Kate’s Year of Nostalgia and Hope

Welcome to my new thread. This year I intend to read more books from my home country, but my reading will not be limited to Australian literature..

I feel I have neglected books from Australia, but it’s hard to find Australian books copyrighted in the US, and in audio which I am restricted to reading.

I enjoy my time on LT and at times it is my only entertainment for a number of reasons.

I yearn for my native country to which I can no longer return. I miss the Australian bush, so I’m starting my 2026 thread with a photo I took in Gariwerd (The Grampians) several years ago.

Dropping off my star, Kate. I look forward to more books and chats in 2026.

Lovely photo, Kate. I look forward to finding out more about the Australian literary gems you uncover, as I have read almost nothing from your home country.

Sometimes there’s no place like home. The picture is pretty and evocative. I would love to learn more about Australian literature. Happy New Year, Kate!

i I think that is a wonderful plan And eager to see what you're reading

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My first read this year will be (touch wood) Helen Garner’s The Children’s Bach. I’m truly hoping that I’ll be able to finish this as I’ve had a lot of problems getting into books these last few months.

This is not my first Garner book; I’ve read most of them. She has a new one out in -The Season where she talks of her grandson and Australian footy. But it’s too close to, and far from home for me, as I have a grandson about the same age as Garner’s who is into football (which is what most people refer to in the States as “soccer”). So although I’m not reading it, the book may appeal to grandmothers out there who have a teenage grandson who is obsessed with a sport..

The book I’m reading now The Children’s Bach is from her middle period. - I believe when Helen was a young mother. Garner has a crisp reporter-like way of writing and there’s a warmth and understanding of the period that she’s writing about.

Her first book Monkey Grip is set in the early 70s in inner-city Melbourne, where many young people chose a communal living lifestyle that unfortunately lead to drug taking in some case..

Here books reflect different stages of her life, intermingled with some true crime fiction which has moral implications.

Although a true feminist, Garner able to step back from her feminist ideology and look at social problems and crimes from an objective and rational standpoint.

Thus in The First Stone Garner examines how the life of a university professor was ruined, although he was never charged with a crime, because he touched the breast of a young woman at a party. He lost not only his job but his house. The book was written just before the Me Too movement. It was widely condemned by young feminists, but understood by women of my generation who had taken in their stride non-abusive sexual attention by professors.

I encourage people to read books by Garner as apart from being good reads, they give a flavor of urban life in Australia during the past 50 years.

>11 dchaikin: I’m curious about Garner. A handful of people in the fb Booker group read The Monkey Grip last year and were moved.

Happy new year, Kate. I'm looking forward to following your reading journey and to learning more about Australian literature. Hope you are staying warm, the Northeast is an icebox this winter.

I enjoyed The Children's Bach. Look forward to your review.

>11 dchaikin: Monkey Grip is Garner’s firstnovel and I would think it would appear a bit dated now. Of course it’s a long time since I’ve read it and I didn’t really like the people described in it. I don’t think it is typical of her writing. maybe it’s time for a re-read.

>13 AlisonY: After I had started The Childrren’ss Bach I read and enjoyed your review. I have a bit of a different perspective on the book, but that’s just because I’m Australian I think.

I’ve managed to get halfway through the novella The Children’s Bach. There’s no way now that I won’t finish it. So that’s one success for the new year.

Great title for your thread

Hi Kate,
I have a few Australian authors I've read a bit of like Markus Zuzak, Liane Moriarty, and Kate Morton. I also have A Town Called Alice on ebook to read based on someone's great review last year that I can't wait to read. Looking forward to learning about some other Australian authors.

>17 raidergirl3: I hope I don’t let you down. Those books and writers are not on my list although I’ve heard of A Town Like Alice.

Off the top of my head and in no particular order my favorite Australian writers are. Patrick White, Tim Winton, Richard Flanagan, Janette Turner Hospital , Christos Tsiolkas, David Malouf, Thomas Keneally, Helen Garner, Germaine Greer, Henry Lawson, Judah Waten and Peter Carey. This list is by no means definitive. I’m sure I’ve missed some writers and there may be writers that I like who I’m not aware that are Australian.

For anyone wanting to get started on Australian literature I would recommend Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet .

Being out of Australia for so long, and with the problem of copyright laws, there are many books and many new authors that I’ve been unable to access. I’m waiting and hoping that. Tim Winton’s Juice will be available in the USA soon. For my list above, I left off another favorite writer - J M Coetzee as most of his works that I’ve likes were were written before he immigrated to Australia.

I’d also be interested in hearing from people who have read books from younger Australian writers that became known post-2010. There are a few I’ve heard of that I have been unable to get access to in the US.

I’m also not going to restrict my reading to, or make a plan for Australian books. It’s hard for me to make plans, which is odd because I’m not a free and easy sort of person..

>18 kjuliff: what a wonderful overview. My reading includes only 2 1/2 books from that list of authors. (2 more we count Coetzee). I think I have overlooked your home continent.

>17 raidergirl3: I was quite late to the Nevil Shute party but once I arrived I didn't want to leave 🙂.

>1 kjuliff:, >18 kjuliff: I'll be interested in books from Australia as many of the authors you list are unfamiliar to me. I also hadn't realized that copyright laws are an issue for access.

What are some things you miss about Australia?

>21 qebo: It’s jingoistic but this unofficial anthem (link below) is how many of us Aussie expats feel when we hear it.

What do I miss about OZ? I’ll post later as I am a bit shocked at this morning’s news right now. But please listen to it if you want to know how I feel today.
I am Australian.

>19 dchaikin: Thank you for the praise Dan. It lifted my spirits.

>21 qebo: Many Australian books that unavailable in the US are available in the UK. I think this was the case with the 2024 Booker shortlisted - Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood which. eventually hit American shores but only after the shortlist was announced.

A good number of LT reviews of Australian book can be found by checking out Australian LT member, anzlovers.

>21 qebo: some of the things I miss about Australia:
– the Australian sense of humor
– It’s beauty
– It’s proactive egalitarianism
– it’s democracy and political structure
- but mostly I miss my children and myAustralian friends.

Hugs Kate

I'm glad to see your new thread, Kate, and that the Garner is working for you.

>24 kjuliff: mostly I miss my children and my Australian friends
I'm sorry, this just sounds so hard.

the Australian sense of humor
This is probably more of a "show" than a "tell" thing. Is there a book or movie that would be a good example?

