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The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
Books bring them together - but friendship will transform all of their lives. Five very different women come together in the Northern Territory of the 1970s by an exceptional new Australian author.
In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.
Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child. With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.
Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick. Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.
If you loved The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul and The Thorn Birds you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love.
In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.
Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child. With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.
Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick. Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.
If you loved The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul and The Thorn Birds you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2017
About the author
Sophie Green
12 books190 followersSophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 432 reviews
May 26, 2024
EXCERPT: 'I'm Sybil Baxter. From Fairvale.'
Sallyanne knew about Fairvale. Everyone in the area did. The Baxter family had lived on Fairvale for so long that no one in town could remember the not being there. Well, no one but the local Aboriginal tribe, but people didn't really talk about that.
'And you're joining us?' Sybil's smile was more generous now.
Sallyanne nodded and let out the breath that she didn't know she'd been holding onto.
'It's my first meeting,' she said, sure she was spluttering.
Sybil nodded towards the women gathering around a table laden with cups, saucers and scones. 'Shall we?'
Sallyanne felt herself relaxing just a little.
'What made you want to join us?' Sybil said, walking slowly.
Because I need some new friends, Sallyanne almost said but realised how that would sound. 'I heard that you talk about books sometimes,' she said instead, and was rewarded with a look of delight on Sybil's face.
'You like to read?' Sybil said, stopping before they reached the table.
Sallyanne nodded vigorously. 'I love it,' she said. 'It's my escape. It gives me -'
She bit her lip. She would sound loony if she told this woman that he loved books because they let her exist in different worlds, far from the dusty, hot town in which she'd grown up. In books she could live in London and Crete and New York City; she could inhabit the eighteenth century or New Kingdom Egypt.
ABOUT 'THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB': In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.
Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child. With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.
Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick. Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.
These five women are united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love. Books bring them together - but friendship will transform all their lives.
MY THOUGHTS: I wanted to live in this book. I never wanted it to end. But end it does on a slightly sad but hopeful note. There are so many things I still want to know . . .
The five women who are part of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club (and before you laugh, please remember that this is 1978) come from diverse backgrounds. Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station. Rita is her oldest friend and is a nurse for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs. Kate is the English wife of Ben, Sybil's younger son. Sallyanne, born and bred in Katherine, is mother to three young children and married to the drunken Mick. Della is a Texan station hand on the nearby Ghost River station. So not only are their backgrounds diverse, so are their ages.
Sophie Green writes about life events in the outback; the difficulties and the joys. These women unconsciously form a support group and help each other through the difficulties they encounter. The friendships deepen and become a lifeline to the women as the seasons (wet and dry - no autumn or spring here) and the years pass, complete with dramas and dilemmas the women have to face and contend with - death, family estrangements, infertility, inter-racial relationships (again, please remember that this book was set in 1978 and the ensuing few years), workplace sexual harassment, bullying, PTSD, and marriage breakups. It seems that no matter the year, nothing much changes in life; we all face the same issues. But the issues here are compounded by the distance from the nearest town, hospital, and other essential services, and the dangers inherent in life on a working station.
The seasons and landscape are vividly described as are the characters, whom I grew to love. I enjoyed the list of yearly highlights which helped seal the sense of time and place. During the years covered in this novel (1978 - 1981) I had my two children. An even bigger highlight than those mentioned.
I really didn't want to close the cover and leave Fairvale and its inhabitants. My only consolation is that Sophie Green has written quite a few books since this, so I have more wonderful tales that engage both my interest and emotions to look forward to.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheInauguralMeetingoftheFairvaleLadiesBookClub #SophieGreen @WaitomoDistictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: Tis is Sophie Green's debut novel. She is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Sallyanne knew about Fairvale. Everyone in the area did. The Baxter family had lived on Fairvale for so long that no one in town could remember the not being there. Well, no one but the local Aboriginal tribe, but people didn't really talk about that.
'And you're joining us?' Sybil's smile was more generous now.
Sallyanne nodded and let out the breath that she didn't know she'd been holding onto.
'It's my first meeting,' she said, sure she was spluttering.
Sybil nodded towards the women gathering around a table laden with cups, saucers and scones. 'Shall we?'
Sallyanne felt herself relaxing just a little.
'What made you want to join us?' Sybil said, walking slowly.
Because I need some new friends, Sallyanne almost said but realised how that would sound. 'I heard that you talk about books sometimes,' she said instead, and was rewarded with a look of delight on Sybil's face.
'You like to read?' Sybil said, stopping before they reached the table.
Sallyanne nodded vigorously. 'I love it,' she said. 'It's my escape. It gives me -'
She bit her lip. She would sound loony if she told this woman that he loved books because they let her exist in different worlds, far from the dusty, hot town in which she'd grown up. In books she could live in London and Crete and New York City; she could inhabit the eighteenth century or New Kingdom Egypt.
ABOUT 'THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB': In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.
Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child. With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.
Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick. Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.
These five women are united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love. Books bring them together - but friendship will transform all their lives.
MY THOUGHTS: I wanted to live in this book. I never wanted it to end. But end it does on a slightly sad but hopeful note. There are so many things I still want to know . . .
The five women who are part of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club (and before you laugh, please remember that this is 1978) come from diverse backgrounds. Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station. Rita is her oldest friend and is a nurse for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs. Kate is the English wife of Ben, Sybil's younger son. Sallyanne, born and bred in Katherine, is mother to three young children and married to the drunken Mick. Della is a Texan station hand on the nearby Ghost River station. So not only are their backgrounds diverse, so are their ages.
Sophie Green writes about life events in the outback; the difficulties and the joys. These women unconsciously form a support group and help each other through the difficulties they encounter. The friendships deepen and become a lifeline to the women as the seasons (wet and dry - no autumn or spring here) and the years pass, complete with dramas and dilemmas the women have to face and contend with - death, family estrangements, infertility, inter-racial relationships (again, please remember that this book was set in 1978 and the ensuing few years), workplace sexual harassment, bullying, PTSD, and marriage breakups. It seems that no matter the year, nothing much changes in life; we all face the same issues. But the issues here are compounded by the distance from the nearest town, hospital, and other essential services, and the dangers inherent in life on a working station.
The seasons and landscape are vividly described as are the characters, whom I grew to love. I enjoyed the list of yearly highlights which helped seal the sense of time and place. During the years covered in this novel (1978 - 1981) I had my two children. An even bigger highlight than those mentioned.
I really didn't want to close the cover and leave Fairvale and its inhabitants. My only consolation is that Sophie Green has written quite a few books since this, so I have more wonderful tales that engage both my interest and emotions to look forward to.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheInauguralMeetingoftheFairvaleLadiesBookClub #SophieGreen @WaitomoDistictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: Tis is Sophie Green's debut novel. She is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 15, 2017
It was 1978 and Fairvale Station had been in the Baxter family for generations. Now Sybil and Joe ran and cared deeply for the property and had raised two children - Lachlan and Ben – but Lachie wasn’t interested in inheriting the station. He wasn’t interested in anything to do with his family or the Territory – when he left without a word, Sybil and Joe were shocked and saddened. But Ben loved the property and was happy to help his father run it until such time as he took over the reins.
Ben had been to London for a wedding, and whilst there had met Kate. They had immediately clicked and before long were married. When Kate joined Ben on Fairvale Station, she knew the adjustment to the vast difference in conditions might take some time to get used to. But she was a hard worker and happy to do her share.
When Sybil decided to form a book club to introduce Kate to some people, it didn’t take long for her plan to fall into place. Her dearest friend Rita who was a Royal Flying Doctor nurse and based in Alice Springs would of course be a part of it. Della, who was a Texan girl and recently moved to Australia to work at the nearby Ghost River Station; and Sallyanne from Katherine, the mother to three young children and whose husband liked to drink too much, completed the group of women.
