Bits from the Pieces, by Georgette Noëllat

Reviewed by Kathleen Tamara Loxton

These recollections of mine are no greater or less than anyone else’s life stories, but they are my way of attaching the bits to my pieces.

Biting wit, unquestionable bravery, and unflappable honesty. These are the ingredients that combine to make a truly fantastic autobiography. One that connects to its readers right off the page. This is what Georgette Noëllat has accomplished in her latest work, Bits from the Pieces.

This evocative story starts at the recounting of Georgette’s childhood growing up in 1950s Australia, following her trials, tribulations, and triumphs as she navigates all the harshness and beauty in a world that doesn’t accept difference well. Find yourself laughing out loud and thinking back to your own childhood, as well as sympathising with the harsh lessons we all eventually learn in life. You’ll find yourself cheering for Georgette all the way.

As the years pass, Georgette’s stories continue to grow too. As readers, we join Georgette in her recollections of her days at university, studying law and music in Melbourne while she traversed the complicated landscape of being a young adult.

In our days as in life, there are both light and dark moments. It’s up to us to find that glimmer of something better. Through flashbacks, you come to know of the sexual abuse Georgette suffered at the hands of her father as a child, as well as her struggles to fit in. Georgette tackles these tough subjects as any talented writer does – with dignity and a powerful attitude, yet all the while instilling important messages of hope, empowerment, and the assurance that those suffering are never alone. It’s crucial to share these stories of survivors, and I was humbled to learn of this important part of the piece.

By now, you will be saddened to be reaching the final pages, which are just as full of fun, wise words, and heartfelt wishes and tales. They address everything from the expansive topics of growing older, finding love, faith, family, and our connection to animals to current global situations and beyond. You will be left feeling that you have just made a close friend and, perhaps, as any good book should make you feel, not so alone in the world.

“We are all broken in life. Some of us are broken into many pieces, but these pieces can be fitted together and glued into place with love and hope so that we look whole, at least from a distance.” Explore your bits from the pieces with another unforgettable read that fits in perfectly with Georgette’s symphony of remarkable work.