Category Archives: Australian Books

April 19, 2024 · 3:47 pm

Petrified Wood

Fictionella about woodcutting and ancient trees

Some years back I heard about a project inspired by a found rock board with missing rocks. When I first heard of the project, I bought one of the books. Later, visiting the Melbourne Art Book Fair, I was thrilled to meet the A Published Event team behind the project and to add another book to my collection.

Photo is of “Petrified Wood” by Therese Keogh. The paperback book is resting on the edge of a wizened, grey tree stump. The cover is white with an abstract red shape on it which is a silhouette of a piece of petrified wood.

“Petrified Wood” by Therese Keogh is a fictionella told in first person perspective by someone who is visiting a forest in Germany. The narrative sways back and forth between ruminations on a 7,000 year old piece of petrified wood and modern day woodcutting.

This is a thoughtful book that experiments with form in a way that each page almost seems like a free verse poem, interspersed with black and white, low-resolution images of fossilised wood. Cutting wood is interpreted as a skill, an art form and a way to examine archeological findings from millennia gone by. Keogh presents each page as a distinct thought but they are all clearly linked together in the same way as the very tree rings Keogh considers.

I think it’s important to note that this is not a short piece of fiction in the conventional sense. There isn’t a strong sense of narrative but rather a feeling, or a knowing. There is little in the way of characters or even a sense of time, and Keogh focuses instead on place and connection. I was curious to see that there was an absence of moral judgment on woodcutting and, more broadly, deforestation. Instead of being a destructive force on nature, Keogh explores woodcutting as a participation with nature.

An original and thought-provoking interpretation of petrified wood.

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January 17, 2024 · 8:56 pm

He Who Drowned the World

Queer Imperial Chinese fantasy and sequel to “She Who Became the Sun”

I received a copy of this eBook courtesy of the publisher.

Image is of “He Who Drowned the World” by Shelley Parker-Chan. The eBook cover is of sailing ships in yellow and blue sailing on a wavy yellow sea with a large blue moon at the top of the cover.

“He Who Drowned the World” by Shelley Parker-Chan is the sequel to “She Who Became the Sun” and the final book in “The Radiant Emperor” duology. The book picks up shortly after the events of the first book with the newly renamed Zhu Yuanzhang exultant as the Radiant King. However, Zhu’s ambitions don’t stop there and are now fixed firmly on the emperor’s throne together with other ambitious players. Meanwhile, her old enemy the haunted eunuch Ouyang may be the key ally to achieving her ambitions, but is Zhu willing to pay the price?

This is a powerful finale to the duology with an enormous amount of character development that builds on the very firm setting of the first book. The first book was an incredible novel exploring motivations like unfettered ambition and revenge, with the characters making decisions often seemingly against their own interests to pursue their ultimate goals. This book is a significant gear shift, and the decisions that the characters made in the first book begin to catch up on them. Zhu’s cheerful certainty against all odds, however, remains infectious. I also really enjoyed the character Wang Baoxiang who was equal parts pitiful and brilliant, and also willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.

I really enjoyed this book and that it took the characters in a different direction, however it didn’t always have the same punchiness and surprises of the first book. I also felt that sex in this book was treated in a very challenging way: never for mutual enjoyment or love, but always either transactional or non-consensual.

A strong finish to the duology with great character development, if not quite as spectacular as the first.

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January 13, 2024 · 1:15 pm

Bellevue

Historical fiction novel about corruption, betrayal and place in the Blue Mountains

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Photo is of “Bellevue” by Alison Booth. The paperback book is resting on a stylised map of a mountain with lots of greenery and a vertical train track with the title of BLUE MOUNTAINS BOOKSHOP TRAIL. Beside the book are some purple flowers and a sprig of dried gumleaves. The cover is of an old house set back behind a simple wooden fence on top of a hill with a sweeping mountain view and sunset behind and black cockatoos above.