As the women’s friendships sparked and deepened, their lives continued in the harsh environment of the Northern Territory. The wet season – the dry season – two vastly different environments which ruled the lives of the many and varied people on stations in the area. The isolation of each small community; the only way of communication an open line where everyone knew what was going on. Small dramas and large – day to day events; everything was an important part of life…
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is the debut novel by Aussie author Sophie Green and it is absolutely brilliant in my opinion! The friendships between the five women shows how important it is, not just in the vastness of the Australian outback to have that contact, but everywhere; to be able to stave off loneliness and have a friend nearby if you’re in need of comfort. I loved the list of the year’s highlighted events at the beginning of each section indicating a new year. When I read through each item I’d suddenly realise just how long ago a particular event had happened. I also smiled with pleasure that the book club’s first book was Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a delightfully refreshing novel which I thoroughly enjoyed, and highly recommend.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
Ben had been to London for a wedding, and whilst there had met Kate. They had immediately clicked and before long were married. When Kate joined Ben on Fairvale Station, she knew the adjustment to the vast difference in conditions might take some time to get used to. But she was a hard worker and happy to do her share.
When Sybil decided to form a book club to introduce Kate to some people, it didn’t take long for her plan to fall into place. Her dearest friend Rita who was a Royal Flying Doctor nurse and based in Alice Springs would of course be a part of it. Della, who was a Texan girl and recently moved to Australia to work at the nearby Ghost River Station; and Sallyanne from Katherine, the mother to three young children and whose husband liked to drink too much, completed the group of women.
As the women’s friendships sparked and deepened, their lives continued in the harsh environment of the Northern Territory. The wet season – the dry season – two vastly different environments which ruled the lives of the many and varied people on stations in the area. The isolation of each small community; the only way of communication an open line where everyone knew what was going on. Small dramas and large – day to day events; everything was an important part of life…
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is the debut novel by Aussie author Sophie Green and it is absolutely brilliant in my opinion! The friendships between the five women shows how important it is, not just in the vastness of the Australian outback to have that contact, but everywhere; to be able to stave off loneliness and have a friend nearby if you’re in need of comfort. I loved the list of the year’s highlighted events at the beginning of each section indicating a new year. When I read through each item I’d suddenly realise just how long ago a particular event had happened. I also smiled with pleasure that the book club’s first book was Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a delightfully refreshing novel which I thoroughly enjoyed, and highly recommend.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
December 31, 2017
This turned out to be not quite what I expected. Sure there was a Fairvale Ladies Book Club but it was pretty scarce. It seemed to meet about twice a year and consisted of five people so there needed to be a lot more than that to fill 384 pages!
The rest was quite interesting. We followed the lives of several women living and working on stations or for the Flying Doctor service in the late 1970's and into the 1980's. There was some melodrama but also some realistic portrayal of the problems and difficulties of the time. The characters were interesting and there were some tear jerking moments.
Once I realised this was not going to be a book about books - despite the title - I enjoyed it anyway. it seemed a fair picture of life as it was for women in outback Australia at that time.
The rest was quite interesting. We followed the lives of several women living and working on stations or for the Flying Doctor service in the late 1970's and into the 1980's. There was some melodrama but also some realistic portrayal of the problems and difficulties of the time. The characters were interesting and there were some tear jerking moments.
Once I realised this was not going to be a book about books - despite the title - I enjoyed it anyway. it seemed a fair picture of life as it was for women in outback Australia at that time.
March 23, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Set in the Australian outback, starting in 1978, in a place called Fairvale, Sybil Baxter remembers all to well what it was like to arrive in such an isolated place all those years ago.
When her son Ben brings home his British wife, Sybil needs to find a way to help her settle in and not feel alone. A book club springs to mind and will the help of her friend Rita the two get the club up and running.
But the book club is more than just what is going on inside the pages, it is more about the friends, and their lives, both past and present.
Upon starting to read The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, I was surprised at how hard going I found it, and how slow the book was. If I’m being completely honest, three chapters in and I was all set for giving up. I put the book down and walked away from it. However, only a few days later I had the urge to pick it up again.
This is a book that gets better the longer you read on. Not only did the plot progress into something so touching and meaningful, but the characters all develop and evolved as the pages turned and I found myself really getting involved in their lives.
There is so much depth to this book. So many hard-hitting issues that the women have had to live through that they shared. This is a book that touched me, emotionally.
This isn’t a story that you can whizz through. This is one that must be savoured and taken slowly. It took me out of my comfort zone, and I am so happy that I returned to it, otherwise I’d of missed out on an outstanding book.
Set in the Australian outback, starting in 1978, in a place called Fairvale, Sybil Baxter remembers all to well what it was like to arrive in such an isolated place all those years ago.
When her son Ben brings home his British wife, Sybil needs to find a way to help her settle in and not feel alone. A book club springs to mind and will the help of her friend Rita the two get the club up and running.
But the book club is more than just what is going on inside the pages, it is more about the friends, and their lives, both past and present.
Upon starting to read The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, I was surprised at how hard going I found it, and how slow the book was. If I’m being completely honest, three chapters in and I was all set for giving up. I put the book down and walked away from it. However, only a few days later I had the urge to pick it up again.
This is a book that gets better the longer you read on. Not only did the plot progress into something so touching and meaningful, but the characters all develop and evolved as the pages turned and I found myself really getting involved in their lives.
There is so much depth to this book. So many hard-hitting issues that the women have had to live through that they shared. This is a book that touched me, emotionally.
This isn’t a story that you can whizz through. This is one that must be savoured and taken slowly. It took me out of my comfort zone, and I am so happy that I returned to it, otherwise I’d of missed out on an outstanding book.
September 27, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
It was a pure delight to be a part of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. From the first meeting of the club in 1978, through to the close in 1981, it was a road travelled touched with both sadness and joy. Sophie Green’s latest fictional tale is a wonderful testament to the outback and to a band of women linked together by their love of a good yarn.
In the far-reaching dusty outback plains of Fairvale station, near Katherine in the Territory, matriarch Sybil is looking for a way to surpass the isolation of her home and connect with other women. Sybil has a grand plan, to form a local book club. She enlists the help of her long time friend from nursing school Rita, who now works for the Royal Flying Doctors Service, out of Alice Springs. Sybil also invites her new daughter in law, Kate, who hails from Britain to join them. With Kate struggling to make the transition from life in a small English village to the expanse of the outback, the book club is the perfect vehicle for Kate to connect and make some new friends. Uniting the book club further is a lonely young mother of three Sallyanne and finally Della, a fearless Texan who has arrived to the local area in search of employment. Each of these five women face tests to their spirit in the years to come, as the ladies make their way through a varied collection of book club material. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a tribute to the power of friendship in isolated outback communities.
Books, friendship and the outback, what a perfect combination! I have to admit I was sold very early on with The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. This is a book with an eye-catching title and a heart-warming story inside to match. It is a story I wouldn’t both hesitate to recommend to those who are part of a book club, have been in a book club in the past or are interested in the activities of a book club. This story will take you right inside an endearing book collective and leave you with a smile on your face, along with a whole new set of friends.
I cherished the outback element of the sheer open space and the seclusion that goes with remote locales, such as Fairvale. Green competently expresses a strong sense of place in this novel. I felt every climate change and seasonal shift that occurred at Fairvale. In particular, the movement from the wet to the dry season was experienced to the fullest degree with the help of Green’s prose. This aspect of the book gave me a sturdy picture of the principal concerns of living in remote locations.
I wholly appreciated the way in which this novel is carefully constructed. It is a gentle unravelling of the events that take place in five different women’s lives, of two generations, from the years 1978 through to 1981. The book takes its time to build a picture of each character that enters the novel and the narrative shifts between each of these five protagonists. In the end, the reader is given a complete overview of each woman’s triumphs, tragedies and defining moments. The narrative is evenly spread across the group and I came away feeling a strong sense of affection between each and every one of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club.
The sense of place time period wise was a shining feature of this novel. Although I was born in the final year of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, it was great to be reminded of the world events and trends that occurred in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. It was a nice touch to begin each new year with the Fairvale ladies with a rundown of the significant happenings the defined the year. It was a fun history lesson of sorts! Green manages to convey an ideal sense of nostalgia in her latest novel.
