Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Pakistan has not been renowned for its modern literature, which could bring its vibrant culture teeming with a kaleidoscope of stories to an appreciative international readership. For example, A Suitable Boy together with many others brought the colourful humour of Indian life, to millions. They were highly praised and often won
Reviewed by Rod McLary Gary Lonesborough is an award-winning author of YA novels – The Boy from the Mish and I’m Not Really Here – which address issues of self-identity, sexuality and cultural identity among Aboriginal youth. To a fair extent, the novels reflect the personal experiences of the author who grew up ‘as part
Reviewed by Colleen McLennan The author, Kathy Lette, has had a long literary career. She has written twenty books which have been translated into nineteen languages, and has worked in television as a presenter, written a book which was made into a film and TV mini-series as well as writing columns for newspapers and magazines.
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Empires of Violence is the work of a team of highly skilled researchers who have collaborated in the production of a book that is well balanced and which meets the market at a time when it is most needed. For simplicity the authors have chosen to speak of the original settlers
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke John McMahon, the author of Inside Man, is an American crime writer of some renown. Among his work is a series based on a particular group within the FBI. The series known as Head Cases highlights Gardner Camden and the PAR team (Patterns and Recognition). Their job is to identify peculiarities
Reviewed by Rod McLary J P Pomare’s previous novels – of which there are seven – are generally set in Australia or New Zealand. A number of them have won awards including the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel for Call Me Evie [2018]; and Tell Me Lies [2020] was shortlisted for both the
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Be it mundane or marvelous, this is one of those books that provides a detailed celebration of aspects of language. Some are bizarre, others unusual and many perhaps unknown to the ordinary reader. Its most striking feature is the range and number of entries. The editor, Joshua Blackburn, has produced a
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This academic book, by well-known and respected (except by the Chinese government) Dutch historian Frank Dikötter, is the latest in his books on how China became the powerful country it is today. Dikötter is the author of The People’s Trilogy, which consists of Mao’s Great Famine, The Tragedy of Liberation, and
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Innovation is the 21st title of the Shortest History series and must be one of the most challenging to write. The concept is abstract, the timeline is the whole of human history and the geography covers the world. Compressing all of that material into 220 pages means applying the most stringent
Reviewed by Clare Brook Sara Pennypacker is the author of several acclaimed novels for middle-grade readers, her latest historical fiction novel, The Lions’ Run, is set in France during the German occupation of WWII. Reading this novel brought to mind a Winston Churchill quote – “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Steven Carroll first wrote about a Detective Sergeant Stephen Minter in his novel, Goodnight, Vivienne, Goodnight. This character was the son of Austrian Jews who were detained in England as enemy aliens and tragically died while interned. Now, he reappears in The Afterlife of Harry Playford, where he has a greater
Reviewed by Clare Brook Rory Warnock is an industry-leading performance and wellness coach, ultramarathon runner and keynote speaker. He specialises in breathwork and nervous system regulation to help improve mental and physical health so optimising wellbeing and performance. His latest book, Unlock Your Breath, highlights that many of us are not breathing to enhance health.
Reviewed by Colleen McLennan The author, Danny Ben-Moshe, is a documentary filmmaker who has enjoyed worldwide acclaim for his work. Prior to becoming a full-time filmmaker, he was an Associate Professor at Deakin and Victoria Universities in Melbourne. His research focused on Jewish subject matter. He has an undergraduate degree in law and politics from
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Linda Gifford, author and illustrator, has taken an amazing true story which became world-wide news to create her latest children’s book. In her story she has imagined some of Valerie’s adventures over the 500 days she roamed Kangaroo Island before eventually being returned to her owners. This hard covered children’s picture
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke In her latest historical fiction story, Sue Williams, author of Elizabeth & Elizabeth, That Bligh Girl and The Governor, His Wife, and his Mistress, has delved into a family legend, passed down through generations of William Williams from one who served as a footman to the Duke of Wellington at London’s