Bondi Literary Salon Book Club: The Whale's Last Song

Join the Bondi Literary Salon for our book club, hosted by Katie McMurray! In our gathering, we will discuss Joanne Fedler's latest book, The Whale's Last Song.

WHEN: Wednesday, 26th February 2025, at Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore; please arrive at 6.45pm for a prompt 7pm start.

TICKETS: Admission; $25.00 (excluding external fees). Your ticket includes a drink on arrival and nibbles during the evening.

A beautiful, tender new book about love and sacrifice, for readers of Charlie Mackesy and Paulo Coelho.

About the book: The Whale's Last Song

Once upon a time, a young girl ventured into a dark forest, looking for a cure for her much-loved elder sister ... A touching, tender and lyrical fable about what we do for the ones we love, and the beauty and mystery of being alive in a world in which we are part of everything, and everything is part of us.

As a terrible pandemic rages through the country, a young girl, Teo, leaves her small village and sets off into the forest, in search of a cure for her sister who is infected with the pox. Her father Merdocai has surrendered himself to the evil Marquis to be experimented upon for the Greater Good; and with her mother long-dead, all Teo has to keep her going is the love of her sister, her father and her friend Rodrigo, a stuttering poet.

As Teo ventures deeper into the forest, she encounters creatures and teachers who hold the answers to all the questions she has about who she is, and where she has come from. Meanwhile, out in the depths of the ocean, a whale is returning to the place he was born, to exhale his last breath. While Teo does not know this, he too holds secrets that belong to Teo's story.

The Whale's Last Song is a tender, sweet and wise fable, on what we are prepared to do for those we love; a celebration of the beauty and mystery of being alive in a world in which we are part of everything, and everything is part of us; and a love song to the natural world. It is The Alchemist meets The Princess Bride meets The Little Prince. It is a little gem.

About the author: Joanne Fedler

Joanne Fedler is the internationally bestselling author of 12 books, which have been translated into many different languages and have sold over 750 000 copies worldwide. She is a Fulbright scholar, has a Master’s degree in Law from Yale, set up and ran an advocacy centre to end violence against women in South Africa and has spent her life fighting for women’s rights.

She was selected as one of the women in 200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See The World (Chronicle Books, 2017). Her book Things Without A Name has recently been optioned for the screen. As a writing mentor, she offers writing retreats for women all over the world as well as online writing courses.

Her courses include the 7 day free online writing challenge, 7 Tricks to Writing Your Story, The Author Awakening Adventure and Write Your First Draft Masterclass. You can find out more or enrol here!

'Fresh, exquisite, a creative tour de force ... Both challenging and reassuring, the story weaves a sense of belonging through the fallibility of being human and the mysteries of being alive.' Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

About The Bondi Literary Salon

Bondi Literary Salon was established in 2018, it is the in-house book club of beloved Bondi institution, Gertrude & Alice. The Bondi Literary Salon endeavours to explore the vast world of literature each month, with a selection that reflects a focus on diverse writers and stories; delving into both classic and contemporary fiction, as well as non-fiction. 

Our philosophy has always been to use language and literature not only as a tool for connection and community, but as an insight into worlds we have not had the pleasure of visiting ourselves. We welcome all - young and old, those with a life-long love of literature, or whose relationship may be only beginning. Join us in the unmatched comfort of an after-hours bookstore, accompanied by wine and cheese, for an evening spent discussing books and building community.

About Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore

Rated as one of the top 10 bookstores in the world by National Geographic, Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore is an oasis for writers, readers, and coffee lovers. Books overflow from the shelves of their store, featuring a mix of new, second-hand, antiquarian and rare books. Stay a while & enjoy some home made chai, and amazing coffee, and unearth a book treasure or two. Read more about the bookstore's story here, and about the real Gertrude & Alice here.

'A bright ode to all that is good and beautiful in the world. The Whale's Last Song is a timeless tale, an allegory of the heart.' Maggie Hamilton