There’s a person living not too far from me known as the Woman in the Purple Skirt. She only ever wears a purple-colored skirt – which is why she has this name. I had no idea what to expect from The Woman in the Purple Skirt - perhaps another Japanese story about a slightly odd … Continue reading The Woman in the Purple Skirt | Natsuko Imamura #JPNfiction
There are lots of ways to start a story, but this begins with a chicken. One of the many strings to Risbridger's bow, is food writer. She has written a children's book, edited a poetry anthology as well as numerous other journalistic efforts, but food writing seems to be the things she keeps going back … Continue reading Midnight Chicken | Ella Risbridger #GBRnonfiction
Perveeen Mistry sighed, adjusting her hat on her sweating brow. The Satapur Moonstone is book two in the Perveen Mistry series set in India in the 1920's. Whilst book one felt rather undercooked (my own little in-joke as I included a recipe in my response to The Widows of Malabar Hill), book two is far … Continue reading The Satapur Moonstone | Sujata Massey #INDcosycrime
In her Preface, Louise Crisp describes her collection of poetry, Yuiquimbiang as an 'ecopoetic form that integrates political essay and environmental poetics: a project that evolved out of my double life as a poet and environmental activist'. The regions she writes about the East Gippsland and the Monaro. Crisp's poems and texts evolve from her … Continue reading Yuiquimbiang | Louise Crisp #PoetryMonth
In December 2016 an email came to tell me that Shirley Hazzard had died. When I was planning my 20 Books of Summer Winter reading list, I decided to add my Shirley Hazzard short story collection to the list. Somehow, I have got to my early fifties without ever having read any of her books. … Continue reading On Shirley Hazzard | Michelle de Kretser #AWWliterarycompanion
Have you ever wondered how many times a day you say thank you? This week I have been determined to catch up on some of my outstanding book reviews. Don't judge me for focusing on the easier, slimmer ones! I promise I will one day soon, very soon, write up my thoughts on The Pea … Continue reading Gratitude | Delphine de Vigan #FRAfiction
It had stopped raining. Okay, I'm now a Niall Williams convert. This is Happiness is a delight of a book, from start to finish. Full of wonderful, poignant story-telling and rich, humorous characterisation. It is proudly Irish, with glorious descriptions of the weather and the matter-of-fact grimness and poverty of everyday life in County Clare … Continue reading This is Happiness | Niall Williams #IRLfiction
2019 was the International Year of Indigenous Languages: It is through language that we communicate with the world, define our identity, express our history and culture, learn, defend our human rights and participate in all aspects of society, to name but a few. Through language, people preserve their community’s history, customs and traditions, memory, … Continue reading Kindred | Kirli Saunders #AWWpoetry
Maisie and I go way back. Maisie and I go way back. We've weathered the good times and the bad, and we've survived the time we nearly went our separate ways. But we've made it to book 15 and I now suspect I'm in it for the long haul. Below is our journey. Maisie Dobbs … Continue reading Maisie Dobbs #15 An American Agent | Jacqueline Winspear #GBRcosycrime
The White Girl by Tony Birch was my August book club choice. I'm always a little nervous when it's my turn to pick the book in case it turns out to be a book universally disliked, poorly written or just one of those duds that doesn't spark any kind of joy in anyone. Thankfully, that … Continue reading The White Girl | Tony Birch #AUSfiction
My journey with The Parisian has been a labour of love. I started reading it the week before Australia went pear-shaped with Covid-19 back in March. I was really enjoying it, but it's a thoughtful read and I struggled to give this book the attention it deserved during those early, weird weeks of Covid confusion. … Continue reading The Parisian | Isabella Hammad #GBRfiction
The rave reviews are the hardest, aren't they? It took me a few chapters to fall into this story, but when I fell, I really fell! The Dutch House turned out to be one of those wonderful, rich reading experiences that you wish would never end. Part gothic fairy tale and part psychological study of two … Continue reading The Dutch House | Ann Patchett #20BooksofWinter
Lisa @ANZLitLover is hosting her annual Indigenous Literature Week. Normally this week is also NAIDOC week, but due to Covid it has been postponed until 8th -15th November. The 2020 theme is Always Was, Always Will Be. Always Was, Always Will Be. recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 … Continue reading Indigenous Picture Books
Every time I see these very chic, very elegant picture books, I want to say Cla-reece. I have an acquaintance called Cla-reece. However to read these stories, I have to make a huge mental effort to say 'Paris-Claris' in my head a few times to find the rhyme. I've been saving this post for today, … Continue reading Claris The Chicest Mouse in Paris | Megan Hess #PictureBook
Rule 12: The bathroom is not a library, there are far more pleasant, not to mention less smelly, places to read your book. Don't linger in there, get in get out.Sorry Kitty. I was with you right up to rule number 12!I've read in the bathroom ever since I was little. In a large family, … Continue reading 488 Rules For Life | Kitty Flanagan #AWW
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