Ben’s Book Club featuring ‘Growing Grapes Might Be Fun’

Join Ben Hobson in conversation with author Deirdre Macken to discuss her humorous memoir ‘Growing Grapes Might Be Fun’. This event will be hosted on Zoom, and the link will be sent to all attendees on the day of the event.

Deirdre Macken is a journalist, columnist and author. She has written for The Australian Financial Review, the Sydney Morning Herald and its colour magazine, Good Weekend, The Age and The Australian.

During this digital book club, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, interact with the authors, and enjoy a well-rounded bookish discussion.

Ben’s Book Club is a free monthly digital book club hosted by author Ben Hobson - brought to you by OverDrive Australia. We welcome guests to join us the fourth Tuesday of each month to engage and interact with authors from all genres. The Zoom link will be emailed to all attendees on the day of the event.

This month’s featured title, ‘Growing Grapes Might Be Fun’, should be available to borrow from your local library with no waitlists or holds! If not, you can request your library buys this title. Download Libby and find your local library to start reading: meet.libbyapp.com

ABOUT THE TITLE

An honest, very funny account of a couple's move to the country for a fresh start. Bursting with optimism and a can-do attitude, they're on a steep learning curve as they establish a vineyard and learn how things are done in the country.

“I imagined lounging on a veranda overlooking folds of hills striped with vines. I'd be clothed in linen and surrounded by friends. On the table would be tumblers of wine we'd picked in last year's harvest. Then we arrived at Cockatoo Hill and discovered a dump.”

When Deirdre and her husband Roger decide to turn a sheep paddock into a vineyard, they are following the centuries-old tradition of family winemaking. Bit by bit they clean up the land, plant vines, protect them through storms and drought and turn a shack into a cottage. Slowly they start to read the landscape, appreciate the talents of locals and learn what to do when a snake passes by.

This is a humorous memoir with larger-than-life characters, hard slog and sweet triumph. It is also a story of a deepening awareness of our connection with the land and the rhythms of farming life.

Ben's Book Club is brought to you by OverDrive Australia and your local library. Libby is compatible on all devices with iOS 10+ and Android 5.0+ and KOBO. If you have a Windows computer, Mac computer, or a Chromebook, you can use Libby in your web browser at libbyapp.com. We suggest using the latest version of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge.