In 1548 Martin Guerre left his wife, left his son, and left the village of Artigat in southwest France. 12 years later, “Martin” returned. Many people may be familiar with Martin Guerre’s story from various creative works, including a film with Gerard Depardieu from 1982. For those who aren’t, it’s a fascinating story of how … [Read more…]
Asking the question, What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton?, Rodham speculates a future for Hillary and explores what contemporary politics in the US could look on the other side of a sliding doors moment. This is one of those rare books where if you’re not feeling it at the start, it’s worth persevering. … [Read more…]
A “summer reading list” is a list of wishful thinking. A pipe dream of lazy summer days by the beach or the pool, or even on the couch with a cold beer. The reality? More of the same we’ve had for the rest of the year, just hotter (and in 2020, less covid lockdowns). But, … [Read more…]
This book deserves more attention. The concept is excellent. A fictional artist, Edna Cranmer, and her unnamed biographer, alternating time periods to tell their interwoven lives. It subtly tackles class boundaries, the status of women, and the complex relationship between memory, legacy, and truth. The way the story moves and flows and drops hints, then … [Read more…]
It’s challenging, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s a great read. For some reason I thought it was a memoir. I have no idea why I thought that, so I was fully expecting to not like it when it was announced as the FALS Book Club book for July. (Read the blurb? Or course I didn’t read … [Read more…]
I was expecting a complex book with nuanced characters who made me question right and wrong. I was looking forward to being morally challenged about the ethics of hitting the child. I got none of the above. Instead, I got shallow characters obsessed with sex, drugs and being horrible to each other, who made me … [Read more…]
I was looking forward to this read. The winner of two Australian literary awards, and shortlisted for another five, I expected I’d have nice things to say. But I don’t. Noah Glass tries too hard to be intelligent, and falls for cliches, stereotypes, and convenience. I had to keep checking it was written by a … [Read more…]
The blurb promised me an amusing read, but it’s about politics – how amusing could it be? Turns out, it was a thoroughly entertaining read. How can you not love this priceless description of Bob Hawke? “[he] strode straight to the car waving his hand and saying ‘Gday, Gday, G–day’, the last word elongated into … [Read more…]
Have you ever read those magazine articles where you can tell the writer has a bit of a crush on the interview subject? The ones where they meet for the interview in a trendy cafe and document the encounter with ridiculous details that say more about the starry-eyed writer than their interviewee? The Art of Happiness … [Read more…]
As a book set in another country, with a film released in 2013 that helped put the Autonomous Region of Bougainville on the tourism map, Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones fits as a Geography and Tourism book. Set during the Bougainville Civil War, Mister Pip is told from the perspective of teenage Matilda, who is introduced to Pip from … [Read more…]