Kim Wingerei (Translator of Sound of a Murder)

Kim Wingerei wrote a new blog post Democracy decline – it’s not just about elections! Democracy is in decline world-wide. Australia is now one of only 20 – twenty – true democracies according to the annual “Democracy Index” publishe... Read more of this blog post »
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Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it Democracy and Its Crisis by A.C. Grayling	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A C Grayling writes well, he is easy to follow, although at times a bit too academically "heavy". He is logical and he puts democracy in context of history and of the times we live in. Understandably it is focused on the Westminster system and the UK ...more
Nov 15, 2018 02:29AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Democracy and Its Crisis by A.C. Grayling. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Democracy and Its Crisis by A.C. Grayling <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing Light and Shadow: Memoirs of a Spy's Son by Mark Colvin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Even if you don't know the name, you will remember the mellifluous soothing voice of the late Mark Colvin - ABC foreign correspondent for decades, including presenter on Four Corners, Lateline and many more. A legend of good old fashioned journalism ...more
Oct 06, 2018 11:44PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Light and Shadow by Mark Colvin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Light and Shadow by Mark Colvin <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing Bell of the Desert: A Novel by Alan Gold	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If Winston Churchill and the other leaders of Western Europe had listened more closely to Gertrude Bell and T.E Lawrence during and after the First World War, the Middle East might have been a very different place today. Bell and Lawrence both unders ...more
Oct 05, 2018 04:21AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bell of the Desert by Alan Gold. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bell of the Desert by Alan Gold <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it Kingdom of the Wicked Book One: Rules by Helen Dale	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I respect anyone that acknowledges their mistakes, apologises and moves on - Helen Dale ("nee" Helen Demidenko) is a good example. Her debut novel "The Hand that Signed the Paper" won the Miles Franklin but she was later heavily criticised for having ...more
Oct 05, 2018 12:46AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Kingdom of the Wicked Book One by Helen Dale. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Kingdom of the Wicked Book One by Helen Dale <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing In Search of Good Government: Great Expectations & Political Amnesia by Laura Tingle	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Laura Tingle does something few of our political commentators manage: to write with the deep insight of an insider without revealing her partisan leanings and maintaining the perspective of an outsider. She also has a keen appreciation not only of re ...more
Jul 23, 2018 03:37AM · like · see review
Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it Taboo by Kim Scott	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was the first of Kim Scott's books that I have read. It won't be the last! Scott is of Aboriginal origins and it shows up in both the way he writes and how the story unfolds. The opening chapter provides a sense of wonder and magic, with underly ...more
Jul 14, 2018 10:55PM · like · see review
Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing Saigon: An Epic Novel of Vietnam by Anthony Grey	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Read this after watching Ken Burns' excellent documentary on the Vietnam War. Although this book is historical fiction, it is still an excellent expose on the background and events that led to the tragedy of the region, starting with colonialism in g ...more
Jul 14, 2018 10:32PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Saigon by Anthony Grey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Saigon by Anthony Grey <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The movie is one of my all time favourites, the man an intriguing character of a tragic period of history. I have always had the sense that if the British generals (and more importantly the politicians) had listened a bit more to T E Lawrence (and Ge ...more
Jul 14, 2018 02:32AM · 1 like · like · see review
Kim Wingerei rated a book it was ok Too Soon to Say Goodbye by Art Buchwald	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
My dad loved Art Buchwald, and I was once a big fan, too - had kind of forgotten about him for a few decades when I stumbled over this. Recalled his irreverent style, appreciated the subject matter, but it became a one joke story. RIP to a very funny ...more
Jul 14, 2018 02:15AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Too Soon to Say Goodbye by Art Buchwald. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Too Soon to Say Goodbye by Art Buchwald <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Kim Wingerei wrote a new blog post

Democracy decline – it’s not just about elections!

