Book Review & Book Bingo - Round 10: The Cinema at Starlight Creek by Alli Sinclair

Book Bingo is a reading challenge hosted by Theresa Smith Writes , Mrs B’s Book Reviews and The Book Muse. Every second Saturday, book bingo participants reveal which bingo category they have read and what book they chose. 

This week I have chosen the category 'Book with a place in title"

 

The Cinema at Starlight Creek

by 

Alli Sinclair

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Australia 
Imprint: Mira-AU
Publication date: 20th May 2019
Pages: 384
RRP: $29.99AUD
Format read: Uncorrected proof paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Queensland, 1994 When location manager Claire Montgomery arrives in rural Queensland to work on a TV mini-series, she's captivated by the beauty of Starlight Creek and the surrounding sugarcane fields. Working in a male-dominated industry is challenging, but Claire has never let that stop her pursuing her dreams-until now. She must gain permission to film at Australia's most historically significant art deco cinema, located at Starlight Creek. But there is trouble ahead. The community is fractured and the cinema's reclusive owner, Hattie Fitzpatrick, and her enigmatic great nephew, Luke Jackson, stand in her way, putting Claire's career-launching project-and her heart-at risk.

Hollywood, 1950 Lena Lee has struggled to find the break that will catapult her into a star with influence. She longs for roles about strong, independent women but with Hollywood engulfed in politics and a censorship battle, Lena's timing is wrong. Forced to keep her love affair with actor Reeves Garrity a secret, Lena puts her career on the line to fight for equality for women in an industry ruled by men. Her generous and caring nature steers her onto a treacherous path, leaving Lena questioning what she is willing to endure to get what she desires. 

The Cinema at Starlight Creek has a dual time line narrative. Moving from 1950’s Hollywood to 1994 and a small country town in northern Queensland’s cane belt.

Claire is working on a min-series featuring art-deco architect Amelia Elliott. When her first cinema location falls through she arrives in the small, neglected town of Starlight Creek, the location of another Amelia Elliott designed cinema. The cinema is ideal but first she must get the approval of the cinema’s reclusive owner Hattie Fitzpatrick and her handsome but surly great nephew Luke Jackson.

Lena Lee has been in Hollywood for three years trying to break into the big time when her first major role is axed by the censorship board.

The Cinema at Starlight Creek is a sweeping tale about realising your dreams. The way women’s roles have been undervalued and underpaid is a major theme throughout the story. In 1950’s Hollywood we see women’s roles axed through censorship when the Hays Code deemed them too brazen for the screen. The conditions and pay for females was much less than their male counterparts. Lena’s character was strong and outspoken, but always fair. She was continually campaigning for better conditions for all women.

I did feel more invested in Claire’s story and I loved the descriptions of the Queensland town of Starlight Creek. Claire had her own battle with realising her dreams at the expense of finding love and was starting to think maybe you can’t have it all.

There are many parallels between Lena and Claire’s lives, aims and ideals. Both women had strong character, often empowering those around them with their passion and drive.

The Cinema at Starlight Creek is a story that will appeal to a wide readership. An Historical Fiction with a romantic heart and a small country town in Australia that has fractured and needed a stranger to show them the way to unite.

                            🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

 My rating   4.5/5

*this review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge

and book #16 in the Australian Women Writers challenge

#BookBingo2019

Photo credit:Goodreads

Alli Sinclair is an Australian multi-award winning author published who has lived in Argentina, Peru, and Canada. She’s climbed some of the world’s highest mountains and worked as a tour guide in South and Central America. Australia has always been close to Alli’s heart as she loves the diverse landscapes and the rich multicultural heritage of this wonderful land.

She holds an annual Writers at Sea cruise retreat and presents writing workshops around Australia. Alli also works in film and is involved in international projects. She's a volunteer role model with Books in Homes and is an ambassador for the Fiji Book Drive.

Alli's books explore history, culture, love and grief, and relationships between family, friends and lovers. She captures the romance and thrill of discovering old and new worlds, and loves taking readers on a journey of discovery.

  

 

 
 

Book Club Book Review: Without a Doubt by Fleur McDonald

Without a Doubt

by

Fleur McDonald

Publisher: Allen & Unwin 
Publication date: 1st April 2019
Pages: 337
RRP: $29.99
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Beauty & Lace book club

Detective Dave Burrows had never even heard of Nundrew in Queensland before. He'd certainly never have guessed that this was where he'd be risking his life.

In Barrabine, as Dave's workload skyrockets, Melinda, Dave's wife, is unhappy about being left alone so much to raise their eighteen-month-old daughter. It's not how Dave wants it either, but crimes still have to be investigated - it's what he joined the force for - and he's the only one able to do it.

Melinda's interfering father isn't helping. He's never thought that Dave is right for his daughter and he's not shy about telling Dave what he's doing wrong. When things come to a head at home, Dave's policing mate, Spencer, comes up with a plan.

In the most dangerous mission of his life, Dave knows what he's risking. If he's found out, he'll never see Melinda or Bec again. Of that he's sure.

