Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Susan Duncan’s latest novel is called Finding Joy in Oyster Bay. The first chapter spoke of nothing like “joy” as it is about a young woman who chooses to abandon her child. However, she knows that the baby will be cared for by others. As I continued to read on, I
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve A significant factor that changed our pandemic-gripped lives was, for many lonely or perhaps childless people, the owning of a pet. The most popular was the dog because it, like its owner, needed to go out for daily exercise. Therefore, the leading ‘character’ in My Name is Gucci, a large spotted
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This hard-covered novel with dust jacket, River Song, is Di Morrissey’s thirtieth book to be published. Over the years she has been providing interesting human stories for her readers taking them to different parts of Australia. She is well regarded in the literary world for her Australian-based stories and has been
Reviewed by Rod McLary A common theme of Robbie Arnott’s two earlier novels – The Rain Heron and Limberlost – is the interrelation between humans and nature, their connectedness. This theme continues in Dusk where nature or the natural environment dominates the foreground of the novel to the extent that the humans seem to be
Reviewed by Rod McLary Alex Miller is one of Australia’s finest writers. Among the many awards he has won, he is twice winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award for The Ancestor Game and Journey to the Stone Country. And it is in The Ancestor Game where we first meet the protagonist of The Deal
Reviewed by Rod McLary Firmly anchored in the Aboriginal landscape – stolen from the First Nations people with much bloodshed – this collection of short stories by John Kinsella speaks of people living on the edges of the community. Primarily known as a poet, John Kinsella brings to his short stories that sense of landscape
Reviewed by Rod McLary The basic premise for this novel is a rather daunting one. D – his full name is never revealed – is a psychopath held in a secure facility for crimes which also are never revealed. He has been asked by his psychiatrist to write down his thoughts, admissions and uncertainties. What
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Liane Moriarty’s books are undeniably popular. Over 20,000,000 copies have sold worldwide. She has been crowned the modern Jane Austen in her ability to capture modern urban life in all its variety, lacing this with her perceptive wit. Her writing is not ‘chick lit.’ escaping into a stereotypical world. Plots are
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This novel by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is set in the Hamptons in the United States. This setting is important as it describes the changing face and expectations of people now flocking to this area especially for the holiday season. Though enjoying the benefits these new people bring, the locals
Reviewed by Rod McLary The Youngest Son tells the story of the three Leach siblings – John, Maureen and Bob [the titular youngest son] – and the lives they make for themselves. In a sprawling tale spanning fifteen years [1929 to 1944] and the Great Depression and a World War, the action takes place on
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Readers of books by Australian author Léonie Kelsall will already be familiar with the fictional town of Settlers Bridge and the businesses Ploughs and Pies and Tractors and Tarts. What they may not know is that her latest book, The Homestead in the Eucalypts, was in fact the first book set
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke When reading this latest book by Fiona McArthur, I was reminded of segments from Macca’s Sunday programs and his book, Why I Live Where I Live: Australia All Over by Ian McNamara. Back to Birdsville certainly shows how this isolated location in outback Queensland, where the state abuts both the Northern
Reviewed by Rod McLary Serial killers are not common in Australia with the exception of two infamous examples who won’t be named here. So when crimes of this nature occur, perhaps more attention is given to them than would be in [say] the United States. The heinous crimes affect many people – the friends and
Reviewed by Richard Tutin When Australian radio was in its “Golden Age” during the 1940s and 50s, one of the mainstays of programming were drama plays and serials. People gathered around the sets of the day to listen to their favourite shows. They were keen to find out more about the fortunes of their favourite
Reviewed by Rod McLary There are some novels which defy easy categorisation – and Oblivion is one such novel. It is a lyrical and strangely moving story of an unnamed narrator as he travels through the East on an unspecified and rather mysterious task. The narrator spends his time in those detached places such as