It’s time for the monthly What’s On your Bookshelf? link up .
I’m looking forward to you sharing what you’ve read at our monthly link up co-hosted with my friends Deb from Deb’s World, Donna from Retirement Reflections and Joanne Tracey – Author. Remember to check out what has been on their bookshelves as well.
My reviews cover books read and listened to over the last month. I have much to share so you might need to make a cuppa and take time to enjoy reading through my post.
Book Reviews What’s On Your Bookshelf? – March 2025
My book of the Month
The Humming Bird Effect – KateMildenhall – My rating 4.5 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction, Dystopia, Science Fiction.
I selected this book as my book of the month not because it was necessarily my favourite but because the writing was excellent and it made me analyse and think.
“One of the lucky few with a job during the Depression, Peggy’s just starting out in life. She’s a bagging girl at the Angliss meatworks in Footscray, a place buzzing with life as well as death, where the gun slaughterman Jack has caught her eye – and she his.
How is her life connected to Hilda’s, almost a hundred years later, locked inside during a plague, or La’s, further on again, a singer working shifts in a warehouse as her eggs are frozen and her voice is used by AI bots? Let alone Maz, far removed in time, diving for remnants of a past that must be destroyed?
Is it by the river that runs through their stories, eternal yet constantly changing – or by the mysterious Hummingbird Project and the great question of whether the march of progress can ever be reversed?”
– Goodreads summary
I’ve not read any books by Kate Mildenhall before and can’t remember why I had downloaded this into my kindle. It’s been sitting there for quite some time so it was about time to read it.
I didn’t read the summary which I’ve shared with you, before reading the book so I wasn’t actually sure what it was about. I did look up what The Hummingbird Effect is and found an articule from the Queensland University of Technology. I’ve included a paragraph below but you can read the full article HERE which is very interesting.
The hummingbird effect demonstrates that an event in one field can trigger completely unexpected outcomes in wholly different domains. This connectivity cannot be predicted or planned, and it is only knowable in retrospect
My thoughts:
It is a difficult book to describe and whilst I gave it 4.5 stars I’m still processing and unpacking the story as I wasn’t really sure where it was heading. Set in different times it chronicles the story of four women – Peggy who is working in the Meatworks at Fitzroy in 1933, Hilda an aged care resident in 2020 who has just been put in lockdown due to the Pandemic. La who is living in 2031, a world of AI, Robots and and Maz who lives in a dystopian world of environmental extremes in 2181.
The women are connected although this wasn’t obvious reading their stories and I wondered how their stories would join up.
I found it difficult to get into the book but when I created space and time to read it with full attention I couldn’t put it down. It has several social and environmental issues and it had me once again reassessing my environmental footprint and what AI and the future could look like.
‘The machine got too smart. It decided that the worst mistake was us.’
Other Reads this month which I recommend
Everything is Beautiful – Eleanor Ray – My rating 5 stars
My favourite book month was Everything is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray. My daughter recommended it to me and I’m so pleased she did. She did add a caveat that I would need tissues and yes, I did require them at times.
A beautifully written book about a sensitive subject and I found myself wanting to give Amy a bit hug and try to help her.
Amy was enjoying life with the love of her life Tim and her best friend forever, Chantal. When both Tim and Chantal go missing without a trace, Amy is left wondering what has happened to them. Chantal’s ex boyfriend, suggests they have ‘run off together’ and over time it appears to be the only explanation – or is it? Amy’s life spirals down as her heart breaks. Her only comfort are her collections of ‘beautiful things’ which grow over time and take over most of the space in her house. She goes to work, comes home and waits for Tim – who never arrives. There is more with at twist, but I’m not sharing you have to read the book!
When Richard and his two boys move in next door to Amy, she finds her heart opening little by little and with their help discovers what really happened all those years ago. I loved Richard who was so sweet and caring.
Whilst I wrote that I needed tissues, this book is not depressing. It’s a book about hope, love and the sensitivity and caring of others. If you have read Eleanor Olliphant is completely fine you will enjoy Everything is Beautiful.
Mary Barton – Elizabeth Gaskell – My rating 3 stars
Genre: Classics, Historical Fiction, Victorian
I read Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell in 2023 for our Stunning Classic Book Club and have been wanting to read more of her work. Mary Barton, was Elizabeth Gaskell’s debut novel and based on an actual murder in 1831. The novel was originally published in two volumes in October 1848 and originally titled ‘John Barton’ (Mary’s father).
Set in Manchester, Gaskell drew on her experiences and the society in which she lived with her husband, William, a Unitarian minister. Both were involved in charity work and William was a pioneer in educating the working class.
Mary Barton is about societal divide – the first half of the novel focuses on the divide between the Rich and the Poor. Mary is the daughter of John Barton a mill worker and prominent member of the trade unions. The second half is about the murder of Harry Carson, son of the wealthy mill owner. The main theme of the second half of the book is about ‘redemption’.
It took me some time to finish Mary Barton and it certainly is a book (and author) that requires time and presence when reading. If you enjoy historical novels then I would recommend Mary Barton and other Elizabeth Gaskell books to you.
Murder on the Marlow Belle, The Marlow Murder Club Book #4 – Robert Thorogood – My rating 3 stars.
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Crime, British,
I watched the first season of the Marlow Murder Club and then discovered the books. Murder on the Marlow Belle is the fourth book in the series and the first that I’ve read. Whilst the main characters are the same, you can read this as a stand alone novel.
A typical cozy crime with the three members of the Marlow Murder Club – Judith Potts with her able assistants, Bec and Suzy taking on the role of super sleuths and at times frustrating the local constabulary.
