The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree has been attracting my attention for several months now, however it took its recent longlisting for this year's Stella Prize to finally make me pick it up. I'm nothing but a Stella groupie!The cover alone might have been enticement enough (a collage of three of Azar's art works), but … Continue reading The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar
Given the amount of media time being given to the inappropriate, sexual, bullying behaviour of some men towards women in work, social and online areas lately, the story of Mademoiselle Fifi reminds us that the problem is in fact, an age-old one that moved across cultural divides with ease.Elisabeth Rousset (Simone Simon) and “Fifi” (Kurt … Continue reading Mademoiselle Fifi by Guy de Maupassant
Morris Gleitzman's Holocaust series for younger readers has already attracted much praise and many accolades. His stories carefully balance the reality of what actually happened with modern day sensibilities. Sad, bad things happen to his characters, but he doesn't describe them in gory detail. There is bleakness and injustice and cruelty, but there is also … Continue reading Maybe by Morris Gleitzman
I found the The Vanishing Futurist to be a rather peculiar read.I'm always fascinated by the Russian Revolution and this was a curious and different angle from which to view it. But it was rather weird reading a book that I wasn't completely sure if I was enjoying it or not. The cover by LaBoca, on the … Continue reading The Vanishing Futurist by Charlotte Hobson
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid has divided many readers and reviewers. (For an interesting cross section of responses try My Booking Great Read, Michael @Knowledge Lost, Rachel @Pace Amore, Libri, and Kate @Books are my Favourite and Best). I was therefore prepared for the pared back, deceptively simple writing style that has kept many reviewers at an emotional distance. … Continue reading Exit West | Mohsin Hamid
Reflection: Remembering Those Who Serve in War by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg & Robin Cowcher has been made a CBCA Notable book for 2017.A rather big part of me sighed when I saw this book, as I'm feeling overwhelmed and inundated by war books at the moment. The trouble is, all these lovely picture books have … Continue reading Reflection by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg
I haven't read anything about Joan since I studied George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan for my HSC. I'm now tempted to reread the play as well as search out any other stories that fictionalise her life.The facts that did exist about Joan's life are scarce and sometimes conflicting. They are now also so clouded in … Continue reading Joan of Arc: The Story of Jehanne Darc by Lili Wilkinson
At the beginning of the CBCA shortlist period, I like to remind myself what the criteria are for the judges.I try to keep these in mind as I read and review the books on offer each year.The judging criteria were updated at the end of last year. Click here for the full information sheet.One Step … Continue reading One Step At A Time by Jane Jolly
In 1998 I read Philip Gourevitch's harrowing, detailed account of the 1994 Rwandan genocide of the Tutsi population called We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families.For some reason which I couldn't fathom back then, there seemed to be some doubt in some people's minds that this event was … Continue reading One Thousand Hills by James Roy and Noel Zihabamwe
Phew! We made it. After two months of all things Scarlett and Southern sentiment it is time to draw the curtains and dim the lights on the O'Hara's and the Confederacy. Rereading Gone With the Wind after twenty+ years was an unexpected treat. I was worried that it may have dated or that I may … Continue reading Gone With the Wind – Final Post
So close...the end is in sight...only three chapters to go. But for now, this is the official check-in post for chapters 51-60 of Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer Prize winning Gone With the Wind. The birth of Bonnie sees lots of changes occurring in the Butler household. Mammy has finally accepted Rhett and Rhett has been smitten … Continue reading Gone With the Wind – check in
This is my Gone With the Wind check-in for chapters 31-40 for Corinne's GWTW Readalong. The start of Part Four sees Scarlett, Tara and the South trying to find their feet after the war. The hardships continue with heavy taxes, the fear of losing Tara and the death of Gerald. Scarlett moves to Atlanta, remarries, … Continue reading Gone With the Wind – check in
If you've been wondering whether or not to tackle the chunkster that is this year's Pulitzer prize winning novel, hopefully the quote below will tempt you to jump right in.I've been reading All the Light We Cannot See since last week. It is an extraordinary story, so well told, so beautifully realised, but it did … Continue reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Corinne is unable to host the Gone With the Wind discussion for chapters 21-30, so I have put up my hand to help out. I've been loving my reread of GWTW & enjoying the group discussions immensely, so I was keen to ensure the group had somewhere to touch base until Corinne could regroup on … Continue reading Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (chapter check-in)
Rereading a book after 18 yrs is a very interesting experience. It's almost like reading it again for the first time.This has certainly been the case for me and The Great World.Thanks to the fact that I write my name, date and place of purchase on the inside cover of all my books I know … Continue reading The Great World by David Malouf
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