"Profoundly moving", "a kind book", and "harrowing" could be blurb words for Biff Ward's memoir, In my mother's hands, but they're not. They are some of the words used by members of my reading group when we discussed the book this week with - lucky us - the author in attendance. It's quite coincidental that I happened to … Continue reading Biff Ward, In my mother’s hands (Review)
AWW Challenge 2015
Jessica White, Entitlement (Review)
Entitlement is a powerful title for Australian author Jessica White's second novel, but then White wanted to explore some powerful themes - though they are, unfortunately, somewhat belied by the rural romance/saga looking cover. The author bio at the front of the book tells us that White grew up on a property in northwest New South Wales … Continue reading Jessica White, Entitlement (Review)
Lynette Washington (ed), Breaking beauty (Review)
As I've said before, I usually don't read book introductions until the end. In the case of Breaking beauty, an anthology of short stories edited by Lynette Washington, it wouldn't have mattered if I had read it first because Brian Castro's intro gave nothing away while at the same time saying a lot. He starts by noting … Continue reading Lynette Washington (ed), Breaking beauty (Review)
Fiona McFarlane, The night guest (Review)
Those of you who followed the literary award season in Australia last year will have seen Fiona McFarlane's debut novel The night guest pop up several times. The more it popped up, the more I wanted to read it - but also the more I thought it would be good to read with my reading … Continue reading Fiona McFarlane, The night guest (Review)
Ellen van Neerven, Heat and light (Review)
It's silly I know, but I had a little thrill at the end of Ellen van Neerven's Heat and light, because not only was the last story set in a place where I spent six of the formative years of my childhood - Sandgate on the northern edge of Brisbane - but one of the characters learnt to … Continue reading Ellen van Neerven, Heat and light (Review)
Tara Moss, The fictional woman (Review)
In terms of feminist argument, I'm not sure that Tara Moss told me anything I didn't already know or believe in her first work of non-fiction, The fictional woman, but that didn't stop me enjoying her take, her approach. Moss is an interesting woman. Her careers as a model and a crime writer meant she wasn't really on my … Continue reading Tara Moss, The fictional woman (Review)
Pulse: First 2014 (Review)
Now here's the thing. I'm a librarian by training, so I have certain expectations of how publications are titled, and Pulse, I must say, confused me. However, we librarians also know that publishers and writers don't care about our rules; they just do what appeals to them! Fair enough. They're the creators after all. Still, when I see … Continue reading Pulse: First 2014 (Review)
Julie Twohig, Full circle (Review)
When I review individual stories, I tend to choose ones that are available on-line. Is that fair, I wonder? It means the author receives no payment for the story I review, but it does mean readers can enjoy a story that they may not otherwise easily access and, I suppose, that the author receives some exposure. … Continue reading Julie Twohig, Full circle (Review)
Anna Funder, Everything precious (Review)
I must thank John aka Musings of a Literary Dilettante for introducing me to this intriguing little e-work by Miles Franklin award-winner, Anna Funder. When John read it, back in October, it was in daily instalments, but when I clicked the link in his post I was offered several e-book versions, including for the Kindle and iPad, … Continue reading Anna Funder, Everything precious (Review)
Whispering Gums 