Always good to read what you’ve got to say here, Kate. A bunch of online friends of mine were passing around (by mail) a copy of The Children’s Bach some years ago, but I never read it. Maybe this is the year!

>27 qebo: well there is Crocdile Dundee Though I suspect that kate may not like this one

>27 qebo: Cindy, I can’t think of a book that really shows the humor off-hand. If one comes to mind, I’ll tell you about it. There are examples even in the book that I’m reading now, The Children’s Bach, but it’s just in a little event or conversation here and there. Perhaps I can quote one when I come to review it, if I ever finish.

I’m having trouble finishing it because I’m sick. The only thing I can do that takes my mind off the illness is posting to LT and occasionally to FB. I might give an except if ever I get around to reviewing the book. But it doesn’t really sound funny as when in context.

>29 cindydavid4: Correct, not Crocodile Dundee at all.

>28 lisapeet: Yes it’s a pretty good book if you’re into interesting characters well-described. I’m having a bit of trouble finishing it because I keep falling asleep because I’m unwell. But I’m still getting through it which is something, even though it’s a novella that I’d normally read in a night. It’s very Melbourne-based so I wonder what your online friends liked about it.

>27 qebo: William McInnes is an Australian memoirist whose books (IMO) are good examples of Australian humour.

>31 rhian_of_oz: Thanks!

Hi Kate-I'm so glad to see you back, and I hope you are feeling better (You sound more upbeat). I think of you because I am in NYC now (and have been for the last month), mostly spending my days at Mount Sinai Hospital where my middle son has just undergone a bone marrow transplant. I wonder if our paths have unknowingly crossed?

A number of years ago, prior to a trip to Australia, I read A LOT of Australia books, and I have become very attached to Australian writers for some reason, and I have continued to choose to read Australian authors. Many of your favorites are favorites of mine too, and Patrick White is my favorite of favorites too. (Riders in the Chariot is a desert island book for me).

I wonder if you've ever read Eleanor Dark. I've read the first of her historical fiction trilogy Timeless Land and loved it. I own the other two, but haven't gotten to them yet. As a contemporary writer, I also like Elliot Perlman. Have you ever read him? I've often heard Gerald Murnane mentioned as a potential Nobelist, but haven't ever read anything by him. Have you? Strangely, the first book by Thomas Keneally I read (years ago) was Confederates, which is about the US Civil War. I was much impressed by the book, but did not realize Keneally was Australian.

Finally I wonder if you've read Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country, and if so what you think of his depiction of Australia?

P.S. If you like crime fiction, I absolutely love Gary Disher.

>33 arubabookwoman: I was going to mention that book but I think will get the same response from Kate as she did Crocodile Dundee maybe

>33 arubabookwoman: omg Deborah, i had no idea about your son. I dearly wish him well. So much for you too! 😢

(I’m not a fan of Sunburned Country. Sometimes I think Bryson is less into a book and kinda going through the motions. Or maybe he just can’t maintain that charming cleverness always and every time. )

>33 arubabookwoman: Another shout for Patrick White - I have read them all

>33 arubabookwoman: i’m so glad to hear from you Deborah. Sorry to hear about your son and I hope all goes well. I wonder if our paths did cross. I was in several places - some old buildings on 102nd that are going to be torn down. They kept moving me from one going-to-be-torn-down building to another. I was the second last patient to leave the last building I was in.

On books, yes Patrick White is almost a perfect writer and I have read all his books. i read The Timeless Land and I should add it to my list of recommendations for Australian books. I am the same as you on Gerald Murnane!

My favorite Thomas Keneally is The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith. Keneally was once in a bit of trouble in Australia when he was accused of plagiarism. i’m not sure what happened about this accusation. No I haven’t heard of Elliot Perlman but will check him out if his books arein audio. Will also check out the crime writer Gary Disher.

Like Dan, I am not a fan of In a Sunburned Country though I haven’t read it, which is a bit silly. But from what I heard of it from Australian friends, I really didn’t like the sound of it.

As for me, I’m not at all well and took a turn for the worse yesterday. I still can’t finish my Helen Garner novella as I keep falling asleep after a few pages. I’m trying to stay out of hospital, but if it gets any worse, I’ll have to go back..

Again, it was really good to hear from you Deborah. I’m hoping things improve for your son soon. And I look forward to hearing from you again..

This is all in speech to text so I’m going to go and have to edit it for typos.

>34 cindydavid4: yes quite right Cindy. You are always on the ball.

>36 baswood: Baz, do you have any Patrick White book suggestions for people who have not read any of his work?. I thought of Voss but I’m not sure.

>36 baswood: Voss is a great novel but perhaps The Tree of Man is more sympa.

>39 baswood: I agree. I introduced Patrick White, The Tree of Man to an American friend sometime back and he became enchanted and read several moreof his books.

At last, a very long last, I finished a book! Thank you to Helen Garner for helping me persevere with her novella, The Children’s Bach.

I don’t think it’s Garner’s best work, but it managed to hold me till the end, and to give her credit I wasn’t too well when I read it. I kept losing track of the characters, but forced myself to finish. And although I found it a bit scattered the descriptions of people, objects, connections, places and feelings were so well done that at times I stopped to reread large sections.

There are many references to specific Australian places, customs and ways of relating that Americans may feel strange. I will really try to write a review but health issues keep pushing me back. I recommend the book for anyone wanting to get a feel for suburban Australian life in Melbourne pre-Internet, and for people interested in the affairs of the heart and their failurres.

>41 kjuliff: What you wrote seems fine to me, Kate, I don't know that you need to push yourself to write something more formal. I most like to know what you thought about the book, not a summary (which I can get elsewhere). Rest up so that we can keep hearing from you and most importantly so you can continue reading.

>41 kjuliff: congrats. And great post. I’m interested

>41 kjuliff: places, customs and ways of relating that Americans may feel strange
Hmm, this makes me a little curious.

>42 labfs39: i’m going to take your advice.Lisa. I’m really in a bad way now.. but it helps me to focus on something good by reading messages on LT.

>43 dchaikin: Thanks Dan

>44 qebo: Katherine, The two cultures have many things in common, but are quite different. I will write more when I feel a bit better, but I *will* say that I experienced culture shock when I first arrived.- in Oklahoma. Moving to NYC felt like coming home. Well almost.
.

I think Oklahoma would give culture shock to a great many Americans as well! When I was moving regularly between the US and Europe, it was easier to move somewhere I'd never lived in the US, because the adjustment was more like moving to a new country than trying to return to a place I'd lived before.