“Bellevue” by Alison Booth is a historical fiction novel set in the 1970s about a retired teacher called Clare who inherits a property in the Blue Mountains from her deceased husband’s aunt. The house and gardens need a lot of restoration, but Clare is determined to make it work and recreate the fond memories she has of visiting the property and town with her daughter. However, not everyone is happy with her inheritance and with uninvited visitors and vandalism in the night, Clare begins to realise how isolated she really is. When she finds out about a redevelopment plan, she decides to take action, but the plot goes much deeper than she could ever have imagined.

This is a book about loneliness, community and family that gently unfurls against the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Mountains. Booth really captures the scenery and serenity of this part of New South Wales, and the sense of small community. I felt like this book struck a really good balance between building trust and broken trust, with Clare making valuable new relationships as she finds out that old ones are no longer serving her. I enjoyed her intergenerational friendship with Joe, the positive impact it has on his own family and the additional benefits when she adopts a dog.

Some of the chapters moved more quickly than others, and I enjoyed the chapters set in the Blue Mountains more than I enjoyed the bus ride and city protest. I also think I would have found it more satisfying to have a definitive answer about what really happened to Clare’s husband.

An enjoyable book that tackles themes of friendship, loyalty and ethics.

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January 5, 2024 · 4:24 pm

The Fire and the Rose

Historical fiction novel about forbidden love set in medieval England

I received a copy of this eBook courtesy of the publisher.

Image is of “The Fire and the Rose” by Robyn Cadwallader. The eBook cover is a beige with blooms of what appears to be ink and blood.

“The Fire and the Rose” by Robyn Cadwallader is a historical fiction novel set in England in 1276. The story is about a young woman called Eleanor who has moved to a town called Lincoln to work as a housemaid. Things are not easy for Eleanor: she has a conspicuous birthmark on her face and she has talents and ambitions for a profession women are excluded from. Then, she falls in love with a Jewish spicer called Asher, but their relationship is forbidden. As Jewish people are increasingly persecuted in Lincoln, Eleanor must find a way to be true to herself and survive on her own.

This is Cadwallader’s third novel and I think it’s my favourite. She revisits some familiar themes from “The Anchoress” and “Book of Colours” such as the role of religion and the significance of books in 13th century England. However this book feels bolder and more subversive than her previous books, tackling issues like facial difference, sexism and racial and religious discrimination. Eleanor was a great character and I really enjoyed reading a book about someone who did not fall within the typical roles of women during that time. Of course, there would have been unmarried women who worked in atypical jobs, but Cadwallader created a believable story about how someone like Eleanor would have lived and the ways in which communities practise tolerance while churches preach exclusion. I also really enjoyed Asher as a character. He was gentle, erudite and principled and the long-term romantic tension between him and Eleanor felt very real.

The only part I struggled with was the ending. Eleanor experiences a lot of indecision towards the end, and although I felt her reactions and responses throughout the novel were very realistic, I didn’t quite feel the same way about her ultimate choices at the end.

A really interesting and immersive story about a tumultuous period of persecution in England.

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January 3, 2024 · 12:40 pm

Victoria the Queen: An intimate biography of the woman who changed the world

Biography of Queen Victoria

I went to a really lovely author event back in 2017 which included an interview with the author, a two-course meal and wine, and received a signed copy of the book, but it took me six years to get around to reading it. To be honest, a big barrier is the size: including endnotes etc. it’s nearly 700 pages long. However, the perfect opportunity arose for me to read it. I was travelling to the UK for my cousin’s wedding, and the wedding ended up being the same day as the King’s coronation. What better time to read a book about an English monarch than when in England during the coronation of the next monarch?

Photo is of “Victoria the Queen: An intimate biography of the woman who changed the world” by Julia Baird. The hardcover book is in focus in the foreground, and with some banners of King Charles’ face on a union jack flag with the words “The Coronation” back to front. The background, out of focus, is a redbrick building with a bright red door.

“Victoria the Queen: An intimate biography of the woman who changed the world” by Julia Baird is a biography of Queen Victoria, the longest reigning British monarch until the late Queen Elizabeth. The book comprehensively covers Victoria’s life from birth until death, providing plenty of historical, political and personal context along the way.