By far, I relished the book components in The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. The opening book that kick-starts the women’s togetherness, The Thorn Birds, was the perfect choice. This quintessential outback novel seemed to work to bond the women together through their shared experience of living and working in the outback. Following on from The Thorn Birds, Green incorporates a body of fine Australian literature, along with some children’s book greats and popular novels of the era in which this book is set. The book club list, kindly provided by the author at the back of the novel, encouraged me to seek out some new titles and re-read some classics.
The sense of realism, the endearing character set and the unconditional affinity this book club develops is second to none. There are plenty of tests thrown at this strong band of women from marriage breakdown, infertility, alcoholism, inter racial relationships, homesickness, medical tragedies, death and mother nature’s strong hand,. However, the Fairvale ladies rise above it all and show us what they are made of. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a ripper yarn from an author I have come to love the work of, thanks Sophie Green!
It was a pure delight to be a part of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. From the first meeting of the club in 1978, through to the close in 1981, it was a road travelled touched with both sadness and joy. Sophie Green’s latest fictional tale is a wonderful testament to the outback and to a band of women linked together by their love of a good yarn.
In the far-reaching dusty outback plains of Fairvale station, near Katherine in the Territory, matriarch Sybil is looking for a way to surpass the isolation of her home and connect with other women. Sybil has a grand plan, to form a local book club. She enlists the help of her long time friend from nursing school Rita, who now works for the Royal Flying Doctors Service, out of Alice Springs. Sybil also invites her new daughter in law, Kate, who hails from Britain to join them. With Kate struggling to make the transition from life in a small English village to the expanse of the outback, the book club is the perfect vehicle for Kate to connect and make some new friends. Uniting the book club further is a lonely young mother of three Sallyanne and finally Della, a fearless Texan who has arrived to the local area in search of employment. Each of these five women face tests to their spirit in the years to come, as the ladies make their way through a varied collection of book club material. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a tribute to the power of friendship in isolated outback communities.
Books, friendship and the outback, what a perfect combination! I have to admit I was sold very early on with The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. This is a book with an eye-catching title and a heart-warming story inside to match. It is a story I wouldn’t both hesitate to recommend to those who are part of a book club, have been in a book club in the past or are interested in the activities of a book club. This story will take you right inside an endearing book collective and leave you with a smile on your face, along with a whole new set of friends.
I cherished the outback element of the sheer open space and the seclusion that goes with remote locales, such as Fairvale. Green competently expresses a strong sense of place in this novel. I felt every climate change and seasonal shift that occurred at Fairvale. In particular, the movement from the wet to the dry season was experienced to the fullest degree with the help of Green’s prose. This aspect of the book gave me a sturdy picture of the principal concerns of living in remote locations.
I wholly appreciated the way in which this novel is carefully constructed. It is a gentle unravelling of the events that take place in five different women’s lives, of two generations, from the years 1978 through to 1981. The book takes its time to build a picture of each character that enters the novel and the narrative shifts between each of these five protagonists. In the end, the reader is given a complete overview of each woman’s triumphs, tragedies and defining moments. The narrative is evenly spread across the group and I came away feeling a strong sense of affection between each and every one of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club.
The sense of place time period wise was a shining feature of this novel. Although I was born in the final year of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, it was great to be reminded of the world events and trends that occurred in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. It was a nice touch to begin each new year with the Fairvale ladies with a rundown of the significant happenings the defined the year. It was a fun history lesson of sorts! Green manages to convey an ideal sense of nostalgia in her latest novel.
By far, I relished the book components in The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. The opening book that kick-starts the women’s togetherness, The Thorn Birds, was the perfect choice. This quintessential outback novel seemed to work to bond the women together through their shared experience of living and working in the outback. Following on from The Thorn Birds, Green incorporates a body of fine Australian literature, along with some children’s book greats and popular novels of the era in which this book is set. The book club list, kindly provided by the author at the back of the novel, encouraged me to seek out some new titles and re-read some classics.
The sense of realism, the endearing character set and the unconditional affinity this book club develops is second to none. There are plenty of tests thrown at this strong band of women from marriage breakdown, infertility, alcoholism, inter racial relationships, homesickness, medical tragedies, death and mother nature’s strong hand,. However, the Fairvale ladies rise above it all and show us what they are made of. The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a ripper yarn from an author I have come to love the work of, thanks Sophie Green!
October 18, 2017
This is more the story of five women and their relationships rather than about a book club. But the book club is how it all started when Sybil who lives on a cattle station, Fairvale, near Katherine decides to find some companionship for her son Ben's young English wife Kate. She invites her good friend Rita, a nurse with the flying doctors, Sallyanne a young woman in town struggling with three young children and a difficult husband and Della, a Texan stockwoman on a neighbouring property, to the inaugural meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club to be held twice per year at the start and end of the dry season.
As the women get to know each other, firm friendships form and they support each other through the highs and lows of the next four years. Set in 1978-81, the author has drawn in many of the events of those years as a backdrop to her story. Although life on a cattle station may seem remote from the rest of the world there is plenty going on including romances, a runaway son, divorces, deaths, medical emergencies and plenty of description of life on a cattle station and in the Northern territory, all with a smattering of popular books read by the women. If you enjoy reading about interesting characters in an interesting place you'll enjoy this.
As the women get to know each other, firm friendships form and they support each other through the highs and lows of the next four years. Set in 1978-81, the author has drawn in many of the events of those years as a backdrop to her story. Although life on a cattle station may seem remote from the rest of the world there is plenty going on including romances, a runaway son, divorces, deaths, medical emergencies and plenty of description of life on a cattle station and in the Northern territory, all with a smattering of popular books read by the women. If you enjoy reading about interesting characters in an interesting place you'll enjoy this.
September 3, 2019
I have to start off by saying how much I loved this book. Its quite a chunky book to get through but so enjoyable you don't realise how fast you are turning the pages.
Lots of dialogue in this read, which is what I love along with some narration which builds up the surroundings for the reader to focus on and imagine and relate to.
Its based around the 1960's onwards to 1978 The North Territory had begun to self govern.
Life had become hard and lots of people were isolated which made things very difficult for these women.
There is Sybil:
She misses her son, very protective Mother, lovely warm woman. How is she going to fill her spare time?
There is Kate:
She is Sybil's daughter-in-law who is living many miles from her hometown. Finding it hard to adjust.
There is Sallyanne:
She has three beautiful children who she dotes on. But, that doesn't stop a Mother dreaming of a better future does it.
Her husband however makes life very difficult.
There is Rita:
Who is Sybil's best longstanding friend. They have know each other for many a year. She now lives far away in Alice Springs.
There is Della:
She comes originally from Texas. Now living in Australia with no aims, no goals, and needs to make her life more meaningful.
In each of these women's lives there is a hole to be filled, a need and a want.
We experience how these women come together and support each other through some amazing times, some difficult times within their own families, and some 'eye opening' times.
Sybil comes up with an idea.
All the women have something in common, they love to read. Books.
They love to read and fill they're days with joy from this.
They form a book club, but not only that, they form a friendship and long lasting true bonds.
I would like to thank Little Brown Books for sending me this delicious paperback to read.
Lots of dialogue in this read, which is what I love along with some narration which builds up the surroundings for the reader to focus on and imagine and relate to.
Its based around the 1960's onwards to 1978 The North Territory had begun to self govern.
Life had become hard and lots of people were isolated which made things very difficult for these women.
There is Sybil:
She misses her son, very protective Mother, lovely warm woman. How is she going to fill her spare time?
There is Kate:
She is Sybil's daughter-in-law who is living many miles from her hometown. Finding it hard to adjust.
There is Sallyanne:
She has three beautiful children who she dotes on. But, that doesn't stop a Mother dreaming of a better future does it.
Her husband however makes life very difficult.
There is Rita:
Who is Sybil's best longstanding friend. They have know each other for many a year. She now lives far away in Alice Springs.
There is Della:
She comes originally from Texas. Now living in Australia with no aims, no goals, and needs to make her life more meaningful.
In each of these women's lives there is a hole to be filled, a need and a want.
