book reviews

Summary:  Autobiography of Ita’s life and career to 2012, including her involvement with charitable organisations and community groups, her personal life, and her well-known rise through the journalism ranks to become the first woman to edit a major Australian metropolitan newspaper.

Thoughts:  Ita has had a very successful and public life.  Much of the book discusses the lesser known aspects of her career, and sets the record straight on rumours.  She is someone I respect and admire, for her amazing career, many ‘firsts’ and keeping her dignity during difficult times.  She is to be commended for her efforts in paving the way for women in journalism, and for her involvement with health and well-being organisations.  Her writing is engaging, her views are insightful, and her story enjoyable and inspiring.

Summary:  At the end of the Second World War, Gus returns home to his two sisters with a new wife.  A German wife.  Which shocks his sisters, his best friend, and his fiancé.  Something is not right with the marriage though, and the story is told from the perspective of all those involved.  The book begins with the discovery of a body fifty years later, and culminates with why and how the violent death took place.

Thoughts:  This is not a murder mystery but a look at how prejudice and emotions affect people.  How these characters interact with each other, and why they behave the way they do, makes for an interesting read.  Possibly not quite realistic, but unless we were there at the time we can’t judge.  Apart from the death, things are all tied up nicely at the end.  Unfortunate, but understandable from the author’s perspective, who probably wanted to end on a positive note.  A good read, nevertheless.