Review: The Bellbird River Country Choir

Title: The Bellbird River Country Choir

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: 27th July 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 425 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

A warm-hearted story of fresh beginnings, unexpected friendships and the sustaining power of love and community, from the Top Ten bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Thursdays at Orange Blossom House.

Bellbird River, 1998: Teacher and single mum Alex is newly arrived in the small NSW country town of Bellbird River after escaping the city in search of a change of pace and the chance to reconnect with her young daughter. Across town, well-known matriarch Victoria and her globe-trotting, opera-singing cousin Gabrielle find themselves at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives, while local baker Janine and newcomer to the district Debbie are each secretly dealing with the consequences of painful pasts. With its dusty streets, lone pub and iron-lace verandahs, Bellbird River could just be a pit stop on the road to somewhere else. But their town holds some secrets and surprises - and it has a heart: the Bellbird River choir.

Amid the melodies and camaraderie of the choir, each of the women will find the courage to leave the past behind. And together, they'll discover that friends are much closer to home than they'd ever realised.

My Thoughts

I have read all of Sophie’s books and loved them. In The Bellbird River Country Choir she  has produced another delightful tale with writing that is immersive, confirming and heartwarming. In this hectic world we live in, who does not wish for escapism that provides an uplifting story about family and friends. 

‘Gabrielle has been an habitué of big cities for so long that she's forgotten the grace of the Bellbird River kind of living, in which everyone is important yet also knows they are part of the whole, existing in concert for the benefit of all.’

The Bellbird River Country Choir brings together a diverse group of people meeting one night a week for choir practice. As a result of this, new friendships form, a sense of place and belonging is achieved so that together life and its many challenges can be faced. The reader appreciates how Sophie, through a choir, brings together completely different, yet strangely similar characters - their problems could easily be your problems. The secret attached to this is how Sophie then goes on  to resolve these issues in the most organic and realistic way. 

‘Life is hard enough to navigate when people tell the truth; trying to circumnavigate lies makes it almost impossible.’

For me, Sophie’s writing style is so gentle, moving at a pace that allows her readers to lose themselves in the story. Through each of the narratives readers are sure to find a little of themselves, such is the genuine nature of these lead characters. My personal feeling is that on this occasion there were too many characters and I would have preferred a firmer focus on fewer for a richer reward. 

Congratulations Sophie for another beautifully written story. A story that is affirming of how family and friendships enable you to make changes to your life  that may help unlock an even better you.

‘That's all anyone can really ask of another person, isn’t it? If we all do the best we can, every day of our lives, we are that much further ahead in making life better for everyone.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Thursdays at Orange Blossom House

Title: Thursdays at Orange Blossom House

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: 28th July 2021 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 432 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction 

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

From the author of beloved Top Ten bestsellers The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club and The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle comes a delightful new novel about friendship, love and finding yourself.

Far North Queensland, 1993: At 74, former cane farmer Grace Maud is feeling her age, and her isolation, and thinks the best of life may be behind her. Elsewhere in town, high school teacher Patricia has given up on her dreams of travel and adventure and has moved back home to look after her ageing parents, while cafe owner Dorothy is struggling to accept that she may never have the baby she and her husband so desperately want. Each woman has an unspoken need: reconnection. And that's how they find themselves at Orange Blossom House, surrounded by perfumed rainforest, being cajoled and encouraged by their yoga teacher, the lively Sandrine. Together, they will find courage and strength - and discover that life has much more to offer than they ever expected.

Set amid the lush beauty of tropical Queensland, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House is a heartwarming story of friendship and family, of chances missed and taken, and the eternal power of love.

My Thoughts

I first came across Sophie’s writing in, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, which I adored. I therefore had high expectations coming into her latest offering and I was not disappointed. It was absolutely delightful with writing that is immersive, confirming and heartwarming. In this current crazy world we live in, who does not wish for an uplifting read about family, friends, mindfulness and yoga! A truly winning combination. 

‘That day Dorothy first wandered away from this café and towards that yoga class, she could not have known what Orange Blossom House would bring her. Now she does, and it gives her the strength to walk back inside, sniff back her tears and get on with her day.’