We experience how these women come together and support each other through some amazing times, some difficult times within their own families, and some 'eye opening' times.
Sybil comes up with an idea.
All the women have something in common, they love to read. Books.
They love to read and fill they're days with joy from this.
They form a book club, but not only that, they form a friendship and long lasting true bonds.
I would like to thank Little Brown Books for sending me this delicious paperback to read.
September 22, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up. Truth be told I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up on my own accord, but coincidentally our book club was meeting right next door to our local bookshop who was hosting a meet and greet with the author of this book so it was rather a no brainer that our club unanimously picked it for bookclub. Meeting the author always adds an extra dimension of interest to the reading experience and I came out from reading this book with an appreciation for the writing process as well as a true appreciation for the Australian outback as depicted ever so wonderfully by the author. Female friendship is the predominant thread and it was a joy to see the comradeship these women had through life’s tough moments. The outback life is harsh but it also has it’s unique charm and this group of friends really rallied around each other at their most difficult and vulnerable moments in life, sure there were some cliches, a few too many love interests that were convenient but that did not diminish my enjoyment. Under the harsh elements and the lack of prospects it was totally fine with me. The strength of these friendships really felt believable and the bond of their shared unique experience made me think differently about outback living, the meaning of community means so much more when living in such a remote area. It was nice to dip into a whole new world totally unfamiliar to myself living in the comfort of the suburbs of Sydney.
August 25, 2024
Het betreft hier het type feel-good boek, waarbij de problemen zich aandienen bij de oplossingen die worden beschreven. Als je bereid bent door deze clichés en beperkte schrijfstijl heen te lezen dan is de gekozen setting van Australië en tijdsperiode eind jaren 70, begin jaren 80 best interessant. Enorme onvoorstelbare afstanden die overbrugd moeten worden plus het gebrek aan communicatiemiddelen: geen mobiele telefoon, geen internet. Hoe gaan mensen daarmee om? Ook is de praktijk van Flying Doctors mooi weergegeven. Toch was dat bij aanvang niet wat mij deed besluiten dit boek te willen lezen. Dat ging over een leesclub, over boeken, op een onwaarschijnlijke plek: de Australische outback, waar het leven keihard is. Niets van dat alles in dit boek, de pagina’s over de leesclub zijn spaarzaam, over de boeken vrijwel niets en behalve dat het rood en stoffig is niets over het land, de geschiedenis, de oorspronkelijke bewoners. Gemiste kans.
Gelezen met GR boekenclub FNL.
Gelezen met GR boekenclub FNL.
August 12, 2017
The words book club might have drawn me to The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, and that part of it lived up to its promise, however it is the setting in the Northern Territories and the friendships and lives of the five women that kept me reading as well.
I would imagine life is hard in this area, and the challenges that the women face in this book and in actual life are enormous. The seasons of wet and dry, the isolation, the lack of the many entertainment opportunities we take for granted. And this book is set in the 1970's and early 80's. Yet on the other hand there is a beauty in the landscape and I am sure something that draws people to this harsh environment.
The five women were all interesting and I liked slowly getting to know them. Sybil - the matriarch is the one who starts up the book club. The book club helps to bring the women together and even if they have to have it over the radio because the weather is bad, it goes ahead. And they really do discuss the books and through them become involved more in each others lives. Sybil already has a great friend in Rita - from early working days. Kate her daughter-in-law is English and is facing into a place so different to where she grew up. Della is a stock person and hails from Texas, and she finds the northern territories grow on her all the time. Sallyanne really benefits from the friendships, she is a bright, intelligent, young woman in a marriage that is going south. I liked her penchant for the romance genre too!
These women face into loss and grief, the hardships of the job, the pain of miscarriage, the difficulties of marriage and the absolute pain of racism. Through it all they support each other - walk with each other - and through it all make a life worth living.
An at times emotional and satisfying read, I'd be delighted to belong to the Fairvale Ladies Book Club!
I would imagine life is hard in this area, and the challenges that the women face in this book and in actual life are enormous. The seasons of wet and dry, the isolation, the lack of the many entertainment opportunities we take for granted. And this book is set in the 1970's and early 80's. Yet on the other hand there is a beauty in the landscape and I am sure something that draws people to this harsh environment.
The five women were all interesting and I liked slowly getting to know them. Sybil - the matriarch is the one who starts up the book club. The book club helps to bring the women together and even if they have to have it over the radio because the weather is bad, it goes ahead. And they really do discuss the books and through them become involved more in each others lives. Sybil already has a great friend in Rita - from early working days. Kate her daughter-in-law is English and is facing into a place so different to where she grew up. Della is a stock person and hails from Texas, and she finds the northern territories grow on her all the time. Sallyanne really benefits from the friendships, she is a bright, intelligent, young woman in a marriage that is going south. I liked her penchant for the romance genre too!
These women face into loss and grief, the hardships of the job, the pain of miscarriage, the difficulties of marriage and the absolute pain of racism. Through it all they support each other - walk with each other - and through it all make a life worth living.
An at times emotional and satisfying read, I'd be delighted to belong to the Fairvale Ladies Book Club!
October 13, 2017
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a novel by Australian author and publisher, Sophie Green. It may be twenty-six years but Sydney ex-nurse, Sybil Baxter hasn’t forgotten the culture shock and the sense of dislocation she felt when Joe Baxter first brought her to Fairvale Station near Katherine in the Northern Territory. And now her youngest son, Ben has brought his English bride, Kate to live here. To allay her some of this London girl’s loneliness, Sybil decides to gather together some women to form a book club, combining companionship with culture.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club takes place on Sunday, June 25th, 1978. Sybil has invited her oldest and best friend, Rita who nurses for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Felicity Major, Sybil’s next-door neighbour at Ghost River Station declined the invitation, but suggested their female stockman, a young Texan woman named Della, as an avid reader. Sallyanne Morris is a nervous young mother of three whom Sybil met at a recent Country Women’s Association meeting, and she becomes the fifth Lady in the Club.
Each of these five main characters has an issue with which they are dealing, although for some, this changes as the story progresses over three years. Della has to handle chauvinist attitudes in her predominantly male job; Kate tries to be of use in her strange new world while attempting to fall pregnant; Sybil yearns for her eldest son, intentionally missing and rebuffing all contact with his family; Rita, at peace with a life on her own, suddenly faces the possibility of late-in-life love; and Sallyanne tries to be the best mother she can while her alcoholic husband is verbally and psychologically abusive.
Green easily conveys the late seventies and a delightful touch that fixes the story categorically in that era is the summary, at the change of each year, of the coming year’s news events and current affairs. Her settings, too, are well portrayed, with descriptive prose that renders both the dusty heat of the dry and the cloying humidity of the wet almost palpable. Green’s characters are multi-faceted and develop along with the story. Most are appealing and it is difficult not to hope for the best outcomes for them, although some are to be denied a Hollywood-style Happily-Ever-After ending, thus anchoring Green’s tale firmly in the real world.
Green’s story includes many of the usual challenges and traumas that ordinary life presents: love and marriage, birth and death, jealousy, friendship and loyalty, pregnancy and miscarriage, happiness and heartache. Also touched upon are the challenges of farming in a land of extremes, sexism and racism, and the burden of community expectations. This is a heart-warming read and readers will be eager to see what this talented author does next.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club takes place on Sunday, June 25th, 1978. Sybil has invited her oldest and best friend, Rita who nurses for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Felicity Major, Sybil’s next-door neighbour at Ghost River Station declined the invitation, but suggested their female stockman, a young Texan woman named Della, as an avid reader. Sallyanne Morris is a nervous young mother of three whom Sybil met at a recent Country Women’s Association meeting, and she becomes the fifth Lady in the Club.
Each of these five main characters has an issue with which they are dealing, although for some, this changes as the story progresses over three years. Della has to handle chauvinist attitudes in her predominantly male job; Kate tries to be of use in her strange new world while attempting to fall pregnant; Sybil yearns for her eldest son, intentionally missing and rebuffing all contact with his family; Rita, at peace with a life on her own, suddenly faces the possibility of late-in-life love; and Sallyanne tries to be the best mother she can while her alcoholic husband is verbally and psychologically abusive.
