With that extended conflict known as the Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001) now over for more than a decade, we are starting to see books written about them. I've reviewed two on this blog to date, Aminatta Forna's novel The hired man (2013) (my review) on the Croatian War of Independence, and Olivera Simić's memoir Surviving peace (2014) (my review) on … Continue reading AS Patrić, Black rock white city (Review)
Debut fiction
Louise Mack, The world is round (Review)
I've had Louise Mack's debut novel, The world is round, on my TBR for about 20 years. Published in 1896, when she was 26 years old, it's a fairly straightforward tragicomedy about a young well-to-do 21-year-old girl, Jean, who aspires to be a writer, and the two men who love her, the 30-plus-year-old self-confident, successful lawyer-and-writer Musgrave, and … Continue reading Louise Mack, The world is round (Review)
Josephine Rowe, A loving, faithful animal (Review)
How many novels have you read featuring the Vietnam War? I've not read many I must say, but last year I did review Charles Hall's Summer's gone, and now this year I've read Josephine Rowe's A loving, faithful animal. It's a debut novel but, from its form, you can tell that Rowe is an accomplished short story writer. I … Continue reading Josephine Rowe, A loving, faithful animal (Review)
Anna Spargo-Ryan, The paper house (Review)
I hadn't heard of Anna Spargo-Ryan's novel, The paper-house, when it was sent to me for review, which is not surprising given it's a debut novel. However, I loved the cover - designed by one of Australia's top book designers, Sandy Cull - and so was more than willing to give it a go. It traverses some … Continue reading Anna Spargo-Ryan, The paper house (Review)
Cassie Flanagan Willanski, Here where we live (Review)
"Write what you know" is the advice commonly given to new authors - and it's something Cassie Flanagan Willanski, author of Here where we live, seems to accept. Set in South Australia, where Willanski lives, this debut collection of short stories reflects her two main interests, creative writing and the environment. The book won Wakefield Press's Unpublished Manuscript Award a couple … Continue reading Cassie Flanagan Willanski, Here where we live (Review)
Ariella Van Luyn, Treading air (Review)
It wasn't until I reached the end of Ariella Van Luyn's debut novel, Treading air, that I discovered it was loosely based on the life of a real person. I'm glad it happened that way. I like introductions, but I always read them last because I like to come to my reading as unencumbered as possible … Continue reading Ariella Van Luyn, Treading air (Review)
Robyn Cadwallader, The anchoress (Review)
Let me start by saying that I'm not a big reader of historical fiction, and particularly not of non-Australian historical fiction, so to read a novel set in mediaeval times is quite a departure for me. However, I did want to read Robyn Cadwallader's The anchoress for a number of reasons. Not only is Cadwallader an … Continue reading Robyn Cadwallader, The anchoress (Review)
Julie Proudfoot, The neighbour (Review)
When Julie Proudfoot offered me her debut novel, The neighbour, for review I was more than happy to accept. After all, it had won Seizure magazine's Viva La Novella Prize in 2014, and you all know how much I love a novella. I must say it's a gorgeous looking book. I'm not one to judge books … Continue reading Julie Proudfoot, The neighbour (Review)
Caroline de Costa, Double madness (Review)
I'm not a crime reader as most of you know, and in fact most of the crime novels I've read here have been review copies sent to me. Caroline de Costa's Double madness is one of these. I accepted it for a couple of reasons. It's a debut novel by a doctor, indeed a professor … Continue reading Caroline de Costa, Double madness (Review)
Emily Bitto, The strays (Review)
Let me start by saying I really enjoyed reading Emily Bitto's The strays. It was scheduled for my reading group the day after my return from Tasmania, and I suddenly found myself in the last day of my Tasmanian holiday without having started the book. Wah! I read it in two days, helped by several … Continue reading Emily Bitto, The strays (Review)
Whispering Gums 