This is a meticulously researched book that draws on an extensive bibliography to explore who Queen Victoria was, how she ruled and the impact she made on Britain and the Commonwealth. The book covers her relationships with Prime Ministers, her husband, her children and, more controversially, her servants. This book is incredibly informative and there is no way to read it and come away without a vastly improved understanding of Victoria’s reign. Having stayed at Gladstone’s Library in Wales (twice!), I did enjoy the chapters about Prime Minister William Gladstone and how little he and Victoria liked each other.

However, ultimately I found this book rather a slog to get through. Baird’s writing, while very clear, was often quite repetitive and many of the chapters, instead of revealing new facets to Victoria’s character, simply reiterated Baird’s findings from earlier in the book. The parts I was especially interested in, her close relationships with employees John Brown and Abdul Karim, were disappointingly brief. I appreciate that Baird wanted to stick to what was contained in what few letters and sources remained after editing and destruction by her daughter Beatrice. However, I think a bit more rumour and speculation would have spiced things up a bit. Then, the parts that I was less interested in, such as Victoria’s relationships with the many prime ministers during her reign, seemed to take up much more space.

For aficionados of political history, this will likely be of considerable interest, however for people like me who are more interested in history that involves storytelling and drama, the book might be a bit dry.

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January 2, 2024 · 7:06 pm

first, we make the beast beautiful: a new story about anxiety

Self-help memoir about coping with anxiety

I don’t usually peruse the non-fiction section at the Lifeline Bookfair, but the cover of this book definitely caught my eye. The hardcover book is a deep blue with striking orange bubbles, and text in silver foil. This has languished on my to-read pile for a long time because I incorrectly assumed it was fiction (it is not), and when I realised it was more self-help/memoir, I lost a bit of interest.

Photo is of “first, we make the beast beautiful: a new story about anxiety” by Sarah Wilson. The hardcover book is sitting inside a black backpack which is resting against a large grey rock. The cover is dark blue with an octopus in lighter blue and neon orange bubbles.

“first, we make the beast beautiful: a new story about anxiety” by Sarah Wilson is part memoir, part self-help book about living with anxiety. Sharing her own personal experiences with mental health diagnoses, medication, therapy and many other strategies for mitigating and managing symptoms, Wilson intersperses her book with tips and tricks that she recommends for others going through similar things.

This is a well-written and frank memoir about the realities and challenges of living with mental illness. Wilson achieves what few memoirs do: a good balance between sharing too much and not sharing enough.

However, ultimately I find self-help books a bit challenging and very rarely read them. I am always a bit skeptical of books that claim to have all the answers. Wilson’s book refers to a considerable amount of research that is available to read via her website, and includes a lot of suggestions that are pretty straightforward and uncontroversial such as exercise and meditation. However, the book also includes a lot of alternative therapies and treatments the science of which, as Wilson says at the beginning of the book, “is often imprecise and conflicting”. The book also ties a lot into Wilson’s existing other work, books recipes, programs and business around quitting sugar. While I’m no nutritionist, blanket cutting out of food from diets isn’t supported by the qualified nutritionists I do follow (e.g. Kate and Emma). I am not judging anyone who wants to explore options for weight loss or manage their anxiety symptoms, but I think some of the suggestions in here should probably be taken with a grain of salt (or, as it happens, sugar).

A well-written book and could be very relatable if you are experiencing anxiety, but I’d encourage you to seek professional advice if you are seeking mental health support.

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December 5, 2023 · 11:08 pm

Wake

Outback noir novel about the disappearance of a twin sister

I first met this author through a blogger/reviewer program run by Marion, formerly ACT Writers’ Centre, called New Territory. I was part of the 2017 cohort and she was part of the 2019 cohort. That year, she won the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger and we have all been eagerly waiting for her debut novel to be published. It came out last year, and I was chuffed to make it to the launch, buy a copy and get it signed.

Photo is of “Wake” by Shelley Burr. The paperback book is sitting inside an old, large tree stump. There is grass, a fence and gumtrees in the background. The cover is an aerial of a rural Australian property.

