Review, 'The Navigator'

Characters

Kaloni Kienga; Gunnar’s grandfather (alive and then deceased on island prior to arrival of the Frigate Bird).

Characters identified as officers of the Frigate Bird

Carl Magnusson, captain, in an open marriage arrangement initially with Sally Anderton before joining Molly Kaapu in a hut together.

Gunnar Thorkild; mate, Professor at the University of Hawaii, appointed island chief.

Lieutenant Peter Andre Lorillard, communications, US Navy, formed love interest with Martha on-board The Frigate Bird. Married with wife and children in San Diego. Votes for junction of land to USA jurisdiction (a vote that does not pass). One of the colonists to the terraces after Charlie’s exile.

Sally Anderton, medical, boarded the Frigate Bird as love interest to Carl and then hopped beds to be with Gunnar.

Martha Gilman, writer to the captain, formed love interest with Peter on-board the Frigate Bird, voted for Peter as chief. Falls pregnant during the journey. Votes for junction of land to USA jurisdiction (a vote that does not pass). One of the colonists to the terraces after Charlie’s exile.

Charles Kamakau, bosun, also referred to as Charlie, age 40, splits from his wife Barbara and takes to clearing the terrace area. Returns to beach village in ambush of Barbara. Wounds Barbara, also Tioto and Simon Cohen (who come to Barbara’s aid). Exiled on canoe and direct NE.

--/--

Characters identified as passengers of the Frigate Bird who did not make landfall

Malo (male) and Monica (female) (alive as passengers on the Frigate Bird, died in tsunami).

Characters identified as passengers of the Frigate Bird (male)

Franz Harsanyi, linguist, settles into relationship with Ellen.

Simon Cohen, musician, nominated Peter as chief, voted for Peter as chief. Votes for junction of land to USA jurisdiction (a vote that does not pass).

Hernan Castillo, the Filipino, voted for Peter as chief.

Adam Briggs, settles into relationship with Jenny.

Tioto, partner of Malo

Mark Gilham, Martha’s son, a child. Calls Gunnar by nickname Uncle Gunsmoke

Willy Kuhio, married to Eva. Votes for junction of land to USA jurisdiction (a vote that does not pass). One of the colonists to the terraces after Charlie’s exile.

Characters identified as passengers of the Frigate Bird (female)

Barbara Kamakau, Charlie’s wife

Molly Kaapu, cook, settles into relationship with Carl.

Jenny, pregnant (still-born child on island), student of Gunnar, nominated Gunnar as chief, settles into relationship with Adam.

Eva Kuhio, married to Willy. Votes for junction of land to USA jurisdiction (a vote that does not pass). One of the colonists to the terraces after Charlie’s exile.

Ellen Ching, botanist, settles into relationship with Franz

Yoko Nagamuma, nutritionist, voted for Peter as chief. Votes for junction of land to USA jurisdiction (a vote that does not pass).

Other characters - Hawaii

James Neal Anderson, Dean of Oceanic Studies at the University of Hawaii, Gunnar’s supervisor

Michael Aloysius Flanagan S.J., Priest (marmoset?). Wheelchair-bound.

References:

Bounty: Gunnar warns islanders that they should not suffer a similar fate.

Discussion

The count of islanders, prior to Charlie’s exile, is thrice specifically put as eighteen. Once in terms of the lives on the island, then in terms of reconciling the fifteen eligible to cast a vote and then identified to ten men and eight women. However, there are nineteen on the island. Eight women is the correct count, however there are eleven men. On page 153-154 there is an accounting of all nineteen islanders (nine pairs and one single) to newly built accommodation huts (with Charlie temporarily living apart).

While Martha Gilman commenced a love interest with Lieutenant Peter Andre Lorillard, I find it a plot-hole for her to vote for Peter as chief. Martha was friends with Gunnar long before she met Peter. Martha would have been swayed to voting for Gunnar based on Gunnar’s knowledge and skills.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

Note: I located this novel at a Street Library within a cafe; Nibu, in Lane Cove and dropped it into a Street Library within Sydney Town Hall.

[634 words] #book #reading #read #readAustralian

Characters and places in The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce

Paul Torday first captured my reading interest with a marvellous novel: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Salmon Fishing was a first novel – and a very funny novel at that. Salmon Fishing was made into a movie. The movie was most frustrating in its inauthenticity; the movie producer over-played the love story and downplayed on humour. Wilberforce would become the third of Torday’s works that I have enjoyed.

