Welcome to RRL Reads, a collection of reviews by RRL library staff. To see more of what our library staff are reading and listening to, follow us on instagram or facebook.
RRL Reads: Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
If you’ve ever met me, you’d know that if a book has the word ‘library’ or ‘bookshop/bookstore’ in the title, I’m immediately picking it up, which was the case with this book.
If I could sum up this book in a sentence it would be that this book is a love letter to not only readers but our town’s communities.
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop follows a woman named Yeongju, who has done everything ‘right’ in life. She’s gone to university, married a decent man, got a respectable job. But unfortunately, she reaches a point in her life where she just can’t do it anymore. She’s burnt out, so she decides that this is the perfect moment to pursue her dream of opening a bookshop in a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul. This bookstore then becomes home to a handful of colourful characters, whose lives intertwine quite beautifully.
My favourite quote from the book is “To read is to see things from someone else’s perspective, and that naturally leads you to stop and look out for other people… If more people read, I think the world would become a better place.”
If you’re looking for a heart-warming comfort read, then check this out!
Heidi Robinson, Bland Shire Library
RRL Reads: The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
There are some books you expect to love and some that totally surprise you. The Last Love Note was the second for me.
This book sounds and looks like a predictable serendipity-style romance, (not my usual choice) but it’s so much more than a romcom.
I picked up this book purely because Emma is one of the guest authors at the upcoming Riverina Readers Festival. But I smashed it because the writing is sharp and strong, the main character Kate is believable and likeable and the observational humour really hit the spot.
When the book opens, single parent Kate Whittaker is consumed by grief after her husband passed away two years earlier. After multiple losses, she’s been in survival mode, not really living. The central question of the book is: can she find a way to fully live, and possibly even love, again? See, when I put it like that it sounds corny, so you’re just going to have to trust me – it’s not.
Grey is clearly writing this book from personal experience, which ratchets up the heartbreak. At times, I found myself weeping when the book hit certain close-to-home truths, but it’s totally worth it because between the tears there is warmth, humour and light that makes you feel grateful to be alive.
-Katrina Roe, RRL
RRL Reads: The Countess from Kirribilli by Joyce Morgan
You haven’t heard of Elizabeth von Arnim? Then read all about this amazing woman, a champion of women’s rights, in The Countess from Kirribilli by Joyce Morgan.
Born in Kirribilli, Sydney, Australia in 1866, Elizabeth left for England at the age of three with her family.
In 1889, Mary, as she had been christened, and her father went to Italy, where Elizabeth could pursue her passion for organ playing and opera. There she met Count Henning August von Arnim-Schlagenthin, a Prussian aristocrat, who she married in 1891. They moved to his country estate near the Baltic Sea. There, Elizabeth had five children, and began writing. Henning died, and Elizabeth returned to London, and built a chalet in Switzerland. She is rumoured to have had many lovers, including HG Wells. In 1900 she married Earl Russell, Bertrand Russell’s older brother. A tempestuous marriage; she left him, but never divorced. During her time in Switzerland, Elizabeth connected with her Australian cousin, author Katherine Mansfield.
Elizabeth spent her time in literary circles between England, Switzerland and France until World War Two, during which she went to America, where three of her children lived. Her other two lived in Germany. One died there.
Elizabeth wrote fifteen books, notable for their depiction of men at their worst with women and the importance of the place and strength of women in society. Much of her material was drawn from her own experiences.
The Countess from Kirribilli is a powerful biography of a spirited, intelligent woman living in Europe at a time of turbulence in its history.
– Pam Halliburton, Chair, RRL Advisory Committee
RRL Reads: The Other Side of Beautiful by Kim Lock
This book was a real treat to read. It is heartwarming and uplifting although you wouldn’t think so when you start reading the first few chapters.
Mercy Blain’s life has turned upside down from a series of disasters in her life within a short space time. The profound effect of these disasters caused Mercy to retreat into the safe confines of her house where she hides with her little dachshund, Wasabi, for company, never venturing out from the four walls of her safe little house. She has been reduced to a hermit.
Then that safe house burns to the ground one night. Mercy is left homeless and panic stricken. This is where the book starts.
On a whim, Mercy decides to buy a beaten up old Hijet campervan with the words “Home is wherever you ARE” written on the side. She hits the open road with zero supplies and no plan – only to keep driving.
Mercy heads north from Adelaide to Darwin, a 3024 km road trip – and it is this journey we go on with Mercy that is the real treat. She meets a quirky cast of fellow travellers, who I loved, including a charming Irishman she takes a shine to.
The book is about a woman who is funny, quirky and, ironically, quite brave. Mercy faces her anxiety head-on, although reluctantly to begin with. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved it!
It left a huge smile on my face when I finished it.
– Tracey Luhrs, RRL Administration
RRL Reads: The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Vampires x The Hunger Games x Underworld
I have loved getting back into the fantasy genre this year and The Serpent & Wings Of Night didn’t disappoint! Carissa Broadbent’s novel follows Oraya, the adopted human daughter of the Nightborn king and her battle to survive the Kejari, legendary tournament held by the goddess of death. Humans or vampires, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield and always – always – guard your heart!
I was dragged in from the first page due to it having a book map, which allowed me to build the world in my mind. I enjoy flicking backwards and forwards to check places, layouts and where characters are. I found this read a little predictable to start but really enjoyed the twists heading into the last half of the book. I also really enjoyed that the author wasn’t too worried about killing off characters, which gave a Game Of Thrones vibe and gets you thinking about who the important characters really are!
If you loved Fourth Wing and A Court Of Thorns & Roses, then this one is for you. Available to borrow from multiple RRL branches.
– Wendy Manning, Temora Library