“I was transported to my favourite part of Sydney, Glebe Point, with Julia Osborne’s Book ‘Falling Glass’. The summer smells of frangipani and other blooms as the protagonists, live, love and yearn [against] the backdrop of the coming War in Iraq against Saddam Hussein . . . Julia marries the time table leading up to the outbreak of war with the protests by ordinary Australians to stop the inevitable conflict. . . Her characters are just the sort of people you meet along Glebe Point Road. . . her love scenes are explicit but delicately handled . . . she leaves Danielle Steel for dead!’ Pat Richardson, Nambucca Heads, 2013
Julia’s note to reader R.C: I warned the following reader who had read and loved my short stories, that I hoped she would not be shocked by parts of FG. Yes, there are several sexual references, and yes, there is “foul language”, to quote her rather more lengthy email. I have included her comments here, because no other reader or reviewer has mentioned these aspects of the novel. Interestingly, R.C. praised the war passages – see her second last paragraph. I doubt that she will ever forget reading Falling Glass and I thank her for pursuing it… she writes: ‘It is the hardest book I’ve ever read but continued through only because I promised to tell you what I thought’.
‘To begin with, your book, Falling Glass, was of particular interest because of its setting around Glebe as I know most of the places mentioned… so I “felt” the areas well. We have been to Cairns and Taree on our trips too and from Sydney. So you can see I felt at home there in your book.
‘ … of course you don’t know me and my husband … but we could be classed as “prudes, fuddy-duddies, moralists” etc, we proudly answer to all of those. Always trying to fight against the slush within society we stick to the moral path, so, having said that you can imagine how I felt reading your work with explicit sex and constant foul language. I would not suggest my husband read it as his feelings are similar to mine.
‘Thanks for offering me a refund but no, I am proud to own a copy of your work as so much energy has gone into it, not only bedroom energy, J, but all the war information. Besides, I like owning things created by people I’ve met.
‘I am sure there are thousands of people who would love your book … in fact I am sure the majority of people would keep it as a “best” on their shelves while I will wrap mine in brown paper.’ R.C. Coffs Harbour, 2013
This story sounds like something I’d read, people appear quite real the story looks intriguing. It’s got good, believable details I relate to, described with simplicity which is great, and the people’s names are all individual and easy to differentiate. I enjoyed this … the descriptions so clear and natural to me, the dialogue too. Raewyn Alexander, Writer, editor, internat. communication consultant, Auckland, NZ ~ comment on myspace blog 2009
Your book: breezy, knowing, intuitive, moody, personal, meaningful, believable, lyrical, rhythmic, visual, empathetic, visual and a jolly good read! B.G. Corrimal, 2003
I remember the book well! Tom Thompson ~from an email 2005
It’s the sort of book you remember David Brooks ~ novelist, poet, essayist, 2005
We basically thought the book was good. An interesting read about the interaction of a group of people who had come together for a short time. The characters were particularly well drawn. We both liked the style, short sharp sentences, very clever use of words, evocative descriptions. The story was well structured around the various comings and goings of the characters and the war in Iraq.
The detail of the war was overwhelming and we did skim some of it […] for a student of that period of history it would probably be quite useful.
[…] However, we did like the way both Roddy and Irene gambled with their own deaths while being outraged at the way the Americans inflicted death on the people of Iraq.
We were fascinated by [your] knowledge of so many things […] bits of philosophy, poetry, art, music, descriptions of the innards of a car, the cleaning of a gun. Some, we felt, didn’t have an obvious role in the story. Some of the Sydney references would be of interest only to Sydney readers. ~ Members of a Sydney book group review 2003 : P.W. and M.D.
…so it’s about the impact of the Gulf War on Glebe! ~ from a conversation with a participant in Melbourne Comedy Festival, 1992
We’re being treated to canned news from the USA, filtered through the Pentagon like Coca Cola. Assoc. Professor Ahmad Shboul, Dept of Semitic Studies, The University of Sydney ~ in an interview for research, 1991