Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve A title such as The Rome Zoo merely hints at, but does not reflect, the range and compelling nature of this wonderful novel. The history of modern Italy, the relevance of the zoo, the concept of caging animals, all are touched upon in a clever, sometimes ironic, and brilliant manner. There
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Catch Us the Foxes by Nicola West is a twisty psychological thriller set in the small coastal community of Kiama, south of Sydney. At the end of the book, the author apologises to this town and its residents (past, present and future) as the town does play a major part in
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Becoming absorbed in this book is a near impossibility. The author loves the English language and can produce compelling description and tell a narrative in a style completely her own. But there are weaknesses in this story that make it very hard going. I found, for example, that I could not
Reviewed by Gerard Healy This is an interesting, but difficult to read, text by Julia Baird, focusing on the treatment by the Australian media of female politicians. It’s difficult to read because in story after story another female MP gets chewed up by a powerful press pack looking to sensationalise their looks, dress-sense, competence and/
Reviewed by Rod McLary In the Author’s Note at the end of this intriguing and insightful novel, Samira Sedira says ‘[literature] dwells in darkness and tries to bring forth light’ [174]. The author has done exactly that in People Like Them – a novel inspired by a mass homicide in 2003 in France, in which
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Those readers who are fans of the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on TV will enjoy this book as it carries on the adventures of Miss Fisher as she helps the police solve the crime. In this book, the main character is not Phryne Fisher as she has not been heard from
Reviewed by Ian Lipke In this remarkable book, we find that several stories are each amalgamated seamlessly into the main or primary tale. Billy Summers is a returned soldier from the war in Afghanistan where he served as a sniper. He gives the impression that he is a little mentally deficient, but makes clear to
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke In her book, Christine Ball, anaesthetist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and co-manager of Master of Medicine (Perioperative) at Monash University, delves into the lives of those who were responsible for creating the wonderful partnership between the surgeon and the anaesthetist, which patients experience today when undertaking an operation. Her
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Following the success of her book Fable, New York Times author Adrienne Young has published Namesake, her second book in the duology. This conclusion to the Young Adult feminist adventure addresses the relationship between a young girl and her father. Fable has had to become tough and resourceful after her mother’s
Reviewed by Rod McLary When Gabriel Bergmoser’s previous novel The Hunted was reviewed in July 2020, and in these pages, the reviewer concluded his review by saying ‘I await impatiently the freshness of his new book’. And now, here is the author’s new book The Inheritance continuing the story of Maggie as she hides out
Reviewed by Rod McLary J. P. Pomare has now written four novels – each a psychological thriller – and while different from each other in critical ways, they also have elements in common. Not the least of which are the protagonists’ subterfuge and obfuscations, and their blurring of the line between truth and fiction. The
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Spending time in our backyards or going out into the parks and walkways have become the current pastimes for many people particularly with the Covid-19 restrictions that have come into force at various times over the past twelve to eighteen months. Adults as well as children have taken up these pursuits
Reviewed by Rod McLary Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina famously said ‘All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.’ The family in The Perfect Family – Thomas and Viv Adler and their children Eli and Tarryn – are one very unhappy family. Confirming Tolstoy’s observation, the Adlers’ unhappiness is
Reviewed by E. B. Heath Loneliness Seeping into the rock Cicada’s voice Matsuo Basho Understanding yourself is hard enough but within the confines of a rigid culture, it becomes an exercise in excavation. It takes considerable effort to separate out deep inner aspirations and emotions from the norms of a culture and language in which
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve The loss of her identity and its roots in her cultural heritage did not prevent Dianne O’Brien from rising above the trauma of her early years of life. She has become highly regarded for her work with struggling and disadvantaged people. Dianne, and those like her, hold the key to our