Writer meets the Reader in May.

Writer meets the Reader in May.

Some say Don’t scratch the ancestors history too deep, you might find out things you didn’t want to know.  But Janine Marshall Wood did scratch very hard and attacked the history of her ancestors with zest.  She unearthed a fascinating story of a family who fought for their rights and prospered, but not without some deprivation and suffering.

Janine Marshall Wood joined our book club last week to talk us through the development and  construction of the story her Welsh forebears who came to this country in a convict ship.

It is really two story about one family.  The freedom fighter, (a man called Rebecca) who led the Rebecca protests against the unfair tolls the English imposed upon them.  The men and women of Wales was incensed and destroyed the toll gates, resulting in many of them being deported to the penal settlement of Van Diemen’s Land. There begins the Australian story.   

But it was the tale of uncovering this story that had the assembled company enthralled.  Janine related her journey with humour and insight.  What an interesting story! And what a little ball of energy and light is Janine?  She had us in the palm of her hand.  Thankyou Janine.

The book we are reading for June is Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne.  You can pick a copy up at the Library for a fee of $5. More details later.

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