Making note of The Children's Bach. I hope you find something else that grips you to read next and that your stamina allows you to enjoy it.

I had a similar feeling when moving from New England to Indiana. Wow, the mid-west was a shocker, almost as much as Florida. Seattle on the other hand was like going home.

>45 kjuliff: I bet I'd feel culture shock in Oklahoma too.

>38 kjuliff: >39 baswood: I would recommend Tree of Life} for a first Patrick White read. Voss is actually my least favorite of his books.
I wanted to add that in 2012 there was a "concentration" on reading books by Patrick White in Club Read. They weren't exactly group reads, but several of us, including myself, read multiple books by him that year.

>41 kjuliff: I read The Children's Bach a couple of years ago (I think on your recommendation to read more by Helen Garner). I found it to be an ok book, but I've liked the two NF/true crime books by her that I've read better.

>45 kjuliff: I am sorry you are doing poorly, and hope you feel better soon.

A newcomer here, wishing the author of the thread better health in 2026!

I also want to learn more about Australian literature as my exposure to it is very limited. Unless we count Coetzee - I've read nearly everything he's written.

I read one book each by Peter Carey, Tim Winton and Richard Flanagan and will definitely read more. Another writer I quite enjoyed was Eva Hornung

As for Gerald Murnane I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed some of his short stories but then I switched to Border Districts and it was a real disaster. I will give him another try but not right away. I need to recover from that experience.

Noting the Patrick White chat. Not an author that's been on my radar before.

>44 qebo: 45 >48 qebo: >47 labfs39: >46 RidgewayGirl: I know that it’s different in Oklahoma and a number of other states. But I was really thinking of where my main American experience is. I was only in Oklahoma for a few months, giving a paper in Illinois and had friends in Oklahoma. I was really shocked there.

But there are still differences in New York City. I can only describe the differences by my personal interactions with people. The first thing I noticed was Customer Service. It drove me crazy with all the “how are you?s” and “how is your day going?”. Australian get straight to the point. The Australian initial reaction is “don’t worry about how I am , or if I am going to have a good day, I’m just want to ask a question.” I have now learned to just answer politely. It’s easier.

I once heard a woman say, “Have a happy period”. I could hardly believe my ears. I’ve learned to just answer. But when after a call to a hospital or a doctor, during a serious illness, the nurse says to me in reply to a question about how I am in terrible pain, “ I hope you have a good rest of the day.”, it is hard to take.

I think I’ll have to post more later about the cultural differences because this post is too long, but what I notice is the over-politeness of Americans.

This was particularly annoying to Australians during WW 2 or so my parents told me. Americans came to Australia on R&R while our men were overseas fighting in Asia. The Americans enticed many partner—less women because they had chocolate, nylon stockings, and brought flowers to their mothers. Australian men don’t do this. So many “war brides” including my father‘s first wife were Australians who migrated to America with American GI husbands.

Hence the Australian saying
“ there’s nothing wrong with Americans, except that they are oversexed overpaid, and over here”..

This sentence is not insulting for an Australian to say or to an American used to Australian humor. It’s meant to be funny. In fact an Ausralianiized American male would take it as a compliment.

One big culture-shock is the over-politeness even when it’s inappropriate, as in the example above.

Another difference is the friendship thing. Australians are casual and women strike up friendships outside of work, and maintain work friends even when they no longer work at the same place. Once I retired from work friends were no longer interested. I only had friends in the USA when I was working. This has not just happened to me, but has happened to other Australian women in New York. I suspect it’s a New York thing.

Oh, I’ll have to answer the other differences later because I’m getting tired.

Have a nice day. ;)

*** edited for typos

>52 kjuliff: cultural clashes I never knew about. This post was fun to read.

>52 kjuliff: what I notice is the over-politeness of Americans.

I've always felt this was more formulaic than polite. Christa Wolf was quite funny on this, writing about the morning ritual of "How are you today?" where the expected answer is a variant of "Fine", because nobody really wants to know, nothing is expected - it's just "elevator syndrome".

One of my biggest cultural shocks with Americans is how quickly they expect to get deeply personal, telling you things best left for partners or therapists.

>54 SassyLassy: I don’t see this so much in New York City although I have noticed it.

Yes, I understand sentence like “how is your day going? “ are ritualistic/formulaic and that’s it doesn’t really mean anything, but I still get annoyed when it’s said on the phone by a complete stranger, especially when the person is a nurse or receptionist at a health Institute.

We have a similar thing in Australia when we meet someone we might say, well men might say, “how ya goin’ mate”, but that tends to occur more in rural areas. But it’s not what you say on the phone working in customer service. Well of course it might have changed since I left. I hope not.

To my LT, friends, early this morning around 5 AM, which is 9pm the next day in Melbourne and its state of Victoria, I received a disturbing message from my daughter, which I didn’t read until woke up.

She said she must evacuate from the place where she lives in north western Victoria, due raging bushfires, threatening the state. The whole town is meant to evacuate. There are several towns requiring evacuation and fires number about six, spread throughout state. It’s looking very bad for all Australians as many homes, farms and wildlife will be destroyed.

I have not been able to contact any family and friends in Victoria, and the fires are heading towards my son’s home in outer Melbourne.

You can read about the fires here.

My daughter was just packing the car with water and essentials, and hoping there were no roadblocks when she drove. She was extremely agitated but in control and it’s with my grandson who is 14. She’s on her way to Melbourne, which is about is 2.5 hour drive in normal conditions. Most of the town will be evacuating and one of my grandson‘s friend’s house has already burned to the ground. As she was packing the car and messaging me the fire was five minutes away.

I’ve lived through such fires having lived in the bush, have attended safety classes on what to do. It’s really frightening and you have to stay calm and not leave your car for any reason. I hope she understands this and I’m really worried. I hope I can find out something more when Australian wakes up..

She’s safe. She didn’t evacuate after all and decided to shelter in place. Just forgot to tell me. Kids!

>56 kjuliff: >57 kjuliff: How terribly frightening for you.

>18 kjuliff: I am very interested in the authors you list as Australian, some of whom are new to me and others that I have read, but did not know they were Australian. I am particularly interested in literature that relates to colonial Australia, aboriginal Australians, and life in the Bush. As I mentioned on my thread, reading more by Patrick White is high on the list for this winter, despite my tendency to not make reading plans.

