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paddlefoot55's review against another edition
4.0
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
Ms Green, you had me at book club.
I enjoyed the setting, and i especially loved the friendships and relationships of the 5 ladies as their stories unfolded.
I was hooked right from the start, and couldn't wait to turn each page to find out where their stories would go next.
The writing was exquisite. I could picture the wide expanses of the Northern Territory, could feel the isolation and loneliness that would be a big part of life in this part of the country.
This was my first book by Ms Green, and it definitely won't be my last
Ms Green, you had me at book club.
I enjoyed the setting, and i especially loved the friendships and relationships of the 5 ladies as their stories unfolded.
I was hooked right from the start, and couldn't wait to turn each page to find out where their stories would go next.
The writing was exquisite. I could picture the wide expanses of the Northern Territory, could feel the isolation and loneliness that would be a big part of life in this part of the country.
This was my first book by Ms Green, and it definitely won't be my last
renee_conoulty's review against another edition
5.0
It was a joy to discover this book only months after I moved away from the Northern Territory. Sophie brought the unique Northern Territory outback setting to life in a vivid and realistic manner. I enjoyed the different voices of the women, empathised with their isolation and felt their friendships grow. A book about a book club - what more could a book lover ask for?
brooke_last_seen_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
verityw's review against another edition
4.0
*****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*****
This is so good. If you liked the Outback sections of A Town Like Alice - then this is set in a similar sort of community, but about 25 years later and in the Northern Territory in Australia rather than Queensland. It follows a group of women who form a book club to help a new young woman - who's moved to Fairvale after marrying the son of the household. All the women face trials and tribulations over the course of the book, but get support and help from the rest of the gang. I loved the descriptions of the wild countryside and I had a tear in my eye more than once. A great beach read - and a great book club pick. I'll definitely be looking out for more from Sophie Green.
This is so good. If you liked the Outback sections of A Town Like Alice - then this is set in a similar sort of community, but about 25 years later and in the Northern Territory in Australia rather than Queensland. It follows a group of women who form a book club to help a new young woman - who's moved to Fairvale after marrying the son of the household. All the women face trials and tribulations over the course of the book, but get support and help from the rest of the gang. I loved the descriptions of the wild countryside and I had a tear in my eye more than once. A great beach read - and a great book club pick. I'll definitely be looking out for more from Sophie Green.
babyleo's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I know it wasn’t what I got. The title leads you to believe there is a bigger focus on the bookclub, but it is a small part really. It does kick start the events in the novel essentially. It brings together these five women and starts to interlock their lives over the next few years. So it does make sense if you think of it like that.
As a whole I enjoyed it. I liked the old fashioned rural aspect to it and in a way you forgot it was set in the 1970s. So much of it just spoke of country life and female friendships that the era was no barrier. When I remembered that it was set in the past it made me think a bit more about it. Green shows us what it was like on a farm back then, how isolating it was when there were no internet to connect properties to the outside world, when flying or driving for an hour got you to the nearest town and other human contact. Of course the same is true for rural properties now, but there is a lot of focus on how when the weather turned, you really could be cut off from the outside world for months with no news or contact.
The characters are what really drive this story. Each of their lives and the conflicts within them are the focus of the story and are what keep you reading; finding out if they’ll be ok, whether their anxieties will be relieved and how their lives will change through the course of their actions and the actions of others. Their friendship is inspiring and Green uses their bookclub catch ups to connect their stories and enhance these friendship connections further.
Green balances the story nicely between making it an easy read, and making it realistic. There are dramas and heartbreak, social issues and personal triumph and tragedy. It was warm and showed the importance and value of female friendships but had complexities and anguish as well. Crossing over multiple years helps explore these issues as well. Green jumps ahead in time, using the wet and dry seasons as a timeframe as a lot of the story takes place of Fairvale and often skipping over months. I liked that the story covers so much ground because it allows the story to be told properly, never really feeling drawn out or slow, and adding that realism factor and preventing Green from rushing any of the emotional journey to fit into a shorter timeframe.
I’m glad I picked up this book even if I’m still in two minds about the level of my enjoyment. I think Green has done a wonderful thing with her writing because I could easily see this being a very literary novel but she has managed to keep it a normal story but weaving in dramas and that raise it above being a light hearted and fluffy read as well.
This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book
As a whole I enjoyed it. I liked the old fashioned rural aspect to it and in a way you forgot it was set in the 1970s. So much of it just spoke of country life and female friendships that the era was no barrier. When I remembered that it was set in the past it made me think a bit more about it. Green shows us what it was like on a farm back then, how isolating it was when there were no internet to connect properties to the outside world, when flying or driving for an hour got you to the nearest town and other human contact. Of course the same is true for rural properties now, but there is a lot of focus on how when the weather turned, you really could be cut off from the outside world for months with no news or contact.
The characters are what really drive this story. Each of their lives and the conflicts within them are the focus of the story and are what keep you reading; finding out if they’ll be ok, whether their anxieties will be relieved and how their lives will change through the course of their actions and the actions of others. Their friendship is inspiring and Green uses their bookclub catch ups to connect their stories and enhance these friendship connections further.
Green balances the story nicely between making it an easy read, and making it realistic. There are dramas and heartbreak, social issues and personal triumph and tragedy. It was warm and showed the importance and value of female friendships but had complexities and anguish as well. Crossing over multiple years helps explore these issues as well. Green jumps ahead in time, using the wet and dry seasons as a timeframe as a lot of the story takes place of Fairvale and often skipping over months. I liked that the story covers so much ground because it allows the story to be told properly, never really feeling drawn out or slow, and adding that realism factor and preventing Green from rushing any of the emotional journey to fit into a shorter timeframe.
I’m glad I picked up this book even if I’m still in two minds about the level of my enjoyment. I think Green has done a wonderful thing with her writing because I could easily see this being a very literary novel but she has managed to keep it a normal story but weaving in dramas and that raise it above being a light hearted and fluffy read as well.
This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book
bristoni74's review
1.0
DNF - This started well but by a quarter of the way the female characters felt clichéd and the storyline dull. Maybe it's because I had just read an outstanding book with excellent writing, that this felt pretty ordinary but I couldn't bring myself to continue with this one when they are so many excellent books out there to read.
eve888's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
alic59books's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hannahsutherland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
As someone who has lived in the Territory, the descriptions of Katherine, Darwin, Alice and the desert where spot on (even though the book was set in the 70's it was so recognisably the NT that I know and love). I loved the friendships and the setting. I read this book so quickly.
The ending was a bit ambiguous and I would have loved to see it all wrapped up neatly in a bow. Screw realism, I want happy endings for all!
laurahastoomanywips's review against another edition
5.0
This was my book club's choice this month (category was books that were based around a book club)
I really enjoyed this story about a ground of ladies in the Northern Territory of Australia during late 1970's & early 80's.
It was very descriptive, you felt like you were there. Although it wasn't specifically about the book club meetings, it was about the friendships created from the book club starting and how they supported each other through lifes challenges.
Lovely book to spend some time with. Wish there was more, as I think it ended a bit to soon, would have liked a bit more time with the Fairvale ladies before the book ended.
I really enjoyed this story about a ground of ladies in the Northern Territory of Australia during late 1970's & early 80's.
It was very descriptive, you felt like you were there. Although it wasn't specifically about the book club meetings, it was about the friendships created from the book club starting and how they supported each other through lifes challenges.
Lovely book to spend some time with. Wish there was more, as I think it ended a bit to soon, would have liked a bit more time with the Fairvale ladies before the book ended.