Anthea Hodgson

The War Nurses, inspired by the author's own family history, is a sensitively-written story of friendship, courage, and endurance. It is based on the true events of the Bangka Island Massacre, and not only does it have the power to inform and inspire, but it can also break your heart. I've read non-fiction accounts of the things nurses were forced to endure in Southeast Asia during World War II, and Hodgson's novel ranks right up there with them.

The author's notes and acknowledgments at the end of the book let readers know important facts and how she pieced together the story. The mind boggles at what these women were forced to endure and at how they managed to use their wits and courage to survive in unbelievable circumstances. (One of the things that made the nurses' situation even worse was that they were not considered to be prisoners of war. They were merely "internees" and not given any of the paltry "extras" prisoners of war were allowed. This really put their creativity to the test.)

As sad and horrifying as The War Nurses could be, I also found it heartwarming to read how important and life-affirming friendship was to these women, and what they would do to endure, to live to tell others of what really happened.… (plus d'informations)

Inspired by the experiences of Australian nurses, including the author’s great aunt, in Singapore during WWII, The War Nurses is a remarkable and moving story of courage, tragedy and friendship from Anthea Hodgson.

It’s 1941 when the Queen Mary sets sail carrying members of Australia’s armed forces overseas. Among them are volunteer enlisted nurses Margot, Beth, Lola, and Minnie, bunk mates who become friends on their journey. Stationed in Singapore, the women tend to the allied forces, proud to be of service, but they are forced to flee when the Japanese invade the island barely a year later. Herded onto the Vyner Brooke along with 60 other Australian nurses, over a hundred injured soldiers and dozens of expat evacuees, mostly women and children, the ship attempts an escape only to be strafed with bombs in the Bangka Strait.

The fate of Hodgson’s four heroines, and their fellow survivors, illuminate those of their real-life counterparts. Around 150 people survived the sinking of the ship and made their way to the closest shore clinging to rafts and debris. Tragically around fifty met their death on Radji Beach, among them 22 Australian nurses, at the hands of a party of Japanese soldiers, except for one lucky escapee. The rest of the survivors were captured, separated by gender, and then interned in camps until the war ended in 1945. Not all lived to be released.

I was already broadly familiar with the events on Bangka Island but the perspectives of the author’s characters create a sense of immersion in the ordeal. Written with genuine respect, compassion and empathy for the people on whom Hodgson’s characters are based, Margot, Beth, Lola, and Minnie are fully realised amalgamations. Hodgson relates how they endure their bleak circumstances with dignity, loyalty, wit, resourcefulness and determination.

As Hodgson later notes, many of the incidents in the story that seem unbelievable or exaggerated, are actually true. It’s a harrowing tale that brought me to tears more than once. That anyone survived, not just physically, seems almost a miracle. Yet the horror is tempered by warm and inspiring moments of friendship and support, small rebellions, and even a touch of romance.

A compelling novel, The War Nurses is a heartfelt and deserved tribute to the 65 members of the Australian Army Nursing Service who died and survived the sinking of Vyner Brooke.… (plus d'informations)

The Cowgirl by Anthea Hodgson isn’t just a gorgeous cover. It’s an in-depth exploration of the things that hold us back, whether you’re young or old, set in a small farming community in Western Australia. It also has the added bonus of a great dual narrative, set in both the 1950s and present day. It’s a gentle read that comes together to pack a punch as threads come together, secrets are exposed and the characters are forced to make decisions.

Teddy lives on the farm with her grandmother Deirdre. Her father has died and her mother has gone back to the city to live. Teddy tried university in the city, but came back and is firmly under Deirdre’s wing. Teddy rarely leaves the farm and shuns the spotlight. Whatever she has to hide won’t come to light while Deirdre is around to protect her. Her grandmother hasn’t had the easiest of lives – she too, has worked on the farm nearly all her life, but Deirdre has accepted her fate and grumpily accepts it. But one day Deirdre announces a plan to dig up the house of her youth that her father destroyed in a drunken rage and invites archaeologist Will to lead the dig. Will has a few secrets of his own, but it’s Teddy who he is instantly attracted to. He tries to convince Teddy to come out of her shell with mixed results. Meanwhile, Deirdre’s youth is explored as to why she made those choices.