Democracy is in decline world-wide. Australia is now one of only 20 – twenty – true democracies according to the annual “Democracy Index” publishe... Read more of this blog post »

Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it

Democracy and Its Crisis
by A.C. Grayling

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A C Grayling writes well, he is easy to follow, although at times a bit too academically "heavy". He is logical and he puts democracy in context of history and of the times we live in. Understandably it is focused on the Westminster system and the UK ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing

Light and Shadow: Memoirs of a Spy's Son
by Mark Colvin

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Even if you don't know the name, you will remember the mellifluous soothing voice of the late Mark Colvin - ABC foreign correspondent for decades, including presenter on Four Corners, Lateline and many more. A legend of good old fashioned journalism ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing

Bell of the Desert: A Novel
by Alan Gold

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If Winston Churchill and the other leaders of Western Europe had listened more closely to Gertrude Bell and T.E Lawrence during and after the First World War, the Middle East might have been a very different place today. Bell and Lawrence both unders If Winston Churchill and the other leaders of Western Europe had listened more closely to Gertrude Bell and T.E Lawrence during and after the First World War, the Middle East might have been a very different place today. Bell and Lawrence both understood the complexities of the region better than any other outsiders, both having spent decades travelling the Arab peninsula as archaeologists, unofficial envoys, cartographers, reporters and writers and (in Lawrence’s case) officer of the Army.

And if Gertrude Bell had not been a woman, the immediate aftermath of the war may also have been quite different as she battled the male dominant hierarchy of British army generals ignorant of the history and culture of the Arab nations.

Author Alan Gold has made his name writing about the forgotten women of history. The book is written almost as an auto-biography, cleverly constructing scenes and dialogue as a first hand account of events. As such there is no doubt quite a bit of ‘poetic license’, but that doesn’t detract from the accuracy of the overall narrative, quite the contrary.

Apart from being exceptionally intelligent, Gertrude Bell also had the distinct advantage of coming from a very well-to-do and well connected industrialist family. Her grandfather was Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell, a Liberal MP during Benjamin Disraeli’s second term as Prime Minister, and her father was Sir Hugh Bell, who with a title of 2nd Baronet was (almost) to be counted as gentry.

Money and connections enabled her to study at Oxford and she was one of the first two women to graduate with a first class honours degree in history, when she was only 19. Never married – another factor that made her achievements in those times even more extraordinary – she started travelling the world at an early age. She developed a passion for archaeology and mountaineering (Gertrudspitze in the Swiss Alps near Bern is named after her – being one of the first to ascend it).

But her first and enduring interest was in the lands of the Arabs – Persia, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia as it was known then – borders fluid and very different to the lines later drawn up by men in the smoky map rooms of the war planners and at “peace” conferences.

Gertrude Bell learnt the languages, befriended the kings, princes and sheiks of the region and made it her life’s work to understand what so many of her countrymen did not bother to. Some of the top brass did appreciate her contributions, but most were, of course, threatened by the mere thought of a woman of knowledge and influence.

Neither T E Lawrence nor Gertrude Bell were supporters of the Sykes-Picot agreement or the Balfour Declaration, which in hindsight both proved to be disastrous for the region. I doubt if there ever was a greater example of “divide and conquer” than the British (and French) strategy in the Middle East during and after the First World War. It was all about the oil, of course, making sure that no Arab nation would be strong enough by itself. “Solving” the “Jewish problem” was just a side effect. The world is still suffering from the consequences.

Bell of the Desert provides excellent insights into all of these events, places the various combatants and participants in context and illuminates the history. It is also a most enjoyable read (or ‘listen’ as I did). The author cannot hide his love and admiration for Ms Bell, and it is hard for the reader not to join in. There are doubtless embellishments in the narrative – events and conversations that the author could not possibly be privy to. But it works as a great yarn whilst providing fascinating insights into an extraordinary woman in extraordinary circumstances.

Highly recommended.

