Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan appears to be one of those books especially designed for that subset of people born in the 1960's - the babies of the baby boomers and the very first Gen X-er's. Those people too young to get caught up in the whole 60's music scene, but by dint of being born … Continue reading Mayflies | Andrew O’Hagan #GBRfiction
I wanted to love The Forest of Wool and Steel far more than I did in the end. A coming-of-age story about a piano tuner from a remote mountain region in Hokkaido had all the right ingredients for me - one as a former (very amateur) piano enthusiast and two, as a recent visitor to Japan. It … Continue reading The Forest of Wool and Steel | Natsu Miyashita #JPNfiction
Bel Canto was our May book club choice. It was a reread for several of the members, but for me it was my very first time. I'm now wondering why on earth I left it so long to read.Bel Canto is a glorious story about the power of song to soothe the beast within us all … Continue reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Welcome to AusReading Month!November is our month long celebration of all things Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!Join us as we read, review and blog about Australian books - classics, contemporary, children's, poetry, non-fiction, short stories, popular, literary, award-winning - whatever tickles your fancy.The only stipulation is that it has to be written by an Australian based author or predominantly … Continue reading AusReading Month 2016 Master Post
For four days I've been trying to write a review that would do this rich, engrossing, mosaic of a book due justice.It wasn't so much writer's block as writer's muddle.There was soooo much to say! I couldn't even decide which lens or which perspective to choose?Because I was enjoying Do Not Say We Have Nothing … Continue reading Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
This weekend is the 100th anniversary since the Gallipoli campaign.Gallipoli was the first major military action by the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) as "independent dominions" (an autonomous country within the British Empire).(Wikipedia)The 25th of April, the day the troops first landed on Gallipoli, is now our national day of remembrance, Anzac Day. … Continue reading And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle
This is The Ugly Duckling song made famous by Danny Kaye in the 1952 movie Hans Christian Andersen (okay...I'll wait for you to finish singing it...)!The lyrics were originally written by Frank Loesser, but now we have a lovely Australian picture book with Playschool host, Justine Clarke, singing this very familiar song.The illustrations by Nathaniel … Continue reading The Ugly Ducking performed by Justine Clarke
The Flying Orchestra was first published in 2010 & Clare McFadden won the CBCA New Illustrator's Crichton Award in 2011.I can't believe that I have never written a review about this wonderful, inspiring, beautiful book before.I reread it recently and was amazed all over again by the soulful, moving story & the evocative illustrations.Set in … Continue reading The Flying Orchestra by Clare McFadden
I've enjoyed the Lily Brett novels, short stories and articles I've read over the years. And Lola Bensky was no exception. You know exactly what you're going to get with Brett. You know there is going to be lots of Holocaust survivor issues, body weight issues and a protagonist who was born in a displaced … Continue reading Lola Bensky | Lily Brett
I've been a Powderfinger fan for over 15 years. My sister gave me 'Internationalist' one Christmas. On a long road trip I listened to it over and over again - it was the beginning of a long love affair. "If you want to be a passenger Climb aboard with me we're leaving now Step outside and … Continue reading Saturday Snapshot – Powderfinger
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