The Cowgirl was a slow burn for me. I found Teddy a bit frustrating in her inability to leave the farm and almost blind acceptance of the monotony of her life. I think this was because the reader doesn’t understand why she has chosen that life until fairly late in the novel. It’s clear that Teddy is trying to overcome her issues for Will, but when she’s running hot and cold with no obvious reason, it got a bit stale. Deirdre was my favourite characters – she’s spiky, grumpy and wonderfully blunt with Teddy and Will. It’s not until later that you can see and understand the fierce love she has for Teddy. Was she right in doing what she did to ‘protect’ Teddy? I think Deirdre was doing her best in the only way that she knew how. The glimpses into Deirdre’s life combine a mixture of emotions – happiness, frustration, anger, sadness and then utter jaw dropping disbelief. If Deirdre hadn’t of been so tough, perhaps Teddy wouldn’t have been on the farm for such a long time. We also get a glimpse of characters from The Drifter – it was lovely to see Cate again!

As the novel went on and I understood the characters and their motivations better, I enjoyed The Cowgirl more. I’ve never read a story that focused on excavating a buried house before, which was exciting! The way this combined with family dynamics, secrets and developing relationships made for a solid read.

Thank you to Penguin Australia for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com… (plus d'informations)

The Drifter is a book that sneaks up on you, until you’re completely captivated by its charm and melancholy. I’m a fan of Australian rural fiction, yet The Drifter is a unique fit as it deals with loss, secrets, life, death and grief. Despite the heavy subject matter, it’s an ultimately uplifting story.

The book begins as Cate arrives at her great aunt’s farm. Cate’s always been a drifter, darting from job to job with no real purpose but after a devastating accident she’s forced to reassess her life. Life in Perth is not what it used to be, so Cate decides to help Great Aunt Ida in the middle of nowhere. It’s not what the party girl expected, with no mobile phone reception and Ida’s thorough job of hoarding decades’ worth of items. Cate is willing to have a go though, and Ida is more than happy to accept her. Ida is a gentle soul with a great deal of wisdom. In her own quiet ways, she integrates Cate into the small community, increasing her self-worth. She doesn’t question or judge, but lets Cate grieve and heal in her own time.

One thing that Cate does find a bit odd is the way Ida insists that there’s the ghost of her late husband doing jobs on the farm. After a little detective work, Cate discovers ‘Henry’, living in an old shack. Ida is delighted that her ghost has a name (and a nice body), but Cate is much more wary around Henry. Swaggies (swagmen) aren’t really a modern thing in Australia, so what has Henry got to hide? A drifter like him must have some secrets too…

Little by little, both Cate and Henry’s reasoning for hiding and secrets come to the fore. However, Hodgson still leaves a few key points to the very end, so the reader is rather surprised at the outcome! But overall, the book has a few overarching themes: life and death, redemption and facing your fears. The three main characters (Cate, Henry and Ida) all tackle these in their own way with different results. While they do this, they support each other’s journey. It was pleasing to read about the support offered to Cate through the small rural community, just by being Ida’s grand-niece. She was accepted and later supported by them when her past came to the country. The stark contrast between Ida and Cate’s parents’ treatment of her was uncomfortable to read at times. While Ida gives unconditional love, Cate’s parents are boxed in by societal constraints and a mulish belief that their way is the only right way. Offering Henry and Ida as a foil to that lets the reader know that there isn’t one correct track in life, that you can still ‘make it’ no matter how circuitous your road is.

Overall, the writing comes across as gentle, but Hodgson has a firm grip on the story. Underneath the multilayered characters lies a strong plot that guides the reader through Cate, Henry and Ida’s journeys. It’s sweet, sad but most of all hopeful. I really look forward to reading more of Anthea Hodgson’s work after this confident debut novel.

Thank you to Penguin Books and the author for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com… (plus d'informations)