Yeah, kids. Glad she’s safe

glad all is well I

>58 Linda92007: I’d suggest for starters Thomas Keneally’s The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.
From Meta Jimmie Blacksmith (Tommy Lewis), a man of half-Aboriginal ancestry, is pushed to the breaking point by the racist oppression perpetrated by the British in their rule of Australia in 1900, and by his inability to acclimate to Western culture. Raised in a white Christian family but never recognized by white individuals as their equal, Blacksmith undergoes frequent humiliations that provoke a violent response when he brutally murders his employer's family.

Well, I’m not a particularfan of Keneally, but appreciated this book, and it fits your description as the sort of thing you’re looking for. It shows the dark side of Australian history. Let me know if this is a sort of book you’re looking for..

I’ll spend more time on this question later. I’ve just had a rough day worrying about my daughter who panicked me for the whole day when she was happily asleep in bed on the other side of the world.

>52 kjuliff: “how are you?s” and “how is your day going?”
Oh I hate this from people I don't know, salespeople and store clerks and receptionists. I deflect, pleasant tone but avoiding the ritual "fine" which nobody actually cares about: "What are you calling about?", "I'm here to buy groceries.", "I'm here for an appointment."

>56 kjuliff:, >57 kjuliff: evacuate
Scary.

what I hate Is when you walk into a restaurant and the wait staff is leading you to the table and she stops turns around and asks how are you today And I'm like we would like to sit down and eat but I try to be polite and say nothing but I'm suspecting my face says it all so we get seated

>52 kjuliff: for you, a Woolf excerpt:

‘How delightful to see you!’ said Clarissa. She said it to every one. How delightful to see you! She was at her worst — effusive, insincere.

>64 dchaikin: Very English upper-crust.

I can’t believe I managed this. I must be getting better. Here is my new review. It’s a little scathing, but I think I deserve to be a bit more Australian today.

>66 kjuliff: Skipping this for now, as I just bought a copy of this book.

>67 RidgewayGirl: I bought a copy as well although I usually borrow books. Do you mean you’re skipping the review or leaving the book aside for awhile?

>68 kjuliff: I'll come back and read your review after I've read the book.

>66 kjuliff: I enjoyed your review, Kate. I hope it's a sign of more to come from this author.

>70 dchaikin: Thanks Dan. I’m trying to take my mind off the bushfires in Victoria. Three major ones are still not under control. It may take weeks to stop them completely. My daughter is in a shelter-at-home area.

And then there is the aftermath. I can’t post the photos as they are copyrighted, but a friend flew over the areas of the last major fires in 2009 and shot a number of photos of the aftermath. Those interested in photography might like to see this renowned photographer’s photos here. The collection is called. “Aftermath”. Also worth reading are the curator’s comments also at the same site.

>71 kjuliff: haunting. Yet gorgeous photos. Very powerful

>10 kjuliff: Happy New Year, Kate! looking forward to your thread and your thoughts on the books you read, Australian and otherwise! Helen Garner sounds interesting, I haven't read any of her books but I see she's written some about crime, law and justice as well, which I'm noting. >18 kjuliff: Happy to have this list of authors to follow up on as well!

Reading your comments about cultural differences, I was reminded of when I first went to grad school in the US. They had an orientation for all us foreign students and one of the things they told us was, "People will say, 'How are you today' but please reply with just 'fine thank you, how are you' and don't tell them in detail how you are, they don't want to know."

>56 kjuliff: I hope your son and daughter and their families all stay safe from the fires. What frightening news to wake up to.

I have just finished reading the novella Vertigo by Australian writer Amanda Lohrey. I was impressed by the writing and will be writing a review later..

What tethered me. To the book was that it covers a small community’s experience of Australian bushfires and the references to the great Australian writer Henry Lawson’s poem, The Fire at Ross’s Farm, the first stanza of which I pasted below.

As bushfires continue to rage in my home state of Victoria Lawson’s words come back to me.

The squatter saw his pastures wide
Decrease, as one by one
The farmers moving to the west
Selected on his run;
Selectors “took the water up”
And all the black soil round;
The best grass-land the squatter had
Was spoilt by “Ross’s Ground.”

*** Edited to fix link

>74 kjuliff: very moving

>73 rasdhar: “ Reading your comments about cultural differences, I was reminded of when I first went to grad school in the US. They had an orientation for all us foreign students and one of the things they told us was, "People will say, 'How are you today' but please reply with just 'fine thank you, how are you' and don't tell them in detail how you are, they don't want to know."”

This is so funny to me. For a while a made a point not to ask people how they were - when i was just greeting them a didn’t care. They would ask, “how are you?” I would just say, “alright”. - and then carry on. It was oddly awkward.

>76 dchaikin: Thar’s so funny. There’s an Australian greeting that doesn’t require an answer, or maybe just a grunt or nod of the head. The question and answer are together almost like yours..
“How ya goin’ mate orright” said as one word. It’s more likely to be used in Queensland or the Outback.

Here’s my review of Vertigo - it’s rather long – perhaps it’s longer than the novella :) But I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more by Australian writer Amanda Lohrey.

Great review, Kate! Sounds interesting.

How are you feeling?

Gosh, Kate, your thread got away from me, and I'm just now catching up. When I don't have much time, I tend to read the threads with the fewest number of new posts, making the active threads get longer and longer and fall further down the page. Sorry about that. Anyway, I'm glad to know your daughter and grandson are safe, although they gave you an unnecessary scare. I'm also delighted to see you are reading so much. I know it bothers you when you can't read.

As for Australian authors, do you like Gail Jones? I loved her book Sorry and have read it more than once. I also read Five Bells and have Salonika Burning on my wishlist.

>81 labfs39: re checking threads, I’m similar to your approach, especially when it’s busy as it has been lately on LT. I have quite a few people I need to catch up on.

And no, I haven’t read anything by Gail Jones and I see that she started writing after I had left Australia . I’ve been back, of course for months at a time, except for when I started to get sick. So I’m out of touch with the current Australian literary scene.

But I checked her out and see that she has two books available in audio, unfortunately none of which you mentioned. I can get The Peach Seed, Our Shadows and The Death of Noah Glass . I’m looking to check them out to see which one to try first. Thank you for letting me know about this Australian writer.

>62 qebo: et. al. "“how are you?s” and “how is your day going?”
Oh I hate this from people I don't know, salespeople and store clerks and receptionists. I deflect, pleasant tone but avoiding the ritual "fine" which nobody actually cares about: "What are you calling about?", "I'm here to buy groceries.", "I'm here for an appointment."

