Maxine Beneba Clarke's latest book, Beautiful changelings, is the first poetry collection scheduled by my reading group in our 38 years, and it went very well. I should clarify, lest you think we are poetry-avoiders, that we have read some verse novels and we've had a couple of poetry evenings where we've shared favourite poems, … Continue reading Maxine Beneba Clarke, Beautiful changelings (#BookReview)
Review
Tasma Walton, I am Nannertgarrook
As we got ready for our recent Melbourne trip, I was thinking about the then upcoming announcement of the Stella Prize shortlist, so I packed the two longlisted books I already had. But then, en route, we listened to the Secrets of the Green Room interview with Tasma Walton about her longlisted novel, I am … Continue reading Tasma Walton, I am Nannertgarrook
Ann Patchett, Tom Lake (#BookReview)
I have not read Ann Patchett for a long time. In fact, I've only read one novel, Bel Canto, way before blogging, and one nonfiction piece, “The bookshop strikes back” (my review). So, when I saw all the love her latest novel, Tom Lake, was getting in 2023's end-of-year lists (including Kate's annual compilation), I … Continue reading Ann Patchett, Tom Lake (#BookReview)
Langston Hughes, Feet live their own life (#Review, #1961 Club)
Today's post for the Year Club is one of those rare occasions when I am not posting on an Australian short story. The simple reason is that I could not find one in my anthologies, and I am keen to read from my physical TBR. Happily, I found one in Great short stories by African-American … Continue reading Langston Hughes, Feet live their own life (#Review, #1961 Club)
Paris Rosemont, Barefoot poetess (#BookReview)
Fierce, raw, honest are all clichés used to describe strong, powerful writing, but when it comes to Paris Rosemont's poetry collection, Barefoot poetess, they are hard to go past. However, I prefer to avoid review clichés, so let's start again ... Paris Rosemont's second poetry collection, Barefoot poetess, turned out to be quite the page-turner … Continue reading Paris Rosemont, Barefoot poetess (#BookReview)
Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker, Spirit of the crocodile (#Bookreview)
Aaron Fa'Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker's Spirit of the crocodile is a children's/YA book, which makes it atypical reading for me. However, I'm not averse breaking my rules occasionally, and so I made an exception for this book - mainly because of its collaborative authorship and its setting. Aaron Fa'aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker have … Continue reading Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker, Spirit of the crocodile (#Bookreview)
Samantha Harvey, Orbital (#BookReview)
Samantha Harvey's Booker Prize-winning novella, Orbital, is one of those novels you want to keep by your side after you've finished it, hoping that its calm beauty and quiet provocations will stay with you just that little bit longer. And here, in this opening sentence, I am channelling the "you" voice that she slips into occasionally … Continue reading Samantha Harvey, Orbital (#BookReview)
Adeline F. Ries, Mammy: A story (#Review)
Adeline F. Ries's short story "The scapegoat" is the sixth in the anthology Great short stories by African-American writers, which my American friend Carolyn sent me. Like the previous author, Emma E. Butler, Adeline F. Ries is barely known. Adeline F. Ries The biographical note at the end of the anthology, like that for Butler, … Continue reading Adeline F. Ries, Mammy: A story (#Review)
Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, and Sarah Krasnostein, The mushroom tapes (#BookReview)
Chances are I'm not telling you anything when I say that The mushroom tapes is about an Australian murder trial that took place over two months in the middle of 2025. However, if you don't know, this trial concerned a woman named Erin Patterson who was accused of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder … Continue reading Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, and Sarah Krasnostein, The mushroom tapes (#BookReview)
Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton (#BookReview)
My reading group has a tradition of choosing a "big" book for our January read. We also like to do a classic each year. This year the two coincided when we chose Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, Mary Barton, as our 2026 starting book. I have read several Gaskell novels and stories - plus Nell Stevens' … Continue reading Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton (#BookReview)
Whispering Gums 