Book Review: Good Indian Daughter by Ruhi Lee

Good Indian Daughter

by

Ruhi Lee 

 

How I found freedom in being a disappointment

 

Publisher: Affirm Press

Publication date: 25th May 2021

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 336

RRP: $32.99AUD

Format read: Paperback

Source: Better Reading Preview

 

About the book

 

Long before Ruhi fell pregnant, she knew she was never going to be the ‘good Indian daughter’ her parents demanded. But when the discovery that she is having a girl sends her into a slump of disappointment, it becomes clear she’s getting weighed down by emotional baggage that needs to be unpacked, quickly.

So Ruhi sets herself a mission to deal with the potholes in her past before her baby is born. Delving into her youth in suburban Melbourne, she draws a heartrending yet often hilarious picture of a family in crisis, struggling to connect across generational, cultural and personal divides.

Sifting through her own shattered self-esteem, Ruhi confronts the abuse threaded through her childhood. How can she hold on to the family and culture she has known and loved her whole life, when they are the reason for her scars?

 

My review

 

Ruhi Lee writes with candour and humour. Her memoir, written as she awaits the birth of her first child, is a journey into a life lived with an underlying guilt for not being the daughter her parents had envisaged.

Good Indian Daughter is an engaging read. with Ruhi Lee’s relaxed style of writing I found myself fully immersed in her story. Many areas of Ruhi’s story will resonate with readers, even those not of Indian descent.

Ruhi Lee is a strong voice for girls and women everywhere who are being subjugated and unheard. She speaks openly on bullying, body image problems, religion, misguided advice, depression, anxiety, racism and abuse.

Reading Ruhi’s story made me sad, angry and overwhelmed but Ruhi’s humour throughout also gave me a few laughs which lightened, although didn’t lessen, the overall feel of the book.

Good Indian Daughter is a brave and open story of shedding the guilt and living your own life. 

 4 / 5 stars    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author 

 

Ruhi Lee's articles, poetry and book reviews have been featured in The Guardian, ABC Life, SBS Voices, South Asian Today and The Big Issue among other publications. In 2019, she was a recipient of the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund and her manuscript was shortlisted for the Penguin Random House Write It Fellowship. In 2020, she was one of the commissioned writers for the Multicultural Arts Victoria's Shelter program. Good Indian Daughter is her first memoir. She lives in Victoria. 

 

 

Challenges entered:  Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021

                                 Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21

                                 Non Fiction Challenge #2021ReadNonFic 

 

 

 

Book Review: Take Me Home by Karly Lane

Take Me Home

by

Karly Lane

 

Sometimes you need to get a little lost to find your way home.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th May 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 344

RRP: $29.99AUD

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Beauty & Lace Book Club

 

About the book

 

In the space of a few days, Elle loses her job and her home and faces moving back in with her parents-where she knows she'll hear a lot about how she is wasting her life, unlike her three siblings . . .

Then Gran's will is read and everything changes.

It seems simple: a road trip across Scotland, a country Gran loved, to locate the family castle; meet some long lost cousins; oh, and work out what she wants to do with the rest of her life before returning home. Not a problem.

That is unless the family castle is a ruin that has pretty much been lost in time; the family Elle has never met seem to be hiding a mysterious secret; her over-achieving parents are breathing down her neck, and she's running out of time to make a decision about her future.

Take Me Home is a glorious lesson in life, love and finding your true destiny.

 

My review

 

Karly Lane has long been one of my favourite authors with her romance novels set in rural Australia.

With Take Me Home, inspired by her own ancestry, Karly Lane has written her first contemporary novel which moves from Australia to the Scottish Highlands.

Elle’s much loved grandmother dies with the bucket-list they had compiled together, unfulfilled. Homebody Elle was comfortable in the small rural town she had grown up in and her job in the local supermarket, even if her lack of ambition was a bone of contention with her mother. However after the reading of her grandmother’s will that requests Elle take the trip to Scotland and visit the castle that Iona had loved as a child and scatter her ashes there Elle gets to live the dream her and her gran had never quite got around to doing.

Take Me Home was such a fun read. Elle was very easy to connect with and I adored Elle and her gran’s relationship. Even though we read about it after Iona’s death we can clearly see how close they were. I just loved Iona’s determination and spark, she had a great sense of humour.

I enjoyed the armchair travel through Scotland to all the tourist spot and the little snippets of history about the places. I also loved the Outlander tie in.

Karly Lane has added a cheeky paranormal element in the story and a tiny touch of magical realism or maybe that was just Elle’s imagination. You decide.

