GRANT LEISHMAN
  • ABOUT
  • MY BOOKS
    • THE SECOND COMING
    • RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST
    • HOLY WAR
    • JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN
    • PARANORMAL ALLEY
    • TORTURED MINDS
    • THE PHOTOGRAPH
  • ARE YOU AN AUTHOR?
  • MY BLOG
  • Be A Part of the LIMITLESS Anthology
  • BOOK REVIEWS
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • CONTACT & LINKS
  • AFFILIATE - Rachel McGrath
  • THAT'S LIFE
    • FOOD - PINOY STYLE
    • THE GREAT BEETROOT HUNT
    • GETTING AROUND THE METRO
  • PHILIPPINES
    • PLACES TO VISIT >
      • BORACAY
      • OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
  • SPORT
    • NEW ZEALAND SPORT
    • PHILIPPINE SPORT
  • TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
    • THE SECRET
  • GALLERY
  • ABOUT
  • MY BOOKS
    • THE SECOND COMING
    • RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST
    • HOLY WAR
    • JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN
    • PARANORMAL ALLEY
    • TORTURED MINDS
    • THE PHOTOGRAPH
  • ARE YOU AN AUTHOR?
  • MY BLOG
  • Be A Part of the LIMITLESS Anthology
  • BOOK REVIEWS
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • CONTACT & LINKS
  • AFFILIATE - Rachel McGrath
  • THAT'S LIFE
    • FOOD - PINOY STYLE
    • THE GREAT BEETROOT HUNT
    • GETTING AROUND THE METRO
  • PHILIPPINES
    • PLACES TO VISIT >
      • BORACAY
      • OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
  • SPORT
    • NEW ZEALAND SPORT
    • PHILIPPINE SPORT
  • TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
    • THE SECRET
  • GALLERY
GRANT LEISHMAN

quarter acre block by janet gogerty 

19/7/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
​There was definitely something in Quarter Acre Block by Janet Gogerty that resonated with me. Although not from an immigrant family and growing up in New Zealand suburbia rather than Perth suburbia, perhaps it was just the time period that instantly clicked with me. As the author talked about school and teenagers growing up in the sixties, I felt an instant empathy with Simon and his siblings. 
Quarter Acre Block could be described as the quintessential biography of tens of thousands of British families who took that incredible decision to escape dour, cold, wet, post-war Britain and head down-under to the land of opportunity, the "lucky" country, the sun, the sea and the sand that Australia had to offer. Known as "Ten Pound Poms" (the cost of the fare to Australia), these immigrants were the first wave to repopulate Australia after the losses of two world wars. Whereas many of these "ten pound Poms", would head to the Eastern States and Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, our family, The Palmers found themselves opting for the relatively new and bustling city of Perth in Western Australia.
I don't know if this was a semi-memoir on the author's part, but it certainly read like one. Regardless, it was a fascinating read as we were privy to some of the fears, the loneliness and the problems faced by new immigrants to the barely developed suburbs of Perth. The story itself only covers one year of the Palmer's life - their first year in Australia and yet we learn so much about what was probably a very typical immigrant family; Mum, Dad and the four kids. For the kids, it was all about adventure, exploring new things and making new friends, but for Mum and Dad, it was a little harder. George, the father first had to find work and support his brood, but for Mum Helen, there was the loneliness, the homesickness, and the struggle to make new friends and relationships that was the difficulty.
It does me good to read about real-life people, with real life struggles that I can identify with, from time to time and that is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. I guess if there was one thing I would have liked to have seen, it would have been a few pictures of those early days in Perth. I read the ebook and as there doesn't seem to be a paperback version, perhaps I could recommend the author considers one and includes a few pictures of Perth in the 1960's.  I really enjoyed the read and could readily identify with all the members of the Palmer family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about real-life struggles and real people. A good job Janet Gogerty and four good stars from this reviewer.          

Picture
You can check out all of Janet Gogerty's work on Amazon here: 

4 Comments
Janet Gogerty link
19/7/2016 15:54:26

Thanks for your lovely review. Yes I would call it a semi-memoir; not autobiographical, but inspired by my experiences and with help from my mother's memories. I couldn't have written it without being there; for instance, I did not attempt to write about being in a migrant camp because we never were, nor did we have English friends who had been. On portraying a family all authors call on their experiences and borrow shamelessly from those around them. I do not have a big brother, but my daughter does and I called on my general experiences as a mother to understand Helen. We didn't take many pictures and few of Perth City in those early years, it has changed very much, though not beyond recognition, because the Swan River and King's Park are still at its heart.

Reply
Grant
22/7/2016 08:25:33

You're welcome Janet. It was definitely a nice change of pace in my reading. You are absolutely right Janet, we all draw on our experiences to write our fiction. Would love to know if there is a follow-up in the works?

Reply
Janet Gogerty link
22/7/2016 16:49:56

The short answer is No; I didn't feel I could carry it on and not a lot happened in my teen years or to my family... but you have set me thinking, my father's brother and family followed us out and were far more adventurous, taking on a petrol station on a country highway.... I think I would start with Jennifer in her late teens getting out and meeting real country people... hmm thanks.

Reply
Grant Leishman
22/7/2016 19:28:46

Ah okay, so is that the wealthy brother from the first story? Anyway, I have no doubt running a country service station will have thrown up a whole wealth of tales. I'll look forward to it one day. Good job.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Please Subscribe

    Author

    In this section I will review books I have read. All the opinions expressed here are my personal opinions only.

    Archives

    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All
    Anthologies
    Children's
    Contemporary Lit
    Dystopian
    Fantasy
    Fantasy/Romance/Erotica
    Historical Fiction
    Humour
    Mystery/Mayhem
    Non Fiction/Memoirs
    Non-Fiction/Memoirs
    Romance/Adventure
    Science Fiction
    Young Adult

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.