Over the course of the story three women of different ages and backgrounds form a friendship in a yoga class and what they all learn sees them become the strongest of friends. Even though they are all so very different, Sophie illustrates (yet again!) how at any stage of your life, you can leave the past behind and face a future full of joyful anticipation. That it is indeed possible to both find and fulfill your heart's desire on a journey of self discovery. This book is rich and rewarding on so many levels that I was furiously highlighting so as to always be reminded of the absolute gems Sophie drops for her readers along the way. 

‘… though Grace Maud knows … that control is an illusion, always. The only thing that can be controlled is the time we wake up each day; after that, every minute is at the whim of the fates. We just tell ourselves stories about how that’s not the case so that life seems vaguely manageable.’

I love how Sophie divided the book up with a list of either songs, movies or current affairs from the period 1993-1995 - it brought back some fond memories. The locale of far North Queensland was vividly portrayed and added yet another dimension to an already amazing tale. 

‘A wistfulness settles on Patricia’s face and Grace Maud recognises it: the mixture of regret and relief that arises when you know you’ve become the person you want to be only because some of the things you thought you wanted never happened.’   

For me, Sophie’s writing style is sublime - gentle and graceful - allowing her readers to lose themselves in the story. Through each of the three narratives you will find a little of your past, present or future self - such is the genuine nature of these lead characters. You will reflect on your own dreams or aspirations and come to the realisation that, in whatever form, it is always possible to unlock and pursue what makes your heart sing. This book is both comforting and confirming. 

‘Her body has bent and folded and stretched and hauled and pushed for most of her life. Just because it has wrinkles on it now doesn’t mean it’s forgotten how to do all those things simply because she’s withered a little since she moved into town. Somewhere inside this crepey-skinned shell is the warrior she used to be.’

Thank you Sophie for yet another beautifully written story. A story about making changes in an effort to affirm and pursue your unique life journey. How through friendships or the mindfulness of something such as yoga, you are able to realise subtle changes that may help to unlock an even better you. 

‘She held onto something that wasn’t serving her for too long simply because she was unsure of what was on the other side, even though it had a very good chance of being better.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Title: The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: 8 August  2017 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 384 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary, outback Australia

My Rating: 4.5 crowns

Synopsis:

Books bring them together - but friendship will transform all of their lives. Five very different women come together in the Northern Territory of the 1970s by an exceptional new Australian author.

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.

My Thoughts

‘I’m starting a book club –well, that’s obvious.’ She gestured to the paper. ‘We’re all a bit isolated out here, aren’t we? It’s good to have some other people to talk to.’

The blurb had me with ‘book club’ and ‘Thorn Birds’, however, there is so much more to this little gem of a read. Set in the unique time and place - Northern Territory, Australia 1978 - it provides the reader with a realistic portrayal of life on the land in one of the most remote locations of a vast continent; and, how five women form a friendship that began with a love of books but evolved to so much more that saw them bond through good and bad times.

‘You like to read?’ Sybil said, stopping before they reached the table. Sallyanne nodded vigorously. ‘I love it,’ she said. ‘It’s my escape.

Yes, there are some fabulous reads made mention of here and the women’s discussion of the books (not too detailed) evolves into a wider conversation of events that arise in their own lives. Books from ‘The Thorn Birds’ to ‘We of the Never Never’ to ‘Harp in the South’ bring back memories of some classic Australian literature. Add to that the list of real life dates and events that occurred at various stages throughout the telling of this tale - for example: ‘The compact disc is demonstrated in public for the first time, by Phillips’ - will bring a smile to your face as you recall what age you were at these selected occasions.

Next thing to mention is the ‘Outback’ itself - the Northern Territory. The huge distances, the overpowering sense of isolation, the impact of climate and weather, concerning life on a station (ranch). Sophie Green brings all of this to life, as you can clearly envisage the array of practicalities to living so remotely, whether it concern supplies or medical emergencies.

The five female leads are true and strong, each bringing their own unique story to this tale. This is a story of friendship and learning to trust over some truly difficult and challenging circumstances - accidents, illnesses, wet season inaccessibility, domestic violence, isolation - all credible and realistic situations. It’s through the bond they form that makes life that little bit easier.

‘Books give us the benefit of a lot of people’s experiences,’ she said slowly. ‘They give us more options to choose from –more ways to live –than we could ever find on our own.’

Overall this was a joy to read. You become really invested in the characters, appreciating each of the generational challenges and how together, at a time of no internet and difficult communication, they were able to create true and lasting friendships.  I encourage you to ....

“put the kettle on to boil and to hold the inaugural meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release