Postal Reading Challenge - Books #7 - #10
The next installment of my Postal Reading Challenge books...
7. "Foreign Correspondence" by Geraldine Brooks (ISBN 186359132X)
An interesting story, at least for the first three quarters of the book. The author evokes quite a picture of suburban Sydney in the 1950s and 60s, Her correspondence with foreign pen pals is an attempt to live a more exciting life vicariously.
Her correspondence with the American Joanie takes up most of the book and is by far the most interesting relationship. The author searching out the other pen pals as adults in not nearly as interesting and seems like an afterthought to the “Joanie story”. I almost think it would have been a better story overall if she’d just left those bits out as they didn’t really add anything much to the feel of the book.
8. "A Secret Gift" by Ted Gup (ISBN 9781741669442)
I really enjoyed this book. The author's grandmother left him a suitcase filled with letters shortly before she died and left it to him to work out what they were and why they were in her attic.
After much investigation, he discovers that his grandfather, a successful businessman in the 20s and 30s, committed an act of great charity during the Great Depression. He placed an ad in his local newspaper under a pseudonym offering $10 to 75 families in distress. Readers were invited to submit letters describing their hardships. It's hard to believe in this age of social security and government assistance, that many people lived such a precarious and perilous existence.
The book describes these letters, the people who wrote them, their personal situations and what happened to them and their families in subsequent years. It also tells his grandfather's life story and tries to unearth what motivated him to help strangers in need.
9. "Feeling Sorry For Celia" by Jaclyn Moriarty (ISBN 0330362100)
A book sent to me by Wendy S, who is also participating in the Postal Reading Challenge. It's the first fiction book I've read for this challenge, possibly not surprising, as I'm generally a non-fiction reader in the normal course of things.
A book written entirely in the form of letters, it describes the life of a Sydney teenager, her friends and family. I think the book captures the spirit of being a teenager, especially the letters written to Christina, her main correspondent.
And, being set in my home town, I also know the suburbs referred to, their location in regards to each other and the population demographic that normally live there!
Like Wendy, I thought the title of the book was a bit inaccurate. I don't think any of the characters felt sorry for Celia. Possibly better words to decribe it are worried, exasperated or perplexed!
10. "Daddy-Long-Legs" by Jean Webster (ISBN 0590440942)
I first read this book about 30 years ago as a child. I really enjoyed this quick re-reading. It's hard to believe that it was first published 101 years ago (1912)! I like Judy - she's energetic, high-spirited and spunky. However, the real identity of Daddy-Long-Legs was very easy to guess - there was only one person it could be!
If only every girl could have her own Daddy-Long-Legs... I could certainly use one!
7. "Foreign Correspondence" by Geraldine Brooks (ISBN 186359132X)
An interesting story, at least for the first three quarters of the book. The author evokes quite a picture of suburban Sydney in the 1950s and 60s, Her correspondence with foreign pen pals is an attempt to live a more exciting life vicariously.
Her correspondence with the American Joanie takes up most of the book and is by far the most interesting relationship. The author searching out the other pen pals as adults in not nearly as interesting and seems like an afterthought to the “Joanie story”. I almost think it would have been a better story overall if she’d just left those bits out as they didn’t really add anything much to the feel of the book.
8. "A Secret Gift" by Ted Gup (ISBN 9781741669442)
I really enjoyed this book. The author's grandmother left him a suitcase filled with letters shortly before she died and left it to him to work out what they were and why they were in her attic.
After much investigation, he discovers that his grandfather, a successful businessman in the 20s and 30s, committed an act of great charity during the Great Depression. He placed an ad in his local newspaper under a pseudonym offering $10 to 75 families in distress. Readers were invited to submit letters describing their hardships. It's hard to believe in this age of social security and government assistance, that many people lived such a precarious and perilous existence.
The book describes these letters, the people who wrote them, their personal situations and what happened to them and their families in subsequent years. It also tells his grandfather's life story and tries to unearth what motivated him to help strangers in need.
9. "Feeling Sorry For Celia" by Jaclyn Moriarty (ISBN 0330362100)
A book sent to me by Wendy S, who is also participating in the Postal Reading Challenge. It's the first fiction book I've read for this challenge, possibly not surprising, as I'm generally a non-fiction reader in the normal course of things.
A book written entirely in the form of letters, it describes the life of a Sydney teenager, her friends and family. I think the book captures the spirit of being a teenager, especially the letters written to Christina, her main correspondent.
And, being set in my home town, I also know the suburbs referred to, their location in regards to each other and the population demographic that normally live there!
Like Wendy, I thought the title of the book was a bit inaccurate. I don't think any of the characters felt sorry for Celia. Possibly better words to decribe it are worried, exasperated or perplexed!
10. "Daddy-Long-Legs" by Jean Webster (ISBN 0590440942)
I first read this book about 30 years ago as a child. I really enjoyed this quick re-reading. It's hard to believe that it was first published 101 years ago (1912)! I like Judy - she's energetic, high-spirited and spunky. However, the real identity of Daddy-Long-Legs was very easy to guess - there was only one person it could be!
If only every girl could have her own Daddy-Long-Legs... I could certainly use one!