Review- Brothers in Arms by Elaine Fry for the West Australian, Tuesday March 18th, 2014

“Insightful History”

In “Brothers in Arms” (Cobalt Blue) Ian Minchin chronicles his family history for the past century, including the tumultuous times of WW1 and WW2, and life in the changing WA, where the book is largely set. Stories of life on the farm, moving to Nedlands, work and relationships, are narrated through the lives of family Members with humor and painstaking honesty. He tells of the dedication of his parents, Iris and Hugh (WW1 veteran) and the exploits of his incorrigible older brothers Ron and Brian as young boys, to their time serving as pilots during WW2. Detailed accounts of other family Members stories’ of courtship, experiences and daily life preserve for posterity Ian Minchin’s heart warming insight into an interesting part of WA’s social history.