I'm planning to read Ruth Park's 1977 Miles Franklin Award winning novel Swords and Crowns and Rings. I'd love to have you join me for a #SCRreadalong.
Text Publishing produced a new edition with an introduction by Alice Pung in 2012, which is what I will be reading.
Ruth Park’s Miles Franklin-winning novel brilliantly evokes Australia in the midst of the Great Depression. Written with warmth and affection, Swords and Crowns and Rings is a powerful story about human nature and the strength of an unlikely love.
Growing up in an Australian country town before World War I, Jackie Hanna and Cushie Moy are carefree and innocent in their love for each other. But Jackie is a dwarf, and his devotion to the beautiful Cushie is condemned by her parents.
This is the story of their lifelong odyssey, and of the triumph of a special kind of courage.
In Swords and Crowns and Rings, Ruth Park brilliantly captures the mood of Australia in the first part of the twentieth century.
Lisa @ANZ LitLovers Litblog is also planning on hosting a Christina Stead readalong during November.
I thought that my #SCRreadalong could take up the first two weeks of November and that my participation in the #Steadalong could take up the second half of the month.
I will post a Master Post early on the 1st November where you can sign up or start posting reviews of any Aussie books you've read recently.
I hope you can join me again for #AusReadingMonth. Your company makes it all worthwhile.
Looking forward to participating again this year. I have a couple of Sulari Gentil books I'd like to read but also a book about Matthew Flinders I've wanted to read for years. I might need to do an all nighter or two, like you & Nancy did!
ReplyDeleteDelighted you'll be joining us Carol. I have a couple of Gentill's too - they're such fun reads.
DeleteThe biggest literary event of the year...on my agenda! Of course I'm participating!
ReplyDeleteCarol, glad you are joining! Now the fun part starts...which book to read?
I cant wait to see what you pick this year Nancy :-)
DeleteHm, I can think of a couple of books that might be a good choice...
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased that you're doing this again. I have a review of Ada Cambridge's The Three Miss Kings to write and, over in the LibraryThing Virago Group, a few of her contemporaries have been mentioned. Catherine Martin, Rosa Praed )who I've read before) and Jessie Couvreur are all interesting me now.
ReplyDeleteAll great choices Jane. I also have Cambridge's book on my TBR shelf, but have never read the other three. I look forward to seeing what you come up with next :-)
DeleteI will write a review of The Railway Man's Wife, and I have one more book to read that might qualify. I will Swords and Crowns and Rings my audiobook for November. I might be a little late for the read-along (listen-along), but better late than never...
ReplyDeleteThat will be great having someone to discuss the story with - whenever you get to listen to it - that's great!
DeleteI hope you enjoyed The Railwayman's Wife as much as I did, although it's pace & topic may not be for everyone.