The bio

Alec's September selection is Helen Garner's first novel, a portrait of communal life in 1970s Melbourne and Nora's consuming relationship with the heroin-addicted Javo.

Before the verdict

Call your shot

Save a private prediction before meeting night. After ballots lock, the expectation file can be revealed beside the final scores.

Set expectation in meeting room

Published club synthesis

Club preview

Love, addiction and communal life collide in 1970s Melbourne.

Alec's September selection is confirmed. The club will meet on Sunday 11 October 2026; member ballots and the club verdict are still to come.

The scorecard

Where we agreed. Where we fought.

No group score yet. Missing history stays missing; nobody gets a manufactured opinion.

Live room

The room is talking

New reviews appear here as people submit them from the meeting room.

Checking the live meeting record…