I know what you mean, though I do it regularly when I am the customer. It's my way of saying, "I see you as a person, not just some employee ringing up my groceries that I'm not meant to have a human interaction with. I agree it's annoying when someone calls me on the phone to ask me for something. Just get to the point. For the most part, though, "How's it going today?" to me is just a bit of a social lubricant that all in all I don't mind.

Kate, I, too, am glad to read that your daughter is safe. I remember well my time around wildfires during our years in Mendocino County. We even had to evacuate briefly during the 2-month period we were back there packing up our home getting ready to make the permanent move east.

>83 rocketjk: thank you, yes my daughter is still safe, it probably will continue to be so unless the fires clear up again. But it was a dramatic experience, also for my grandson who was panicking, and now tells me it was nothing.

Regarding the “lubricating” verbiage. The interaction when paying at the cash register at a grocery store is quite different than when someone deals customer service on the phone. When dealing with customer service people the caller is often complaining needing an answer, and can’t see the person they are talking to, and there’s no real connection or future. It’s more important for the customer service rep to be understanding and to get to the point and not go on with the garbage that I’ve noticed is more common in the south.

I think it’s normal to smile at the person on the other side of the counter and workers in general that you can actually see. But Customer Service phone connection is another matter. If you are dealing with a working person in a very short interaction, such as with a cashier I think it’s fine to just smile and nod. That alone is acknowledging that you’re dealing with a person. In these circumstances. I believe you should also thank them.

>84 kjuliff: "Regarding the “lubricating” verbiage. The interaction when paying at the cash register at a grocery store is quite different than when someone deals customer service on the phone. When dealing with customer service people the caller is often complaining needing an answer, and can’t see the person they are talking to, and there’s no real connection or future. It’s more important for the customer service rep to be understanding and to get to the point and not go on with the garbage that I’ve noticed is more common in the south."

I agree entirely about the distinction you're making. It may be that the customer service reps we talk to on the phone are following mandated scripts, but that doesn't make it any less annoying.

>85 rocketjk: yes I agree about the scripts. It’s not their fault and then if it’s a technical issue, they have a script for common questions and so they answer questions. You don’t ask. They are forced t0 follow the menu system.

Companies can employ people cheaply, without skills and they refuse to train them properly. So they can’t answer complicated questions. I feel for these people, especially now, because of them being replaced by your AI.

Thanks for pointing me here, Kate.

I had a text message today that a hand doctor appointment was cancelled. I called the main scheduling number for the complex of many doctors. The person who answered told me her name with me having to ask - which I like. Her name was Bridget. She was so helpful and I repeated her name. Then I asked her last name because I wondered if was Irish. She was. And her husband was from County Antrim. I told her I still have family in Donegal. We had a lovely exchange. And when she laughed she actually had a lilt to her laugh.

I was nervous about calling because I just changed my insurance and I thought maybe that was why they cancelled it. Bridget was so nice and reassuring. She told me yes, they do take my insurance. I was happy all day just because of this lovely exchange.

>79 kjuliff: Excellent review, Kate. I've added it to my list of books to look for.

I'm glad your daughter is safe. Last year I read The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper a nonfiction book about the 2009 fires. It was well-written, informative and fascinating. I recommend it if you have an interest.

>87 dianeham: Yes’s that sort of pleasant exchange can happen but I find it rare. I actually feel that many of these Customer Service reps are busy themselves and only say those greeting words from the scripts. I have had a few that have picked up on my exit and they said how they would love to go to Australia one day. But mostly it’s all about getting you off the phone rather than answering your question.- speaking as an Australian New Yorker.

>88 RidgewayGirl: I think you’d enjoy the book Kay. Maybe you’ll think like me - that it would’ve been better expanded to a novel.

>89 arubabookwoman: I will look at The Arsonisr - about the 2009 fires, but I’ll wait until the fire season is over as it’s too close to home right now. But thanks for letting me know about this book which I had not heard of.

I’m now taking Dan’s advice and starting to read Quichotte , my first Rushdie book.

I’ve not been able to get into any of his works before, but I did like the first paragraph of Quichotte so it’s looking good.

I’m pondering on the relationship between books and the weather. Perhaps it’s because of Henry Lawson’s poem about the bush fires in Australia, but I think it’s more than that. I’m taking a break from Rushdie’ Quichotte with Toibin’s A Long Winter - a novella - which I thought was going to be a good companion to Peace by Richard Bausch. It’s not but it’s still an engaging read in itself.

I was thinking about when people who don’t know what to say to each other, comment about the weather. It used to see such comments as similar to meaningless greetings but now the weather is so important. The flash floods in New York, tornadoes and floods in America and China, and most recently flooding in a town I used to vacation at in Australia. Cars were swept into the ocean in the little Australian town of Rye, causing the Great Ocean Road to be closed off.

Reading A Long Winter and Peace - both being set in the last century and both involving heavy snow, reinforced my belief in how existential the weather is. And it’s becoming more difficult even though we have better communication technology, we are still dependent and increasingly so on the weather.

I recommend both books and hope to review them shortly.

Yes, weather can wreak havoc. Geologically speaking, we humans did all our civilization-craziness mostly in an 8000 year window of steady good weather. Now we’ve started undermining both.

>79 kjuliff: A lovely review, Kate! I'm enjoying this conversation about the 'lubricating verbiage'. One of the things I've noticed in Singapore, as a fairly low population country with high tech development, is that you can get through an entire day and never talk to another person. You don't need to interact with anyone to shop for groceries (self check out terminals), travel by public transport (automatic tellers), or most sad - to borrow library books. The library check out counters have been replaced by digital terminals and a volunteer recently told me they are encouraging patrons to check out books by scanning bar codes with an app. I wonder if we will slowly see this type of conversation fading, or if it will go in the opposite direction, and people will compensate for its absence by becoming more chatty when the chance arises.

>94 rasdhar: I wonder if we will slowly see this type of conversation fading, or if it will go in the opposite direction, and people will compensate for its absence by becoming more chatty when the chance arises.

Rashdar, I think the latte, going by my New York experience. I’m housebound and only see my health heath aides, except for the odd visit from a New York friend and the occasional Australian dropping by on a US vacation. So nearly all my interactions, social and financial are done online, and it’s quite manageable except I do miss the human warmth.

