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bibliobliss_au's review against another edition
3.0
This is the kind of book that’s best enjoyed on a chilly afternoon, in your PJs, curled up under a warm blanket with a steaming cup of tea. It’s such a cosy read.
The story has delightful characters and a charming plot as we follow the lives over the women who form the Fairvale Ladies Book Club in remote NT in the late 70s & early 80s.
I especially enjoyed the setting & the mentions of historic moments from the era.
Being a book lover, I would of course have loved more of the book club discussions featured - I appreciated the information about the books included at the end - but overall the Fairvale Ladies Book Club was an enjoyable & delightfully cosy read.
The story has delightful characters and a charming plot as we follow the lives over the women who form the Fairvale Ladies Book Club in remote NT in the late 70s & early 80s.
I especially enjoyed the setting & the mentions of historic moments from the era.
Being a book lover, I would of course have loved more of the book club discussions featured - I appreciated the information about the books included at the end - but overall the Fairvale Ladies Book Club was an enjoyable & delightfully cosy read.
bookswithpat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katiecatbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Women's fiction. Australia. Book club.
Story: In 1978 rural Australia, Sybil lives with her husband and youngest son, Ben, on their ranch. The seasons are harsh and the work is hard, but Sybil has raised her family and watched them become adults there. Ben's wife is the newest addition to their family and ranch. When Sybil starts a book club and invites other women to join, a new community of friends are formed.
Characters: Sybil is the first narrator and the rest of the stories revolve around her. The book club takes place mostly on her ranch and she's the one to make the connections with the other women. Kate is her daughter in law and from England. She's adjusting to being newly married and life in a whole new country and setting, and away from her own family. Rita is Sybil's best friend and they go way back. Sallyann has three children and an alcoholic husband. And Della comes all the way from Texas and works and rides with the men.
Language: The story covers three years and each section begins with a list of key events that happened that year worldwide. Then each section is broken down into chapters, each told from one of the 5 women's perspective. Although the book covers some heavy topics, it's a very light read, full of joy and hope and friendship. It's also a great representation of Australia and the time and setting, very immersive, even from far away.
For me, this was like if Maeve Binchy's characters transported to Australia during the late 1970's and decided to start a book club. It had the same idyllic atmosphere and comforting story and writing to enjoy over a long weekend. Great book! Encore!
Story: In 1978 rural Australia, Sybil lives with her husband and youngest son, Ben, on their ranch. The seasons are harsh and the work is hard, but Sybil has raised her family and watched them become adults there. Ben's wife is the newest addition to their family and ranch. When Sybil starts a book club and invites other women to join, a new community of friends are formed.
Characters: Sybil is the first narrator and the rest of the stories revolve around her. The book club takes place mostly on her ranch and she's the one to make the connections with the other women. Kate is her daughter in law and from England. She's adjusting to being newly married and life in a whole new country and setting, and away from her own family. Rita is Sybil's best friend and they go way back. Sallyann has three children and an alcoholic husband. And Della comes all the way from Texas and works and rides with the men.
Language: The story covers three years and each section begins with a list of key events that happened that year worldwide. Then each section is broken down into chapters, each told from one of the 5 women's perspective. Although the book covers some heavy topics, it's a very light read, full of joy and hope and friendship. It's also a great representation of Australia and the time and setting, very immersive, even from far away.
For me, this was like if Maeve Binchy's characters transported to Australia during the late 1970's and decided to start a book club. It had the same idyllic atmosphere and comforting story and writing to enjoy over a long weekend. Great book! Encore!
kchessrice's review against another edition
4.0
Starting off in 1978, we follow five women brought together by Sybil, the matriarch of Fairvale Station in a small corner of Australia's vast Northern Territory. Life in the Outback is hard, with many challenges to overcome including the lack of modern technology (a working telephone!), the huge distances between towns and ranches, homesickness and broken hearts. But all of the women are brought together through a love of reading, meeting up a couple of times a year in the switch between the wet and dry seasons.
This was a pick from my "real life" book club and I thoroughly enjoyed it. At first, it seemed like a nice, run of the mill "chick lit" but then turned into something with more sensitivity and depth, covering issues such as domestic abuse, family estrangement and racism by white Australians towards First Nation people and how it is important to have female friends to help you get through.
As I commented at the book club Zoom discussion last night, it made a nice change to read a book set in the Outback that wasn't a murder mystery!
This was a pick from my "real life" book club and I thoroughly enjoyed it. At first, it seemed like a nice, run of the mill "chick lit" but then turned into something with more sensitivity and depth, covering issues such as domestic abuse, family estrangement and racism by white Australians towards First Nation people and how it is important to have female friends to help you get through.
As I commented at the book club Zoom discussion last night, it made a nice change to read a book set in the Outback that wasn't a murder mystery!
twistinthetale's review against another edition
4.0
Fairvale becomes the setting for a book club that unites five very different women. Fairvale is a remote station in the Northern Territory and the women yearn for some time to reflect, converse with other women and to read. We are led into the lives of these women witnessing the ups and downs and changing fortunes that come their way. I loved the inclusion of the book discussions and the different perspectives that the five women offered from their reading. Being part of a pretty special book club lent some extra appeal to this comfortable book.
busyreading's review against another edition
4.0
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is an engaging and beautifully written book set mostly in and around the Northern Territory in the 1970s. As we follow five women who form a friendship which takes the reader on a journey of emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a well-written book. Aussie author Sophie Green is fast becoming another favorite author of mine and I look forward to reading more of her books. Highly recommended.
cristinareading's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Miscarriage, Infertility, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Death of parent
evafc's review against another edition
2.0
Not for me. I was longing for a book about books. This is not it. More about romance, relationships between women. Written like chicklit, with many clichés. So, an unlucky pick. Next book.