March book.

I agree with poshgran that there was a lack of depth to the characters. The story trotted along at pace and, at times, was quite predictable. I was glad it wasn't happily ever after for everyone or it would have been completely unbelievable.
I enjoyed this book as an easy read and could see it as one of those untaxing early evening mini series.

I have just finished the book and really loved it. The short chapters made it easily readable and allowed the facility to pass from one set of characters to another. The description of the scenery was evocative and the experience of living in such a remote area was presented in a way that made me want to taste the life in the Northern Territory temporarily. Living there permanently would be a nightmare and I would have thought Kate might have been more homesick than she was.
On a personal note ,the mention of the children's book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie brought back vivid memories for me.I spent my early childhood in Australia and actually owned a copy of this book .My parents must have liked it as it was one of the few possessions I was able to bring back to UK. I was the envy of all because no-one else had a copy here .I wish I had kept it.
My question to Sophie is to ask which was her favourite female character to write about .I guess it might have been Sybil as she was mine .Was she based on anyone you knew ?

I finished reading this book last night. Coincidentally, I also read an article in the Guardian about a new genre called Up Lit www.theguardian.com/books/2018/mar/16/up-lit-eleanor-oliphant-gone-girl-fiction-kindness?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other and I think this book fits that very well.

I've never been to Australia so the physical descriptions fascinated me. I'd never heard of black cockatoos so had to look those up, and they're beautiful. I also thought the communication difficulties were well-described, especially in light of how the UK almost ground to a halt with just a bit of snow recently!

The book isn't really about a book club, it was a device for holding together the plot. My copy has a list at the back of the books studied and why the author chose them, which was interesting.

Rita's story was the one which most gripped me and seemed most probable. Kate seemed a bit dappy and dim, to me, and with the least believable story.

I was expecting a revelation about Lachlan but it never came, there was no explanation for him at all and the scenario in Sydney was so improbable that I laughed when it occurred!

Della & Stan's difficulty surprised me as I'd have thought even in such a remote area things might have changed by the 80's. Also, if Stan was aware of adverse reactions to 'mixed' couples, I don't understand why he allowed his relationship with Della to go so far. It feels like he chickened out when he could have fought back.

Overall, I enjoyed the book for its description of women being supportive of each other. It's not highbrow literature but it's entertaining.

This was a fascinating read.
I enjoyed the vivid descriptions both of the landscape and the hardships encountered in the outback.
The characters were all strong women coping with the challenges and the isolation in their own way.
I would like to have heard more about Sybil’s elder son as I think that would have made some aspects of the plot more plausible.
I would like to ask Sophie why she chose the title as the story was so much more than ‘The inaugural meeting ‘

I felt I wanted the book to "sink in" before I reviewd (& I haven't read others) as I was left feeling a little short-changed.

There is no doubt that the storyline was complete & there was resolution for all concerned. There was light & shade in the writing but I felt a certain lack of depth & colour in the characters individually, their relationships & the settings.
I was not convinced by some of the societal attitudes displayed which seemed to be more reminiscent of the 50s rather than late 70s/early 80s; I think I would have been overall more comfortable if the storyline had actually been set in the earlier time period.

My question to Sophie Green would be about writing in third or first person - what are the challenges for an author in making the choice for a story such as this?

Meant to read 'I was in Australia.....' !

This sounds a really good book it was in Australia when we had to apply for it so missed out. Would really like to get hold of a copy and wondered if some kind person who received one and has read it would care to pass it on. Would be happy to send stamped padded envelope for posting. Please PM me if you have a copy that you no longer need. I have passed on several books that I have been lucky enough to receive - a great way to recycle!

A story of five woman in Australia each living in a different part of the northern territories who come together to talk about books. The book club is really an instrument in bringing these women together. They begin to trust each other and share their problems and loneliness. I really enjoy this book. I loved the women and the friendship they found in each other. Any unsavoury male characters in the story were dispensed with quickly which made me smile. The descriptions of the Australian outback, the weather,the soil, and the whole vastness of it added to the atmosphere of the book. This book gave me a nice warm feeling and I shed a few tears at the end.
My question to the author is...I found it strange that mixed relationships were a no go in the eighties. Would it have been different if the couple had lived in a big city like Sydney? Were the big ranches in the Northern Territories backward in their thinking or was it the same in the whole of Australia?

I’ve just finished my freebie Gransnet copy. Australia’s not a country I really know anything about so it was an interesting read on that score. My question to the author would be about relationships with Aboriginal people, are they still frowned on these days?

I wonder if certain parts of this vast country are still as isolated as they were then; with some places in almost total lockdown during the wets.
Yes!
And it has been very wet in the past couple of weeks.

It is an unusually long time - perhaps they're waiting for the GN reviews before publishing more

I didn't notice that it was just for Kindle, sorry Jalima.
We received paperbacks with a "pre release copy" note. Didn't know it would be that long to wait though.

Thanks for my copy of The inaugural meeting of the fairvale ladies book club, it is a great read and such an eye-opener to life in Australia, I wonder if certain parts of this vast country are still as isolated as they were then; with some places in almost total lockdown during the wets.

Oh, I just clicked on that link Pittcity and it says:
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club Paperback – 27 Dec 2018
There doesn't seem to be a hardback copy.

I have downloaded it on to my Kindle now, thank you everyone.
However, there's nothing like a 'real' book !

Ive read my copy that I was lucky enough to be sent through Gransnet.
Did anyone else notice the "creative" punctuation.

This is my first time , what is the next step for giving my opinion/review?
Hope you are all enjoying it.

Great book, am half-way through it, thank you. Really enjoying getting to know the characters and their friendships. It would frighten me living out in such remote places, especially in times of emergency.

Jalima available from 1st March according to this page.

As I missed applying for this I thought I'd order it from Amazon myself.

However, the message on the Amazon page says:
^This title will be released on December 27, 2018.^

I can pre-order if I wish!!

Glad to hear that your book has emerged from the snow GeminiJen No spoilers from me, but be ready for a easy and enjoyable read immersed in the Australian outback!

Greetings from the frozen North! My book has just arrived....Has it been stuck in a snow drift somewhere?
Having given up hope, I'd started reading another...so no spoilers, please, while I catch up with you all
...Looks like a good read...

CariGransnet I've been waiting for the thread and only just spotted your comment!!!

Thank you for my copy. It arrived in last week's snow and was a welcome diversion. Glorious to be transported to the heat of Australia and I'm sure I must have saved on heating during the time it took me to read it. I do have a good imagination.

What a great book. An easy read, very descriptive and it did remind me of The Thorn Birds. I particularly like the layout of the lists of timelines of events in the years the story is set. It really helped me to imagine the scene for the following chapters.

Purpledaffodil comments on the men who conveniently got themselves out of the way and I'd like to ask Sophie Green, the author if she feels this is a common trait in Australian culture as it is a situation that I've come across before. It's a vast country where communication can be difficult and where it is simple to lose oneself in work on stations, head off travelling or take up residence in a city. Combine this with an indigenous culture of going walkabout and a desire to isolate oneself from the usual responsibilities, it's very easy to conveniently disappear.

Like other Gransnetters I am now inspired to read more of the Australian classics referred to by Sophie, thank you.

Ah,I see what you mean*Jalima*.You are referring to the daily email from GN which does indeed have a link once a month to the book.

Received my book yesterday, looking forward to reading it this weekend.

Thanks! looking forward to reading the book.

Received my copy and I’ve already started reading it. Thank you