Book Review (archive) 2025 

“Lucky’s” by Andrew Pippos is a sweeping family saga about migration, love, and second chances in Greek-Australian immigrant life.

The novel begins in 2002 with Vasilis “Lucky” Mallios, a 70-something Greek-American-Australian trying to secure a loan to rebuild his failed restaurant empire. Meanwhile, journalist Emily Main arrives from London to write a New Yorker magazine story about the Lucky’s restaurant franchise and its decline, while also dealing with her own personal crisis - she’s lost her job and just discovered her marriage is in crisis. Emily has a painting of one of the restaurants from her father Ian Asquith, who died by suicide in 1971 when she was eight, and she wants to explore the decline of a “cultural dining institution” and possibly discover how her father’s life intersected with Lucky’s. 

The narrative then flips between decades, building a portrait of migrant life in Australia in the late-20th century focusing on Lucky’s restaurant chain. Initially a Greek family restaurant, it then expands under Lucky Mallios who marries into the family. It was comprised of American-style diners that reached their heyday in the seventies before entering a long decline, culminating in a tragic shooting in 1994. The novel explores themes of family, tragedy, redemption, and the immigrant experience, blending Greek tragicomedy with the Australian setting.  The historical events and subsequent developments are then woven together to explain the current status of both Lucky’s and Emily’s lives. 

This was Pippos’ debut novel and won multiple awards, including being shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2021.

Pam, Discussion Leader

The Book Club members rated this book a 5.6/10 (range 3-8).  They felt that the author could have had a concept and then created a story to fit the concept. However, it is an intelligent, thought-provoking book; it’s a look at ageing, memory and interpretation of events. Who among us can recall verbatim conversations with our first love?

"It strikes me that this may be one of the differences between youth and age: when we are young, we invent different futures for ourselves; when we are old, we invent different pasts for others.”  This is the essence of the novel.

The first part of the book starts with Tony, retired, who takes us on a trip down memory lane. He tells us about his school friends: a precocious, arrogant group of boys destined for the fancy universities, who are preoccupied with philosophical arguments and, of course, girls.  He recounts his feelings and events with his first girlfriend, the priggish and superior Veronica.

Then decades later, an unexpected letter announces that Veronica’s mother has died and left Tony Adrian’s diary (a school friend) and some money in her a will. This sets off Tony’s reminiscing and the slow-burn realisation that his version of their schooldays doesn’t present the full picture.  

The book makes a philosophical argument with regards to life as a concept; that it is a gift bestowed upon us without us asking for it and so we as individuals have a right to reject it.

The winner of the Man Booker prize in 2011, this story has been made into a movie.

Containing only 150 pages it can be read in one sitting but Book Club members thought it’s a book that benefits from a repeat reading.

Julia, Discussion Leader

In this award-winning memoir, two sisters reckon with the decline and death of their outlandishly tyrannical mother and with the care of their psychologically terrorised father, all relayed with dark humour and brutal honesty.

When her elderly mother is hospitalised unexpectedly, Vicki Laveau-Harvie and her sister travel to their parents' ranch home in Alberta, Canada, to help their father. Estranged from their parents for many years, they are horrified by what they discover on their arrival. For years their mother has camouflaged her manic delusions and savage unpredictability, and over the decades she has managed to shut herself and her husband away from the outside world, systematically starving him and making him a virtual prisoner in his own home.

Rearranging their lives to be the daughters they were never allowed to be, the sisters focus their efforts on helping their father cope with the unending manipulations of their mother and encounter all the pressures that come with caring for elderly parents. And at every step they have to contend with their mother, whose favourite phrase during their childhood was: “I'll get you and you won't even know I'm doing it.”

Set against the natural world of the Canadian foothills (in winter the cold will kill you, nothing personal), this memoir - at once dark and hopeful - shatters precedents about grief, anger, and family trauma with surprising tenderness and humour.

It is a sensational read. 

Marg, Discussion Leader

This book persistently questions the relationship between art and life. It also explores the tensions between a person’s inner self (or selves) and the social conventions which force them into particular roles and attitudes.

The story involves three main characters, Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian Gray and Basil Hallward. Basil is the painter of the titular picture which represents the decline of Dorian, whose evil behaviour is encouraged by his ‘influencer’, Lord Wotton.

The feeling of entitlement and corruption of Lord Wotton and Dorian is unpleasant with overtones of homosexuality.

The social relevance of the story today is not as pertinent as it was when written [published in 1891].  

