Reviewed by Wendy Lipke (This review was written in September but the book will not be published until early December). From stone to post and rail, from the utilitarian to the sculptural, a well-built fence is a thing of beauty and a monument to workmanship. These practical but symbolic structures are part of the story
Reviewed by Clare W Brook Discovering Dobell by Dr Christopher Heathcote is a book of superior quality both in its written content and colourful visual representations. (It would be tedious to point out the only spelling error (8)). Heathcote’s ordering of the work facilitates easy navigation through Dobell’s career – his earlier life, artistic development
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Alex Frayne has opted to present his portfolio of photographic portraits in a book that is A3 size. This decision is very convenient for both the photographer and the viewer. Large photographs make it harder for the photographer to hide any blemishes and make the task of viewing so much easier
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Nearly four billion people – about half of the world’s population – reportedly use the Internet. The vast majority of the planet’s telecommunicated information is via the Internet. Whether we admit to addiction or not, many of us are utterly dependent on it. How many of us could let a day
Reviewed by Rod McLary I don’t know whether Sarah Winman had the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz in mind when she named her third book. Tin Man in the film is invited to join Dorothy and her companions on the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. He desires a heart which he
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend My preference is warm and fuzzy, champagne and strawberries, novels; or a sedate romance, with scones and Earl Grey Tea. But Insidious Intent is definitely a liquorice toffee and strong coffee, very strong coffee, thriller. I would have said Wild Turkey Bourbon, but it feels like you’re part of the Regional
Reviewed by Angela Marie As he got closer to the middle of the river, Jed thought he could see bolts screwed into the top of the bin ….It looked like somebody wanted it closed up really tight ….Like they didn’t want what was in there to ever come out. So commences the intertwining of
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend I love a fairy tale retold and I’m thinking the French translation of Karine Lambert’s Now Let’s Dance would be Sleeping Beauty. Only our sleeping heroine aged a bit while comatose, which is just fine because the handsome prince is no spring chicken. A dual narrative of alternate chapters introduces us
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke The author, Annabelle Brayley, is a trained nurse who has lived on an isolated sheep and cattle station in South West Queensland. Because of this she has firsthand knowledge of the hardship and isolation experienced by people in the outback and the medical teams who elect to minister to these people.
Reviewed by Clare W. Brook I’m feeling almost in touch with all that is modern having just read No Way! Okay, Fine by Brodie Lancaster. Brodie is a dedicated young professional film, television, and modern music commentator, writing for publications such as Rookie, Pitchfork, Junkee, Film Fatales and Rolling Stone. Her debut book, No Way!
Reviewed by Ian Lipke It is no secret that Luke Jennings has taken four stories from Kindle and turned them into a novel. But what sort of novel and how successful has he been? Let me answer the second question. He has been an outstanding success. Jennings has created a secret agent with a history
Reviewed by Rod McLary The author has set Her in western Victoria in the early twentieth century and the novel spans some ten years in the life of the eponymous character Her. She has no other name except that which she gives herself after a customer refers to ‘pretty garland lillies’ in her hearing. She
Reviewed by Gretchen Winters I enjoyed reading Felicity Castagna’s latest novel. Felicity won the 2015 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction for her previous novel, The Incredible Here and Now, that was also adapted for the stage by the National Theatre of Parramatta. Felicity’s work has appeared on radio and television and she
Reviewed by E.B. Heath I have just read the second edition of Battle Scars and am basking in the reflected courage of a determined, gutsy woman, while at the same time not being at all confident that I could match Charlene Ericson’s herculean task in over-coming stage 3C ovarian cancer. It would be a good