Wilberforce is told in a reverse chronological order in four vintages; 2006, 2004, 2003 and 2002. The story opens with the main character enjoying his destructive hobby. The remainder of the book then creates the backstory. In such instances I find it necessary to record main characters, place names and references as I read through the book. I offer that record here:

Image credit: www.goodreads.com

Main characters

Francis Wilberforce: Alcoholic, although Wilberforce himself cannot tolerate the expression “alcoholic” when used in relation to his hobby of imbibing the finest of wines. Wilberforce is a lost cause post-AA. His doctor’s prognosis is towards a steady and certain death. Raised by foster-parents of which only the foster-mother, named Mary, is alive. Wilberforce is aged 37 at the book’s opening.

Catherine Wilberforce (nee Plender): Former wife of Wilberforce. Their marriage ended tragically in her death in a motor vehicle accident. Catherine was the driver in the accident. Wilberforce incurred minor injuries in the accident.

Francis Black: A friend of Wilberforce who passed away, of cancer, leaving a substantial quantity of fine wine.

Doctor Colin Holman: Wilberforce’s doctor

Nurse Susan: A nurse employed by Doctor Holman to attend Wilberforce following an episode of over-consumption of wine.

Andy: Finance Director of software company – Wilberforce Software Solutions, now Bayleaf UK - that Wilberforce previously owned.

Ed Hartlepool: a gentleman who Wilberforce had once been very close to.

Christopher Templeton: Stockbroker to Wilberforce.

Ed Simmons, Eck Chetwode-Talbot, Annabel Gazebee – former friends of Wilberforce. Eck Chetwode-Tabot and Ed Simmons had appeared in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Catherine had at one point nearly married Ed Simmons. Eck is Francis Black’s godson. Eck is former army.

Places

Les Tripes de Normandie: Restaurant that Wilberforce enters at the start of the novel.

Half Moon Street flat: Wilberforce’s abode. Purchased original for both him and Catherine.

Caerlyon Hall: Formerly Francis Black’s premises. Purchased by Wilberforce from the executors of Black’s estate. Leased partly to Gateshead County Council as a Community Outreach Centre.

References

Alice inWonderland: Wilberforce records sighting Black’s sign – Francis Black: Fine Bordeaux Wines - for the first time and suggests that the sign was a similar temptation as the bottle labelled “DRINK ME” was to Alice.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

Book title: The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce, A Novel in Four Vintages, 2008, paperback, 308 pages. Found at a street library in Sydney Town Hall. Dropped to street library with Nibu Cafe, Lane Cove. 

This page links from my Goodreads account.

[443 words] #book #reading #read 

Review, 'The Art of Belonging'

The Art of Belonging was the third of Hugh Mackay's books that I have read.

The Art of Belonging has a focus on people's lives within community. It is a celebration of all things good about community. It also considers some of the traps of living in tightly knitted urban areas.

Image credit: from publisher's website

The book is a mix of fact (statistics) and fictionalised account. The fictionalised account identifies the people of a town and their relationships; the town is called Southwood.

I found the mix of fact and fiction quite annoying at times. Pastor Jim was a particularly annoying character. Pastor Jim almost seemed to have a quality about him that you'd expect of a character in the long-running cartoon; The Simpsons. That Pastor Jim's wife left him to hook-up with a church musician was a tad too ordinary.

The best chapter is the one pertaining to electronic community. I admire Mackay for recognising that the world of social media is one that is yet to mature. It is a world for which we have all grasped the benefits without understanding the costs. I particularly like this quote - it seems reflective of the whole of the chapter on electronic community:

"You have five hundred Facebook 'friends'? 

That simply means you've redefined 'friend'

 to make it something like 'a contact I exchange data with'" 

page 190

This book was among the collection at an aged care facility in Sydney's West. It was a rarity in a library that was dominated by books of Fredrick Forsyth, John Grisham, and Bryce Courtenay. A thrift shop sticker suggested that it last traded at the princely sum of AUD2.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

The book’s full title is: The Art of Belonging; Mackay, Hugh; 2014, Macmillan Education Australia. Paperback, 288 pages

[251 words] #book #reading #read #readAustralian

Lost pet?

We've had a daily visitor since the day of the Federal Election. His preferred treat is a walnut. Very tame and friendly. He is wise to arriving of a morning once our blind has been lifted up.

Dressed fresh each morning in fashionable white. Wears a fascinator that would be the envy of ladies on Melbourne Cup Day. Has a sharp jaw that is capable of breaking human skin.

Is anyone missing a pet?

He is a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Shalom,
Ozhamada

#cockatoo #ExoticBird #bird #parrot #wildlife #australianwildlife #fauna #nature

Dad joke - sign in bathroom

Do you know? Fifteen hours later I had finished re-tiling:

Shalom,
Ozhamada

#dadjoke