Libby, Discussion Leader

Set between post-war Queensland, 1960s Melbourne and present-day Brisbane, the threat of violence simmers through Cass Moriarty’s debut novel, from the opening page. Moments of tenderness are routinely crushed by moments of brutality that garner force as the novel progresses. The author tackles complex issues around parenting and family life – abandonment, abuse, betrayal and emotional health, of men in particular – with sensitivity and insight. Her portrait of motherhood is uncomfortably confronting. Interestingly, like so many victims of family violence reduced to nameless statistics, Moriarty’s main characters, the old man, the boy and his mother, remain anonymous throughout.

An elderly man, living alone in the suburbs, thinks back on his life - the missed opportunities, the betrayals, the rare ‘feel good’ moments. When his ten-year-old neighbour hides in his garden one afternoon, they begin an unexpected friendship that offers a reprieve from their individual struggles. The boy, often left on his own by his mother, finds solace in gardening and playing chess with his new friend, who is still battling the demons of his past.

As a sinister figure enters the boy's life, he must choose between a burgeoning friendship and blood ties. Can the old man protect the boy he has come to know - and redeem the boy he once was?

This is a powerful story, simply told, that delivers an emotionally satisfying reading experience. Redemption, when it comes, is worth the wait.

Most of our book club agreed that “The Promise Seed” was very well written. It certainly engendered some energetic discussion.

Ruth, Discussion Leader

Once again a robust discussion was enjoyed by members of the Book Club this month, as the merits and demerits of Jessica Stanley’s 1st novel,  A Great Hope (2022) were shared! 

Not surprisingly there was a variety of opinion, ranging from “boring, too long, too flat, too confusing, characters too unpleasant, not an experiential read……” to “ great character development, enjoyed the political/historical setting, interesting shifts between time frames, clever weaving of life events, happy ending.”

As well as talking about the story-line, favourite characters, setting, themes, etc., we also took some time to examine the somewhat unusual cover design and lower case title of the book, deciding that they do indeed give a clue about what’s inside.  But clearly, to really decide about the pros and cons of A Great Hope, you will just have to read it for yourself!

To whet your appetite:  The story starts with John falling to his death – and the author gradually untangles the mystery of his fall through the eyes of those who knew him best – or thought they did.

A Great Hope is set in 21st century Australia, between the major capital cities of Melbourne and Canberra, and centres around the life of powerful Union boss/potential political leader John Clare, and his family. 

John - a key player in the election of Kevin Rudd as Prime-Minister in 2007; Grace, his elegant, unhappy wife; Sophie and Toby their troubled adult children; and Tessa – the mistress who was supposed to stay secret…

Other important characters include the neighbours: Anton the potter and “Girl” the very needy teenager; Ingrid, John’s invaluable assistant; and Sam, Sophie’s long-suffering boyfriend.  Along with several smaller players in the drama, they all have to reassess everything they knew about John –trying to work out the cause of, and reason for, his death.

I found it intriguing and cleverly constructed, perhaps a tad long-winded at times, but overall a most enjoyable read and well worth a look!

Cate, Discussion Leader

Son of Sin is about teen aged Jamal coming of age as he tries to balance his many identities. He is a Lebanese Turkish Australian abandoned abused queer male son, cousin, nephew, friend, lover, and more, and some of these identities are incompatible with each other. The story follows Jamal’s attempt to make sense of a life that presents more challenges than he may be able to bear.

Omar Sakr is a poet, and his writing reflects his grasp of language. Some of the descriptions are so breathtakingly poignant as to cause the reader physical pain. Unfortunately, that is not the only painful thing in the book. It contains some descriptions of gay sex so graphic, they caused some readers to close the book, never to open it again. Also, Jamal’s family, culture, and milieu serve up some brutal violence, and the book is filled to the brim with judgementalism, rejection, and hopelessness.

Queer Muslim youth in Australia might well find their lives mirrored in this story, but for most of us, there is little to identify with in Jamal or the other characters. The book’s structure makes it difficult to follow the narrative, and much of it feels disjointed and pointless. However, it is definitely a discussion starter and paints a vivid portrait of a culture unfamiliar to most of us.

Book Club readers found it thought-provoking and well written, but also incredibly challenging, and not necessarily rewarding. Several chose not to finish it and others soldiered on only because of a commitment to the Book Club. Many would not recommend it to friends or family, but some thought there were audiences out there that might gain from it.

Alan, Discussion Leader

On a first read, this book can be quite depressing but it has a haunting quality which may drive you to re-read it and, at that time, you may begin to realise how well written it is.

The story is about two women (Hester and Katherine) of widely differing ages and  backgrounds who live together in a strange, but apparently happy relationship until a motoring accident changes their relationship and reveals buried anguish and dislike between them.

The themes have been described as loneliness, alienation, possession and entrapment, and there are lesser themes of repressed sexuality and longing.

