There was much discussion about how the plot slowly and subtly unravelled Daniel's real fictions. Everyone had found different clues and constructed slightly different stories. The clues were so understated that our readers began to doubt their own experience and interpretation. Many sentences included the notion of "Did you think this meant......" There was much discussion as to the variety of clues uncovered by our intrepid readers and what the story was 'really' about.
Our readers enjoyed the sprinkling of line-drawings throughout the book as they added a clarity of setting as well as intensifying that feeling of authenticity. The book's cover which makes the book look like a suitcase added another quirky element to this delightful story.
Generally our readers enjoyed this book as a light yet different read for the holiday break. It transported our readers to another time and place and I guess that's a wonderful reason to read.
The popularity of the Australian movie The Dressmaker has influenced our next month's read. Some of our readers requested this as their next book club selection, so it'll certainly make for interesting discussion at our next meeting in March which is a week later than usual, being held on 10 March rather than the 3 March.
Rosalie Ham's novel has a wonderful Gothic feel to it so makes for another sprig of diversity in our book club reading selection. I much prefer the original cover shown above to the movie tie-in version despite it featuring the alluring Kate Winslet.
Kate Clanchy from The New York Times wrote this review in August 2015.
Looking forward to our readers' diversity of views of this Australian novel on Thursday 10 March at Mackay City Library.
Happy reading......
