July book: Hello, Beautiful! by Hannie Rayson

Hello, Beautiful!

by Hannie Rayson

(Chosen by LD)

Theme: A good laugh is sunshine in a house 



Some background links to get you started: 

• 'Two of us: Michael Cathcart and Hannie Rayson' by Bernadette Clohesy in The Sydney Morning Herald 
• The publisher's webpage for the book 
• Adelaide Writers Week 2015 - Author interiew with Hannie Rayson on ABC Local Radio 
• 'Playwright Hannie Rayson recalls her not-so-ordinary life' by Cameron Woodhead in The Australian 
• Playwright Hannie Rayson speaks about her new memoir on ABC News Breakfast
• Hannie Rayson 'Hello Beautiful: Scenes From a Life' on ABC Radio National
• Hannie Rayson's Facebook page 

What we discussed about the book:

- why is it called, "Hello, beautiful!"?

- was it particularly Australian?

-What did we think of the structure of the book, like a series of scenes?

- how enjoyable was the humour in the book?

- how much as East Brighton changed as a suburb since then?

- were we expecting there to be some issue with the father that never eventuated?

- how honest was the book? if her purpose was to tell the tale in its entirety, did she do that?

- what does she say about relationships between husbands and wives?

- how have crime statistics changed between the 1960s and now?

- those of us who heard her voice on the ABC interview - were we surprised at it?

Ratings:

Range: 6 to 8.5

Average: 7.38