I noticed when I was able to move around New York that people would chat to complete strangers. I’d be on a bus and the woman next to me would say, “how are you” or whenever they stay here, and start a quite intimate conversation considering we had never met.

Some would even talk quite intimately on their phones with the speaker on. The City, being so large gives a certain privacy to individuals who are unlikely to run into each other again.

Strangest talking. Sounds like a good name for a short story. But I’m afraid it would be rather like a monologue as the strangers who talk so much rarely let you get a word in. Of course this happens with many New Yorkers, even those who know each other quite well. I remember sitting over a dinner with a woman I quite liked and she talked and talked, so I’d wait trying to get a word in when she paused for breath and as soon as I opened my mouth, she’d rattle on.

For some reason, I find this New York attitude to conversations endearing.

I was reading the end-note of Colm Tóibín’s A Long Winter and his end-note is well worth reading. It describes how he came upon his short novella and goes through the steps of how the story developed in his mind. He believes that if a story cant be told as a ballad, it probably can’t be told as a story.

In writing this, he rewrites the first pages of a well-known novel as the first stanza of a ballad, and gives the opening stanza as follows.

He was twice her age and buried in books and suffered from nerves and gout, but she took a shine to him and they were married before that year was out.

Loved it.

Hi Kate. Love the Toibin note. >96 kjuliff:

>95 kjuliff: One of my favorite parts of the New York Times Sunday is the Metropolitan Diary i've been reading it for years and it's always the first thing I go to and I always smile about the attitude that New York attitude true conversations as well as helping others

>97 dchaikin: Dan, I think you would love the book to. It’s a very short read and it’s quite good in audio.

>96 kjuliff: love that stanza! Would be a fun bookish game to come up with more

Well, at last, I’ve gotten around you another review. I’m in awe of the people who seem to write reviews so quickly. But I just had to write a review of this lovely work. I hope I inspire members who have not yet read it

>101 kjuliff: Great review, Kate. I'll add this to my library wish list.

>101 kjuliff: Nice review, Kate. I was fortunate to attend a talk Toibin gave a number of years ago and have especially liked some of his early novels, such as The Heather Blazing and The Blackwater Lightship. I am not familiar with A Long Winter, but will now be looking for it.

I’m about to add to my current reading, an Australian book How to End a Story by Helen Garner. According to the Guardian it was not so popular in Australia when was first published there some years ago. I think this is probably because of the reference to her fellow writer and ex-husband. It has now won the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2025. Should be interesting as it’s narrated by herself in audio.

>103 Linda92007: >102 kidzdoc: Thanks for the feedback. I’m sure you would both enjoy this book. It’s a short but rewarding read.

>101 kjuliff: you definitely left me interested in A Long Winter

>104 kjuliff: I’m interested in that Garner

>106 dchaikin: A Long Winter is a short read and I think you’d like it on audio.

I’ve just started the Garner book. I know her first husband Bill Garner, but the husband in this book (her third), is Australian writer Murray Bail He is most well known for Eucalyptus which won the Miles Franklin Award in 1999. Their marriage ended in 1998. I’ve not enjoyed his books.

How to End a Story would not be my first choice for readers new to Garner’s writing. I’ll post separately those Garner books as quit a few CR members have asked about Helen Garner.

A few CR members have asked me about Australian writer Helen Garner. These are the books I’d recommend for first time readers.

Monkey Grip F
Honour & Other People's Children F
The Children's Bach F
Cosmo Cosmolino F
The First Stone NF
Joe Cinque's Consolation NF
The Spare Room F
This House of Grief NF

>108 kjuliff: thanks!

>107 kjuliff: i try to read short books and not use my audio credits them.

Enjoyed your review of A Long Winter

>101 kjuliff: Adding The Long Winter to my wishlist too.

>110 baswood: >111 labfs39: Thank you Baz and Lisa. Lisa, Spanish Pyrenees is probably a safe place to be now.

I was sad to read thatJulian Barnes has written his last novel. I followed. Barnes ever since I can remember. In his final work, Departure(s I find his comments on aging so apt. In writing about involuntary autobiographical memory (IAM) Barnes has this to say:

I am now in my mid 70s and like most older people am sometimes bored by myself. By which I mean, by the repetitious, remembering of thoughts, deeds, and especially opinions. And those who never bore themselves, who continue to be publicly entertained by their own lives and their repeated anecdotes are usually the worst bores on the planet. Men again on the whole.

I haven’t read this book, but it is on my list.

>113 kjuliff: I've read all of his but actually my favorite is England England It's hilarious that is until you got your about the half of the book and then it just kind of goes elsewhere but it's really funny and it's a take how are us humans behave

>114 cindydavid4: The first Julian Barnes book that I picked up was Before She Met Me. I think it is his second novel. It’s about an obsessively jealous man who can’t get the thought of his wife’s past relationships with men out of his mind. He can’t even have sex with her in countries where she had sex with other men. This manages to make all of Western Europe impossible for vacations. It was so funny and I’ve enjoyed his writing ever since.

I did read that, and yes it was hilarious

I’m taking a break from Helen Garner’s How to End a Story: Diaries 1995–1998 as it’s getting a bit heavy. I’ve read a few of Henry Lawson’s short stories and came upon one of my favorites online. But strike a light as my dad used to say, when I did a search on LT for the story, The Drover’s Wife, the top of the list was a book by the writer who is the very subject of Helen Garner’s How to End a Story: Diaries 1995–1998 nineties diary, the very book I’m reading now. Sadly Murray Bail (aka V) trumps Henry Lawson in the LT search.

But back to Lawson.
She lifts the mangled reptile on the point of her stick, carries it to the fire, and throws it in. Then she piles on the wood and watches the snake burn. The boy and dog watch, too. She lays her hand on the dog’s head, and all the fierce, angry light dies out of his yellow eyes. The younger children are quieted, and presently go to sleep. The dirty-legged boy stands for a moment in his shirt, watching the fire. Presently he looks at her. He sees the tears in her eyes, and, suddenly throwing his arms round her neck, exclaims, “Mother, I won’t never go drovin’; blast me, if I do!”
And she hugs him to her worn-out breast and kisses him, and they sit thus together while the sickly daylight breaks over the bush.

It was written towards the end of the 19th century and embodies Lawson’s style of work. It is at most a ten minute read and you can find it together with explanation of terms at the following link The Institute of Australian Culture.

