Convenience store woman, which won Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize, is Sayaka Murata's 10th novel, but her first translated into English. Hopefully, it won't be the last. A rather unusual book, it elicited a stimulating discussion at my reading group last week. The convenience store woman of the title is 36-year-old Keiko Furukawa. She isn't "normal", and her … Continue reading Sayaka Murata, Convenience store woman (#BookReview)
21st century literature
Enza Gandolfo, The bridge (#Bookreview)
If there are people I admire more than any others, it's those who are able to empathise with, and forgive, someone who has done them great wrong. This complex question of forgiveness - of self and of others - is one of the issues explored in Enza Gandolfo's Stella Prize short-listed novel, The bridge. However, it's … Continue reading Enza Gandolfo, The bridge (#Bookreview)
Amanda Duthie (ed.), Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (#BookReview)
Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family is the second tribute book I've reviewed in Wakefield Press's Don Dunstan Award series. The first, Margaret & David: 5 stars, was also edited by Amanda Duthie. Like that book, Kin contains short reflections and essays on the contribution made to Australia's film industry and culture by Freda Glynn, her children Erica … Continue reading Amanda Duthie (ed.), Kin: An extraordinary filmmaking family (#BookReview)
Janet Lee, The killing of Louisa (#BookReview)
I started reading Janet Lee's historical fiction The killing of Louisa straight after reading Amor Towles' A gentleman in Moscow (my review), which is also a work of historical fiction. They couldn't be more different. Not only is one about a real historical figure in late 19th century Australia, while the other is about a … Continue reading Janet Lee, The killing of Louisa (#BookReview)
Amor Towles, A gentleman in Moscow (#BookReview)
American writer Amor Towles' third novel, the best-selling A gentleman in Moscow, generated a surprisingly lively discussion at my reading group last week, because beneath its engaging, accessible exterior are some puzzles. These puzzles relate primarily to Towles' intentions. What were they? Why did an American investment banker write an historical fiction novel about a Count in … Continue reading Amor Towles, A gentleman in Moscow (#BookReview)
Vicki Laveau-Harvie, The erratics (#BookReview)
Truth is that, while I like to read at least some of the Stella Prize shortlist, I didn't have Vicki Laveau-Harvie's memoir, The erratics, on my high priority list, though the more I heard about it, the more intrigued I became. However, it was winning the prize that tipped it over into my must-read category. What … Continue reading Vicki Laveau-Harvie, The erratics (#BookReview)
José Jorge Letria, If I were a book (#BookReview)
If I were a book is one of those "gift" books you give to readers - and it was in that spirit that it was given to me for my birthday a couple of years ago. It's a delight of a book, and is somewhat quirkier than these sorts of book-lovers' gift books often are, which … Continue reading José Jorge Letria, If I were a book (#BookReview)
Julian Davies, Call me (#BookReview)
I wasn't sure what I was in for when I started reading Call me, the latest offering from that tricksy duo, novelist Julian Davies and illustrator Phil Day. But, it soon became clear that what was before me was a coming-of-age story. What, I wondered, was Davies doing writing such a novel? Then I remembered that … Continue reading Julian Davies, Call me (#BookReview)
Karen Viggers, The orchardist’s daughter (#BookReview)
The orchardist's daughter is local author Karen Viggers' fourth novel, but the first that I've read. She has, however, appeared on my blog before, being the person who conversed with Sofie Laguna about her novel, The choke. It was one of the most entertaining conversations I've ever attended. Now, if you haven't read or heard of … Continue reading Karen Viggers, The orchardist’s daughter (#BookReview)
Melissa Lucashenko, Too much lip (#BookReview)
Melissa Lucashenko's title for her latest novel Too much lip conveys a lot about what she is trying to do here. Superficially, the title refers to protagonist Kerry's refusal (or inability) "to swallow her opinions", but there are layers to the title which reflect the layers in the novel. Kerry is female and Indigenous, and … Continue reading Melissa Lucashenko, Too much lip (#BookReview)
