Member+Profiles

Book club members are: Melanie Wilson - melaniemarywilson@gmail.com Lynne Rockman - dklr@iinet.net.au Sharyn Morrison - Sharyn.Morrison@dlapiper.com Genevieve Hall - genhall76@gmail.com Jane McLean - janeymclean@hotmail.com Lucy Nightingale - lucy_nightingale@hotmail.com Lara Livgard - lara.livgard@mac.com Rachel Cox - adastraglobal@aol.com Carissa Nightingale - peter.carissa.nightingale@gmail.com

Upload a photo or two of yourself (via 'file') and cut and paste the following questions and provide answers to them. I thought that this would be a good way for everyone to get to know each other.
1) What was the best book you read in 2014? 2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? 3) What is the best job you have ever had? 4) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? 5) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. 6) When was the last time you were drunk? 7) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? 8) What is something you are good at?
 * __Questions__**


 * Melanie Wilson**

1) What was the best book you read in 2011? Half the Sky - Nicholas D Kristoff & Sheryl Wudunn

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? I have lived in Hong Kong for the last 6 years. My then boyfriend (now husband) and I moved here in 2006 as we both got jobs at The Australian International School Hong Kong.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? Ballgirl at The Australian Open and teacher at AISHK

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? English, English Literature, Politics, Legal Studies, Drama

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. The Constant Gardner

7)When was the last time you were drunk? Am embarrassingly long time ago - Bledisloe Cup Night Nov 2008. I was pregnant but didn't know it

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? London (via San Francisco & Stockholm) to see a girlfriend who has just had herfirst baby and really needs a cuddle and to be told "it does get easier and it does get better"

9) What is one thing that you are good at? Organising people - can't you tell?

1) What was the best book you read in 2011? The Dove Keepers by Alice Hoffman
 * Genevieve Hall**

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? We moved to Hong Kong from Melbourne in January this year for my husband's work.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? Theatre usher at the Arts Centre in Melbourne.

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? Renaissance History, English, Literature, Maths, Biology

5) Who were your favourite fictional characters as a child? The Famous Five

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. Eat, Pray Love- the movie was awful but slightly better than the terrible book!

7) When was the last time you were drunk? Can't remember...

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? To Melbourne to meet my newly born niece.

9) What is something you are good at? Talking, reading and writing, thus my excitement at Mel setting up this online bookclub!

10? How do you know Mel? I know Mel because we used to teach together at MLC in Melbourne, and now we have met up again in Hong Kong which has been fantastic!


 * Michelle**

1) What was the best book you read in 2011? Fraction of a Whole, Steve Toltz. Actually I’ve no idea if I read that in 2011 or earlier but it’s the first book that’s come to mind so that will do. And I did really like it. And for bonus points it had a really nice cover.

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? Just moved to San Francisco for my husband’s job. In fact in the last two years I’ve moved country twice (Hong Kong, then Sydney, now SF) and also had three babies. Argh.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? I was once a seat warmer at the ARIA awards, that was cool. Being a stay at home mum is awesome – but being a Creative Director wasn’t too bad and I’m looking forward to getting back into it as soon as I stop moving countries and getting pregnant.

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? The fact I did 3 unit maths and 3 unit art can probably tell you that I’m confused about whether I’m left or right brained.

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Emily of New Moon. I loved her even more than Anne of Green Gables.

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. Twilight. Actually I haven’t seen the movie but I just read the book to see what all the fuss was about. It was pretty terrible so I assume the movie has to be better.

7) When was the last time you were drunk? Let’s see, 7months + 9months would take us back to the night baby #3 began to exist.

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? Sydney, home. But honestly I would rather not pack any bags or go anywhere thank you very much.

9) What is something you are good at? Making things look nice.

And yes, I did have to use a professional photo!


 * Jane McLean.** //I am not very techy so hope I am doing this correctly//.

//This is not me. I wish it was.//

1) What was the best book you read in 2011? Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes.

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? Auckland because I felt like being the token NZ-dwelling person on this wiki space.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? Ice-cream scooper. I cannot beat Michelle's seat-warming job.

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? English, German, Biology, Maths, PE. And I am still as mixed up as ever.

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Anne of Green Gables and Pippi Longstocking and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. I LOVED the latest Jane Eyre. I may be throttled if I say it is better than the book but it IS a lovely cinematic version...I believe even Ms Bronte would be impressed with Michael Fassbender's Mr Rochester.

7) When was the last time you were drunk? Many moons ago.

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? To a mountain in Tibet. Because I am reading To A Mountain in Tibet, but it's not quite the same as actually BEING on a mountain in Tibet.

9) What is something you are good at? Being indecisive. That is all.

10? How do you know Mel? I know the super-fantastic wonderfully bookybook bookish Mel from our old Hong Kong-based book club, which existed in 2008. 'Twas the best book club that ever was (thus far).


 * Lynne Rockman**

1) What was the best book you read in 2011? Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel. Never thought I would like it but it was AMAZING. The 600-odd pages whiz by. So good I re-read it as soon as I finished because I thought I missed some important stuff at the beginning. It was just as good 2nd time around.
 * __Questions__**

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? Melbourne - because we love it.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? Door greeter at a Leisure Expo in Wakayama, Japan. Three hilarious months.

