Reviewed by Rod McLary The alliterative title of this debut novel gives some indication of its nature – a tender, heartwarming and whimsical look at the borrowed life of Frederick Fife. But what does ‘borrowed life’ mean? Well, that is the theme of the novel. The setting up of the situation takes a little time.
Reviewed by Ian Lipke I was quite disappointed in this latest publication by Stephen King. This author has created a reputation for fine, extended writing, of best quality, and of mind-blowing uniqueness that is not represented in the present volume. One can speculate over reasons why these stories fail to meet the level of satisfaction
Reviewed by Rod McLary From time-to-time, there are novels which grab the reader from the first line and never let go. When these novels come along – and there are so many of them – they are a joy to read; even more so when it is a debut novel. Anyone’s Ghost is such a
Reviewed by E.B. Heath Although an elaborate fantasy for children, Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea, carries significance – a warning. One that in times of yore was communicated via an Aesop’s Fable – The Goose and The Golden Egg. A story of stupidity and greed. Apparently, that message has been long forgotten because, well,
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Previously I have not had the pleasure of reading any of the work by Australian author, Petronella McGovern, and found her latest book, The Last Trace, to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I have since discovered that Petronella’s first novel, Six Minutes, was published in July 2019 and debuted on the
Miles Franklin Award The shortlist for the 2024 Miles Franklin Literary Award has been announced. The shortlisted titles, selected from a longlist announced in May, are: Only Sound Remains (Hossein Asgari, Puncher & Wattmann) Wall (Jen Craig, Puncher & Wattmann) Anam (André Dao, Hamish Hamilton) The Bell of the World (Gregory Day, Transit Lounge) Hospital (Sanya Rushdi, Giramondo) Praiseworthy (Alexis Wright, Giramondo).
Reviewed by Rod McLary The evocative title and cover image – a teenage boy with bloodied knuckles – offers a preview of what will be found within the book’s covers. This debut novel by Daniel Tamone explores the far-reaching effects of family violence and the challenges inherent in any attempt to leave them behind. The
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders According to a recent poll, 48% of Australians believe that AUKUS will keep us more secure from China. AUKUS being the trilateral security arrangement with the US and UK. The arrangement was forged in secret and no detail has been made public, so for that 48%, it is an act of
Reviewed by Rod McLary This debut novel by Jordan Prosser falls within a genre named ‘cyberpunk’ – that is, a novel set in a dystopian future with a combination of ‘lowlife and high tech’ and one where society is collapsing into a state of decay. The setting for the novel is a barely recognisable Australia
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Jessie Tu’s debut novel, A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing, presented an author who is remarkable in her wide ranging talent. Her second book, The Honeyeater, does not disappoint. There is the same narrative brilliance and quiet intensity, relating the story of Fay, a translator bringing a modern English novel
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