Given this book has a long list of nominations and awards already (most recently named winner of the Miles Franklin) my review could be a short and emphatic three words – ‘GRAB THIS PRONTO ‘. But you know me, I can’t stop there. I want, actually I neeeeed to say more because this book had […]
Category Archives: All
June
24
The Van Apfel Girls are Gone by Felicity McLean
posted by Ms K
Firstly, good news! I am alive despite being missing in action of late. Believe it or not, I have been reading a lot but sadly, I have made some very poor choices and twice had to abandon my book. This is something I try never to do (and I really gave those two a red-hot-go, […]
April
23
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
posted by Ms A
For the love of music, the 70’s and cracking stories, you have to read this book. Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid and published in March, there has been a lot of hype leading up to its release. It already has its own Spotify playlist and Reece Witherspoon backed Netflix Series. Talk about a cross-disciplinary marketing juggernaut. […]
April
01
The Binding by Bridget Collins
posted by Ms K
1.43am. I repeat. 1.43am. This is the hour The Binding released me from its clutches and let me sleep. Now I know this may not be a biggie for many of you, but for this pumpkin, 10.30pm is a late night. I was held captive, shaken and stirred from first line to last. For […]
March
17
Listen to the Marriage by John Jay Osborn
posted by Ms K
If you’ve ever held the secret desire to sit in a marriage counsellor’s room and listen in, well, praise be, John Jay Osborn has opened that door and invited you in. Voyeurs rejoice! This is a clever tale where you are witness to the breaking and making of Steve and Gretchen’s marriage and their work […]
March
10
Sunburn by Laura Lippman
posted by Ms K
Every fabulous holiday (and I use holiday in the true sense where you simply Chill.Out.) requires some must-haves. Cocktails (free-flowing naturally) closely followed by beaut folk, a tower of books to read, great locale, fancy digs, delicious food, sunshine, pool/beach, yada yada… I have just returned from said holiday where sunshine and books abounded and […]
March
06
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
posted by Ms K
I’m pretty sure I heard people were dancing in the streets when Barbara Kingsolver released her new book. I nearly was. This woman is a legend and remains firmly implanted in my ‘Reading Hall of Fame’ for The Poisonwood Bible because apart from being a great book, it was the first book I read where […]
March
05
French Exit by Patrick deWitt
posted by Ms A
I didn’t sleep the night I finished this book. It is funny but also strangely emotional and I couldn’t get it out of my head. Released late last year, French Exit tells the story of a glamorous New York widow, Frances and her gloomy adult son, Malcolm. The two of them have spent the last of […]
February
07
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
posted by Ms K
Guest Review by Mr M Much like stories told around a dinner table, I think the best ones contain facts with entertaining embellishment and in my own case, the occasional physical performance for added effect. Trent Dalton’s book, Boy Swallows Universe is one of the most entertaining dinner table stories, but I must admit – […]
January
28
The Overstory by Richard Powers
posted by Ms A
If the measure of a great book is whether it makes you think about things differently, then this is a great book. The Overstory starts off as a collection of stories that merge into a single tale of mankind and its relationship with the environment. Some people have labelled it “environmental fiction” but that strikes […]
