Books and reading
Book Review: ‘The Lace Weaver’ by Lauren Chater
This debut novel by Sydney writer Lauren Chater is historical fiction at its best. The story plunged me into the snowy depths of winter in Russia and Estonia during WWII. Like some other novels I have read, the settings against which the drama unfolds become characters in themselves – and in this, I include the time setting along with the places.
There are two main protagonists: two young women who at the novel’s opening live on either side of the Russia – Estonia border, but whose stories eventually entwine so that the climax and resolution of the novel involve them both. Katarina is the lace weaver of the title: a young woman determined to carry on the traditions of her Estonian language and culture, including knitting beautiful woollen lace shawls. Lydia is Russian, but her mother was Estonian and she was raised to love and respect Estonian traditions even as the country of her birth, Russia, spread its oppressive tentacles over all aspects of Estonian life. Both women suffer because of the actions and policies of Soviet Russia under Stalin’s rule until they are faced with yet another enemy: Nazi Germany.
I love historical fiction when it spurs me to think more about the time and place in which it is set. This novel did that, opening up a chapter of European history that I’d previously not given much attention to. It also offered an insight into the dilemma of the Baltic peoples at this time: whether to embrace the Nazi invaders as liberators from Soviet rule or to resist the hateful Nazi race laws and ideology. Reading this book made me realise that for many Estonians at that time, the choice would not have been a clear-cut one, and in the end, the result was oppression and brutality whichever way they went.
The motif of the lace shawls is woven beautifully throughout and highlights the themes of traditions, culture, family and love.
I enjoyed this book very much and will look forward to reading this author’s future novels.
What I’m listening to… Audio book version of ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ by Liane Moriarty
I’ve just finished the audio book version of Liane Moriarty’s new release, Nine Perfect Strangers. I’ve ‘read’
(listened to) several books by this best selling author. The audio versions are terrific as the narrator captures the very Australian voice and tone of the books. I admire Liane Moriarty’s characters and dialogue; they are very believable, contemporary and often funny to boot. I always recognise one or two people I ‘know’ in her cast of characters.Having also listened to the audio book and watched the TV adaptation of Big Little Lies, I was a bit sorry that the producers chose to change the setting from beach side Sydney to beach side California. Though of course, there are plenty of similarities. I heard an interview with Liane in which she said she was fine with it. She regarded the book and the series as two separate entities. Probably a very sensible approach: otherwise I’m sure it would be hard as an author to let go of your ‘baby’.
Moriarty’s fiction could be regarded as ‘Chick Lit’ (a term I dislike, by the way, because to me it implies frivolity, ‘escapism’ and shallow themes.) The novels I have read by Liane Moriarty have been anything but shallow. Her characters are flawed, complex, likeable and understandable. Her books deal with many of the big themes in contemporary life. Nine Perfect Strangers touches on teen suicide and family grief, divorce, mid life crises (the male and female variety), mental illness, illicit drugs, celebrity worship, money, the fast pace of the modern world, addictions (to drugs, exercise, social media…)
It’s a cornucopia of issues, stories and personalities in a big, satisfying novel.
What I’m reading
I’ve been reading – or more accurately, listening to – the audiobook version of Boy Swallows Universe, by Trent Dalton. What an astounding book this is. Part fiction, part autobiographical, it is the story of 12 year old Eli Bell, a character who is as memorable as Pip from Great Expectations. It’s the story of Eli and his brother Augustus who face the challenges of growing up in one of Brisbane’s poorer suburbs in the 1980’s, in a milieu of poverty and violence, populated by criminals, drug dealers, jail escapees and inmates. It is also where the boys experience love and compassion, sometimes in the most surprising places.
I heard an interview with the author, who said that people have often commented to him that they found it hard to tell which events and characters were fictional and which were based on real events and people. It is, truly, impossible to know.
Buy or borrow a copy or download the audiobook to listen to. You won’t regret it.
And what a cracker of a title! How could you not want to read a book with a title like this one?Here’s a Goodreads quote about this book: A story of brotherhood, true love and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe will be the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novel you will read all year.
Author talk: Grace Karskens
This book
was a welcome addition to my little reference library for research on colonial Australian history. Grace Karskens is a distinguished Australian historian and author. She has the ability to ‘write history’ in a sympathetic and engaging way, bringing to life events, people and places from our past. I’m thrilled to be attending an author talk with Grace at Hawkesbury Regional Museum, Windsor, on 27th October. She will be talking about People of the River, her forthcoming book about early contacts between indigenous people and settlers along the Hawkesbury -Nepean rivers. I can’t wait to read this book and look forward to hearing Grace speak about it.Here’s the link to the event: I’d love to see you there.