Green easily conveys the late seventies and a delightful touch that fixes the story categorically in that era is the summary, at the change of each year, of the coming year’s news events and current affairs. Her settings, too, are well portrayed, with descriptive prose that renders both the dusty heat of the dry and the cloying humidity of the wet almost palpable. Green’s characters are multi-faceted and develop along with the story. Most are appealing and it is difficult not to hope for the best outcomes for them, although some are to be denied a Hollywood-style Happily-Ever-After ending, thus anchoring Green’s tale firmly in the real world.
Green’s story includes many of the usual challenges and traumas that ordinary life presents: love and marriage, birth and death, jealousy, friendship and loyalty, pregnancy and miscarriage, happiness and heartache. Also touched upon are the challenges of farming in a land of extremes, sexism and racism, and the burden of community expectations. This is a heart-warming read and readers will be eager to see what this talented author does next.
October 19, 2017
Set in the late 1970s and moving through to 1981, this book tells the story of a group of women who live in the harsh landscape of the Northern Territory. To try and help her youngest son’s English wife, Kate, settle in to life on Fairvale and make friends, Sybil starts a book club. Sybil invites her dear friend Rita, who is a nurse with the Flying Doctor Service, Sallyanne a young mother of three. Her neighbour, Felicity, suggests Della, a young Texan working on their property might also be interested. The women all come across as real. I liked getting to know the differing personalities and the issues each woman has. I loved the setting with its vibrant colours and could almost taste the red dust and the feel the isolation that happens with the wet season. I also like the way it gives a rundown of main events that happen in the world during the years mentioned.
I bought this book after being somewhat dissatisfied with two previous reads. This one got me in from the start. I felt like I was right there with these women. I also liked the book choices that the women read and sometimes disagree on in their book club. The story covers a lot of family issues including prejudice, difficult family dynamics, divorce, and death, as well as romance, friendship and medical emergencies that are not easily dealt with in the outback.
I have been looking forward to this book for a while and was not disappointed. My interest and emotions were engaged throughout. And yes, there was the odd tear or two. A lovely read that I would recommend to all who like Australian rural stories and books that deal with strong women, real issues and the importance of friendship and books.
I bought this book after being somewhat dissatisfied with two previous reads. This one got me in from the start. I felt like I was right there with these women. I also liked the book choices that the women read and sometimes disagree on in their book club. The story covers a lot of family issues including prejudice, difficult family dynamics, divorce, and death, as well as romance, friendship and medical emergencies that are not easily dealt with in the outback.
I have been looking forward to this book for a while and was not disappointed. My interest and emotions were engaged throughout. And yes, there was the odd tear or two. A lovely read that I would recommend to all who like Australian rural stories and books that deal with strong women, real issues and the importance of friendship and books.
July 9, 2018
The title of this book is a little misleading (as in, I was expecting the ending to be the inaugural meeting). We not only have the inaugural meeting early on, but many others through the course of the novel. The rest of the book is, of course, what happens between meetings to the five book club members.
Unfortunately, the characterisation of the five women isn’t the strongest; they could all be interchangeable. Their plots too, are pretty cliched and soap opera-ish.
The book is set in the Northern Territory and I thought this would be a great opportunity for Green to offer the reader some detailed descriptive passages of the unique flora and fauna found there, but… Green’s writing is just too basic and I was seriously disappointed in this arena.
I was also looking forward to something special with the book due to the time setting (the late 70s, early 80s). Other than the odd reference to news and current affairs of the time, such as Charles and Diana’s wedding and the death of Azaria Chamberlain, it could have been set in any time. Some of the time’s racism and sexism is touched upon, but I wouldn’t say there’s any great heartache portrayed with these problems, or earth shattering revelations that reflect on our current social or political issues.
The books the club read are all well known but they aren’t studied or discussed in any great depth. They might make for interesting recommendations for a non-Aussie reader, but as an Australian I knew them all and therefore, I wasn't inspired to add anything to my TBR list.
You might be able to tell, I was really disappointed in this book. I didn’t care about any of the characters or their (apparent) dilemmas. Green’s writing style offered no chemistry when it came to the romantic relationships, no heartbreak for the sad plotlines and no real surprises overall. I was expecting some lovely feminist literature and instead I feel like I've just read a really bad novelisation of an episode of the Flying Doctors.
2 of out 5
Unfortunately, the characterisation of the five women isn’t the strongest; they could all be interchangeable. Their plots too, are pretty cliched and soap opera-ish.
The book is set in the Northern Territory and I thought this would be a great opportunity for Green to offer the reader some detailed descriptive passages of the unique flora and fauna found there, but… Green’s writing is just too basic and I was seriously disappointed in this arena.
I was also looking forward to something special with the book due to the time setting (the late 70s, early 80s). Other than the odd reference to news and current affairs of the time, such as Charles and Diana’s wedding and the death of Azaria Chamberlain, it could have been set in any time. Some of the time’s racism and sexism is touched upon, but I wouldn’t say there’s any great heartache portrayed with these problems, or earth shattering revelations that reflect on our current social or political issues.
The books the club read are all well known but they aren’t studied or discussed in any great depth. They might make for interesting recommendations for a non-Aussie reader, but as an Australian I knew them all and therefore, I wasn't inspired to add anything to my TBR list.
You might be able to tell, I was really disappointed in this book. I didn’t care about any of the characters or their (apparent) dilemmas. Green’s writing style offered no chemistry when it came to the romantic relationships, no heartbreak for the sad plotlines and no real surprises overall. I was expecting some lovely feminist literature and instead I feel like I've just read a really bad novelisation of an episode of the Flying Doctors.
2 of out 5
April 12, 2021
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green was an entertaining piece of Women's Fiction. Set in the Northern Territory I enjoyed the way it highlighted some of the difficulties, and many of the joys of living on a remote property in outback Australia.
Sybil and Joe live on Fairvale a remote property hundreds of thousands of hectares in size and some two hours drive from the nearest town. Not only is it their family home but its a business and between the family, the local aboriginals and the workers it's something of a community. Sharing the work and their home is their son Ben and his new English wife Kate. These four are the central characters but the story also revolves around Sybil's friend Rita, a nurse based in Alice Springs who works with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Sallyanne a local Katherine woman, wife and mother of three young children; and Della, a young Texan girl working as a station hand at Ghost River Station near Katherine. Sybil realises it's a huge adjustment for Kate having moved from London to Outback Australia so in an effort to help her settle in and make some female friends she starts a bookclub. Meeting a few times a year it's a chance for the ladies to not only discuss books but also to chat about their lives and ultimately to provide friendship and to support each other through a number of life's milestones such as the death of a loved one, a marriage separation, fertility issues, a serious accident, and new relationships.
Sure it was a light read but it was enjoyable even though I never felt overly moved by any of the characters plights. I particularly liked the way readers were given a sense of Outback Australia with its wet and dry seasons, the native flora and fauna, distance education, the dangers involved in living so far from a town when medical attention was required. Surprisingly there was only a small part of the book dedicated to aboriginal culture which I thought was a shame but I liked that the aboriginals in the story were included in a positive light.
Read for my in person book club it was my first by this author and I would read her again if the opportunity presented itself. I listened to this as an Audiobook and narrator Fiona Macleod did a good job with the many accents and characters
Sybil and Joe live on Fairvale a remote property hundreds of thousands of hectares in size and some two hours drive from the nearest town. Not only is it their family home but its a business and between the family, the local aboriginals and the workers it's something of a community. Sharing the work and their home is their son Ben and his new English wife Kate. These four are the central characters but the story also revolves around Sybil's friend Rita, a nurse based in Alice Springs who works with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Sallyanne a local Katherine woman, wife and mother of three young children; and Della, a young Texan girl working as a station hand at Ghost River Station near Katherine. Sybil realises it's a huge adjustment for Kate having moved from London to Outback Australia so in an effort to help her settle in and make some female friends she starts a bookclub. Meeting a few times a year it's a chance for the ladies to not only discuss books but also to chat about their lives and ultimately to provide friendship and to support each other through a number of life's milestones such as the death of a loved one, a marriage separation, fertility issues, a serious accident, and new relationships.
