The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
Description
LONGLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION 2018
LONGLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018: General Fiction Book of the Year and Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year
In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.
Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe.Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child.
With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.
Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick.
Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.
If you loved THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL and THE THORN BIRDS you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love.
'The story of these resilient women is tender and intimate. Sophie Green has created a world that's as heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'An absolute gem of a novel, with the most evocative sense of place . . . A definite treat for any book club.' BETTER READING
Praise for The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
Sophie Green has created a world that's as heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz.—Australian Women's Weekly
an absolute gem of a novel, with the most evocative sense of place . . . A definite treat for any book club.—Better Reading
This
close-knit Australian saga has rightly earned comparisons to THE THORN
BIRDS. Green draws out a robust range of emotions as each character
struggles with her own set of frustrations and her personal relationship
with a tough landscape that's still being tamed.—iBooks Editor
The book club's reading list will remind readers of the power that contemporary fiction can have in people's lives.—Books+Publishing
A plucky group of women gather together to help each other through the
tough times . . . This touching tale set in a familiar landscape is an
ode to [the author's] love of the place and its people.—Sunday Territorian
I don't want to give too much away, just that this is a fabulous read
with a cast of amazing characters that I highly recommend. It is moving
and shows so much emotion there were tears and smiles. There is joy and
yes there is heartache, but that is to be expected in life, and Ms Green
has done it so well. There is an ending that will leave you smiling,
seeing characters get their HEA, and leave you with hope for others. I
loved this one. Thank you. It is one that will stay with me for a long
time to come.—Family Saga blogspot
The power in this [book] is the way gender and race expectations are
turned on their head, and the few that act superior based on race or
gender, or both, are called out, but the hurt is still there, the scars
are still there.—The Book Muse
Recommended for readers that enjoy modern fiction.—Goulburn Library
I loved this book. The characters were well drawn, the descriptions
beautifully wrought, and the plot was well-paced. This is a wonderful
story of 5 women who are drawn to one another for friendship and books. I
laughed and cried and felt like I had made new friends in Australia's
North Territory—Netgalley (Librarian)
provides vivid descriptions of both the triumphs and hardships of life
in the outback so readers can empathise with all the joys and heartaches
experienced by each one.—Starts at Sixty
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others as it
does not end when the last page is read since the reader is inspired to
find out more about the other books mentioned and some of the news items
alluded to in its pages.—Queensland Reviewers Collective
An emotional and satisfying read, I'd be delighted to belong to the Fairvale Ladies Book Club!—The Book Date
Audiobook review and paperback giveaway.—Australian Country
beautifully written with excellent language usage and imagery—Netgalley
Sophie Green has written a book that is so descriptive you can almost
picture everything as you read the words. A definite 5* read and one I
thoroughly recommend—Goodreads
This is an absolutely delightful read. As we meet the five main female characters, we feel like we've made new friends—chicklitclub Blog
I honestly loved this book and I think everyone should read it. The
setting was amazing, the writing was beautiful and the characters were
real and relatable. If you are looking for a book that will captivate
you and transport you to another time and place, Fairvale Ladies Book
Club is the book for you.—Gem's Book Nook (blog)
heartwarming novel is set primarily at Fairvale Station in the Northern Territory in the late 1970s.—City Messanger
Green
takes each of the women in the story on a journey. Each has their own
(but intertwined) story arc and - although most end happily - not all do
and we're reminded that life takes unexpected turns.—Debbish.com
