Reviewed by E.B. Heath Asne Seierstad, the bestselling author of The Bookseller of Kabul, returned to Afghanistan in 2022 with the goal of understanding more about the Taliban’s regime. As an investigative journalist, she wanted to report what had changed now they were in power, what had stayed the same and what did they wish
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke ‘It was extraordinary how almost attractive she could appear sometimes…yet at other times she looked like she had risen freshly from the grave’ (187). This is a description given to the woman who takes centre stage in Shirley Barrett’s novel Mrs Hopkins. It is the third novel by this writer who
Reviewed by Rod McLary One of the common tropes of crime fiction is the quirkiness of the key protagonist – whether a detective or police officer or private investigator. The protagonist in this book – Detective Sergeant Declan Miller – bemoans the fact that he doesn’t have any quirks; quite overlooking the fact that he
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This novel has nothing to do with Elvis Presley’s song or the 2015 American psychological thriller film of the same name. Instead, it is a coming-of-age story about family, friendship, love, stereotyping and a strong connection to the past. There is a rebel, a dead letter office, a mystery from the
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Among the Grey Gums is the second book by Australian writer Paula J. Beavan who grew up on the banks of the Hunter River where her love of reading and a good yarn inspired a desire to write. Her love of the land and its history especially as it embraced the
Reviewed by Richard Tutin When we think of the wars of the twentieth century, some stand out such as the two World Wars and the war in Vietnam. There are though wars that are often left on the shelf as it were gathering dust and lost in the mists of time. The Korean War (1950-53)
Reviewed by Gail McDonald This is a fabulous book for young children loaded with many opportunities for the reader to engage the child in discussion about the story and to be an active player in it as well. Lights Out, Little Dragon engages the child from the first page, inviting them to help as the
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Camino Ghosts is the third book in the Camino series by renowned writer John Grisham – Camino Island (2017), Camino Winds (2020). At the centre of all that happens in these stories is the local bookseller, Bruce Cable. In Camino Ghosts as well as in his usual role Bruce is the
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu is a beautifully illustrated hard-covered book which has much to share with the reader. Although it has been published as a book for Primary School children the detailed, vivid images and information it provides have much to share with young and old. Throughout the story
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Australian author, Maya Linnell, has become well known for her rural fiction books about realistic people in small towns. She gathers inspiration from her own rural upbringing and the small communities she has always lived in and loved. Her affection and respect for Australia’s flora and fauna shines through in her
Reviewed by Richard Tutin This review has been difficult to write because of the sensitivity of the topic and the emotion that comes with it. Since 7th October 2023, raw emotion has been the catalyst for the many outpourings of grief and anger from different elements of society within the world community. Raja Shehadeh’s slim
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend Best to wear a jumper and a beanie when reading Mawson in Antarctica, Joanna Grochowicz really takes you there. At times during the narrative I did not want to be there – at all. This is scary stuff of the non-fiction kind. Joanna Grochowicz has written a well-researched account of Douglas
Author Events For those readers who enjoy meeting and listening to their favourite authors, there are a number of Author Events coming during the next few months. Below is just a small sample of what is on offer. TUESDAY 9 JULY | INSTORE EVENT 6pm for a 6.30pm start | 60 mins Join us for
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend I have long since thought the publishing industry’s insistence that novels fall into a genre straight-jacket somewhat unnecessary, not to mention unimaginative. Breaking through the mundane, Kaliane Bradley’s debut novel The Ministry of Time creates its own mixed-genre benchmark. Written in the first person, our narrator is a bi-racial, jaded, civil
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve It is impossible to resist the power of a book that is deeply perceptive in its unwaveringly honest scrutiny of family relations. The ties between two sisters, dealing with the death of a mother who was emotionally difficult and remote, is the focus of this exceptional novel. They come together at