Aussie Readers discussion

Mine is Forever by Mildred Cram



I have, over the years, collected a few such gems, but the above book is always the first to spring to mind when asked this question.

☼♄Jülie  wrote: "Mine is Forever by Mildred Cram



I have, over the years, collected a few such gems, but the above book is always the first to spring to m..."

This might sound silly, but 'Pussy Willow' struck me as such a book. A children's book and with a simple point, but that point seemed at the time to be profound, and the illustrations were mystical, almost sensuously so.

Tito wrote: "☼♄Jülie  wrote: "Mine is Forever by Mildred Cram



I have, over the years, collected a few such gems, but the above book is always the fi..."

Tito, it often seems strange, the things that resonate with us, but I think it's lovely when we recognise it and have one of those profound moments that stay with us 🤗
Have you ever revisited Pussy Willow?

Julie, thank you for those words! I am a writer, currently about to finish an odd little book with the aim of just what you have shown.

I am going to spend some time thinking about such a book that I might have read. In the meantime, this one sprang to mind.

Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles made me fling the book across the room (honestly, I'm not that sort of person and never before or since have I done that). It was the sheer injustice of the outcome of Tess's life and I began to see that for some young girls life is still very unfair. I ached for her and I think it changed me - yes me, not just my outlook.

I’m not sure if Carol Lefevre fits the obscure criteria but Murmurations certainly was a profound little book that I will read over and over.

Anna Faversham wrote: "Julie, thank you for those words! I am a writer, currently about to finish an odd little book with the aim of just what you have shown.

I am going to spend some time thinking about such a book th..."

Oh Anna I can understand why Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy would have had such an effect, I listened to the audio version many years ago and had a real love hate reaction to it. Though I loved the writing! It's a great story teller who can elicit such passion in their audience.
I'm glad those words got your thinking cap on for you 😊 I'll look forward to maybe reading your "odd little book" 🤗

Veronica ⭐️ wrote: "I’m not sure if Carol Lefevre fits the obscure criteria but Murmurations certainly was a profound little book that I will read over and over."

I haven't heard of this one Veronica but I see it's only new this year, it sounds intriguing so I will have look out for it 😊

So many... So very many...

I Am David by Anne Holm

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Roadmarks by Roger Zelazny

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

...Oh and Willy Wonka!
You can learn so much from fantasy tales "if you just but look" 🤗

Deborah wrote: "So many... So very many...I Am David by Anne Holm Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Roadmarks by Roger Zelazny..."

I clearly remember having I am David read to my class in primary school. It must have been Grade 5, because the reader was Sister Anne Louise... This book definitely made an impression on me, as I bought a secondhand copy some years back. I haven't re-read it yet though.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was read to us in year 2 (7 years of age). I can clearly remember the teaching student's Irish accent.

I craved a copy of that book, and devoured them all. I still read them on occasion, and love them.

Books really are magical aren't they? In that they can evoke so much emotion...often lasting a lifetime, and sometimes/oftentimes creating lasting changes in us. They are sooo important to young minds....and older ones!

☼♄Jülie  wrote: "The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

...Oh and Wil..."

Willy Wonka! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was the light of my life for a while when I was about 6 years old! I have carried that little book all around the world with me and I still have it.

Andrea wrote: "Deborah wrote: "So many... So very many...I Am David by Anne Holm Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Roadmarks by Roger Zelazn..."</i>

[book:I Am David is a pretty lovely reading experience. I re-read it sometimes when I feel like being sad and happy at the same time, if that makes any sense at all.

Leonie wrote: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was read to us in year 2 (7 years of age). I can clearly remember the teaching student's Irish accent.

I craved a copy of that book, and devoured..."

The Narnia books were a big part of my childhood and I am re-reading them this year. To my horror, I realised I no longer have my copy of The Last Battle so I don't know what I am going to do about that...

Deborah wrote: "☼♄Jülie  wrote: "The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by [author:Lewis Carroll|81..."

Haha I was a bit older with my experience of Willy Wonka! It's funny though, I hated the movie for a long time, but loved the story and the music. I love how these stories touch people at different levels and seem to hold something for everyone.

Deborah wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Deborah wrote: "So many... So very many...I Am David by Anne Holm Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Roadmarks by [auth..."
[book:I Am David is a pretty lovely reading experience. I re-read it sometimes when I feel like being sad and happy at the same time, if that makes any sense at all.

Yes, I get that ;)

I absolutely loved reading Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee at school and have my own copy which I re-read from time to time, together with all of Laurie Lee's other writing. Also loved learning, when at school in Australia in the 1960's, The Man from Snowy River by A.B. Paterson - I have this still on Kindle and in a book called Banjo Paterson's Images of Australia. Another book I really loved reading when living in Australia as a child was February Dragon by Colin Thiele but sadly have been unable to find a reasonably-priced copy here in the UK.

Kim wrote: "Another book I really loved reading when living in Australia as a child was February Dragon by Colin Thiele but sadly have been unable to find a reasonably-priced copy here in the UK"

I'll keep an eye out for you here, Kim. The problem is really the postage rates, which are absolutely ludicrous at the moment! In the meantime, Fishpond have it on their worldwide site for a not too inflated price and free shipping: https://www.fishpond.com/Books/Februa...

Sarah wrote: "Kim wrote: "Another book I really loved reading when living in Australia as a child was February Dragon by Colin Thiele but sadly have been unable to find a reasonably-priced copy here in the UK"

..."

Thanks Sarah, I'll have a look at that. Amazing how some books just linger in your memory, even from childhood! Read this when we were living in Orange, NSW in 1960's - didn't I see in one of your reviews that you lived in central NSW in your early years?

Kim wrote: "Read this when we were living in Orange, NSW in 1960's - didn't I see in one of your reviews that you lived in central NSW in your early years?"

Yes - I grew up in Wagga!

Is that Wagga Wagga? Sure I can remember that - don't know how far it is from Orange but we used to travel to pony club meets as my dad was president of Orange Pony Club for several years and may have gone that far!

Yes, colloquially known by the single "Wagga" - it's about 300km SE of Orange.

As a child: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett then A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

As an adult: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

...and Euphoria by Lily King

And yes, I still have copies of all 4 treasured books 🤗

Kim wrote: "my dad was president of Orange Pony Club for several years and may h..."

There's a club for orange ponies?

My two books in this category would be: The Stone Cage and The Water Babies