McDonald writes a riveting rural crime story that had me grabbing for the book every spare minute I had.

Even though this is my first Det Dave Burrows novel the characterization was ample for Dave to come across as sincere and likeable. You find yourself barracking for him.

The story is spread wide across the Australian outback with settings in both the remote goldfields town of Barrabine WA and Nundrew in Central Queensland.

McDonald has clearly done her research and knows the way of these harsh isolated towns and the people living there.

With a main story of cattle stealing Dave goes undercover in the most dangerous op of his life. Believable side stories portray the strain the isolation can have on a marriage and a person’s mental health and the need for adequate counselling services and activities for the youth of the area. This is where the police come in; not only fighting crime in the area but preventing future crime by being involved in youth programs.

This is hard, rough country and cattle mustering is tough work, it involves tough men, so there is bad language and not everyone plays nice.

I loved McDonald’s use of Aussie slang making me feel like she had pulled her characters straight out of an outback pub instead of from her imagination. I loved them all....well maybe not Scottie.

The heat was palpable and well portrayed. The flies, the dust, the smell! I felt them all.

Without a Doubt was my first Dave Burrows and won’t be my last. This is a great stand-alone however you will want to go back and read Fool’s Gold the first Dave Burrows exclusive. He does feature in Fleur’s other books.

This review first appeared on the Beauty & Lace book club.

 

                            🌟🌟🌟🌟

My Rating   4/5

*this review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge

and book #15 in the Australian Women Writers challenge

Photo credit: Goodreads

After growing up on a farm near Orroroo in South Australia, Fleur McDonald’s first job was jillarooing in the outback. She’s now closely involved in the daily management of the 8000-acre station she and her family live on near Esperance in Western Australia.

Fleur is the author of the bestselling novels Red Dust, Blue Skies, Purple Roads and Silver Clouds. 




 

 

Storybook Corner Book Review: Seraphina Does Everything (Children's Picture Book)

Seraphina Does Everything

by

Melissa Gratias

Illustrated by Sue Cornelison

Publisher: National Center for Youth Issues
Publication date: 9th April 2019
Pages: 32
Format read: eBook
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

If I don't open every door, to see what lies within, I'll miss an opportunity, that might not come again. I stay busy day and night, through winter, fall, and spring. I crush my fear of missing out by doing EVERYTHING.

Seraphina wants to do it all. From soccer to ballet to French club, her schedule is jam-packed. However, Seraphina finds she feels blue. With some help from her dad, Seraphina discovers that in trying to do everything, she's missing out on some of her favorite things.

Seraphina Does Everything is a timely reminder that we need to slow down and spend time to relax in this hectic age where the fear of missing out is rife.

What child doesn’t want to try everything? They see a friend doing dancing and want to join in, or sport, gym, singing. There are so many extracurricular activities offered to children these days it’s enticing to want to do everything.

Seraphina is loving life rushing from one after school activity to the next. Weekends are spent driving to and playing sport. However the pace starts to take its toll and Seraphina can’t seem to perform well at anything. Her lessons are falling behind and her friends no longer invite her to parties.

She is doing it all but why is she feeling so blue?

Seraphina learns that she can still do the things she loves the most but she needs balance in her life and time to relax and enjoy her friends.

Dot listened to this story with eyes open wide because she is a girl that likes to try everything too. She decided that Seraphina was very tired because she doesn’t sleep because she might miss out on something in the night.

This beautifully illustrated book is written mainly in rhyming verse. The verse is happy and bouncy, narrated by Seraphina she is happy to be doing everything. When Seraphina feels down this part of the story is in a more subdued prose. Both narration styles suit the book perfectly.

I did get stuck a couple of times reading the story because you strike up a natural rhythm reading rhyming verse and then when it changes it takes a few lines to realise the rhythm has changed. Although on a second read (and this is a gorgeous book that will be read over and over) you know the changes in the pace and it becomes a natural progression.

Seraphina Does Everything will become a favourite story of children and parents alike and is a recommended read for parents who want to discuss the need for balance in the child’s life.

At the end of the book are tips for parents and educators on discussing the importance of balance and how to create it in a child’s life.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Rated by Dot   5/5    

About the Author:

Photo credit: Goodreads

Melissa Gratias, Ph.D., is an international speaker, coach, blogger, and author. For more than 20 years, Melissa's coaching and consulting work has improved productivity for multinational, billion-dollar companies as well as individual solopreneurs. She creates workable systems so people can accomplish their professional goals in less time and with less stress. As a result, thousands of business owners, CEOs, and other overwhelmed professionals have become more focused, effective, and balanced in their lives and work. Melissa's expertise helps people thrive, and according to her clients, she is knowledgeable, approachable, and "ridiculously fun to work with."

About the Illustrator:

Sue Cornelison graduated  with a BFA from Drake University in Art Education before heading to Florence, Italy to continue her studies at the International School of Studio Arts. Sue has worked as a full time illustrator for over a decade, exploring different techniques and styles. Sue has won many book awards, including Moonbeam, Mom's Choice, Teacher's Choice, and CCBC.