March 2021

General Fiction

The Breaking by Irma Gold

Reviewed by Rod McLary The Breaking is the debut adult novel by Irma Gold who has previously written a number of short stories and three children’s books.  For her first foray into adult fiction, she has crafted an intriguing and moving story which focusses on two young Australian women – Hannah and Deven.  They meet

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General Fiction

The Family Doctor by Debra Oswald

Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Few can be unaware of the debates and proposals raging currently concerning the scourge of domestic violence that ravages our society. It is widespread and occurs in all strata of the community. Toxic masculinity is, sadly, a commonly used phrase and is a serious factor involved in the attacks on women.

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General Fiction

Hold Your Fire by Chloe Wilson

Reviewed by Rod McLary Hold Your Fire is a collection of short stories – each offering an insight into our inner desires and fears.  In this excellent collection of contemporary short stories, the author challenges our perceptions and certainties. As well as the more conventional style of short story, the collection also contains examples of

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Crime/Mystery

Other People’s Houses by Kelli Hawkins

Reviewed by Rod McLary The image used for the cover of this first novel by Kelli Hawkins depicts what at first glance seems like the garden of a luxurious home – second and third glances reveal bare feet in the swimming pool which may or may not belong to a body, and the not quite

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Children

The Quicksand Pony by Alison Lester

Reviewed by Gerard Healy An engaging tale by Alison Lester of two children: a girl and her horse and a boy and his unusual mum. The girl is ten-year-old Biddy who lives on a cattle property close to the ocean in the rugged Gippsland district of Victoria. The other main character, nine-year-old Joe, has had

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General Fiction

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Reviewed by Rod McLary American Dirt, when first published in the United States, attracted some controversy because of its subject matter and because it was written by an author who has identified as white.  The controversy centred on the fact that the book chronicles the escape of a mother and her eight-year-old son from Mexico

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General Fiction

A Week to Remember by Esther Campion

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke The title of Esther Campion’s latest offering, A Week to Remember, is most appropriate to the story within the covers of this book. The setting is a renovated holiday destination in West Cork, Ireland. To this place come several parties each with their own stories. Mick’s mother, Lilian Fitzgerald, has gifted

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