Sure it was a light read but it was enjoyable even though I never felt overly moved by any of the characters plights. I particularly liked the way readers were given a sense of Outback Australia with its wet and dry seasons, the native flora and fauna, distance education, the dangers involved in living so far from a town when medical attention was required. Surprisingly there was only a small part of the book dedicated to aboriginal culture which I thought was a shame but I liked that the aboriginals in the story were included in a positive light.
Read for my in person book club it was my first by this author and I would read her again if the opportunity presented itself. I listened to this as an Audiobook and narrator Fiona Macleod did a good job with the many accents and characters
September 12, 2017
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club how a resourceful woman living on an isolated station in the Northern Territory was able to help her family and friends to cope with the isolation. Ben Baxter and his wife Katie was trying to become pregnant, and Sybil Baxter started to worry about how Katie was dealing with not falling pregnant and the isolations of Fairvale. So Sybil came up with the idea of setting up the Fairvale Ladies Book Club and involving women in the community and her friend Della. The readers of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club will follow the adventures of the ladies of the book club to see what happens to them.
Wow, I love reading The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. I am so impressed with Sophie Green thinking a way to help rural women cope with loneliness and depression by developing a monthly book club. I like Sophie Green writing style and her portrayal of her characters. I like the way Sophie Green at the beginning of each part highlighted what was going on in that year. By doing this Sophie Green allow her readers to feel that they are part of the story.
Readers of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club will learn about the Royal Flying Doctors Services and the important role they have for rural communities. Also, readers of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club will understand the value of the CWA in rural communities. Reading The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, you will start to think about the problems women have when they move into isolated rural communities in Australia.
I recommend this book.
Wow, I love reading The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. I am so impressed with Sophie Green thinking a way to help rural women cope with loneliness and depression by developing a monthly book club. I like Sophie Green writing style and her portrayal of her characters. I like the way Sophie Green at the beginning of each part highlighted what was going on in that year. By doing this Sophie Green allow her readers to feel that they are part of the story.
Readers of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club will learn about the Royal Flying Doctors Services and the important role they have for rural communities. Also, readers of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club will understand the value of the CWA in rural communities. Reading The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, you will start to think about the problems women have when they move into isolated rural communities in Australia.
I recommend this book.
November 11, 2017
Ugh it felt like a soapie!
I was excited to read the beginning and enjoyed the description of life in Katherine in the 1970s. I really found the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff really annoying, and I doubted that a farmer’s wife would know so little about how he does his work.
I was excited to read the beginning and enjoyed the description of life in Katherine in the 1970s. I really found the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff really annoying, and I doubted that a farmer’s wife would know so little about how he does his work.
October 3, 2017
Cliched characters & plot. An OK read.
October 18, 2017
This was an enjoyable read set mostly in the Northern Territory at the end of the 1970’s/early 1980’s.
The descriptions of life in the Northern Territory were wonderful - of how life revolves around “the wet” and “the dry”, and the vibrant colours with new life. Although I’ve never been up that way, it is described just how I imagine it! And such a hard life - especially at that time, since there was no internet and even phones weren’t commonplace!
I really enjoyed getting caught up in the lives of the women of the book club, although there was less book club discussion than I’d been anticipating. There were some very sad or difficult events in the lives of these women at times - there were even a couple of times when I felt a bit emotional - I didn’t cry, and while I wasn’t actually heart-broken, I think I might have chipped a few bits off my heart!
With thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Hachette for the copy of this that I won.
The descriptions of life in the Northern Territory were wonderful - of how life revolves around “the wet” and “the dry”, and the vibrant colours with new life. Although I’ve never been up that way, it is described just how I imagine it! And such a hard life - especially at that time, since there was no internet and even phones weren’t commonplace!
I really enjoyed getting caught up in the lives of the women of the book club, although there was less book club discussion than I’d been anticipating. There were some very sad or difficult events in the lives of these women at times - there were even a couple of times when I felt a bit emotional - I didn’t cry, and while I wasn’t actually heart-broken, I think I might have chipped a few bits off my heart!
With thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Hachette for the copy of this that I won.
November 13, 2017
A good book to read on holiday. The number of cliches grated on me but it could have also been the mood I was in. The story seemed to wander on down an indiscernible path at times. It tried hard to be that book that gives the reader a look into the lives of different characters but to me they were just shallow, saccharine sweet versions of real women.
August 23, 2017
I've made some new friends - Sybil, Kate, Rita, Della and Sallyanne - and I'd love to go to their next book club! A gem, I loved it.
March 31, 2018
I really liked this book. There was a varied collection of ladies and a few men of different ages who all had interesting stories and situations. The timeline was Australia 1978-1981 and what I also liked was the page of key historic events of each year on a page as it went into a new year of the story.
Sybil is The wife of Joe. They own Fairvale. They have a happy marriage and two sons. Both are grown up (Lachie & Ben) Ben is the younger son and is married to English girl Kate. Lachie is the son who took off the year before and they haven't seen him for dust. Lachie and Ben are like chalk and cheese. Ben is the strong and dependable one where as Lachie is a horrible individual and it takes a good portion of the book for his mother to realise that things are better without him although it is totally understandable that Sybil tries to not give up on him.
Sybil decides to create a book club. The area isn't exactly a hive of social activity and she wants to do something to bring people together and also help her daughter-in-law make friends. The other people that join this book club is a female stockwoman from another station called Della. She is from America and around Kate's age. Then there is Sybil's best friend Rita who works for the flying doctor service. Rita has never married although she has had her share of "romance" Sallyanne is just a lonely woman in an abusive marriage with three young children to raise. It's her only real outlet from motherhood and carefully treading around her drunken husband.
Through books and spending time with each other the women bond into a close sisterhood. Each having their own unique set of situations. There is some tragedy and some heartbreak through the years with these ladies. Some is resolved and some is a hope for the future but they always have each others backs through whatever life throws at them.
There is a list of the books at the back of the novel as well as the author's reasons for choosing the books mentioned in the story.
Sybil is The wife of Joe. They own Fairvale. They have a happy marriage and two sons. Both are grown up (Lachie & Ben) Ben is the younger son and is married to English girl Kate. Lachie is the son who took off the year before and they haven't seen him for dust. Lachie and Ben are like chalk and cheese. Ben is the strong and dependable one where as Lachie is a horrible individual and it takes a good portion of the book for his mother to realise that things are better without him although it is totally understandable that Sybil tries to not give up on him.
Sybil decides to create a book club. The area isn't exactly a hive of social activity and she wants to do something to bring people together and also help her daughter-in-law make friends. The other people that join this book club is a female stockwoman from another station called Della. She is from America and around Kate's age. Then there is Sybil's best friend Rita who works for the flying doctor service. Rita has never married although she has had her share of "romance" Sallyanne is just a lonely woman in an abusive marriage with three young children to raise. It's her only real outlet from motherhood and carefully treading around her drunken husband.
Through books and spending time with each other the women bond into a close sisterhood. Each having their own unique set of situations. There is some tragedy and some heartbreak through the years with these ladies. Some is resolved and some is a hope for the future but they always have each others backs through whatever life throws at them.
There is a list of the books at the back of the novel as well as the author's reasons for choosing the books mentioned in the story.
April 30, 2019
Wat een prachtig boek! Ik heb meer dan eens een traantje gelaten bij dit oprechte verhaal. In De leesclub aan het einde van de wereld beginnen vijf vrouwen in de Australische outback een leesclub. Twee keer per jaar overbruggen ze de enorme afstanden die hun scheiden om te praten over boeken en het leven. Langzaam worden de vrouwen vriendinnen, misschien zelfs familie. Ik had niet verwacht dat dit boek me zo zou raken, maar ik leefde zo ontzettend mee met de personages. En ik herkende ook de manier waarop ze voor zichzelf een surrogaat familie creëren, bijvoorbeeld omdat familie ver weg woont. Prachtig.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Boekvinder.be.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Boekvinder.be.
