Author: Doris Brett and Kerry Cue
ISBN: 9781760781187
RRP: $32.99
Publication Date: 25 June 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
I am notorious for choosing books based on their covers, and as a result end up reading books with widely varying topics of interest and of equally disparate quality. Choosing The Sunday Story Club this month yielded consistent results given my track record. I saw a beautiful cover, black background with a gorgeous posy of flowers, and skim reading the synopsis I thought it was a fiction based in a hairdressing salon and the secrets and stories of its patrons. I thought a nice light-hearted book would be just the ticket when I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the number of books on my bedside table waiting to be read…
I was utterly stupefied when I received the book and started reading the introduction. Where was the chick-lit, rom-com, light, fluffy piece I was expecting?! In confusion I went back and re-read the synopsis I’d been provided, this time carefully. Quickly, I realised that salon referred to the historical definition, ‘a regular social gathering, especially of writers and artists, at the house of a woman prominent in high society,’ rather than an imaginary hair salon. Obviously my eyes had conveniently skipped over the ‘real-life’ of the phrase on the cover – ‘Like a book club without books, real-life tales of love, loss, trauma and resilience.’ My brain obviously just read the words book club, tales, love and resilience, and thought ‘great’.
Anyway, although it wasn’t one I would usually choose given the (informed) option, I figured I had to read it, that’s the premise of Beauty and Lace after all! And I am SO glad I did. The book is a collection of short stories, all provided after being presented with a question such as ‘Do you feel ‘known’ by the person or people closest to you, or are there parts of yourself that are unknown or held back?’ And ‘What, for whatever reason, was the hardest thing you learned to do?’
I found the questions so thought provoking, and the answers profound. You find yourself encouraging the story tellers, desperately hoping things work out ok, even though you know your best thoughts and wishes won’t change the outcome, whatever it may be. I cried both sad and happy tears reading this book, cheered, and found myself in despair at how unfair life can be. The stories are so beautifully written and you come away feeling like you’ve gotten to glimpse behind the curtain that the majority of people keep up to protect the most vulnerable parts of themselves.
As I read I asked myself how I would answer the questions, whether I would ever have such interesting tales to tell, and whether I wanted to have a story like these in my life. Some of the stories are terribly sad, but they’re all uplifting as well; you know these women are all survivors simply because they are here to tell their story. You can find yourself empathising with each of them, even in just the smallest aspect of their story, and respecting their resilience.
Sometimes judging a book by its cover can lead to some absolute gems being unearthed, and I would count this as one of them. I enjoyed the short story aspect as it meant I could pick up the book when I had a spare 10 minutes and read a chapter, giving me time to absorb and think about the story I’d read for a day or two before moving on to the next. A beautiful testament to the strong, intelligent, wonderful women walking among us.
Many thanks to Pan MacMillan and Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read and review The Sunday Story Club.
This guest review was submitted by Amanda, one of our long time Beauty and Lace Club members. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Amanda.
The Sunday Story Club is published by Pan Macmillan and is available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan 15 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are currently reading The Sunday Story Club and you can read their thoughts on the book in the comments below, please be aware there may be spoilers.
Ever since I was a little girl my family and friends have known not to bother talking to me if I’m reading, so immersed I become in my book that I am completely oblivious to everything happening around me. I love to read a variety of books, though now with a busy life with kids and work I tend to find myself gravitating more towards easy reads that can be picked up and put down at a moments notice. One of the things I love about Beauty and Lace is that I’m exposed to books I otherwise might not have had an opportunity to read.
Reading is my first and and oldest means of escape and down time, as an introvert it gives me time to relax and reset. I also enjoy sewing and recently started a vegetable garden, which also gives me that sense of calm and accomplishment. With 7 and 9 year olds I am so happy that they are now of an age to sit quietly and enjoy reading a novel, I love that the next generation of readers is well and truly being established!
This is an interesting book. Each chapter is a story about a part of a person’s life. There are some really powerful stories and many of them challenge the way we think
The Sunday Story Club was not a book I would typically read as I mostly read fiction.
However, I was intrigued by the “real-life tales” and after the first two short stories, I was so glad I chose to read this lovely little book!
This is a delightful collection of short stories that really encourage you to feel many emotions and to think about life in general,
This left me wanting more stories!
Thank you Beauty and Lace for the fantastic opportunity to read and appreciate this wonderful collection.
Thank you for the opportunity to read The Sunday Story Club.
I wanted to learn more from other people’s lives. I found this interesting, but a little hard to do as everyone’s situation is different. Everyone’s life seemed more interesting or exotic than mine and had me thinking of how I would answer certain questions.
There was a section about starting a club, which I did gloss over as I don’t think it’s something I’d do.
I really enjoyed the questions at the end as they made me think about my life. They were my favourite part.
Thank you for the opportunity to read The Sunday Story Club. The book has a collection of people’s real life stories that evoke different emotions from the feeling of hopelessness to enlightenment. It makes you feel that you are not the only one that endures heartache and it definitely gives you a sense of hope. Some stories are transforming and others make you more aware of why certain people think in a certain way. It may not be in agreement of how you perceive life but it gives you a different perspective on how people deal with certain situations that happen in their lives. I think the Saloon Club is a great idea. I really enjoyed reading this book.
A great read, exploring the real life stories of some amazing women. I really enjoyed the short story aspect of this book which allowed me to read at a good pace, starting a new story each time I picked up the book.
Lots of emotions, but a must read in my opinion!
The sunday story club is an interesting collection of short stories by women reflecting on moments in their lives, moments which changed their lives, both joyful and painfull. This was an easy to read collection of stories, which made me reflect on my own life, opening my eyes to different perspectives. Although I probably wont start my own salon this book did help to start more conversations with people I know. Opening the door to real discussions rather than casual smalltalk.
This was a great book to put down and pick up. Each person’s story is different and told comes with a unique perspective. I love that it was story telling which delved deeper than the usual chit chat. Agree with the other readers, don’t think I’d set up my own salon but it was a great concept.