Take Me Home is a story of self discovery as Elle meets her Scottish family, including her arty cousin, she feels right at home. She can now see where not only her looks come from but also her artistic talent.

A Scottish castle, a legend, a prophecy, family secrets and a fledgling romance made Take Me Home a story I did not want to end.

Karly Lane has proven herself time and time again in the rural romance genre and now she has smashed the contemporary fiction genre with Take Me Home.  

5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Karly Lane lives on the mid north coast of New South Wales. Proud mum to four children and wife of one very patient mechanic, she is lucky enough to spend her day doing the two things she loves most - being a mum and writing stories set in beautiful rural Australia. Take Me Home is her first book set beyond the rural Australian landscape.

This review first appeared on the Beauty & Lace website

Challenges entered:  Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021

                                 Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21

  

 

 

                                   

 

                              

Book Review: Dinosaur Snap and Dinosaur Flap by Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

 Dinosaur Snap!

The Spinosaurus

by

Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

 

Dinosaur Flap

The Oviraptor

by Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books 

Series: The World of Dinosaur Roar

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Publications date: 11th May 2021

Pages: 24

RRP: $14.99AUD

Format read: Board Book

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the books

 

Meet Dinosaur Snap, a mean Spinosaurus, and Dinosaur Snap, a nervous Oviraptor, in these brilliant rhyming stories, part of the collectable The World of Dinosaur Roar! series, in association with the Natural History Museum.

My review

Dinosaur Flap and Dinosaur Snap are part of a collection of board books inspired by the classic picture book, Dinosaur Roar.

Each book features one dinosaur highlighting their unique features and personality.

Dinosaur Flap is in a flap. She can’t relax, worried about her eggs being trampled. She scares away Stomp and Bash when they venture near but Honk with her loud honking would make a good guard so Flap asked her to stay and sound an alarm when someone comes near. Now Flap can get some much needed sleep.

Dinosaur Snap is fierce with a big snapping jaw. Whack has his spiky tail to protect him and Whizz is so fast Snap can’t catch him. Snap thinks little Squeak would make a tasty treat but Roar is always there to protect his little friend.

Other dinosaurs in the series pop in and out of each story, sometimes helping and sometimes causing havoc.

Jay loves these books and we have read them over and over. When the next two in the series arrived he let out a squeal of delight. We have since purchased a couple more in the series and have our eye on the next ones we want to buy. Yes, WE! I enjoy these stories too. So much fun!

I like how each dinosaur has a name that relates to their personality. They are like a little community. Jay can name them all and points them out as they appear in each other’s books.

We have always been big fans of Dinosaur Roar and Ten Terrible Dinosaurs and this new collection adds to the delight by naming the dinosaurs and giving them personalities.

The front of each book has the correct pronunciation of the dinosaurs scientific name. Which is very helpful as some are quite a mouthful. The rear of the book points out specific features of that dinosaur.

With bright illustrations and rhyming text these board books are sure to appeal to little dinosaur enthusiasts and their parents.

 

5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the authors

 

Peter Curtis is a welsh-born author, creator and producer of children's characters, books and television series, with over twenty five years experience in children's media.

 

Jeanne Willis is an internationally renowned, full time writer and has published over a hundred books - ranging from picture books including The Bog Baby and Who's in the Loo?, to YA, poetry and fiction. 

 

Book Review: Digging Up Dirt by Pamela Hart

Digging Up Dirt

by

Pamela Heart

 

Renovations are hell. And that's before you find the body beneath the floorboards.

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Imprint: HQ Fiction

Publication date: 2nd June 2021

Series: Poppy McGowan Mysteries #1

Genre: Cosy Crime

Pages: 352

Format read: Uncorrected Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

When your builder finds bones under the floor of your heritage home, what do you do? For TV researcher Poppy McGowan, the first step is to find out if the bones are human (which means calling in the cops and delaying her renovations) or animal (which doesn't).

Unfortunately, 'help' comes in the form of Dr Julieanne Weaver, archaeologist, political hopeful, and Poppy's old enemy. She declares the bones evidence of a rare breed of fat-tailed sheep, and slaps a heritage order on the site. The resultant archaeological dig introduces Poppy to Tol Lang, the best-looking archaeologist she's ever met - and also Julieanne's boyfriend.

When Julieanne is found murdered in Poppy's house, both she and the increasingly attractive Tol are considered suspects - and so Poppy uses her media contacts and news savvy to investigate other suspects. Did Julieanne have enemies in the right-wing Australian Family party, for which she was seeking preselection, or in the affiliated Radiant Joy Church? Or at the Museum of New South Wales, among her rivals and ex-boyfriends? And who was her secret lover?

