Reviewed by Gerard Healy A very interesting tale, set mainly in the 1640s, of witchcraft, murder and deceit in Norfolk, England. The first-time author, Rosie Andrews, has done a fine job of weaving together a mystery yarn with engaging characters and authentic-sounding details of life at this turbulent time in English history. The story pivots
Reviewed by Rod McLary Douglas Stuart’s first book – Shuggie Bain – burst on the literary scene in 2020 and later that year was awarded the Booker Prize and deservedly so. The novel chronicles the life of Shuggie, a teenager in 1980s Glasgow, and explores with scathing honesty themes of addiction, sexuality and love. Just
Reviewed by Ian Lipke The term ‘portrait’ is a term often used when talking about art. It can be a painting, a photograph, an ink drawing, a sculpture — or even a description in words or in a film. Portrait of a Thief is a lyrical novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Delight and charm, quite rare in adult fiction, is often used in discussing children’s books. Remy Lai, the young Brisbane based author, has this in abundance in her series ‘Surviving the Wild’. She has a contract to write three books for the series. These are the first two, which will be
Reviewed by Rod McLary In this debut novel, Tom Watson has crafted a dystopian view of a country where government approval to be pregnant is mandated; and the penalty for childbirth without approval is exile. This is the fate of Aina and Whitney – a twelve-year exile to what appears to be an island, isolation
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Neuroscience is universally engaged in the study of the fascinating organ that is our brain. An eminent expert in this field, Moshe Bar, has produced a book that is claimed to be the first to deal with a particular area of brain function – Mindwandering. He has attempted to make this
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Those who survived the Holocaust of World War II have, over the years, slowly told their stories. For some, the trauma they suffered has been such that there has been a reluctance to say anything about it because of the pain they have suffered and are still suffering. Tony Bernard’s father
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Margaret Cameron is new to sharing her work, but a brief conversation with a friend, who remarked that she’d seen it all and she could write a book, changed everything. As the author recalls, the assertion arrived like a wind-blown leaf in an overgrown conversational garden. I decided to write that
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Until I read this book, I had little idea that being positive could be so toxic. Psychotherapist Whitney Goodman argues that sometimes being totally positive can damage people, especially those whose self-esteem are at a low ebb in a particular moment. We are confronted on a daily basis through media and
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Fishing is a popular past time in Australia. Recreational fishing has really taken off in recent years. Television programmes sponsored by stores selling the right tackle and equipment are big right now as is the sale of boats to enable those fishing to reach their favourite spots. Through his book, Bob
Reviewed by Ian Lipke A first encounter with The Colony has the effect of causing a reviewer to shudder at the combinations of logic and mythology that he faces. Consider the following: The island visited by Mr Lloyd is small, measuring only three miles by half a mile. One immediately suspects that a small island
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Elise Hooper’s book is one of the better versions of the stories told by the American publishing industry that relate to brave American nurses in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation during World War II. It suffers from the usual practice of presenting either incomplete knowledge of Australian activities in the
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Jonathan Biggins presents a two-part work that varies in its components as chalk from cheese. The first ninety-nine pages are based roughly on the Old Testament but only in terms of structure since any comparison with the books of the Bible disappears the moment it is proposed. The first part is
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Fiction writing has a long history. The novel has been the main stay of many a library, book exchange and store. Many films have been based on the stories fiction writers have weaved. Humanity has grown to love these and other stories because they have been a vehicle through which traditions,
Reviewed by Rod McLary Gothic literature has been part of the literary canon since the eighteenth century. Common elements include dark and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic literary devices and an overall feeling of mystery, fear and dread. A further element – especially apposite in relation to this novel – is the intrusion of the