December 2022

History

Empire, War, Tennis and Me by Peter Doherty

Reviewed by Richard Tutin  On one of the walking paths that my wife and I regularly use is a house that has a rather fine tennis court. It looks as if it is well cared for  and regularly used when it comes into view. Seeing it recently reminded me of Peter Doherty’s book Empire, War,

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Literature

On Tim Winton by Geraldine Brooks

Reviewed by Rod McLary Writers on Writers is a series of books where leading authors offer their reflections on Australian writers who have inspired them.  In this latest addition to the series, Geraldine Brooks provides her insights into and readings of one of Australia’s finest writers – Tim Winton.  Author of Cloudstreet, The Riders, Dirt

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Health/Wellbeing

The Fast 800 Keto Recipe Book by Dr Clare Bailey

Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Recipe books abound in bookshops, libraries even as free items in supermarkets, although a vast range of them is available on line, easily accessed and without charge. The question arises as to why publish yet another….However, the Fast 800 Keto Recipe Book is well worthwhile considering for anyone who seeks deliciously

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Fantasy/Science Fiction

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Sue Lynn Tan writes fantasy stories inspired by the myths and legends she fell in love with during her childhood. Born in Malaysia, she studied in London and France, before settling in Hong Kong with her family. Her romantic duology about the daughter of the Moon Goddess melds ancient Chinese mythology

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Non-Fiction

How Many More Women? by Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida

Reviewed by Gail McDonald This is a powerful book which details the many examples of what happens once a woman makes a complaint of sexual assault. The authors looked at the incidence of these happenings around the world with many of those noted in the book being very high-profile cases. The authors also note that,

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History

Remote as Ever by David Scrimgeour

Reviewed by Ian Lipke During the 1970s, two significant Aboriginal social movements gained momentum across Australia. It is not to be assumed that these movements were triggered by activities that were specifically 1970. Their pressure was always being felt. An aspiration to self-determination and autonomy had always existed but what was different was the presence

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Non-Fiction

The Quicks by Robert Drane

Reviewed by Richard Tutin  It is often said that cricket is a gentleman’s game. Whoever believes that doesn’t understand cricket’s true nature. When an opening batter takes their crease, and they look up waiting for the bowler to send one down, it is not a quiet sedate ball that will come towards them. It will

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Politics

The Young Menzies by Zachary Gorman

Reviewed by Ian Lipke Zachary Gorman’s little book of two hundred odd pages creates a loose coalescence of points of view and opinions bound by their relationship to the young Menzies. Most are complimentary to him, while others aim for impartiality. None set out to chastise Menzies or find fault with his policies. After all,

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Literature

The Furphy Anthology 2022

Reviewed by Tricia Simms-Reeve The appeal of the short story is that its few pages can thrill, illuminate, startle or be intensely moving. The discipline of condensing a writer’s theme into a thought provoking few pages is not widely valued, perhaps through lack of exposure.  In today’s world, a 300 page novel makes demands on

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General Fiction

The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke The story The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer is an interesting and easy book to read about family relationships, growing up and forming new relationships outside the family, as well as the impact on families of devastating diseases. What a tangled web Fiona Palmer has given the reader in her latest

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General Fiction

I Am Not Fine, Thanks by Wil Anderson

Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Stand-up comedians don’t live in the real world, do they? They are wealthy, slumber in designer beanbags and see jokes in everything. This makes them happy, carefree and able to devote their creative genius to expanding their fortunes. Imagine my surprise to find that the A-list comedian, Wil Anderson, star of

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Historical Fiction

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

Reviewed by Ian Lipke I must plead ignorance of the life of Ignatius Sancho, the eighteenth-century writer, composer, shopkeeper and abolitionist. When reading Diaries, I was struck by the identification of the text with Laurence Stern’s Tristram Shandy but it was little more than a casual observation, certainly nothing to be taken seriously. Paterson Joseph

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Longlist for the 2023 Indie Book Awards

Established in 2008, the Indie Book Awards celebrate the best Australian writing; and who better to nominate and judge the best-of-the-best than indie booksellers! What makes indie booksellers uniquely placed to judge and recommend the best Aussie books of the past year, is their incredible passion and knowledge, their contribution to the cultural diversity of

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History

The World by Simon Sebag Montefiore

Reviewed by Ian Lipke As others have said, this is, without doubt, a dazzling achievement – if just in terms of tonnage. The book purports to follow the human story from a starting point thousands of years ago through all the myriad ages since. It is easy to bag the book and argue that as

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General Fiction

The Choice by Nora Roberts

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke The Choice is the third book in the Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy by Nora Roberts. Although a reading of the first two books enhances what is in this book, it can be read on its own because the prologue provides the basic outline of the story so far. However, having already

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