THE HOOPLA LITERARY SOCIETY

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 13, which is only nine days away.

If like me you’ve been flicking through the catalogues wondering why Mother’s Day seems to be about sleepwear, scented candles and appliances, then you’ve come to the right place. For the next two weeks, I hope to inspire you with lots of books to buy, extracts to read, interviews with writers and some bookish giveaways.

My cunning plan involves you doing nothing more than lolling about in bed reading (perhaps in your new sleepwear, perhaps not). Next week, the lovely Charlotte Wood is providing a Mother’s Day menu from her new book Love & Hunger. This week, it’s all about treating yourself mum to some terrific reads. And the best part is, there is not a chrysanthemum in sight!

If you idea of the perfect Mother’s Day is the spend a peaceful morning in bed with a good book, then here are Three of The Best Excuses to Stay in Bed.

Lucinda’s Whirlwind, Louise Limerick

Bossy single Lucinda finds herself thrust into motherhood when her sister Jayne disappears on a holiday to the States, leaving her to deal with her children. I’m half way throug and I can recommend this as a nicely written tale of self discovery. BUY THE BOOK

The Reunion, Joanne Fedler

At completely the other end of the spectrum is Joanne Fedler’s follow up to Secret Mother’s Business. The mums have gone on a girl’s weekend away in the Southern Highlands and motherhood and friendship are back under the microscope in this moving and frank story. BUY THE BOOK

Secrets of the Tides, Hannah Richell

“Families are fragile. She knows this better than anyone and Dan, for all his talk, doesn’t understand. He can’t, because Dan has not lived her life.”

Long ago, when she was only a child, a tragedy occurred that haunts Dora. Finding herself pregnant to her boyfriend Dan, brings all those fears and anxieties rushing to the surface. For how can Dora embrace motherhood when she has been tested and found wanting in the past?

Hannah Richell has written a thoughtful, moving story about families; what binds them together and what tears them apart. It examines how our mistakes and our choices have a life long effect. How one word said in anger can shatter a person for life.

Hannah chatted with me about the writing of Secrets of the Tides, which you can read here. Plus, Hannah is appearing at the Sydney Writers Festival in a free event on Friday, May 18, at 1pm entitled Tides and Forrests. Details of that event can be found here. BUY THE BOOK

*To win one of 10 copies of Secrets of the Tides, click here.

Three Books Designed to Tickle Your Funny Bone.

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Jenny Lawson

This book carries a warning that it is unsuitable for the easily offended, so consider yourself warned, but otherwise prepare yourself for a cracker read. Most of us bury all those cringe-worthy humiliating moments in our lives but Jenny Lawson has a way of turning awful into hysterical. Currently #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. BUY THE BOOK

The Little Book of Anxiety, Kerri Sackville

Kerrie, who classifies herself as a chronic and extreme worrier, tackles anxiety in every area of our lives with the best weapon of all, humour. Her frankness is disarming and her anecdotes are very funny. Perhaps this is one for the anxious mother in your life? BUY THE BOOK

Growing Old Outrageously, by Hilary Linstead & Elisabeth Davies

This is one of those books where you can flip open at ay page and soon find yourself chuckling. It’s supposed to be a travel book but the way these two travel is more comic than scenic. Have a look at this extract from the chapter entitled “A disgracefully huge holiday in Southern Africa.” BUY THE BOOK

Three books if you like crime.

The Betrayal, Y.A. Erskine

Young police constable Lucy Howard makes an allegation of sexual assault against a respected colleague, ill prepared for the consequences. I was hooked from the first sentence and that the author was a serving police offer for eleven years adds authenticity. BUY THE BOOK

Silent Valley, Malla Nunn

In this the third Detective Emmanuel Cooper novel, the daughter of a Zulu chief is found dead in the mountains. But white or black, no one wants to talk. Malla Nunn writes seriously good crime with clear prose and vivid descriptions. Don’t take my word for it, here’s chapter one. BUY THE BOOK

In Her Blood, Annie Hauxwell

55-year-old Catherine Berlin investigates financial crime not murder. She’s also a registered heroin addict. When her informant in a case against notorious loan shark Archie Doyle turns up dead in the water and then her doctor is murdered with his entire stock of pharmaceutical heroin stolen, Berlin finds herself central to a murder investigation. Hauxwell herself is an ex lawyer and investigator. This is chilling fast-paced stuff.

BUY THE BOOK