“Wake” by Shelley Burr is an outback noir novel about a young woman called Mina who lives alone on her family’s sprawling property in rural New South Wales. Her father travels from place to place, her mother has died, and her twin sister Evelyn disappeared 19 years earlier and has never been found. Keeping mostly to herself, her only friend is Alanna whose sister also disappeared. However, when a private investigator called Lane turns up seeking the million-dollar reward Mina’s late mother offered to solve Evelyn’s disappearance, Mina’s quiet, isolated existence is turned upside down.

This is a clever book that weaves together a range of elements to create a plausible premise in a modern-day setting. A good friend of mine from high school went missing and then was found dead while backpacking in Croatia 15 years ago and her case has also never been resolved. Mina’s character and her troubled interactions with the media, police and true crime aficionados online were very realistic. I thought that the message board discussions interspersed throughout the book were really effective, and that the impact that money and privilege can have on the success of missing persons campaigns was dealt with really well. Burr’s characters were really complex, and the darkness of the story was underpinned by some of the more sinister elements of the Australian outback. Without giving anything away, I also liked the ambiguity of the ending.

An engrossing story and I look forward to reading Burr’s next book.

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November 19, 2023 · 3:45 pm

Breath

Australian coming of age novel about friendship, trauma and surfing

I hadn’t planned on reading this book this year. I’d had a copy on my shelf for a long time after picking it up at a Lifeline Bookfair years ago, and had actually (for a change) seen the film first. However, I received a review request for a new book and it was so similar to the plot of the film, that it couldn’t just be a coincidence. I had a look on Wikipedia to confirm, and then flicked through my own copy, and sure enough, in addition to the almost identical plot (with only names, locations and professions changed), whole passages had been copied. Anyway, I contacted the author about my concerns, the book has been withdrawn from publication, and I ended up reading the original work instead.

Photo is of “Breath” by Tim Winton. The book is sitting resting on the white underside of a boogie board, with the wrist leash looped around the top corner of the book. There is a black chevron on the board. The cover is of the silhouette of a person against a dark blue sky above a darker blue ocean.

“Breath” by Tim Winton is a novel about a man called Bruce Pike who is working as a paramedic who, upon being called out to a job where a young boy had asphyxiated himself, begins telling the story of his youth as a teenager growing up in a small town near the coast. After befriending another local boy known as Loonie over a shared love of dangerous stunts, Pikelet and Loonie then meet surfing legend Sando who takes them under his wing and teaches them how to surf. However, soon an increasingly bitter rivalry forms between Pikelet and Loonie. When Sando takes Loonie overseas without Pikelet, Pikelet is left with the temptation of participating in an even more dangerous dare that will shape his life forever.

This is a gritty, grim book that juxtaposes the beauty and majesty of the Indian Ocean against the starkness of growing up in a disadvantaged logging town and trying to find meaning and connection. Winton’s descriptions of surfing and surf culture bring a sense of action and tension in this book with some of the individual waves almost becoming characters themselves. Underpinning all of this is the increasingly confronting sexual relationship underage Pikelet undertakes, and the lasting mental health effects the exploitation and risky activities he is asked to do cause for him throughout his adulthood. While at times a very challenging book, I felt that Winton navigated this issue in a much more realistic way than in “The Reader“. While Winton’s style of writing isn’t always the most lyrical, it is very readable and the colloquialisms, while often very blunt, do help the characters to shine through and provide a strong sense of place.

However, it is hard to say definitively that this is an enjoyable book. It is often, in fact, a very uncomfortable book and I think some readers will find parts of this book quite difficult to get through. There is a palpable gear shift in this book and while in some ways represents Pikelet’s loss of innocence, the ending feels quite expositional compared to the rest of the book.

A compelling bildungsroman that oscillates between quiet coastal idyll and extreme risk-taking.