A fun read on a rainy afternoon and it had me intrigued as I couldn’t work out who the murderer was.
Stunners Classic Book Club
It was my turn to select our next read in our Stunners Classic Book Club. I’ve brought the club to Australia with the novel ‘My Brilliant Career’ by Miles Franklin. Born in 1879 in rural New South Wales, Stella Maria Sarah MIles Franklin was one of the major writers of her time and committed to Australian literature. After moving to Sydney and then the US became involved in feminism and literary circles. ‘My Brilliant Career’ is her first novel about Sybylla a head strong girl growing up in the early 20th century. It is based in part on Franklin’s own life and she wrote the book as a teenager.
Success came as a result of Henry Lawson, Australian author and poet who contributed a preface and submitted to his publishers in Edinburgh.
Her impact and legacy on the literary world in Australia was strengthed by her endowment of the Miles Franklin Award which continues today.
Our next meeting will be in April and I’m looking forward to discussing the book with my fellow book club members. Review next month.
These are some of the books that have been on my bookshelf during the month. What’s been on yours? I would love you to share with me your recommendations.
Dates for the Diary 2025
The What’s On Your Bookshelf? Link Up dates for 2025 are listed below. Make a note in your diary as a reminder as we would love to have you join us.
The link for What’s On Your Bookshelf (WOYBS) is open on the third Friday of each month at 8 am (AEST) – that makes it sometime on the third Thursday of each month if you’re in the northern hemisphere…
April 17/18
May 15/16
June 19/20
July 17/18
August 14/15
September 18/19
October 16/17
November 20/21
December 18/19
Happy reading and remember to pop over to read what books have been on my co-hosts shelves.
Deb from Deb’s World,
Donna from Retirement Reflections
Joanne Tracey – Author
25 Comments
Hi, Sue – I always love peeking into your bookshelf. The Hummingbird Effect sounds like a wonderful, thought-provoking read. Everything is Beautiful also caught my attention—it sounds like a moving story with depth and heart. I greatly look forward to discussing My Brilliant Career. I am delighted to have read that book and found that it offers so much to discuss.
Hi Donna, I have decided I did really enjoy The Hummingbird Effect after taking time to reflect on it after I had finished. Everything is Beautiful is poignant and well written. I’m at 87% of My Brilliant Career and look forward to our discussion in Book Club x
I remember reading The Hummingbird Effect Sue and really enjoyed it. Another great collection of books and I’ll be looking out for Everything is Beautiful asap. Thanks for
Being a great cohost and I always enjoy these posts both writing them and reading them. Have a great weekend.
The Hummingbird Effect was not what I expected, Deb but I did enjoy it. I think you will like Everything is Beautiful (or at least I hope you do) x
I had no idea the Marlow Murder Club was a series. I’m going to have to look for it. I really enjoy the books!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Hi Marsha, it is a British show and not sure what streaming it is on but definitely worth a look. x
I read my first Marlow mystery book to and to be honest the TV series was more enjoyable. I love Elizabeth Gaskell – North and South is a wonderful book.
I agree, Barbara. I prefer the Marlow Murder Club television series. I’m working my way through Elizabeth Gaskell books. x
The Humming Bird Effect sounds interesting; I know exactly what you mean though. I read more literary fiction than I used to, although sometimes I struggle with the way they’re sometimes written (streams of consciousness!) and multiple timelines. Great reviews as always. The Stunner book club sounds good.
Thanks, Gail. I think you would enjoy The Humming Bird Effect. It is different to what I usually read having a science fiction bent, but the writing is excellent. x
I haven’t read any of these books Sue. I love that, as it gives me more books for my list. Thanks for the recommendations
I read Kate Mildenhall’s 2016 debut Skylarking a few years ago- gave it 4* so recommend it if you can find a copy. I’m now on the lookout for the one you’ve reviewed here.
And thank you for the info on Miles Franklin. I found my little copy of My Brilliant Career recently and have plans to reread sometime
Hi Cathy, I hadn’t heard of Kate Mildenhall so thanks for the recommendation for Skylarking. So many books, so little time! x
That looks like a very eclectic month of reading. Everything is Beautiful sounds like such a great book.
I think you would enjoy Everything is Beautiful, Joanne and if you read it I’d be interested in your thoughts x
Looks like you had a good reading month! I just finished the first book in the “Marlow” series and was surprised by how much I liked it (I’m not a fan of cozy mysteries!). Based on your review, I have added “Everything Is Beautiful” to my TBR 😊
Hi Sharon, it must be Marlow month as several of us have read one of the books in the series this month. I hope you enjoy ‘Everything is Beautiful’ and would be interested to read your review. xx
Wrote a long comment and Nonce verification failed? Short version – off to investigate Hummingbird effect and love that Henry Lawson story!
LOL 🙂 That happened to me on a couple of posts this month, Lydia. So frustrating but thank you for at least coming back. I think The Hummingbird Effect would be right up your alley. x
The Hummingbird Effect sounds intriguing and thought provoking with those various time periods!
Yes, Carol, it was a little difficult to work out how it would all come together but on reflection it’s a well written book and one I will revisit. I hope you enjoy it. x
I added The Hummingbird Effect to my list a while back, but had forgotten about it. Your review makes me want to find it (but I don’t know that I have the mental space to process it right now, haha – may have to wait a couple of months! 🤪).
The Hummingbird Effect needs time devoted to it, Wendy. Maybe on a holiday but I really enjoyed it. x
Those sound like good books Sue. The Hummingbird Effect sounds interesting.
The Hummingbird Effect needs some time as it is a long book but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think you would to, Kirstin. Have a lovely week. x