!
Lisa

posted by gunung at 5:36 am (EST) on Jan 19, 2009