Can Poppy save herself, and Tol ... and finally get her house back? 

 

My review

 

I have come to know Pamela Hart through reading her Historical Fiction novels. However, she also writes Fantasy and children's novels under the name Pamela Freeman. Digging Up Dirt is her first foray into the cozy mystery genre.

 

Poppy McGowan works for the ABC children's network. She is currently renovating an old inner city house and when bones are found under her floorboards she sees it as a good opportunity to call in a couple of archeologists she knows and film the dig for a children's documentary. All is going well until one morning a body is found in the house and suddenly she is the number one suspect.

 

This story was such a lot of fun. Poppy is a character I easily warmed to. She was fun, upbeat and didn't take herself too seriously. The addition of nemesis Julieanne leant for some dark comedy. She was one determined, ambitious woman!

Not at all happy about being a suspect Poppy decides to do some digging of her own.

 

Digging Up Dirt is a story that has many twists and turns and my thoughts on who the murderer was kept changing as i read on.

With the involvement of an evangelistic church , politicians, the local council, heritage orders, archaeologists and news reporters after an exclusive, it all makes for an interesting and fast paced read.

 

Pamela Hart has proven herself to be a writer of remarkable versatility. I am eagerly looking forward to the next Poppy McGowan mystery now that she has proven to be an amazing investigative reporter.

 

4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Pamela Hart is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty-five books. She writes the Poppy McGowan mystery series and also historical novels, The Charleston Scandal is her most recent historical story, set in 1920's London.

As Pamela Freeman she is well-known as beloved children's author and fantasy writer. Her most recent children's book is a non-fiction picture book. Dry to Dry: The Seasons of Kakadu. Her adult fantasy series, The Castings Trilogy, ended with the award-winning Ember and Ash.

To be kept up to date about the next Poppy McGowan story, you can subscribe to her newsletter at  https://www.pamela-hart.com/ . You even get a free story!

 

 

Challenges entered:  Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021

                                 Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21

Book Review: Saying Yes by Ella Sparkle

 Saying Yes

by

Ella Sparkle

Publisher: Cherry Publishing

Publication date: 6th May 2021

Series: Stormy Love #1

Genre: Young Adult / Romance

Pages: 321

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Jenna had her life planned out.

She was going to get married to her college boyfriend, land a job at a prestigious law firm and, after attending law school, would work her way up to partner. She’d have it all; the man, the job, the white picket fence.

After things just not working out as planned, Jenna must say goodbye to her old plans and her dreams of a picture perfect future with that guy and that job, living that life.

Instead, she decides to rethink her strategy, instead of planning everything to perfection, Jenna takes a risk and starts ‘Saying Yes’ to new opportunities.

Saying Yes to a new job.

Saying Yes to flirting with the hunky Nick.

Saying Yes to a summer fling before starting law school.

Jenna and Nick might just have something magical, they’re crazy about each other from the moment they meet - are they crazy enough to make it work?  

My review

Saying Yes is a sweet Young Adult romance read. If you are after hot and raunchy this is not the book for you.

Jenna is suffering the effects of being dumped by her previous boyfriend when she is fired from her job. Feeling totally down she calls on best friend Cassie to cheer her up. Cassie hatches a plan that Jenna must say Yes to every new opportunity that comes her way.

Jenna was easy to warm to and I loved her zany friend Cassie. Cassie said what she thought in an honest forthright way. Her character brought a real vibrancy to the story.

Nick is dedicated to his company. He lives and breaths work with no time for a relationship. Nick also has an outgoing, outspoken friend in Baxter. I enjoyed Nick and Baxter's banter and their friendly ribbing. It came across as realistic and natural.

This was a fun read with introvert Jenna having to say yes to lots of things that were outside her comfort zone, like a job as a pizza delivery girl and a ride on a motorbike. Nick and Jenna's relationship is fraught with problems which had me eager to see how they would work it all out.

Saying Yes is a heartwarming, fun and sweet romance story with themes of communication, opening up, being yourself and finding the one.

4.5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

A life-long love of reading coupled with pandemic lockdown is what initially prompted Ella to finally take all the stories floating around in her head and put them together on paper.

Ella writes the kinds of romance stories she likes to read with sexy, funny, nice guys and strong, smart, sassy women... tossing in a healthy dose of awkwardness, a whole lot of drama, a sprinkle of comedy, a ride on the emotional roller coaster and a little bit of sparkle for everyone.