The motoring accident unleashes a series of events which are both macabre and heartbreaking, as the two women try to cope with Kathy’s belief that they have thrown a live man into an unescapable well.  The compassion and clarity of writing in this part of the book is magnificent.

The open ended finale of the story leaves the reader pondering the future of the two women.

Group discussion notes :

Most members disliked the book. Some found it depressing and others found the characters did not engage them.  Whilst there was agreement that the madness scenes were beautifully written and there were some interesting theories about the nature of the  madness depicted in the latter part of the story, many members felt disinterested in the ultimate fate of both Hester and Kathy.  There was some interesting discussion about the book but members generally felt that  they would not recommend it to others.

Judith, Discussion Leader

A spell-binding read from the very beginning; the story is set in marsh land that is brought to life by the author, a renowned nature writer.  The main protagonist, Kya, is abandoned by her family and abusive father and forced to survive on her own in the lagoons, swamp and sea.

During the approximate 20 years of the main story, she learns the habits of the flora and fauna that become her family.  She interacts with very few humans: ‘Jumpin’ and his wife Mabel are a black-American couple who treat her with kindness; Tate, a young man she has known since early childhood, teaches her to read; and a popular, wealthy ‘town’ boy, Chase, leads her astray. 

When Chase is killed, Kya is blamed and charged. The bigotry and prejudice of most of the town folk against Kya, whom they refer to as ‘the marsh girl’, becomes obvious, even though she has become a published expert of the biota of the marsh.

Libby, Discussion Leader

"The Islands” is the debut novel of Emily Brugman and was published in 2022.  The story is based on the experiences of the author’s family and provides a window into the little-known history of Finnish families migrating, post-WWII, to Australia and, more specifically, those who took up crayfishing leases around the Abrolhos Islands, off Western Australia.

Whilst there is a plot, the narrative is really a series of vignettes that jump around in time and place, but which come together to enable the reader to learn about the history of the many characters.  The story opens with the disappearance at sea of Nalle Saari, and his brother Onni deciding to take up the crayfishing lease, taking his wife, Alva, to join the small, seasonal community on Little Rat Island.  We follow the lives of Onni and Alva as they age and struggle with “becoming Australian” and their daughter Hilda, who becomes anchorless when the family moves from the islands.

Interwoven with this narrative are many examples of the Finnish language, culture, traditions, songs and superstitions.  There are also frequent references to the ship-wrecking of the Batavia in the Abrolhos Islands, and the atrocities that were committed.  Although no such atrocities happen in Brugman’s story, the author suggests echoes of them in her narrative. 

We all agreed that this is an evocative and beautifully-written book, with wonderful use of metaphors and similes, which even extend to the chapter headings.  The writing style portrays a sense of ethereal serenity and calm and, if there is a fault with this book, then this is it.  The pace of the narrative varies little and there is a lack of urgency and tension, even at times when, arguably, there should be, such as the amputation of a finger in a winch, a near-drowning and a near-death experience at sea in a severe storm.

Overall, however, we agreed that this was an excellent read and the scores given were well-above average and quite consistent (7-10), with an overall score of 8.6.

Carol, Discussion Leader

The narrative structure of Things Fall Apart follows a cyclical pattern that chronicles Okonkwo’s youth in Umuofia, his seven-year exile in Mbanta, and his eventual return home. Each of the novel’s three parts covers one of these periods of Okonkwo’s life. The novel’s three parts also map onto a gendered narrative structure that follows Okonkwo from fatherland to motherland back to fatherland. This gendered narrative structure functions in counterpoint with Okonkwo’s ongoing obsession with his own masculinity. Despite every attempt to gain status and become an exemplar of traditional Igbo masculinity, Okonkwo suffers from a feeling of relentless emasculation. Okonkwo’s struggle to achieve recognition repeatedly draws him into conflict with his community, eventually leading both to his own downfall and to that of Umuofia and the nine villages.

One purpose of Achebe’s writing to convey the complexity of Igbo society and their ancient culture prior to the arrival of Europeans. To support this theme, he includes detailed descriptions of the justice codes, social and family rituals, food production and preparation, religious beliefs and practices, and the opportunities for virtually every man to climb the clan’s ladder of success through his own efforts. The culture is also patriarchal and brutal.

Achebe’s use of language emphasises the complexity of the native culture. By peppering the text with Igbo words, Achebe shows that the Igbo language is too complex for direct translation into English. Similarly, Igbo culture cannot be understood within the framework of European colonialist values.

The cultural clash between the Igbo clans and the British colonisers inevitably lead to the demise of Okonkwo and the wider Igbo culture.

Marg, Discussion Leader