Silver Wattle, a charming re-read that was even better the second time

Silver Wattle, by Belinda Alexandra

 Silver Wattle is available for $16.50 via Booktopia.

Discussion lead – Karen O’Brien-Hall

I know we promised you “a new Book club Co-ordinator” for the first of our March novels, but unfortunately Mary-Anne had an accident during her post retirement travels and has a badly broken arm/shoulder.  Since returning to Australia the arm has been operated on and whilst she is still in pain, Mary-Anne is slowly recuperating.  Please join me in sending her positive thoughts and wishes for a swift recovery.  Hope it won’t be too long before we see the first of Mary-Anne’s reviews.

Silver Wattle is a re-read for me and I must say I enjoyed it as much second time around as in my first reading, maybe even more.  The story has such scope and at each step Belinda uses wonderful description to bring you inside her world, whether it is Prague, Watsons Bay on Sydney Harbour or The Blue Mountains near Katoomba.

I love the characters; they are based in reality and develop naturally without being pushed into submission by their author.  There are many themes in this novel and I really enjoy all of them; the flight from the murdering step-father and the sisters’ fear of discovery could in the wrong hands been quite melodramatic, but Belinda Alexandra knows when enough is enough; the racism shown to an Indian immigrant is well developed and handled.

For me, however, the story of the Australian film industry and its battle with the American conglomerates for theatre space is immeasurably interesting.  I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the silent movie shows and their pianists; the “daring dos” required to shoot scenes with limited technology; shooting the goodies from the left, then having them change costumes and shooting them as the baddies from the right was highly amusing, but showcased the ingenuity of film pioneers with limited funds.

So over to you Starts at Sixty Bookies:

1. Did you like or dislike Silver Wattle and why?
2. Do you have a favourite character?
3. What do you think of the way the story develops?
4. Did you think the marriage of Adele and Freddy was a good pairing?
5. Was it a love match or a rebound love?  Did their love change?
6. What about Klara and Robert’s relationship?
7. Do you find Uncle Otto and Ranjana’s story feasible?
8. What do you think about Phillip Page?
9. Did you find the story, its development and/or resolution satisfying?
10. Any other comments you would like to share?

Don’t forget Vivienne Beddoe is leading discussion on the highly acclaimed Burial Rites on 26 March; as usual I’m sure Vivienne has excellent insights into Hannah Kent’s novel; looking forward to lively discussion.

 Silver Wattle is available for $16.50 via Booktopia.