Last night our Fullers book store reading groups met at Hadley’s hotel and met the people in the other reading groups. There are 150 people in the reading groups. They are designated into various groups that meet both in the mornings or in the evenings. The group I’m in meets on the second Wed evening of the month. We pay $10.00 per reading group meeting and that includes a 10% discount on the book if bought from the shop. This is the first year that has happened. It used to be free but we all understand the amount of work that goes into organising 150 people into groups.
People tend to stay in the same group year after year and get to know each other. One person facilitates the various groups.
The thing I like best in the groups is that people read the books and we have really interesting discussions about them. I have been in too many groups where discussion dissolves into what we did today, the problems at home, and on and on and on. Many times people wouldn’t the book. That really annoys me. Even if people work and don’t always get quite to the end they still come and participate in the discussions as much as they can. There are 15 in each group and because of various reasons we always get at least 12.
More Bookish News-
Tasmania is not regarded as highly as it should be by various publishers. Getting 150 copies of any book requires good relationships with them. A couple of publishers have been dropped as they are too unreliable. It is a good marketing tool for a book shop and we all know how important it is to keep independent shops open.
We met in a beautiful old tea room area of the Hadley;s Orient Hotel est 1834. I’ll try and find a photo of it. We were invited to get a drink at the bar and then find our seats.
We were all waiting to find out what the books for 2026 would be. We also completed a poll of deciding what the top 3 books of 2025 were for all the people in the groups. The top three books (from memory) were- 3—was a tie between Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca and sorry, I can’t remember. 2 was Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood and number 1 was Dusk by Robbie Arnott. Other books I remember were The Names by Florence Knapp in 6th place and in tenth and last place was The Season by Helen Garner. That surprised me and yet I can understand it. I just like her so much I thought it would score higher but I guess I’m biased.
The books for 2026 announced-
Feb: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
March: My Heart at Evening by Konrad Muller
April: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
May: The True True Story of Raja The Gullible (And His Mother) by
Rabbi Alameddine
June: Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
July: A Little Trickery by Rosanna Pike
August: A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr
The rest of the year will be announced at a later date.
We had input in an end of year survey of what types of books we are interested in being chosen. We usually have award winners, translated fiction, Tasmanian, Australian and a classic.
I guess that fills you in on how we go with our reading groups.
Did anything else happen of significance this week?
Nope, not much. I went to my pilates class on Monday. I went for a very long walk into the city on Tuesday and got my nails done. Beautiful smoky green colour for Christmas.
On Wednesday I went into the Spa and had a swim and sat in the sauna and chatted to two other older women as we sweated together. It is a small spa. They do beauty things (which I haven’t experienced, ) massages, etc and have a lovely small pool with a waterfall to splash around in. No children allowed which is heavenly. They have a steam room and a sauna and two very new jacuzzis they were trying to bring down a stairway to the underground area where this place is. Last I heard it was stuck in an elevator shaft.
Thursday I went to a health appt that wires you up and down for an overnight sleep study. I’m trying to get better sleep so I’m not so fatigued during the day. Might need a cPap machine. Don’t have the report yet. But I had to remove polish from two nails as my finger was needed for the oxygen saturation thingy.
Thursday nights we had big fires around the state. Last I heard 16 buildings up the east coast were damaged or lost. The mountain behind our home was closed to visitors as another fire was out of control on the back side of it. We’re on the front side of it. We had 30 degree temps C and gale force winds that were frightening. I was so glad once a cold front moved in over night and all but one of the fires was controlled. Air personnel could not be used because of the high winds. Just scary.
Friday I went into town, enjoyed the weather sitting outdoors having a coffee and a piece of lemon cake. I also went back to the nail place and had the green polish put back on. The girl laughed and didn’t charge me. People can be good.
Today (Saturday) I came up with a new way to do my daily diary I’d like to keep up next year. I create a page and then just write down little snippets of what I did. I’ll show you the photo. I love using magazines, sticker books, different coloured inks, etc. I tend to choose a picture from a sticker book without looking and then build a page around it. Just 30 minutes of complete relaxation and getting creative.
(Things I did. Worked in front yard. Filled the bird baths. Cleaned the succulent plants. Had an egg sandwich. Folded laundry. Put some rocks in the tumbler- second stage. Found a currawong feather.)
Well, this has gone on long enough. If you’re still here, I appreciate it and hope your weekend has a few lovely events in it.
Tell us one thing you did this weekend.
Travellin' Penguin 