I selected this book for my book club. I went to the book shop and asked for something that wasn’t depressing and this was what they suggested. I didn’t really like it, but I didn’t hate it either. I didn’t care about the characters at all – the dialogue (particularly between Vivian and Gabriel) was wooden. It started well – the first chapter was great and I had such high hopes. I was also hoping for more Perth/Fremantle imagery – this novel could have been set any where.
Here’s the blurb …
Meet the Budd-Doyles: a suburban family in shambles, and about to unravel further as Helen Budd-Doyle in one fell swoop destroys her bed, abandons the family home, and buys a second-hand bookshop form a man in a pub – leaving her bewildered junk-collecting husband Arnold to sort out his life. But he can’t. Enter Gabriel, one of their sons, wreaking havoc as he pushes his father to sell off the accrued junk of a lifetime. Add a little sibling rivalry with his brother Vivian fresh home and licking his wounds from a life in far north . . . and watch the fireworks on Jacaranda Street.
The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street is a brilliant black comedy by a unique new Australia voice, its world peopled by an extensive cast of misfits – eccentrics, innocents, cranks and pariahs – and driven by an inexorable urge to make order out of chaos.
If only life was like a book . . . in that everything made sense and you know all will be resolved in the end. If only life was like a book so that, if you decided you didn’t like it, you could take it back and get another one.
Here are some other reviews …
http://chrlreviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/bookshop-on-jacaranda-street-by-marlish.html
http://rodneylibraries.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-review-bookshop-on-jacaranda.html
How cowardly to hide behind anonymity and to throw mud at an author’s book. I don’t mind that you don’t like my book. It’s all so subjective. However your review was badly written, quite scatty. The reivew seemed indicative ,I believe, of something else going on with its author. To me, you sound like you’re not only depressed, but that you’re a frustrated writer. Well, you’re in luck because I conduct all day writing workshops on how to write a novel if you’d like to come along and learn. You can phone me on – 9339 8194
My next whole day workshop will be in late January. Goes from 10 am. – 4p.m. Morning and Afternoon tea, provided. $60 for the day. And the people already attending are just wonderful, I’m sure you’d get on with them as like you they’re passionate about books and writing.
My email address is – Marlish@westnet.com.au.
But if you want to learn how to review books correctly contact Bill Yeoman at the West – he’s the best!
I even think he’s giving a class on how to write 100 word reviews in November at U.W.A. Just contact UWA extension, they’ll know.
Good luck and all the best
Marlish Glorie
Wow! I’ve obviously hit a nerve – I was simply expressing my opinion, but good on you for getting in a plug for your writing course!
-Racquel
Wow, talk about a touchy author. The review was an opinion. It doesn’t have to be well written, its just an opinion posted on the net. Some people might not like your book. Get over it.
I purchased the book but never got through it. The first chapter was interesting but as the story progressed I found it progressively less and less entertaining.
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I read this book and absolutely loved it! Can’t wait for your next book,Marlish. I know of others who liked the book too – perhaps it is because we are mature readers (in age) and love to read a book that does not need annilising and probing in to this and that! I respect the other reviews but also think that someone elses views are not always your own.