Otherland- Maria Tumarkin

Otherland

Maria Tumarkin

A Russian-Jewish immigrant, Tumarkin and her family move to Australia in 1989. Twenty years later, Tumarkin returns to share the country of her childhood with her daughter Billie.
On the surface Otherland is the chronicle of this six week journey. At the core of it however lies a tale of interconnecting mother-daughter stories welded together through shared histories and experiences. Visiting the places and people of her youth, Tumarkin hopes to bring a closer understanding of her roots to her daughter.
During her travels, Tumarkin’s makes perceptive and honest observations about the new Russia, which in her absence has morphed into a country that is foreign and unfamiliar to her. Extracts from Billie’s diary peppered throughout the book add fresh, sharp insights that are surprisingly clear and immediate for someone so young.
In Australia, our memoirs are often reflections of our multicultural identities. Otherland mirrors this unique characteristic with prose that is engrossing and unadulterated. No words are wasted. A touching tribute to migrants, it depicts the cost of leaving the lands that house our history, to countries where we etch new identities in the soil. 3.5 stars

What Makes Us Tick - Hugh Mackay

What Makes Us Tick

Hugh Mackay

Truth be told, I am a sucker for studies on social behaviours. Complex and insecure, we have a tendency to think of ourselves as the most important person in the world, with problems and desires that are uniquely our own. In What Makes Us Tick? Mackay reveals that as a whole, we share ten ‘social’ desires that motivate our behavior and are linked to our sense of identity, relationship with people and place in the society. Interestingly, Mackay also offers explanations as to the motivation behind some of the uglier characteristics of our behaviour.
'The darkest shadow cast by each of our desires is the wish to see that same desire frustrated in someone else…Refusing to acknowledge another person, for instance, is usually a shadow cast by our own unfulfilled desire to be taken seriously.'
A longtime social researcher, Mackay’s conclusions revolve around studying small groups of people and observing their interaction with one another. Peppered throughout the book are quotes that add personal colour and life to each chapter. There is nothing new or earth shattering revealed here. Most readers will recognise these desires in themselves and in their daily interactions with others. But maybe that’s the point: maybe we’re not so different after all. The ten desires chronicled connect us and by recognizing and acknowledging them, we can learn to be a little kinder, more accepting and a little less self-possessed. 3.5 stars

Inheritance - Nicholas Shakespeare

Inheritance

Nicholas Shakespeare

I first saw this book on the new release shelves and later found it on the Independent booksellers’ bestsellers list. When a member of our bookgroup whose turn was to choose did not show, I made a split decision and picked Inheritance.
Any Larkham is a bumbling young (Hugh Grant like) Englishman working as an editor in a small publishing house with a dubious list of self-help titles. Recently dumped by his fiancé and about to be evicted from his flat, he faces a dim future until he accidently stumbles into a funeral and embarrassed by his mistake, feels compelled to stay to the end. At the end of the service, Andy reluctantly signs the guest list only to discover a few weeks later that he has inherited 17 million pounds. Encouraged by his best friend David, Andy seeks to discover the man he never met who has changed his life forever.
A delicate tapestry of woven lives, Inheritance is an ambitious tale executed with perfection and filled with characters that command our attention. 4 stars