I’ve been very lax with my blogging lately but I’ve just read this great novel by Kelly Rimmer, an Australian author & I want to spread the word about what a great read it was. The story begins with childhood sweethearts, Alina & Tomasz, in rural Poland just before WWII. We then meet Alice, in America in 2019. Alice & her husband have two children, Pascale, a brilliant 10 year old, & Eddie who is on the Autism Spectrum.. Alice loves her grandmother, Hanna, a great deal but Hannah is not expected to live long.
This is a mystery, a love story, a family history story……. it was just a great read. I didn’t want to put it down and I won’t tell you anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Another book I’ve really enjoyed lately was “Foreign Correspondence” by Geraldine Brooks, another Australian author. This is a memoir and begins with Geraldine sharing the joy she received from having international pen friends when she was young. I know just what she means as I corresponded with teenagers in England, Brazil, South Africa and Vietnam & I loved receiving those letters. Geraldine then went on to become a foreign correspondent and the memoir lets us see what life was like. It was a very enjoyable read.
I’ve been busy for some time now researching my Couch ancestors from Port Isaac in Cornwall so I can write their stories. My GG Grandparents, Elizabeth Couch & her husband, Isaac Hawker migrated to Melbourne Australia in 1862. It’s an interesting journey I’m on. I think I’m related to nearly every one of the original families from Port Isaac, at least by marriage. I’ve read a couple of books as part of my research & they include photos of and stories about my relatives. Both of these books are by Geoff Provis (I’m even related to Geoff by marriage). The books are “The Fishermen of Port Isaac” and “The Seafarers of Port Isaac”.
It’s a very strange world at the moment. I’m very lucky that I can fill my days with reading wonderful stories, researching the story of my family and playing bridge online. It was very difficult when we couldn’t see the grandkids but the easing of restrictions has made life more pleasant.
Dapper Dave and Dinky Di 
Yes reading is good in the cool weather. I’m reading Boy swallowed Universe by Trent Dalton. Way better than I was expecting. I like reading about BRISBANE. I’m also reading Malcolm Turnbull’s book. Interesting but very heavy going. I have put it away for a while. We’re both doing ok. Had 2 Grandies during the week. When is our next luncheon?
Cheers Leonie
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Hi Leonie. I love the way Trent writes. He really tells it how it is. Pachinko is just doing another round of friends who haven’t read it yet. It’s such a great book. Chris is organising lunch mid week at a restaurant but I’m not sure when. I’ll give him a call. I don’t think I could bring myself to read any politician’s memoir. I’m over them all. I see enough of them on the news. David has just read Greg Sheridan’s “When we were young & foolish” about his youth with Abbott & Rudd etc. He enjoyed it. Take care. Di
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Thanks, Di, for your Blog. The books you mentioned sound idyllic. I guess you’ve been to Port Isaac during your travels. We just loved it. Were amazed about the way people parked on the beach, providing the tide was out. While we were there, a young lady came rushing down to the beach to move her parked car, with the water almost lapping at the wheels. How lucky you are to have ancestors from Port Isaac!!
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Hi Helen. Yes, we spent a week there in 2016. It’s beautiful there now but would have been a very hard life for my ancestors. So many were lost at sea. It’s interesting to read the history in those books. The men in my family were nearly all mariners and the girls nearly all married mariners. I’m still getting the info sorted and I’m looking forward to writing the story. You’d love the Kelly Rimmer story, I’m sure! I’m going to look for her other books at the library. Hope you & yours are well & coping with this weird year. Cheers. Di
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