A Caller's Game by J.D.Barker

I struggled to immerse myself in this one...and I chose not to give up on it because Barker writes good stuff...usually.

There is so much to dislike about his main character talk radio host, Jordan Briggs, and I get that's Barkers intention, and it might have worked had we not had to spend the first quarter of the book reading her extremely unpleasant interactions with those she so clearly despises...

...her fans.

Barkers characters are often complex, and you either love them or hate them because of their complexities, and sometimes yes, you can misjudge them.

 It is as Barker unravels their stories to us that you can begin to understand their choices and actions and even grow to care about them as they travel through his tale....but with Briggs, nah I couldn't care, I couldn't be bothered to understand and that left me a little disappointed.

Now Bernie, Bernie I grew to understand...

...and Bernie is blowing stuff up!

So yes, it was an OK read, I can see someone wanting to turn it into a movie...think Die Hard meets Lethal Weapon.

Will I be in line to watch it....maybe, depends who gets to be Bernie.

Oh and Mr Barker, your 'Author's Note' on the global pandemic that was just being realised at the time of you finishing this tale...an interesting read for us to mull over...hope you and yours continue to be safe.

Library Enthusiast Thought...

Libraries are popular for all ages, and our older generation visit to read the newspapers, make use of the large print and audio collections...but perhaps more importantly to chat. In a time when social isolation is a huge health risk, our libraries have become a vibrant place to connect.

No longer do we have to be silent...

 ...in fact libraries should be noisy, otherwise they will become an empty building, ripe to be repurposed into apartments!

 

The Man On The Street by Trevor Wood

 

I get excited when there's a new character for us to connect with, especially if this character is a true original...Jimmy Mullen is my new 'hero'...

...okay so Jimmy isn't really a cape wearing hero, but he is one of the good guys. What Wood has managed to do here is take our preconceptions about stereotypes and made them human...

...human with a huge amount of sensitivity, honesty and depth of understanding.

Jimmy is a homeless veteran on the streets of Newcastle, he has his mates, Gadge and Deano and he has Dog...he also has a deep sense of responsibility so when he hears something heavy fall into the Tyne river he begins a journey of truth....

Library Enthusiast Thought...

..Newcastles' libraries feature a fair bit in 'Man on the Street' which tells us something about the world wide need for these community spaces...not only for the obvious, but perhaps more importantly, for the connection we humans get from the very nature of these open, safe, accessible and free spaces...libraries don't judge us they accept us, no matter what our need.

 

Little White Lies by Philippa East

 

When 15 year old Abigail returns to her family after being held captive for 8 years, you would expect things to be a struggle...

...and struggles there are.

Mother and daughter struggle to reconnect 
Mother worries about how much daughter remembers about the day she disappeared
Daughter has trust issues...obviously
Mother is anxious that the little white lie she told all those years ago will be discovered...

East delves into what it might be like for the family when a member has been abducted and is finally returned to them, she attempts to show how the guilt and a complicated history can impact on so much more than what is obvious. 

I do feel a little disappointed that we didn't hear more of Abigails experience whilst held captive, and I don't mean the gruesome details.

 In my very humble opinion, I do believe East may have missed an opportunity by choosing not to give Abigail more of a voice... 

...I may have connected with her character more had East chosen to add her viewpoint.

I give Little White Lies...

Library Enthusiast Acknowledgement ...

Yes I know I'm not a writer, unlike Ms East, so who am I to judge her choice of how she narrates her novel?

 But if I take up Brisbane's Free Library 'Writing for Children' with Ursula Dubosarsky workshop opportunity I could give it a go!

Seriously these workshops are too good not to share, so who wants to join me and Ursula as she shares her own experience of starting stories, keeping them going and breaking open that creative part of our brain?

For When I'm Gone by Rebecca Ley

This is an honest book, exploring Sylvia's relationships with those closest to her as she tackles the heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal breast cancer..

We travel with her as she confronts her 'then', acknowledges her 'now' and tries desperately to plan for her families future through her journal 'Sylvia's Manual'. 

There are some very beautiful moments in Ley's debut novel, Sylvia is a very likeable character, with a spirit and honesty...especially about her transition into motherhood, that will haunt you long after you close the book...

For When I'm Gone gets...

 Library Enthusiasts Tip....

Your local library has some fantastic online parent and toddler resources for you to use at home...

Parent Files cover a heap of topics from

Lunchbox Love (easy school lunch ideas, tips and tricks that will keep you happy and your children full) to... 

Where is that manual? (a tips and tricks resource to help make things the best they can be for all mums, dads and carers)

The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland

 Woodland has managed to create a small rural town, full of tension and menace... 

...set in the the 1960's this story has an honesty about it that some may find disturbing. There are layers upon layers to this mystery, corrupt police officers, corrupt council officers, missing and mutilated animals and of course murder. 

Woodland has successfully portrayed what life was like in the 60's, when everyone smoked...

...anywhere and everywhere!

He has captured the essence of a time when children were able to roam free, with the only expectation that they be back home in time for their tea. A time when parents didn't 'track' their kids, didn't need to know their every move...a different time indeed.

A gritty, honest story...

Library Enthusiast Tip...

Do you want to delve deeper into your family's past?

You can explore your family history using your local Library's diverse and extensive collections...

...volunteers will even help you with the detective work so you can locate the relatives who helped shape your past!

My response to Craig Silvey's latest book Honeybee

 

Oh how I had been waiting for Silvey's latest book...for what seemed like forever!

I had to stop reading at one point as it was so heart wrenching, but this is what Silvey does so extremely well, he draws you into his characters. 

You find yourself 100% invested in them.

You know it isn't going to be a smooth trip, in fact you know for sure it's going to be one hell of an emotional ride, but you don't want to get off.

You just have to occasionally hit the pause button, take a breath so you can regain control of your emotions before reading on...

This book is incredibly written and it is heartbreaking.

*Trigger Warning*

It is a story of a young boy and an older man who form a connection over their mutual desire to kill themselves.

*Spoiler Alert*-

one of them manages this and the other one helps.

Please keep writing Mr Silvey.

Library Enthusiast Fact...

JPs

Justices of the Peace are available at many of our local libraries and these amazing humans provide a range of services...for FREE!

You can get your passport photos signed-for when travelling on a plane will be a 'thing' again!

✈️