The Wattle Island Book Club by Sandie Docker

Extra credit to you if you know where Wattle Island is. I knew the country but not the location when I picked up this novel. The answer will be in the next paragraphs.

I have been reading a lot of what I would term Australian women’s fiction recently. I do not live in Australia, have only been there once but have enjoyed my many virtual visits this summer. These began when I was reading novels by Sophie Green. Now I have read my first novel by Sandie Docker and I plan to read every one that is available in my country.

I always love books that have a bookish element, as is true here. One of the main characters is named Anne; her name is bookish. Can you guess for which Anne she was named? (GG is my hint). After her parents died, Anne grew up with an aunt on Wattle Island, which is off the Australian mainland. It was a small place and one that she did not choose.

Significant to Anne was her relationship to Tadashi, an artistic soul who was born in Australia. This romance began in the post WWII period. Note that there was much prejudice against the Japanese at the time, regardless of whether a person had been born in Australia. Also important to Anne in the story is her grandson Sam and her great granddaughter.

The other main character is Grace, a librarian. She is facing serious illness. Her own initiative for a work project brings her to Wattle Island. It is here that Anne and Grace meet and the storylines merge.

This book takes place in the present and in that post WWII period. Both are well developed. There are many other characters surrounding Anne and Grace. They add to the story.

I don’t want to say much more so that readers can enjoy this book without spoilers. Suffice it to say that I very much enjoyed this novel and will soon be cracking open another by Ms. Docker.