October 8, 2020
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is a novel by Australian author and publisher, Sophie Green. The audio version is narrated by Fiona Macleod. It may be twenty-six years but Sydney ex-nurse, Sybil Baxter hasn’t forgotten the culture shock and the sense of dislocation she felt when Joe Baxter first brought her to Fairvale Station near Katherine in the Northern Territory. And now her youngest son, Ben has brought his English bride, Kate to live here. To allay her some of this London girl’s loneliness, Sybil decides to gather together some women to form a book club, combining companionship with culture.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club takes place on Sunday, June 25th, 1978. Sybil has invited her oldest and best friend, Rita who nurses for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Felicity Major, Sybil’s next-door neighbour at Ghost River Station declined the invitation, but suggested their female stockman, a young Texan woman named Della, as an avid reader. Sallyanne Morris is a nervous young mother of three whom Sybil met at a recent Country Women’s Association meeting, and she becomes the fifth Lady in the Club.
Each of these five main characters has an issue with which they are dealing, although for some, this changes as the story progresses over three years. Della has to handle chauvinist attitudes in her predominantly male job; Kate tries to be of use in her strange new world while attempting to fall pregnant; Sybil yearns for her eldest son, intentionally missing and rebuffing all contact with his family; Rita, at peace with a life on her own, suddenly faces the possibility of late-in-life love; and Sallyanne tries to be the best mother she can while her alcoholic husband is verbally and psychologically abusive.
Green easily conveys the late seventies and a delightful touch that fixes the story categorically in that era is the summary, at the change of each year, of the coming year’s news events and current affairs. Her settings, too, are well portrayed, with descriptive prose that renders both the dusty heat of the dry and the cloying humidity of the wet almost palpable. Green’s characters are multi-faceted and develop along with the story. Most are appealing and it is difficult not to hope for the best outcomes for them, although some are to be denied a Hollywood-style Happily-Ever-After ending, thus anchoring Green’s tale firmly in the real world.
Green’s story includes many of the usual challenges and traumas that ordinary life presents: love and marriage, birth and death, jealousy, friendship and loyalty, pregnancy and miscarriage, happiness and heartache. Also touched upon are the challenges of farming in a land of extremes, sexism and racism, and the burden of community expectations. This is a heart-warming read and readers will be eager to see what this talented author does next.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club takes place on Sunday, June 25th, 1978. Sybil has invited her oldest and best friend, Rita who nurses for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Felicity Major, Sybil’s next-door neighbour at Ghost River Station declined the invitation, but suggested their female stockman, a young Texan woman named Della, as an avid reader. Sallyanne Morris is a nervous young mother of three whom Sybil met at a recent Country Women’s Association meeting, and she becomes the fifth Lady in the Club.
Each of these five main characters has an issue with which they are dealing, although for some, this changes as the story progresses over three years. Della has to handle chauvinist attitudes in her predominantly male job; Kate tries to be of use in her strange new world while attempting to fall pregnant; Sybil yearns for her eldest son, intentionally missing and rebuffing all contact with his family; Rita, at peace with a life on her own, suddenly faces the possibility of late-in-life love; and Sallyanne tries to be the best mother she can while her alcoholic husband is verbally and psychologically abusive.
Green easily conveys the late seventies and a delightful touch that fixes the story categorically in that era is the summary, at the change of each year, of the coming year’s news events and current affairs. Her settings, too, are well portrayed, with descriptive prose that renders both the dusty heat of the dry and the cloying humidity of the wet almost palpable. Green’s characters are multi-faceted and develop along with the story. Most are appealing and it is difficult not to hope for the best outcomes for them, although some are to be denied a Hollywood-style Happily-Ever-After ending, thus anchoring Green’s tale firmly in the real world.
Green’s story includes many of the usual challenges and traumas that ordinary life presents: love and marriage, birth and death, jealousy, friendship and loyalty, pregnancy and miscarriage, happiness and heartache. Also touched upon are the challenges of farming in a land of extremes, sexism and racism, and the burden of community expectations. This is a heart-warming read and readers will be eager to see what this talented author does next.
October 30, 2017
I have absolutely adored reading The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. True to the era and the location in which it is set, this novel is a real slice of rural social history, the spirit of Australian outback station life converging with the reality of living so remotely. With a cast of likable characters, your time at Fairvale Station will pass all too quickly, despite the hefty page count of the novel.
While I would have loved more of the book club to take centre stage throughout – particularly since this was the whole premise of the novel – this is the only thing I can fault. The story, the characters, the seasonal atmosphere, the remote location, the history; it was all so wonderfully threaded together, with not a single dull moment at all. The addition of the timeline of notable world events at the beginning of each new year/section added a lovely touch of nostalgia. I also appreciated the additional author notes at the end about each of the novels read by the ladies of Fairvale. It’s all of these little extras that often make a novel go from being a great read to a standout pick of the year.
"There were key moments in every life when decisions had to be made in a second even though they had the potential to irrevocably alter everything that came after them. Sybil had experienced them before. She remembered how they felt: how the world became quiet and narrow. How each breath seemed momentous. Time changed form and sometimes it never changed back."
I love the way this story showcases the bonds of friendship, reinforcing the importance of having and maintaining relationships despite distance and time between visits. There is one terrific scene where the ladies have their book club meeting via two-way radio – just marvellous! While it would be easy to romanticise station life, Sophie Green approaches it with more authenticity. The highs and the lows, the burdens as well as the freedoms, with the end result being a story that has all the hallmarks of a future Australian classic.
"Fairvale was a home and a workplace; it was also, for her, a living thing. It changed shape as people came and went, and the seasons turned. If she’d been asked to say where its heart was, where its brain resided, she could give answers but they would change too."
I really enjoyed this novel, reading it voraciously over the weekend and I’m keen to discuss it with my own book club, which fortunately, can meet face to face and far more often than the Fairvale Ladies Book Club!
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is book 66 in my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
While I would have loved more of the book club to take centre stage throughout – particularly since this was the whole premise of the novel – this is the only thing I can fault. The story, the characters, the seasonal atmosphere, the remote location, the history; it was all so wonderfully threaded together, with not a single dull moment at all. The addition of the timeline of notable world events at the beginning of each new year/section added a lovely touch of nostalgia. I also appreciated the additional author notes at the end about each of the novels read by the ladies of Fairvale. It’s all of these little extras that often make a novel go from being a great read to a standout pick of the year.
"There were key moments in every life when decisions had to be made in a second even though they had the potential to irrevocably alter everything that came after them. Sybil had experienced them before. She remembered how they felt: how the world became quiet and narrow. How each breath seemed momentous. Time changed form and sometimes it never changed back."
I love the way this story showcases the bonds of friendship, reinforcing the importance of having and maintaining relationships despite distance and time between visits. There is one terrific scene where the ladies have their book club meeting via two-way radio – just marvellous! While it would be easy to romanticise station life, Sophie Green approaches it with more authenticity. The highs and the lows, the burdens as well as the freedoms, with the end result being a story that has all the hallmarks of a future Australian classic.
"Fairvale was a home and a workplace; it was also, for her, a living thing. It changed shape as people came and went, and the seasons turned. If she’d been asked to say where its heart was, where its brain resided, she could give answers but they would change too."
I really enjoyed this novel, reading it voraciously over the weekend and I’m keen to discuss it with my own book club, which fortunately, can meet face to face and far more often than the Fairvale Ladies Book Club!
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is book 66 in my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
December 31, 2021
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club is an engaging and beautifully written book set mostly in and around the Northern Territory in the 1970s. As we follow five women who form a friendship which takes the reader on a journey of emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a well-written book. Aussie author Sophie Green is fast becoming another favorite author of mine and I look forward to reading more of her books. Highly recommended.
March 18, 2020
Such a beautiful depiction of strong women, doing what they need to do in Australia's harsh outback. I loved this story and the concept that something as simple as a bookclub can bring people together. First rate.
