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The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

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The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

By: Sophie Green
Narrated by: Fiona Macleod
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About this listen

 LONGLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION 2018

In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.

Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child.

With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.

Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick.

Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.

If you loved THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL and THE THORN BIRDS you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love. Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Romance Small Town & Rural Women's Fiction Marriage Friendship

Critic Reviews

an absolute gem of a novel, with the most evocative sense of place . . . A definite treat for any book club.
This close-knit Australian saga has rightly earned comparisons to THE THORN BIRDS. Green draws out a robust range of emotions as each character struggles with her own set of frustrations and her personal relationship with a tough landscape that's still being tamed.
All stars
Most relevant
I loved the story set in the Northern Territory and the remote location. The women and their friendships.

A great book

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I love the way Sophie Green writes. I really enjoy the characters she brings to life and the way she describes our beautiful country. Very much looking forward to her next book. I also enjoyed Fiona Macleod Narration.

Beautiful story of friendship

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I really enjoyed the stories of the characters and how they became entwined.
I really enjoy Sophie's writing

realistic characters

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This was a great book, descriptive, lots of characters and the great expanse the Northern Territory. Easy to listen to. I laughed and cried. I found the characters could have been people I’ve met over the years. Great story- loved it.

If you love an Outback story......

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I have fallen for Sophie Greens books recently and this one didn’t disappoint. Another terrific story of female bonds and friendships.

I’m a fan

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.