Book Review No 3: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Having recently read and loved Kate Morton's latest 'The Secret Keeper', I was eager to read another one of her books. Going by reviews The Forgotten Garden seemed to be the most loved of her other titles, so I was very excited to get stuck into it. And what a treat it was - again Kate Morton has created a literary masterpiece in the historical fiction genre she has made her own.

In 1914 a young girl is found abandoned on a ship recently docked in Maryborough, Australia. The kindly wharf master takes the girl home and despite his best efforts to locate her family, he can find no trace of them. To complicate matters the young girl insists she does not know her own name or offer any kind of information about her family. Growing to love the child, the wharf master and his wife (who have battled infertility) decided to move to Brisbane and make a fresh start, unofficially adopting the young girl they name Nell.

Book Review No 2 AWW2013: The Secret Keeper - Kate Morton

When sixteen year old Laurel witnesses a shocking event in the summer of 1961, her life is immediately altered. Suddenly nothing in her world is safe and sure anymore and she makes a hasty escape to the bright lights of London, leaving her loving (if slightly annoying) family behind.

Fifty years later Laurel (now a well known actress) and her sibling are reunited as they nurse their elderly mother through her final days. Knowing she would want to die at home, they agree to take her back to the family home in rural England. It is only when back here that Laurel decides it is finally time to face the past and untangle the mystery that has haunted her for half a century.

Book Review No 1 AWW2013 Goodbye Lullaby - Jan Murray

Australia in 1971 is caught up in the turmoil of conscription for the Vietnam war. A lone woman, Miki (aka Caroline) is on a one woman crusade, aiding those who want to avoid being forcibly sent to war. Constantly on the move and continually evading the law, Miki's mission is personal. Her son, Dominic, whom she was forced to give up for adoption is the right age to be conscripted. And his birthdate just got drawn in the lottery....

Goodby Lullaby swtiches between Miki's campaign in 1971 and her teenage years in the early 1950s. She and best friend Jude are just ordinary Catholic schoolgirls in suburban Brisbane, until Miki discovers she is pregnant. Sent to the notorious St Anthony's home for unwed mothers, Miki resists the immense pressure to give her son up - a decision she is forced to renegge a few years later when the realities of single parenthood in the 1950s hit home.

     

Here are just some of the books I will be reading for the Australian Women Writer's Challenge in 2013. I am really looking forward to expanding the list as the year goes on.

                               

       
                         

Ready For Another Great Year Of Reading!

As you can see by my previous post I have absolutely loved being part of the Australian Women Writer's Challenge and had no hesitation about participating again in 2013. I have decided to up the ante a little and aim for a total of 55 books this year and hope to review at least 40 of them. I look forward to sharing the reviews here on my blog and on my Goodreads page.

Just a reminder that ANYBODY can participate in the challenge and you don't have to review books, you can just read them. Your challenge level is totally up to you - but just remember any book your read can help promote an Australian Women Writer.

So will you join us this year?? For more details check out the Australian Women Writer's website.