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September 7, 2023 · 9:33 pm

Dirty Little Secrets: A Memoir

Memoir about love, identity, blackmail and living with an acquired brain injury

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Image is of “Dirty Little Secrets: A Memoir” by Nandita Chakraborty. The eBook cover is of a white globe with buildings from the city of Melbourne against a blue background on top, and buildings from the city of the city of Delhi against a yellow background at the bottom.

“Dirty Little Secrets: A Memoir” is a memoir by Nandita Chakraborty, an adventurous young woman, unlucky in love, who is living and working in Melbourne. However, when a relationship turns from bad to worse resulting in Nandita being blackmailed, she returns home to her family in Delhi. There she finds comfort and community, but adventure and independence still beckon. When Nandita comes back to Melbourne with a fresh outlook, everything is shaken up once again with an unexpected accident.

This is an interesting and intimate book about trying to navigate your way as an adult, between cultures, between toxic relationships, and between unforeseen disasters. Nandita is a courageous, outgoing, free spirit who has a knack for finding her way and making friends no matter how difficult things get. I thought that Nandita showed incredible resilience and I especially enjoyed the chapters set in Delhi.

Like all memoir, there is often a lot left unsaid and I did have some questions about exactly what led to some of the conflicts Nandita describes throughout the book. However, I also appreciated how frank Nandita is about the effects of living with an acquired brain injury – an invisible disability.

A unique story told from a unique perspective.

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September 7, 2023 · 12:56 pm

Horse

Historical fiction about slavery, horse racing, artwork and racism in America

When I saw this book come out last year, I knew I had to buy it and I knew exactly for whom. My Grandma was very keen on both horses and history and with her 90th birthday approaching, this seemed like the perfect gift. Readings were even offering copies with signed bookplates. Grandma enjoyed the surprise when it arrived in the post and had a perfect 90th birthday celebration with all her friends and family. Unfortunately, only about six weeks later, a year ago today, Grandma died. When I came down to the funeral, I found the book sitting on her coffee table, so I took it back home with me.

Photo is of “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks. The hardcover book is resting on blue silk with part of a white cloud with a silver lining showing through, and the logo “HYLAND SPORTSWEAR” with a horse between the words. There is a piece of slate with a dark bay mare and chestnut foal painted on it, and a small horseshoe. The cover is a painting of an athletic bay horse with a star and snip on its face. Its are ears pricked forward and it is holding its head over four black bars that look like fence railings with title and author text on them.

“Horse” by Geraldine Brooks is a historical fiction novel set in three time periods in the USA: 1850s Kentucky, 1950s New York City and Washington, DC in 2019. Connecting the three eras are a painting, a famous racehorse called Lexington and a legacy of slavery and racism. In 1950s Kentucky, a young man born into slavery called Jarret forms a connection with a promising foal nicknamed Darley. Jarret is well taken care of, but his commitment to Darley’s success is tested by his desire for freedom in an country facing civil war. In present day USA, an Australian scientist called Jess studying Lexington’s bones meets a Nigerian-American art historian called Theo who discovers a lost portrait of the same horse.

This is a an engrossing, well-written story that knows exactly how much of Brooks’ excellent research to incorporate to capture, without overwhelming, the reader’s imagination. The depiction of horse-racing in the 1800s was fascinating and felt extremely authentic. Brooks draws parallels between the ownership of horses and ownership of people, and the uncertainty of Jarret’s and Lexington’s lives. I really enjoyed the complex relationships between the characters, the conflicts and the betrayals, especially for Jarret. The friendship between him and the painter Thomas J. Scott was a highlight of the book. Brooks applies her research skills with equal diligence to modern America, showing insight into the devastating effects of ongoing racism.

While I enjoyed the characters of Jess and Theo, I found their story in modern America much more difficult. I am in no way qualified to comment on race theory in the USA but I found myself really wishing the book had ended differently. I’m not going to spoil the ending but I wasn’t sure that it was a necessary way to get the point across.

At times thoughtful, at times thrilling and at times heartbreaking, this was overall a great read. I’m not sure if Grandma got a chance to read the book, but I hope however much time she spent with it, she enjoyed it and the thought behind it.

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