I’m still reading the Helen Garner How to End a Story: Collected Diarie, and first thought it would have limited appeal outside Australia, although it recently won the 2025 the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction. Certainly the beginning didn’t grab me, but as I kept reading, I became intrigued, partly because of her bold and unflinching description of a failure of a marriage, partly because the marriage was of her own with Australian writer Murray Bail, but also because of the scrape of her wide reading and how it replied to her own life. And so I now think it may be of interest to readers outside of Australia if they can get through the first few entries.

The next Australian book that is on my list is Lily Brett’s Too Many Men which some may recognizing as the book version of the film “Treasure” which stars Stephen Fry, Lena Dunham andZbigniew Zamachowski.

>101 kjuliff: Going to add this to my audiobook list. The fact that it's short is also a bonus!

I gave this book only 3 1/2 stars although for me with a four star read, I don’t think it has universal appeal. But please read the review and find out for yourself..

Very interesting about Garner.

Although I doubt I will ever read Garner's diaries, I very much enjoyed the glimpse of them that you shared in your review.

>123 labfs39: The reason I didn’t give Garner‘s diaries four stars was that I took away half a star because of the lack of universality. Several times I found reading the diaries was a bit of a hard slog, but I’m glad I persevered as I really enjoyed the writing.

In the doldrums, I managed to borrow Too Many Men by Australian writerLily Brett. I was unaware that it was being made into a movie starring Lisa Durham. I can just see her playing the main character.

The book ended up being a DNF because I wasn’t in the mood for the writing style, and once I discovered that the book is over 20 hours long in audio, I couldn’t see myself finishing it.

>117 kjuliff: Loved the short story, thanks for the link! I will repost it to the Short fiction thread.

>126 FlorenceArt: You are welcome Florence. I’m glad you pointed out this short story as it is well-worth the short read. The version you linked to is the correct one. I’ve seen a number of published versions that have not been true to to the original, and have made the story rather bland.

>117 kjuliff: I loved this story too, Kate. Thanks for sharing the link.

>128 labfs39: Thanks Lisa. Lawson has such a straightforward way describing something sad, with a little bit of humor that serves to make it sadder. You might like this one which is about life and death and a comedy of sorts.

The title of the sketch from “Life and Death”, available here - The union buries its dead, bushman’s funeral refers to the death of a Catholic trade union man who was unknown in the area where he died. Here is a sample.

I have left out the wattle — because it wasn’t there. I have also neglected to mention the heart-broken old mate, with his grizzled head bowed and great pearly drops streaming down his rugged cheeks. He was absent — he was probably “Out Back.” For similar reasons I have omitted reference to the “suspicious” moisture in the eyes of a bearded bush ruffian named Bill. Bill failed to turn up, and the only moisture was that which was induced by the heat. I have left out the “sad Australian sunset” because the sun was not going down at the time. The burial took place exactly at mid-day.

I thoroughly enjoyed my latest read Sakina's Kiss by Vivek Shanbhag. It felt good to be away, well mostly away, from the politics that haunt many of us here in the United States. I highly recommend ths books that absorbed me totally once the honeymoon period was over.

>101 kjuliff: A lovely review of A Long Winter. I'm looking forward to reading it now.

>108 kjuliff: As someone new to Helen Garner, this is very helpful, thank you!

>130 kjuliff: It's such a good review of Sakina's Kiss. I think you've managed to capture what is so interesting about the book beautifully.

>129 kjuliff: I liked this exchange:

“I didn’t take any particular notice of him,” I said, “He said something, didn’t he?”

“Yes — said it was a fine day. You’d have taken more notice if you’d known that he was doomed to die in the hour, and that those were the last words he would say to any man on earth.”

“To be sure,” said a full voice from the rear. “If ye’d known that, ye’d have prolonged the conversation.”

>130 kjuliff: this is a terrific and freaking enticing review. Noting!

>130 kjuliff: Great review, Kate. Yes, that last passage is powerful and chilling.

>132 labfs39: which book is this referring to pls

In >129 kjuliff: Kate recommended the short story "The union buries its dead". My quote is from it.

>131 rasdhar: Thank you Rasdhar for your encouraging comment, and for introducing me to Sakina's Kiss. Without your review I may well have missed out on an exquisite read.

>132 labfs39: Good excerpt to quote from Henry Lawson’s story. Lawson delighed in showing the bushmen of his time who often unknowingly made absurd observations, though their intentions were good.

>133 dchaikin: >134 kidzdoc: Thanks for the positive comments. Appreciated.

>136 labfs39: thx

>139 kjuliff: Enjoyed your review of Suspended sentences. When reading Modiano, I feel like I need a street plan of Paris on the screen to get the best out of him.

>140 baswood: Thank you Baz. Yes at times I thought of researching places, but I was engrossed. So much so that I read another of Modiano’s books. Too soon…

I’m reading Doris Lessing’s The Grass is Singing. I hadn’t realized that it was published in 1950. It certainly was before it’s time and as it her debut novel, I’m impressed. I’ve read nearly all of Lessing’s work and may have read it before, but I can’t really remember, as I think there were the same themes - in some her early short stories- racial injustice the effects of poverty, and women’s dependence. Review later.

>101 kjuliff: Catching up on your thread. I picked up a copy of this a few weeks ago and you've made me excited to read it.

Thank you for introducing me to Garner. I found This House of Grief really thought-provoking.

I'll return to your review of Sakina's Kiss once I've read it myself. It will now have to wait for when I return from India.

>144 RidgewayGirl: yes I agree that This House of Grief is thought-provoking. You might also be interested – after your trip to india - in Garner’s The First Stone.

I just know you will enjoy both A Long Winter and Sakina’s Kiss

You will have a great trip to India - It’s a wonderful and welcoming country. I look forward to reading about it.

>146 kjuliff: Great review of The Grass Is Singing, Kate. It is by far my favorite Lessing book and one of my overall most memorable reads.

>146 kjuliff: It is such an excellent first novel

>147 Linda92007: >148 baswood: Thanks for the comments. Yes it’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel. So well-structured and the themes so advanced for their time.

This was a difficult review to write because I so liked the book, and there is so much in it, that words defy description. But I did my best, and I encourage people to read this, especially admirers of Julian Barnes. And of Austen, Flaubert, Proust and others.

Here is my review of Pity, an engaging book brought to my attention by Mark’s (@thorold) review.

>139 kjuliff: Lovely review of Suspended Sentences: Three Novellas, Kate. I'm bookmarking this one to read. I see what you're saying about spacing the next Modiano book out - perhaps you might have received it differently.