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? Biology, Maths A, English, History, Human Development

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Mr Squiggle

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. Lord of the Rings etc

7) When was the last time you were drunk? Oh, groan, 2nd Jan 2012. My husband invited me & my sister-in-law to The Pleasuredome (fictional name for his attempts at cocktail mixing at my parents holiday house). It was a brutally hot day, my eldest daughter turned 5, we had the family over etc. We entered the Pleasuredome as soon as all the kids were in bed (there were 5 kids under 5!), the gin fizzes were icy cold, the rest is a blur....

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? Back to Japan because I still find it is so intriguing, the people are ridiculous, the countryside is spectacular, and I can work on my failing language skills.

9) What is something you are good at? Getting pregnant. Giving birth. Now that I have done that 3 times I am going to focus on reading.

10/ And how do I know the incomparable Melanie Mary? While socialising in my mid 20's I found her among a gaggle of women and she was the only one that made sense.


 * Sharyn Morrison**



1) What was the best book you read in 2011? Room (Emma Donoghue)

2) In which city/town do you live and why do you live there? Hong Kong. I moved to Hong Kong for a job, not knowing anyone. After 6 months on my own, my boyfriend (now husband) was able to get a transfer from London and here we are 7 years later.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? One of my part time jobs at Uni was attending focus groups for market research. I got paid for giving my opinions!

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? English, Literature, History, Accounting and Maths

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Jo from Little Women. I was devastated when Jo's love interest Laurie ended up with her bland sister Amy. Anne of Green Gables is a very close second.

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book Gosh, that's hard. I'd have to say Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original version with Gene Wilder).

7) What was the last time you were drunk? My office Christmas party in 2010. It was the tequila shots on the dance floor that did it. I woke up with a feeling of dread the next morning desperately trying to work out if I said or did anything embarrassing.

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? Depends on whether it's with or without child. With Marcus, I would go to Chicago as I've always wanted to go and it seems relatively child friendly. Without Marcus, I would go to South Africa with my husband Daniel and re-live our honeymoon.

9) What is something you are good at? My friends say I give good advice. I just wish I could look at my own situation as objectively and compassionately as I can look at others' situations!

10) How do you know Mel? I met Mel and Jack in the playground when I moved to West Kowloon in late 2010. Apart from being a great friend, she has been instrumental in helping me develop Marcus' schedule. She really IS good at organising people.


 * Lara Livgard**

1) What was the best book you read in 2011? "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" By Rebecca Skloot and for light reading, "Bossypants" by Tina Fey

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? London, England. My husband (Barry) and I moved here from Minneapolis in 1999 for work, thinking it would be for a year or two. We are now both dual citizens.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? As part of my Senior project in High School I translated for doctors at La Clinica (a small Latino clinic in West St. Paul). I loved it.

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? Year 12 is slightly different in the US, but I took Calculus, Physics, Literature, History, Spanish and Pottery. Sports teams counted as PE.

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Jo March of Little Women.

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. The Princess Bride

7) When was the last time you were drunk? While not crazy drunk, I had my fair share last Thursday night when 4 of my girlfriends from the US and Australia came into town to walk the Moonwalk (a walk to raise money for Breast Cancer research). The Team was called "The Champagne Coven" and Thursday night lived up to the name. The walk at midnight on Saturday went really well though!

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? I really want to hike the Great Wall.

9) What is something you are good at? Making my daughter laugh - best sound in the world.

10) How do you know Mel? Mel and I were put in contact through a mutual friend. I was assigned to work in Melbourne on a project with Mitre 10 ("Ten out of Ten!") for a few months. It was great to have a contact outside of work and even better to find someone who was as interesting and caring as Mel. We've kept in touch ever since.


 * Lucy Nightingale**



1) What was the best book you read in 2011? I have a total blank of anything that I read in 2011 but two books that I've read this year and enjoyed were 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother' Amy Chua and 'The Africa House' by Christina Lamb - neither of them particularly my usual read but both fascinating.

2) In which city/town do you currently live and why do you live there? We live in Hong Kong. My husband and I had been living in Spain, then returned to England for a few years and then wanted another change. We were looking at jobs on the internet and noticed that the deadline for teaching jobs in Hong Kong was the next day, so we applied and here we are. I was also born and brought up in Hong Kong.

3) What is the best job you have ever had? Teaching in a school in a very remote area of Zimbabwe for a year when I was 18.

4) What subjects did you take in Yr 12? English, English Literature, History of Art and French.

5) Who was your favourite fictional character as a child? Aurora from 'Hello Aurora' by Anne-Catharina Vestly and Ken from 'My Friend Flicka' by Mary O'Hara

6) Name one movie that you think was better than the book. Can't think but having watched //Twilight// recently (felt I had to since my brother and his wife are called Ed and Bella) I would strongly recommend you not continuing the research on this one, Michelle, I think the film and book must be equally as bad as each other.

7) When was the last time you were drunk? Again the definition of drunk... Had a very enjoyable evening last week playing pictionary and drinking wine with friends, about as far as I go these days but by no means what my ten-years-younger self would consider drunk.

8) If you could pack a bag and get on a plane tomorrow, where would you travel to and why? To the west coast of South Africa and Bulungula Lodge, which was set up and is run by an amazing friend.

9) What is something you are good at? Negotiating with a three year old.

10) How do I know Mel My husband works with Mel and since I have had the honour of being in two of Mel's book clubs she is now affectionately referred to in our house as Mel 'wiki' Wilson.