tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post5388478851986120839..comments2023-07-10T01:17:13.383+10:00Comments on Brona's Books: The Spare Room | Helen Garner #AWWBronahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-49654217690546800212020-11-25T10:17:57.374+11:002020-11-25T10:17:57.374+11:00As Nicola finally says towards the end of the stor...As Nicola finally says towards the end of the story, "Death's at the end of this, isn't it."<br />It's something we all have to confront - how to die with dignity? What makes a good death? How do we accept out time has come? As you say, no answer is readily available, but it is good when a book gives you pause to think about these things.Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-6028348274472844972020-11-25T10:10:11.945+11:002020-11-25T10:10:11.945+11:00It was rather harrowing in places, but she was try...It was rather harrowing in places, but she was trying to understand how we go on when we've done something really bad. How do we process it, accept it, understand it, acknowledge it when it is just so much easier to lie about it and deny it. That's what I found fascinating.Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-86078902956176445532020-11-25T10:04:04.278+11:002020-11-25T10:04:04.278+11:00Yes, I probably didn't say so succinctly above...Yes, I probably didn't say so succinctly above, but I was also impressed. But I do have a thing for books about facing our mortality and processing grief and loss. Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-88657606078370391992020-11-25T00:52:00.038+11:002020-11-25T00:52:00.038+11:00This is a very interesting review, Brona, I'm ...This is a very interesting review, Brona, I'm adding this novel(la ?) to my TBR list, thanks for sharing :)IzaBzhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07928164883897873147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-57060720440397664142020-11-24T22:16:57.712+11:002020-11-24T22:16:57.712+11:00This is an exceptional review of an exceptional bo...This is an exceptional review of an exceptional book. Thank you. I read this for my book club in 2010 so it is not immediately fresh in my mind but I do remember it made a big impact on me. But I do remember approaching it with the thought could I do what the narrator did and care for a dying friend? (I think I knew the answer to that already but still) but after reading I also wondered what it is we all need to equip ourselves with in order to face death - "So I imagined that somewhere in her free-wheeling nature she was quietly equipping herself, as everyone must, with whatever it is one needs to die" No answer to either but good to be made to think about both questions again. Thank you Bronachristine_ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12997063799546207654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-65348214630256783772020-11-24T18:27:42.405+11:002020-11-24T18:27:42.405+11:00I've read a few of HG books, essays (...Helen ...I've read a few of HG books, essays (...Helen Garner’s writing is clean and crisp<br />..nothing is slick or shallow)and collected short fiction<br />...but having read the stress she endured writing book about crime (This House of Grief)...I don't know if my psyche can bear the facts.NancyElinhttps://nancyelin.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-79466438529604025202020-11-24T02:21:11.527+11:002020-11-24T02:21:11.527+11:00Glad you enjoyed this Brona, it's not an easy ...Glad you enjoyed this Brona, it's not an easy read but I was very impressed.Cathy 746bookshttp://www.746books.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-82815155175495718592020-11-23T19:33:26.141+11:002020-11-23T19:33:26.141+11:00This one sounds intriguing.This one sounds intriguing.Mysticahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10941269615559681014noreply@blogger.com