ABOUT THE BOOK 'The Essence of Life and Love in Australia' is a collection of twenty-eight contemporary Short Stories, set in both city and country Australia. The book is diverse. Many stories are written in the first person, with the narrator being a man on more than a few occasions. There are plenty of romantic scenarios, many ending happily, others needing further resolution. The mood of the tales diverges from serious and reflective to light-hearted. I believe it's a 'feel good' book since, to me, it effortlessly transports ones thoughts away, engaging our emotions upon the characters and their fortunes, reaching a conclusion satisfying in one way or another. A special feature of my books is the wide spacings of words at carefully chosen places. The author's husband, Ronald Sharp B.E.M., the creator of the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House, has used his artistry to incorporate this to enhance comprehension, akin to breathing and pausing in singing. Since the stories are quite succinct, they are ideal to read in situations where time is strictly limited, such as waiting-rooms or while traveling. Because they delve into a variety of aspects of human nature, they shed light on personality, and the way of the world, I believe. The author's favourite stories from this book include 'Language of Love', a light-hearted tale of romance; 'At Seventeen', a tale of a young lady's infatuation with an older man; and 'My Daughter Sally', a father's account of his daughter's unrequited interest in a privileged local bachelor. If you are looking for an easy to read, mixed collection of (very) short yet satisfying stories, well-written and evocative, then I recommend you consider 'The Essence of Life and Love in Australia'.
About the Author: A life-long resident of Sydney, Australia, Margaret Lynette Sharp is a Short Story writer, having previously published two collections of her recent stories about life and love in Australia. The first, entitled '25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia', has been described by readers as being hard to put down. The second, 'A Taste of Life and Love in Australia', contains many of her favourites, such as 'The Girl Next Door', and 'The Sands of Love'. Her style differs from many authors in that she prefers a direct, succinct approach, attuned to today's time-poor readers, and others who like to get to the hub of the tale without wasting time on irrelevancies. She aims to provide an emotionally satisfying response within the short attention span necessary for each story. She believes this encourages the reader to continue with the book, secure in the likelihood of brief, entertaining reading that generally doesn't require a high degree of concentration to follow and enjoy. As a young woman, Margaret successfully completed courses in Short Story Writing and Freelance Journalism and has maintained her interest in literature throughout her life. Apart from writing, Margaret likes to focus on music, classical and contemporary; reading; painting in watercolour; swimming; and dancing. She regularly contributes letters to the editor, and is keenly interested in conservation, both of nature and worthwhile man-made structures. She is happily married to Ronald Sharp B.E.M., best known as the creator of the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House.