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
Reviewed by E. B. Heath This novel is deceptively simple. It begins gradually, without drama or intrigue. You think about making a cup of coffee, unaware that momentum is piling up. Before you know it, you’re sitting on a roller coaster of compassion, caring, really caring, about Lynette. You follow her actions for two days
Reviewed by Ian Lipke The title of this book would lead the reader to assume that, given the career of Keith Banks, the reference is to the dangerous work he assumed during his career, that he is referring literally to some gangster holding a gun to his head and threatening to shoot him. There is
Reviewed by E.B. Heath “Over the years, I’ve come to think of my patients as survivors of a disaster, where they are the disaster and my colleagues and I are the first responders.” The cover reeks of sensationalism – the title, embossed starkly over the face of a sad little boy, gives the impression of
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Armed with formidable research, which exposes repetitive examples throughout history where society’s attitude to gender roles has shaped or altered the economy, Katrine Marçal has provided fascinating evidence to support her book’s title. Karl Benz’s wife Bertha was the first to demonstrate the potential of her husband’s horseless-carriage. This was the
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend Reading The Countess from Kirribilli is akin to falling into a rabbit hole situated within an elegantly landscaped garden, overlooking Sydney Harbour. The ‘fall’, through said rabbit hole, takes the form of a three-month voyage, after which readers and three-year-old Mary Annette Beauchamp step from La Hogue onto English soil in
For those readers who like to meet their authors face-to-face, there are some upcoming events which offer you that opportunity. Avid Reader at West End offers a chance to meet two authors whose books have been reviewed in these pages. Mark Brandi – author of The Others as well as Wimmera and The Rip –
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve The title alone captures attention. The other side of beautiful could be many things, and in her fourth novel, Kim Lock has suggested some with a deftly assured and sensitive touch. Mercy Blain, a young woman in her thirties, has imprisoned herself in her home for two years, suffering crippling anxiety
Reviewed by Ian Lipke It’s an unusual opening to say the least. Auguste Duchene, former schoolteacher and proud Frenchman, in Paris in 1944, searching for and finding a missing baby, a German baby, offspring of a senior Nazi. It turns out that Duchene has found a means of survival, for he finds both French and
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Catherine Steadman’s book has been touted as a psychological thriller of a very scary persuasion. When I began reading, I discovered that I was just plain bored. The story seemed to have no direction, the heroine appeared to me insipid, and a great lot of nothing was supposed to capture and
Reviewed by Richard Tutin The line “History is written by the Victors” is often attributed to Winston Churchill though its origin is unknown. Even so, the reality of its meaning can often be highlighted when events are put under the spotlight of critical evaluation and interpretation. In recent times, the way history has been taught
Reviewed by Gerard Healy Don Watson, of Paul Keating speechwriter fame, has updated his history book for the young (and the curious). By young, we are assuming around 11 to 14 years of age and, by curious, we mean anyone interested in Australian history. Watson published the original text in 1984 and there have been
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Those Hamilton Sisters is the first novel produced by mother of four, Averil Kenny. Like most successful first writers, she has written about what she knows. This story is created from many of her own experiences of motherhood, love, family bonds and growing up in the lush-enchanted tropics of Australia giving