Reviewed by Richard Tutin Students of Ancient History are introduced to two mighty rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, very early in their studies. After all they are regarded by historians as being the cradle of civilisation. Despite this knowledge, very few westerners have dipped their toes in their waters nor, in some ways, have
Reviewed by Clare Brook In this memoir Hilton Koppe reflects on his life as a country doctor of forty years. When Hilton received a diagnosis of PTSD from his doctor he was at a loss, how this could be happening to him? Koppe seemed to think that being a doctor should equate to being invincible.
Reviewed by Gail McDonald This was an easy read but with a great story line of love, loss and resilience, written in an engaging and entertaining style and based on actual historical event. The story has a dual setting, one in London in 1940 during the World War II and the German air raids on
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke I love reading the books written by Joanna Nell. They are so uplifting and positive in attitude, filled with humour and their main characters are in their post-work stage of life. From the sunny cover with its quirky font, and the interesting names allotted to places and people, it is a
2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award winners announced On Thursday 9 November at the Bondi Pavilion, Waverley Council announced that Alison Bashford, author and Professor at the University of New South Wales has been awarded the 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award for her book An Intimate History of Evolution: The Story of the Huxley Family (Allen Lane). Presented
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke For readers of Fleur McDonald’s books, they will be pleased to follow the storyline of Mia as she takes up her job, as new recruit, for the Barker police force under Detective Dave Burrows. Dave has been a familiar figure in these books and the reader knows that with the breakup
Reviewed by Rod McLary Paul Auster is an elegant and intelligent writer and these two qualities infuse this novel of loss and love. The protagonist – Seymour Baumgartner – has recently lost his wife Anna through a freak accident while she was swimming. Baumgartner was too far away to assist her in any way and
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve The second novel by Burt Surmon is a complete departure from his first where the hedonistic pursuits of a group’s weekend in South Australia’s wine region was only mildly interrupted by a murder. In Da Capo, his main character is Toby Hill whose quest for an enduring happy relationship with a
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AUSTRALIAN CRIME WRITERS ASSOCIATION’S 2023 Ned Kelly Awards Winners Exiles, by Jane Harper – Best Crime. Wake, by Shelley Burr – Best Debut. Betrayed, by Sandi Logan – Best True Crime. The Lemon Man, by Keith Bruton – Best International Crime. Exiles has been reviewed by QRC. Click on the title to read the
The winners of the 2023 Danger Awards have been announced at the BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. Novelist Chris Hammer, who took out the award for best crime fiction, has won for the second time, having jointly won the award in 2021. This year the awards included the categories of crime fiction debut and people’s choice.
Reviewed by Ian Lipke This crime story is the latest issue by well-known crime writer, Michael Connelly. He has called the story Resurrection Walk and has succeeded in confusing at least this reader since little attempt is made to explain the origins of the title. The story is clear enough. Connelly writes a number of
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Quaint Deeds is a memoir of A.J. “Sandy” Mackinnon’s school teaching years in Australia and England, in the 1980s and 90s. From the subtitle and the cover, it is apparent that the memoir is more whimsical than macho, with topics and activities that all speak of a zest for life. A.J.
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Kiera Lindsey has taken the little primary material available to produce a book about Adelaide Eliza Scott Ironside (1831-1867), Australia’s first locally born professional female painter, who owes some of her notoriety to an English poet’s description of her as having enthusiasm and wild ways. Is the title of this book
Reviewed by Rod McLary When I was a child – quite a number of years ago now – one of my favourite books was Grimm’s Fairy Tales written by the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in 1812. When first published, the book’s title was Children’s and Household Tales; and there was much criticism as the
Reviewed by Rod McLary Christos Tsiolkas is a powerful writer – his prose is often strong and confronting and he does not shy away from vivid descriptions of sexual desire. One needs only to consider Damascus in which the author unflinchingly sets out Saul’s lusts and society’s cruelty towards women and children; or his first