PS> The movie “The Queen of the Desert” is no way of getting to know and understand Gertrude Bell. It is as narrow in scope as (lead actress) Nicole Kidman’s facial expressions. ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it

Kingdom of the Wicked Book One by Helen Dale

Kingdom of the Wicked Book One: Rules
by Helen Dale

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I respect anyone that acknowledges their mistakes, apologises and moves on - Helen Dale ("nee" Helen Demidenko) is a good example. Her debut novel "The Hand that Signed the Paper" won the Miles Franklin but she was later heavily criticised for having I respect anyone that acknowledges their mistakes, apologises and moves on - Helen Dale ("nee" Helen Demidenko) is a good example. Her debut novel "The Hand that Signed the Paper" won the Miles Franklin but she was later heavily criticised for having falsely presented herself as of Ukrainian ancestry and that the story was based on interviews with relatives. She later apologised unreservedly.
The book was also criticised for being anti-semitic. In my opinion utter nonsense, instead it was a brilliant expose of how war has no winners, that those that partake in atrocities are all sinners and that what we like to see as black and white are just shades of grey in an utterly confusing world.
In "Kingdom of the Wicked" Dale may still be accused of anti-semitism by the Jewish dogmatics, but again she manages to navigate through the various shades of human failings and hypocrisy to great effect. A fascinating re-telling of the story of the well documented attack on the moneychangers in the Jerusalem Temple during the times of a historic character also known as Jesus. All four of the gospels tell the story of his participation in it, as do many historians. Dale uses it to recast the role of both Jesus and Judas in what is a very clever work of historical fiction and courtroom drama. The Romans are in charge, but not unlike Baz Luhrmann's version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet modernity is brought forward to add texture and intrigue.
The Romans are cast as the debauched elite, they drive cars, watch TV and use sophisticated electronic surveillance and high tech instruments of torture. They also adhere to a sophisticated code of conduct and the letter of the law is mostly adhered to. As such the book is also an interesting reminder of how much the legal constructs of today is based on the jurisprudence originally instituted by the Romans.
The characters are many and varied, some times hard to keep track of, but all well crafted in their nuances of conflicting loyalties and confused values. The depictions of the hyper-sexualised life may well be historically accurate, who knows, but at times both camp and overdone, and rarely titillating (if indeed that was the purpose).
But overall I found "Kingdom of the Wicked" a fascinating read, a very clever idea well executed. It is the first in a trilogy, I look forward to the next installment. ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing

In Search of Good Government by Laura Tingle

In Search of Good Government: Great Expectations & Political Amnesia
by Laura Tingle

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Laura Tingle does something few of our political commentators manage: to write with the deep insight of an insider without revealing her partisan leanings and maintaining the perspective of an outsider. She also has a keen appreciation not only of re ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it

Taboo
by Kim Scott

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This was the first of Kim Scott's books that I have read. It won't be the last! Scott is of Aboriginal origins and it shows up in both the way he writes and how the story unfolds. The opening chapter provides a sense of wonder and magic, with underly ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book it was amazing

Saigon: An Epic Novel of Vietnam
by Anthony Grey

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1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Read this after watching Ken Burns' excellent documentary on the Vietnam War. Although this book is historical fiction, it is still an excellent expose on the background and events that led to the tragedy of the region, starting with colonialism in g ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book really liked it

Seven Pillars of Wisdom
by T.E. Lawrence

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The movie is one of my all time favourites, the man an intriguing character of a tragic period of history. I have always had the sense that if the British generals (and more importantly the politicians) had listened a bit more to T E Lawrence (and Ge ...more

Kim Wingerei rated a book it was ok

Too Soon to Say Goodbye
by Art Buchwald

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My dad loved Art Buchwald, and I was once a big fan, too - had kind of forgotten about him for a few decades when I stumbled over this. Recalled his irreverent style, appreciated the subject matter, but it became a one joke story. RIP to a very funny ...more

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	Why Democracy is Broken: A Blueprint for Change (The Why Series Book 1) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sound of a Murder: A Scandinavian Crime Thriller by Pål Undall, Kim Wingerei (Goodreads Author) (Translator) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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