You've done such interesting reading lately. I enjoyed your reviews of Julian Barnes and Andrew McMillan, too.

Enjoyed your excellent review of The Lemon Table When I am feeling my age which is most of the time I think I should read this book.

>139 kjuliff: You make me want to read Modiano again, but as you say, it’s better to space them out. He basically tells the same story in all of his books. But he tells it so well.

>150 kjuliff: I wasn't familiar with this Julian Barnes book but you've made me want to get round to it. I've enjoyed everything I've read by Barnes so far and I just picked up a copy of his new book today.

>152 rasdhar: >154 FlorenceArt: Yes I think spacing Modiano’s books would lead to a better read. Not knowing much about the writer I just assumed the books would be different. I will be reading more as I find the way he looks through life intriguing and beautifully described.

>155 valkyrdeath: I thought I’d read all of Julian Barnes books. The Lemon Table held me, and I don’t know how I missed it. I have Departure(s) on hold at NYPL and am looking forward to it. But I’m glad I read The Lemon Table first as I feel it is a precursor to his final novel. Barnes is a writer I’ve followed along with for much of my life and he’ll be sorely missed.

>153 baswood: I think you would appreciate The Lemon Table. And perhaps his final Departure(s), which I hope to read soon. I love Barnes’ intelligence which shines through his work and somehow makes getting old more comfortable.

My reading time has been interrupted with numerous doctors’ visits. The wait-times in New York City are incredible, taking so long in the waiting room that one visit takes almost a day to see the specialist, and months to book the visit. But I have some good news. I was very worried about having a cataract removed from my relatively good eye (20:200). They weren’t going to bother with the virtually blind one, but I was concerned so sought a second opinion. The second opinion was that I could wait at least a year, and that to have the cataract removed on my good eye would be a little dangerous, and also very difficult for me in the ensuing days after the surgery.

I haven’t got very far with my reading. I’m part way through A Fortunate Life which is interesting, but right now I’m really absorbed in The Director which is long listed for the 2026 Booker. I’m finding the writing amazing - it’s like watching a movie as the main character the director sees the world as if through a camera lens.

>158 kjuliff: I'm glad that you were able to see another ophthalmologist and get advice about the timing of possible cataract surgery.

The NYC healthcare system is utterly shocking to me. My cardiologist has recommended that I have an implantable loop recorder placed, which is similar to a pacemaker in that it continuously monitors heart rhythm, but it's a much less invasive procedure as the recorder sits just underneath the skin over the heart and only takes 5 to 10 minutes to insert. I sent him a message through the online patient portal just before 9 am, and he replied just after noon. Most of my other doctors also reply to portal messages within 24 hours unless they are off service. I unknowingly assumed that NYC had one of the best and most responsive healthcare systems in the country, but clearly the Philadelphia area is far superior in that regard.

Kate, I'm also reading The Director now and I'm also finding it wonderful. It is written as discrete scenes with the eye of a filmmaker, thank you for pointing it out.

>159 kidzdoc: The NYC patient portals I have work well and my doctors typically reply in a reasonable time. But making appointments can mean up to a 4 month wait, even when you are an established patient. The problems start when you arrive. Some individual doctors are ok but some can keep you up to one hour in the waiting room. Then you get put in the examination room where you can wait for another 30 mins or more. In some cases even then you are only seen by an intern, and then the specialist comes in for a few minutes and says “all okay?” and disappears.

I don’t see much point in seeing PCP doctors as I’ve never been physically touched by one. In Australia (of course it could have changed) your GP is one’s main go to.

If you have a new concern here about for example your heart, you need to make an appointment with a cardiologist and that means 3 to 4 months wait. If you say but it’s urgent I’m worried, they say “go to ER”. ERs are packed in NYC and it’s really only for emergencies. It’s very good for a real emergency and I’ve used it several times, but not suitable for something that is a concern but not obviously life-threatening. There is no in-between. I realise urgent cares can be utilised but they don’t have one’s history. The primary care doctor is really not appropriate for concerns because you have to wait around three months for an appointment.

The real problem in New York City is the lack of hospital beds. Even when I’ve required a 4 day stay in hospital it has taken me two or three days in triage in an ER partition to get one. My last visit where I was in hospital for sepsis and an emergency removal of a large gall stone I was moved from hospital room to hospital room three times as the hospital is having renovations. I was the second last person to be discharged from my last room because the building was about to be demolished. The room I was in before that was in another building also getting ready to be demolished within a week. This constant shuffling around is really upsetting, especially as you are never given notice. Also there’s a lack of supporting staff in a building with only one or two beds.

There is a staff shortage for nurses and CPCs. As I am blind, I cannot see the food on a plate and need help in eating when the food is high up on a tray. I have to pay a private age to come and help me eat because there is no staff available to help disabled people. I usually pay for someone to help me in hospital privately six hours a day because otherwise I have no way of getting cleaned and it’s not very hygienic and I also would get very hungry.

In Australia, you can pay extra for a nice room. I have had experience in the UK as well and it was a lot easier there too. I also had no problem getting medical treatment in India, Malaya or Pakistan.

>161 kjuliff: Yikes. That's a disturbing description about the NYC healthcare system.

>162 kidzdoc: There are excellent specialists here but the infrastructure is crumbling. I remember asking one of my doctors about a good rehab because I needed to go to one because I was suffering from malnutrition. His answer was “There aren’t any”. He was correct. When I needed a low fiber diet the rehab I was at just took off all fiber foods from one of the meals of the day. I’ll send you a photo of it.

>163 kjuliff: That diet plate is utterly unacceptable. I can only imagine how the mostly upper middle class mothers whose children were staying in the children's hospital I worked in would have responded if they were given that crap to eat. Then again they selected food from a daily menu, which was also the case when I was hospitalized for appendicitis snd atrial fibrillation.

>164 kidzdoc: The photo is from a rehab. Hospitals here have OK food, but offer no help for the handicapped in eating it. On my last visit to a well-known UES hospital, when I explained to the CNA that I was having a problem eating as I couldn’t see the food, she said and I quote, “Ya know where ya mouth is don’t ya; put it in there”.

If you are asleep when the food arrives, you don’t even know it has come. Porters bring the food and plonk it down on the side table, pushing anything there aside. I had to wait till visiting hours started for a private aide to arrive to help me eat. I am thinking of writing to Mamdani, but it is my experience that complaining makes things worse.