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Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk (2009)
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, the thirteenth novel of acclaimed Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, follows Duszejko (emphatically not to be called by her given name), as she interprets the suspicious deaths of various men from her remote village through the lens of…
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A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan (2010)
In “A Visit To The Goon Squad” Jennifer Egan, over the space of thirteen chapters, gives us thirteen different viewpoints with sometimes only most tenuous of links between characters to achieve a darkly funny, often traumatic and wholly rewarding novel. Each chapter plays out…
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TGBC Model of Care
The TGBC Model of Care report.
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For Whom the Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway (1940) Take 2
I am a big fan of Hemingway’s writing - the man not so much. His ability to evoke a particular time and place is what has drawn me to his work. The Sun Also Rises, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and A Movable Feast are all examples of immersive story telling where I can taste the cheap…
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TGBC Camp 2019
We've been to a mountain range national park, a high-country lake, the rugged southern coast and now we're headed to Victoria's longest river. It's difficult to capture a TGBC camp with words. It's different things to everybody. It's slow and steady or intrepid and exciting. It's…
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Praise - Andrew McGahan (1995)
“Praise” is essentially a fairly dark romp through the early twenties life of Gordon, a young man who has left the family farm in regional Queensland for a non-life in Brisbane. That is, Gordon is almost defined by his lack of ambition, his ambivalence over most matters and his…
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The Monthly Challenge
Encompassing more than just reading a book each month, Tough Guy Book Club has challenges for members. This started with a yearly reminder to get a blood pressure test and some fundraising activities for men’s health initiatives, over time, these challenges have evolved and…
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Go Tell It on the Mountain - James Baldwin (1953)
It’s Harlem, it’s 1930-something, and it’s Johnny’s birthday. But there will be no celebration today. No candles and cake, soda and dancing. Rather, there will be blood, fire, darkness and righteousness. Why not? Because God is in the house. The action of this incredible book…
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Small Gods - Terry Pratchett (1992)
If I had been asked to recommend a book to begin exploring Terry Pratchett’s ‘Discworld’ or to come to grips with why he was such a popular writer, Small Gods would not have been the book I would have suggested. Instead I might have pointed at Guards Guards, The Witches Series…
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Lismore Chapter Kick Off
We’ve done it. We’re proud to announce that with a LOT of help from our friend and new Chapter President David Harris, we have finally opened our 2nd chapter in New South Wales. Join us in welcoming the lads of the Northern Rivers to Tough Guy Book Club with the opening of the…
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Heyfield Chapter Opens
Though most of the region is on fire the mighty Heyfield Chapter could not be stopped opening tonight. Seriously, there’s bush fires all over Gippsland and the town of Heyfield is real smoky today but with the experienced hand of Clean Pete at the wheel we know they’ll do just…
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Stoner - John Williams (1965)
WARNING: BE ADVISED THE FOLLOWING NOVEL STONER FEATURES NEITHER HABITUAL MARIJUANA USERS, NOR REFERENCES TO CANNABIS OF ANY KIND. First published in 1965, ‘Stoner’ is author John Williams’ second novel. Garnering poor sales upon its release, it received a generally positive…
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