Back in 2020 when I was given my very first proof copy of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club and devoured it one rainy long weekend, I knew he was on a winner. Writing in the genre I call #cosycrime, Osman had nailed the easy-to-read, funny, heart-warming murder mystery. No forensic jargon or gory details … Continue reading The New Thursday Murder Club Mysteries | Richard Osman
This is how it happens. Barely a week into 20 Books of Summer Winter, with only two books from the list half started, my lovely Penguin rep hands over a September new release and says, "I defy you to read the first chapter and not want to read the rest." Challenge accepted! Given my predilection … Continue reading The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman #CosyCrime
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
Given these weird and scary times we now live in, Angela Thirkell seems like the only sensible option! Her gentle social satire, quintessential British humour and lightness of touch in the face of adversity is not only comforting but inspiring. High Rising is the first book in a 29 book series, the Barsetshire Chronicles, a … Continue reading High Rising | Angela Thirkell #ComfortRead
This little curiosity has been sitting by my bed for over a year now. It has taken a hectic schedule and a determination to read as much Australian literature this month as possible to bring this particular book to the top of the pile. Why? Simply because, as the title says, it is 99 stories … Continue reading 99 Interpretations of The Drover’s Wives | Ryan O’Neill
The run into Christmas and the silly season, leaves me tired, frazzled and depleted most years. This year I'm attempting a calmer, kinder approach. As a first line of defence I started interspersing junior fiction reads amongst my regular reads several weeks ago. I've been saving all the interesting looking ones for months now, so … Continue reading Australian Junior Fiction Catch Up
This was my very first David Sedaris book.I know! Where have I been & what on earth have I been doing?I've been meaning to read him for years and years, but it was the opening line in Calypso that hooked me,Though there's an industry built on telling you otherwise, there are few real joys to … Continue reading Calypso by David Sedaris
Northbridge Rectory was my very first Thirkell. But it certainly won't be my last. Lucky me! I still have 28 books in Thirkell's Barsetshire series ahead of me to enjoy at my leisure. I've added her to my Author Challenge list so I can keep track of my progress. In fact, I enjoyed my time … Continue reading Northbridge Rectory by Angela Thirkell
E. M. Delafield was the thinly disguised pseudonym of Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture. Look closely, I’m sure you’ll work out the family joke here all by yourself! Delafield was born in Sussex on the 9th June 1890 and died 2 December 1943, heartbroken after the death of her son Lionel in 1940. … Continue reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady | E. M. Delafield
Busting! is the latest in Aaron Blabey's incredible run of hilarious, rhyming picture books. Poor Lou is desperate to go the loo, but there's a queue!Blabey once again deals with an embarrassing, uncomfortable issue that we've all had at one time or another and reminds us that a good belly laugh makes just about any topic … Continue reading Blab-fest!
Mopoke is my new favourite picture book. I've always had a bit of a thing for owls, especially owls in literature and art. As a (former) teacher, I was often given owl cards and trinkets. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell is one of my favourite picture books and who doesn't love Harry Potter's Hedwig?Philip Bunting … Continue reading Mopoke by Philip Bunting
It was only a matter of time before we saw picture books for children that contained themes about mobile phone use. The two latest offerings deal with the positive aspects as well as the addictive nature of technology and social media.Australian writer/illustrator Nick Bland gives us The Fabulous Friend Machine. Popcorn the hen is a … Continue reading Picture Book Technology & Online Safety
I love this series of early readers so very, very much.It's clever. It's fun. And it's a little subversive. It also follows the golden rule that a truly great, entertaining children's book is a truly great, entertaining book for adults as well.Apocalypse Meow is the fourth book in Blabey's Bad Guys series.We last saw our … Continue reading The Bad Guys Episode 4 Apocalypse Meow by Aaron Blabey
To my mind, Aaron Blabey can do no wrong!His series of early readers featuring four of literature's bad guys trying to make good is consistently funny, smart and unexpected.In Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back, we find our four +1 bad guys coming face-to-face with the baddest, most evil of all creatures - Dr Rupert Marmalade, … Continue reading The Bad Guys Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back by Aaron Blabey
"Go be a hero"What a great line.Sadly for The Bad Guys (Mr Wolf, Snake, Piranha and Shark) their idea to show the world that they are, in fact, good guys hasn't quite gone to plan. News reports of their first event have completely misrepresented what actually happened.They decide they need to do something more dramatic … Continue reading The Bad Guys Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable by Aaron Blabey
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