August 12, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish a beautifully written story about five woman who come together in the outback for a book club. Sybil Baxter is the matriarch of Fairvale Station she came here as a young bride many years ago and is very happy with her husband Joe they have two sons and a daughter in law of course life is never perfect but is what you make of it and Sybil worries about her young English daughter in law Kate and hence the book club is formed never thinking how much it would help all five of them.
Sybil invites her best friend Rita who is living in Alice Springs working with the flying Doctors then daughter in law Kate and also Della a young woman from Texas working on the neighbouring station Ghost River and Sallyanne a young mother from the town of Katherine to join her in being the first members of the book club, this starts strong friendships between all five and they discuss more than books over their three years, of course they cannot meet as often as they would like because of the weather there is no travelling in the wet season.
I loved getting to know these woman and the people that are in their lives the strength that they show through some very tough times the outback can be a hard place to live and these woman rock. There are men in their lives that work hard and show their love and there are some men that just don’t. I felt like I was there with these Ladies as they discussed the books their first book is one that I loved and read in one sitting, and had me smiling, but above all I loved how they helped each other through thick and thin.
This book is set between 1978 and 1981 I married in 1977 so there was a lot of familiar events and incidents that I knew about and MS Green made me feel close to the characters even though I have never visited the outback it is a place I would love to go to. The book club was a fabulous idea, I am sure that even though the stations have lots of workers the woman could often feel lonely.
I don’t want to give too much away just the this is a fabulous read with a cast of amazing characters that I highly recommend, it is moving and shows so much emotion there were tears and smiles there is joy and yes there is heartache but that is to be expected in life and MS Green has done it so well. There is an ending that will leave you smiling seeing characters get their HEA and leave you with hope for others. I loved this one thank you it is one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
Sybil invites her best friend Rita who is living in Alice Springs working with the flying Doctors then daughter in law Kate and also Della a young woman from Texas working on the neighbouring station Ghost River and Sallyanne a young mother from the town of Katherine to join her in being the first members of the book club, this starts strong friendships between all five and they discuss more than books over their three years, of course they cannot meet as often as they would like because of the weather there is no travelling in the wet season.
I loved getting to know these woman and the people that are in their lives the strength that they show through some very tough times the outback can be a hard place to live and these woman rock. There are men in their lives that work hard and show their love and there are some men that just don’t. I felt like I was there with these Ladies as they discussed the books their first book is one that I loved and read in one sitting, and had me smiling, but above all I loved how they helped each other through thick and thin.
This book is set between 1978 and 1981 I married in 1977 so there was a lot of familiar events and incidents that I knew about and MS Green made me feel close to the characters even though I have never visited the outback it is a place I would love to go to. The book club was a fabulous idea, I am sure that even though the stations have lots of workers the woman could often feel lonely.
I don’t want to give too much away just the this is a fabulous read with a cast of amazing characters that I highly recommend, it is moving and shows so much emotion there were tears and smiles there is joy and yes there is heartache but that is to be expected in life and MS Green has done it so well. There is an ending that will leave you smiling seeing characters get their HEA and leave you with hope for others. I loved this one thank you it is one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
September 29, 2017
Read the full review on my blog (noting this is a review of both the print book and the audiobook): https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
In addition to having a very long title, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green has something for everyone. Well, when I say everyone, I’m assuming most readers will be female. Just cos.
But young / old; married / single; city dweller / country gal, you’ll most certainly find yourself identifying with one or more of the five women featured in this novel as they’re all relatable, likeable and very very real.
I hadn’t read the backcover blurb so it took me a while to realise this was set in the past and there were reminders of past events scattered throughout (Skylab crashing to earth, Ronald Reagan becoming President, Diana and Charles getting married) – annual milestones Green included between ‘years’.
The book’s very much centred around the concept of ‘family’ – either the one we’re born into or ones we make ourselves. And it touches on relationships, love, loss and grief and we’re reminded of how the world has changed and the impacts that technology and access to information have had on our daily lives, but also on our beliefs and societal norms.
It’s obvious Green loves the Northern Territory and the land: there’s a real appreciation for the beauty AND the harsh reality of the vast emptiness, of the impacts of distance and inaccessibility and the mighty power of mother nature.
I know it’s a cliche, but it needs to be said…. the book will certainly appeal to bookclubs. But Green kindly adds notes at the end about the books the women have read and referenced (and there are some great Aussie literary icons); and includes bookclub conversation starters about the book. About a bookclub.
In addition to having a very long title, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green has something for everyone. Well, when I say everyone, I’m assuming most readers will be female. Just cos.
But young / old; married / single; city dweller / country gal, you’ll most certainly find yourself identifying with one or more of the five women featured in this novel as they’re all relatable, likeable and very very real.
I hadn’t read the backcover blurb so it took me a while to realise this was set in the past and there were reminders of past events scattered throughout (Skylab crashing to earth, Ronald Reagan becoming President, Diana and Charles getting married) – annual milestones Green included between ‘years’.
The book’s very much centred around the concept of ‘family’ – either the one we’re born into or ones we make ourselves. And it touches on relationships, love, loss and grief and we’re reminded of how the world has changed and the impacts that technology and access to information have had on our daily lives, but also on our beliefs and societal norms.
It’s obvious Green loves the Northern Territory and the land: there’s a real appreciation for the beauty AND the harsh reality of the vast emptiness, of the impacts of distance and inaccessibility and the mighty power of mother nature.
I know it’s a cliche, but it needs to be said…. the book will certainly appeal to bookclubs. But Green kindly adds notes at the end about the books the women have read and referenced (and there are some great Aussie literary icons); and includes bookclub conversation starters about the book. About a bookclub.
August 27, 2017
I picked this book up because it was about a group of Aussie ladies, in the Outback, starting a book club. I wanted to see how they started it, how they managed to get together but also what sort of books they liked to read. I fell in love with a group of women and the place that they call home - Fairvale.
This is a little gem of Australian fiction that really gives you a sense of our country during the time period it is set, as well as opening our eyes to some classic Australian fiction, all whilst delving into the lives of our 5 main characters. It made me want to go back and re-read the Thorn Birds again.
We have a group of strong women, held together by Sybil who started the group as a means to helping her isolated daughter-in-law find some friends her own age. They developed into a family unit who stand by one another when things get tough.
You can feel the author's passion for the NT Outback as you read. I didn't realise that there was quite such an difference in their Wet and Dry season, so thank you for opening my eyes to that.
This is a little gem of Australian fiction that really gives you a sense of our country during the time period it is set, as well as opening our eyes to some classic Australian fiction, all whilst delving into the lives of our 5 main characters. It made me want to go back and re-read the Thorn Birds again.
We have a group of strong women, held together by Sybil who started the group as a means to helping her isolated daughter-in-law find some friends her own age. They developed into a family unit who stand by one another when things get tough.
You can feel the author's passion for the NT Outback as you read. I didn't realise that there was quite such an difference in their Wet and Dry season, so thank you for opening my eyes to that.
May 18, 2019
Wat eer *FIJN* boek is dit!
Ik had wat moeite met in het verhaal komen, en gooide de personages ook door elkaar. Toen nam ik hem mee op een lange treinreis, en las ik 80% in 1 dag. Ik kon me er haast niet van losscheuren.
Dit is een heel fijn en warm boek waarin de vriendschappen tussen de personages op een prachtige manier voor je ogen groeien en vorm krijgen. Je leeft drie jaar lang intens mee met de personages.
Het voelt alsof dit mijn vriendinnen zijn. Ik ga ze missen nu ik het boek uitheb!
Ik had wat moeite met in het verhaal komen, en gooide de personages ook door elkaar. Toen nam ik hem mee op een lange treinreis, en las ik 80% in 1 dag. Ik kon me er haast niet van losscheuren.
Dit is een heel fijn en warm boek waarin de vriendschappen tussen de personages op een prachtige manier voor je ogen groeien en vorm krijgen. Je leeft drie jaar lang intens mee met de personages.
Het voelt alsof dit mijn vriendinnen zijn. Ik ga ze missen nu ik het boek uitheb!
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