What Am I Reading?
The Rosie Result – Graeme Simsion
Author Graeme Simsion charmed readers with his quirky protagonist Don Tillman and Don’s pursuit of his partner Rosie Jarman in the popular books The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect. The much-awaited final book in the series, The Rosie Result (Text Publishing 2019)...
Child of Mine – Janita Cunnington
In Janita Cunnington’s second novel, Child of Mine (Bantam Penguin Random House 2018) the author again displays her knowledge of Brisbane and south-east Queensland with a setting that feels authentic and familiar. Queenslanders will recognise the humidity, the fierce...
After the Party – Cassie Hamer
Author Cassie Hamer's debut novel After the Party (Harlequin Books 2019) is a light-hearted and heart-warming story about parenting, marriage and family. The book opens with Sydney mum Lisa Wheeldon in the midst of the chaos that is a child’s fifth birthday party....
Killing Commendatore – Haruki Murakami
Coming in at 681 pages, Killing Commendatore (Harvill Secker 2018), the latest novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, is certainly not a light summer read. There is a reason, however, that Murakami is famous – this is a work of art. The narrative is mysterious,...
Kyoomba Sanatorium Volumes 1 and 2 – Deborah Wheeler
Author Deborah Wheeler has self-published two volumes of non-fiction research books on the Kyoomba Sanatorium. Beautifully-presented hardback editions, with a foreword by the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, together these two volumes offer a wealth of information about...
Widows – Lynda La Plante
Lynda La Plante is a prolific author who has written numerous books and several award-winning series, many of which have been turned into television series or movies. Her Prime Suspect series was an international sensation. The movie Widows was recently released as...
Call Me Evie – J.P. Pomare
If you are lucky, your summer holidays include great stretches of time when you can indulge your reading addiction in a stress-free environment, and I suspect that the reason so many of us reach for crime novels at this time is that we can fully immerse ourselves in a...
Shell – Kristina Olsson
From the very first pages of Shell (Scribner Books 2018), the new novel by Kris Olsson, you realise you are in the capable hands of a masterful storyteller. Not a word is wasted. Each sentence is crafted with care. Every paragraph sings from the page, like poetry,...
The Fragments – Toni Jordan
Author Toni Jordan is renowned for giving us stories that are literary and well-researched whilst still being accessible and a joy to read. Her latest novel The Fragments (Text Publishing 2018) is no exception, and it is yet another example of her ability to move...
My Pop was a Kangaroo ANZAC
Deborah Wheeler has self-published a loving tribute to her grandfather in the children’s picture book My Pop was a Kangaroo ANZAC (2018). In 1915, her grandfather William (‘Bill’) James Wheeler, set off from Wagga Wagga on the Kangaroo March almost 600 kms to Sydney...
Lillian Armfield: Australia’s First Female Detective
Lillian Armfield: How Australia’s First Female Detective Took on Tilly Devine and the Razor Gangs and Changed the Face of the Force (Hachette Australia Books 2018) is a non-fiction account by Leigh Straw of the fascinating tale of the life and work of Lillian...
Freyja and the Brisingamen Necklace – J.C. Enno
Based on Norse mythology, the children’s book Freyja and the Brisingamen Necklace (self-published by J. C. Enno) is an enchanting and engaging tale of adventure, destiny and courage. When her twin brother succumbs to a mysterious disease that threatens all the...