The Mother's Group - Fionna Higgins

Pages: 312

Published: 2012 Allen and Urwin

Genre: Contemporary /Women’s Fiction

Format: Large Paperback

Acquired: Local Collins bookstore

Date Finished: April 11^th 2012

Synopsis:

The Mother’s Group tells the story of six very different women who agree to meet regularly after the births of their respective babies. It tracks their individual journeys during that first crucial year—and the group’s collective one—as they navigate motherhood and the shifting ground of their relationships with their partners. Each woman struggles in her own way to become the mother she wants to be, and finds herself becoming increasingly reliant on the friendship and support of the mother’s group members. Until one day, when an unthinkably shocking event changes everything. The Mother’s Group is an unflinching and compelling portrait of love, sex, marriage and parenting in an increasingly complicated world. Moving, provocative, tender and utterly gripping, it will draw you in and never let you go.

Review/Thoughts

From page one I fell hard for this book. It appealed to me on so many levels but fundamentally my desire to be a mother overcome me and the risky cost involved in picking up this book, cost aside I want to run out and buy this for every mother and potential mother I know, and tell them to sit down and devour the book because I certainly did.

The story was one of many emotions and perspectives, each character fresh and full with their own trials and triumphs throughout the novel. The way that each story was interwoven made me hooked with every flick of the page. There was never a dull moment in any of the characters lives and the pacing was constantly enjoyable.

I had my favorites and it was almost like I was sitting there with them, together with my imaginary bundle bouncing on my lap as I picked and judged and drew closer towards those women who I could connect with and those who would challenge me. This is one of the many things I loved about The Mothers group – the constant questioning and challenging of my own morals and for-thoughts of pregnancy and motherhood.

Not only do we gain insight into each woman’s lives, but that of the father and family. It certainly raised a lot of questions I pressed to my partner and it made me thankful at times for having someone willing to be so supporting in my journey. Fiona Higgins has a way of capturing the human spirit throughout every word making you feel, making you a part of something so natural and yet at times the sensation of being disconnected. It was an unflinching fictional look at what a mother feels and goes through and while it did not go into the graphic nature of birth, it did fulfill the knowledge that it is a beautiful experience and that there are pros and cons.

The biggest part of this story was the building friendships and the back-story into each characters life and pre-pregnancy – these two elements made the novel and drove it forward with compassion and realism. This was not one of those stories that is a transition book, each background story built up to the present day was just as emotionally charging as the present day story. I loved it.

Nearing the mid way mark my heart started to churn, my chest tight. I did not want to put this down. The world around me disappeared and tears- oh the tears and the onslaught of overwhelming feelings. I just wanted to talk about this book. I wanted to start it over again and re-read it.

The Mother’s Group was it was set in Sydney, Australia and in modern times where technology is the new social acceptance. But this novel seemed to surpass this thankfully into good old fashioned one on one get together’s and support. Something I greatly appreciated.

I would recommend this book to anyone, woman or man. I am certainly going to give this to my partner to read, for the sheer experience and what he could learn about women and birth and the life after. There is so much fear built up, in a lot of books fiction and non-fiction but The Mother’s Group combines everything so beautifully it left me feeling satisfied and I hope you to enjoy it if you choose to pick it up.

Read if you like: Monica McInerney

Rating: ★★★★★

ARC Review: Chopsticks - Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral

Pages: 272

Published: February 2nd 2012 by Razorbill

Genre: Young Adult/ Contemporary

Format: Paperback

Date Finished: 9^th February 2012

Synopsis

After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As we flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, we see a girl on the precipice of disaster. Brilliant and lonely, Glory is drawn to an artistic new boy, Frank, who moves in next door. The farther she falls, the deeper she spirals into madness. Before long, Glory is unable to play anything but the song "Chopsticks."
But nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all. In this stunningly moving novel told in photographs, pictures, and words, it's up to the reader to decide what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along.

Review/ Thoughts:

I won an ARC copy of Chopsticks in a contest hosed by Mary and I must admit that after I received it I was both excited and overwhelmed at how to review it. Chopsticks is certainly not a traditional Y.A contemporary novel, but I only wish there was more books out there like it.

The story itself is fantastic and raw, filled with madness and emotions and mystery. I deeply enjoyed getting to know the character through the various mediums used in Chopsticks, from photographs, pamphlets, newspaper clippings and sketches it was compiled and presented in a stunning fashion and I delighted in experiencing Frank and Graces Journey.

Chopsticks is open to interpretation, especially when you get into the depth of the story. Nearing the end if had be hooked and also left me with that thrilling sensation when you realize everything you have read may not be what it seems.

I read this one in an hour over a Chai latte and a perfect grilled sandwich and I just enjoyed every minute of it. Definitely one of those books to relax with when you want a break from intensity, and love to devour a good story.

★★★★★

Good Reads: Chopsticks

Jessica Anthony

Rodrigo Corral

Paper Covers Rock - Jenny Hubbard

Pages: 182

Published: June 14th 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult/ Contemporary Fiction

Format: Hardback

Date Finished: 4^th February 2012

Synopsis:

At the beginning of his junior year at a boys' boarding school, 16-year-old Alex is devastated when he fails to save a drowning friend. When questioned, Alex and his friend Glenn, who was also at the river, begin weaving their web of lies. Plagued by guilt, Alex takes refuge in the library, telling his tale in a journal he hides behind Moby-Dick. Caught in the web with Alex and Glenn is their English teacher, Miss Dovecott, fresh out of Princeton, who suspects there's more to what happened at the river when she perceives guilt in Alex's writing for class. She also sees poetic talent in Alex, which she encourages. As Alex responds to her attention, he discovers his true voice, one that goes against the boarding school bravado that Glenn embraces. When Glenn becomes convinced that Miss Dovecott is out to get them, Alex must choose between them.

Review:

Paper Cover’s Rock was another recommendation from the wonderful Richard Denney and let me tell you it was a fantastic novel.

All the way through it, it had these hints of things I have read and watched before and loved. It had that atmospheric flare of the Dead Poet’s Society with the friendships, the secrets and the looming anxiety of the truth and the affect that Thomas’s death has on them all.

I found Alexander’s character to be deeply fascinating and almost whimsical. His passion and curiosity with words and using them to explain and understand the world around him fascinated me and was deeply rich. I loved reading his journal and the way that the novel is set up with poems, and events written in both past and present time. I never once felt confused and I think it added something refreshing to the plot.

Some of the poems written in Paper Covers Rock make me want to post-it note them and write them in my own journal for inspiration and Jenny has certainly given Alexander the talent of a wordsmith. The symbolism and imagery was brilliant as was the exercises Miss Dovecott gave to the class. One of my favorite parts of the novel was being inside Alex’s shoes when he was learning and writing.

You don’t get to see a great deal of interaction between his friend and other staff, besides from the flashbacks, but there is enough to give you a sense of character and while I started to really dislike Glen I could understand the fear behind the event and his reaction to it.

Easily one book that I could read again I would definitely recommend Paper Covers Rock to fans of classical literature, avid readers, book lovers and those who like a little intensity. You will enjoy this novel if you want to take a break from the standard chapter to chapter format and if you are looking for something good to curl up with for a few hours.

If you have read this book and would like to share your experiences feel free to leave a comment.

Paper Covers Rock

★★★★★