Ella is living out her own happily ever after with her Prince Charming. After seventeen years together he still gives her butterflies and makes her heart race. They live together with their children, small dogs, and a big black cat who has deemed herself queen of the castle.

 

Mailbox Monday - June 14th

 Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

 

 Happy Monday!

 

It's the Queen's Birthday long weekend here in New South Wales and we have been experiencing some beautiful weather; chilly in the morning but lovely sunny days.

 

The Book Fairies have been celebrating Pride month by leaving selected book around the world for people to find and read. In Australia thanks to Allen & Unwin we have been leaving copies of Out! How to be your authentic self by Miles McKenna and Leave Me Alone: A Memoir of me, myself and Trish by Christian Hull. If you check out The Book Fairies on Instagram they have lots of photos posted. Below are photos of where I left the books.

During the last month my youngest child had her Uni graduation ceremony and although she has been teaching all year it was nice to have the ceremony and the acknowledgement of all their hard work.

My older daughter is getting married at the end of the year so we have been busy attending wedding expos and wedding dress shops. 

Feedburner ( the system that delivers my updates by email) is closing in July so it was necessary to change to another system which I have completed last week.

As expected I have lost a lot of subscribers in the changeover so if you are reading this post and it didn't come through your email I would love you to subscribe through the form at the top right of my web page.

Books I've received and purchased over the last month

Received from Claire at Claire's Reads and Reviews.

 The Orchardist's Daughter by Karen Viggers 

 

The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart 

 

Picked up from the Op shop:

The Lawson Sisters by Janet Gover

 

Murder on Mustique by Anne Glenconner 

 

Sent by publishers for review:

Good Indian Daughter by Ruhi Lee

 

138 Dates by Rebekah Campbell 

 

Small Acts of Defiance by Michelle Wright  

 

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey 

 

You Had it Coming by B.M. Carroll 

 

I would love to hear what books you've received in the mail recently! 

 

 

Book Review: Goal!!! by Lydia Williams

 Goal!!!

by

Lydia Williams

 Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford

 

A joyous and triumphant picture book from international soccer superstar Lydia Williams, goalkeeper for the Australian Matildas and for Arsenal in the UK. 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st June 2021

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: $19.99AUD

Format read: Hardcover

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

About the book

Little Lydia moves from the desert to start a new adventure in a big city.
Leaving her desert animal friends behind is hard - but soon she makes some new friends at the zoo.

It takes her time to find her feet and has to practice new skills to improve her game.
She learns from the zoo animals that being different is not such a scary thing and that everyone can teach you something new!

My review

Firstly, the cover of Goal instantly attracts your attention and I think it would have wide appeal to both sport loving and animal loving children.

In her first book Saved Lydia learns that she is good at Soccer and especially the position of goalkeeper. Now she has moved from the country to the city she is missing her friends and wonders how she will learn new goalkeeping skills.

A visit to the zoo brings her face to face with animals she has never met before. These animals were fast, fierce and loud. Lydia didn't think she would ever be able to keep up with them.

Lydia soon learns that each animal had their own special skill and if she paid attention and practiced day after day she too would learn these skills.

I loved that Lydia is a goalkeeper! I know when my children played soccer no-one wanted to be goalkeeper. It's a position that requires great skill and I think needs more praise.

Goal!!! is a fun, heartwarming story that promotes friendship, teamwork, determination and being prepared to learn from others. The bold and bright full spread illustrations throughout the book are sure to engage younger children whilst listening to the story.

Join Lydia as she runs, dives, whooshes, roars and laughs her way to soccer stardom.

Dot loves playing soccer and she loved that Lydia is a young soccer enthusiast just like her.

5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Lydia Williams is an Indigenous Australian soccer player. She grew up on the red dirt of Western Australia. During her childhood, she travelled with her family to many Aboriginal communities where she learnt how to play sport with bare feet. Her family taught her how to live off the land and the values of Indigenous culture; they even had two pet kangaroos. When her family moved to Canberra, Lydia started playing soccer competitively as a way to make friends. Having played soccer for nearly twenty years, she currently plays for Arsenal in the WSL in England and is the first-choice goalkeeper for the Australian Matildas.

 

About the illustrator

 

Lucinda Gifford is the author and illustrator of many well-loved books for kids. Many years ago, Lucinda studied architecture in Scotland, where she learned to draw fancy buildings and moody scenery. She also likes to draw dragons, cats and magical frogs - despite never having studied witchcraft. Now based in Melbourne, Lucinda works from a small home studio full of books, plants, dragons' blood and newts' tongues.  

Challenges entered:  Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021

                                 Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21