A Woman’s Work

Author: Victoria Purman 

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers 

Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction 

Year of Release: 2023

Release Date: 05/04/23

Rating 

Synopsis 

The astonishingly rich prize of the 1956 Australian Women’s Weekly cookery competition offers two women the possibility of a new kind of future, in this compassionate look at the extraordinary lives of ordinary women – our mothers and grandmothers – in a beautifully realised post-war Australia.

It’s 1956, and while Melbourne is in a frenzy gearing up for the Olympics, the women of Australia are cooking up a storm for their chance to win the equivalent of a year’s salary in the extraordinary Australian Women’s Weekly cookery contest.

For two women the prize could be life-changing. For war widow and single mum Ivy Quinn, a win would mean more time to spend with her twelve-year-old son, Raymond. Mother of five Kathleen O’Grady has no time for cooking competitions, but the prize could offer her a different kind of life for herself and her children, and the chance to control her own future.

As winter turns to spring both women begin to question their lives. For Kathleen, the grinding domesticity of her work as a wife and mother no longer seems enough, while Ivy begins to realise, she has the courage to make a difference for other women and tell the truth about the ghosts from her past.

But is it the competition prize that would give them a new way of seeing the world – a chance to free themselves from society’s expectations and change their own futures – or is it the creativity and confidence it brings? 

Review 

1956, St Kilda Melbourne, Australia the Olympic Games are coming to town and the television is about to be switched on in the country for the first time ever, allowing those households lucky enough to own the technology the ability to watch some events from the comfort of their homes.  The city is a buzz with anticipation for the upcoming events and changes in modern history.

  The woman of Melbourne however are reaching for their Australian Woman’s Weekly magazines and cookbooks turning their ovens on high; that’s right the Australian Woman’s Weekly Cookery Contest entries are now open. A whopping 600 pounds the equivalent of one year’s wages is up for grabs. 

 For Single mother Ivy Quinn and Kathleen O’Grady, this completion could be life-changing. Ivy Quinn a war widow and single mother dreams of winning so she can spend more time with her twelve-year-old son, Raymond. Kathleen a mother of five has no time on her hands for cooking completions, but the prize would certainly offer a new life for herself and her children, a chance to control her own future; wouldn’t that be something to celebrate? 

As the seasons change Winter turns to Spring the woman begin to examine their lives, Kathleen feels as if there is more to life than the set menu, she must cook for her always-hungry family, can she add some much-needed variety in her daily routine will it be met with open arms from those closest to her? Or is she doomed to cook the same meals as she has always done, her menu on repeat? 

As for Ivy Quinn, she soon becomes aware of a change that she can make for other women in the community and finally realises she does indeed have the courage not just for other woman but for herself too, opening a door long since closed and laying old ghosts, and their hurts to rest. 

Bestselling Australian Author Victoria Purman has returned, this time in post-war Australia 1956 in the kitchen, she is one of our country’s most talented authors and if you haven’t discovered her books yet let me tell you there is no better time than right now! 

Victoria’s previous novel The Nurse’s War is a winner in this reviewer’s opinion. A Woman’s Work is a book that everyone will talk about for years to come, a triumph for this Author and the reason she has become a must-read author for this reviewer. 

If you’ve been reading my reviews for some time, you’ll know I’m all about character-based books so much, so I usually unintentionally only ever have one character I connect with the most when it comes to dual perspective novels this is not the case with A Woman’s Work, I simply had to devour each perspective in equal measure; and whilst I am not a mother, I was quickly drawn into the plight of these two women the minute I met them. I had my fingers and toes crossed for Kathleen and Ivy. I believe both women are dynamic characters experiencing significant growth and change as the story progresses and their journey’s will win over any reader. 

A novel that has been meticulously researched and expertly carried out traditions as well as highlighting beliefs from that period, it might be seen to some as being unapproachable to a certain age group, but I assure you this book can be read and enjoyed even if you weren’t a child of the ’50s or 60’s. 

A Woman’s Work will not have time to grow dust on your bookshelf or bedside table the minute you pick up this book I guarantee you’ll find it hard to put down as the story moves at an enjoyable pace which any avid reader will appreciate but be warned the story will run out of pages before the reader is ready.

Sub plots are included in A Woman’s Work: 

Acceptance 

Bullying

Courage

Disability representation 

Heartbreak

Friendship 

Loss

Secrets  

Self-discovery 

Self-worth 

Self-determination 

I’ll be honest when I started this book, I might have thought I could guess where the story was headed, but I was wrong and gladly so, the Author has once again waved her magic wand and taken this reader by surprise, I used to say the more I read the more I’m glad I don’t have a surprise waiting for me for the most part, that’s still true depending on the genre of my current read,  but in this case, I was happily surprised hence my 5- star rating. 

If you buy any book based on my recommendation this year let it be Victoria Putman’s A Woman’s Work. I highly recommend this novel to a mature audience; if you are interested in the Historical Fiction, General Fiction genres or character-based stories with heart, this is the book for you and your closest friends. I find my mind still wonders back over this book often with a great sense of appreciation for how some things have changed over the years especially cooking, overall, my feeling of joy for this story will remain with me forever.  

With continued thanks to Harlequin Australia and HarperCollins Publishers for sending a physical copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.