As the name suggests, this is a letter from Gemmell to her 3 young children - Lachie, Ollie and Thea - who were born and have grown up in London but who she brings back for a 3 month holiday to Australia to experience the sun, the sea, the light and the openness that is "home".
She is left with the dilemma that so many of us have faced - Australia or London? What follows is a cleverly crafted weighing up of the pros and cons of both possibilities ... the excitement, the possibilities, the history, the travel, the liberating remoteness from family and responsibility vs the sunshine, the openness of people, the love and comfort of family, the outdoor goodness, the big skies.
She is not blind to the downsides either ... Gemmell is surprised by the dagginess of Sydney airport, and is particularly horrified by the racist behaviour of youths in Sydney on Australia Day - in my experience, these are the kinds of thing that you forget about when you are living overseas and have a tendency to romanticise home.
I loved this book - from the cover photo and the fact that it is a hardback (it feels beautiful to read), to Gemmel's writing style (I'm sure I've said it before, but I love the way journalists write - her style is so well thought out and poetic) and the topic (she beautifully explores a much-discussed topic and had me nodding my head, laughing and crying - she writes with honesty, love for both countries and for her children, and has a way of making you see these anew).
This book made me nostalgic for my time in London, and reminded me of all that Australia offers. It made for a great book club book with everyone able to relate to the issues associated with living away from home and able to reflect on what they love about home too. I would recommend it to everyone.