It is true that Josephine Wilson has a wonderful way with prose; her mastery of language is unquestioned. However, among all those perfectly-chosenIt is true that Josephine Wilson has a wonderful way with prose; her mastery of language is unquestioned. However, among all those perfectly-chosen words, the story-line of this novel struggles to shine through. 'Extinctions' is an internal exploration of a life that is nearing its end. In fact, it is more of a slow revelation about flawed characters and relationships than it is a story. The timeline flips from present to past and back again without cues, yet the main action takes place within the space of just five days. During that short time, the main character sheds the demeanor of a taciturn recluse and becomes a rather warm, loving chap. The social issues come thick and fast: ageing, grief, loss, cancer, disability, Aboriginality, the stolen generation, apartheid, domestic violence, drug abuse, institutional care, foster care, child abuse. This novel is not an easy read and some of the scenes (e.g. the drunken episode at the restaurant) are out-of-character and far-fetched, yet the quality of the writing held my attention until the very end. ...more
I have just discovered an amazing new author in Nam Le. 'The Boat' is a book of 6 short (and not-so-short) stories that read as if they were writtenI have just discovered an amazing new author in Nam Le. 'The Boat' is a book of 6 short (and not-so-short) stories that read as if they were written by 6 different authors.
Multicultural to the core, the voices in these stories - a Colombian child assassin, an ageing New York artist, a young woman visiting Tehran, a female Vietnamese boat-refugee, to name a few - are strong and utterly convincing.
The stories themselves are not pretty but they are all equally compelling.
Writing short stories is an art form, which with many competent authors struggle. Without a doubt, Nam Le is a master. Highly recommended for short story devotees....more
As expected, Hugh Mackay pulls together lots of information and analysis from multiple sources to inform a comprehensive 'state of our nation' review.As expected, Hugh Mackay pulls together lots of information and analysis from multiple sources to inform a comprehensive 'state of our nation' review. For example, he discusses the perils of the 'busyness' syndrome (a modern malaise which threatens to consume us all) and the inequity of government providing funding for wealthy private schools. He bemoans the waning sense of community in our cities and the plight of refugees and migrants. And on it goes. Many of his findings would be common knowledge for an informed educated person. But what Hugh Mackay does, and with great aptitude, is to collate our collective wisdom into a readable format. As a result, you may find yourself either nodding in agreement or your blood pressure shooting off the scale. Tackle this book with an open mind. It will certainly generate some reaction....more
This is not a novel to be read late at night before bed for it demands your undivided attention. Not only is the content sometimes confronting withThis is not a novel to be read late at night before bed for it demands your undivided attention. Not only is the content sometimes confronting with respect to the setting in post-war Naples, but the prose is often torturous. Single sentences billow out into paragraphs, punctuated (literally) by copious quantities of commas and semicolons, and also lengthy, convoluted asides. I am not clear whether this verbosity is due to the original Italian text or a somewhat clunky English translation. That said, Ferrante presents a rare snapshot of 1960s Naples: the rawness, the brutality, the insidious stranglehold of the Camorra, the only hope for a young girl to marry well. You need to have your wits sharp to appreciate this outstanding book. Be also aware that this is Book 1 of four. I'm not yet ready to tackle the second....more
This 1999 release historical fiction is difficult to rate. Flashes of brilliance struggle to rise above rather a lot of banality. The author makes aThis 1999 release historical fiction is difficult to rate. Flashes of brilliance struggle to rise above rather a lot of banality. The author makes a valiant attempt to explain the circumstances surrounding the creation of the famous (and gorgeous) Vermeer portrait of the same name. But the first-person treatment of its subject, an uneducated servant girl, makes that explanation hard to swallow.
The dialogue often feels contrived, and in fairness I suppose it is. How did the Dutch working classes of the 17th century speak anyway? Is it a case of lost in translation, or lost in time, or quite simply lost for words?
If you love the Golden Age of Dutch art, you will enjoy the imagery of Vermeer's house and studio and the earthiness of life surrounded by canals. For me, this book was a mixed palette. ...more
This is a biographical story of heroism and self-sacrifice during WWII, not by soldiers but by ordinary people. Set in German-occupied Warsaw, theThis is a biographical story of heroism and self-sacrifice during WWII, not by soldiers but by ordinary people. Set in German-occupied Warsaw, the narrative focuses on a dutiful wife who has a kind way with animals and people alike. When the exotic creatures are purloined for German zoos, the vacated cages and dens are used to shelter even more vulnerable creatures: Jews escaping the Ghetto and trains to the extermination camps.
The book is meticulously researched and annotated, and true to the author's findings. It is written as a narrative, so it sometimes has the feel of fiction. In fact, at times you may need to pause and reflect: these events actually happened.
'The Zookeeper's Wife' is not a light read, but it is a compelling read. It reminds us of how, under extraordinary and dangerous circumstances, a few individuals can make a difference to so many.
A beautifully-written memoir of an intelligent educated Italian man who migrated to Australia in 1938 due to prewar political upheaval. I startedA beautifully-written memoir of an intelligent educated Italian man who migrated to Australia in 1938 due to prewar political upheaval. I started reading this book because of his first-hand account of internment in Australia during WW2. His release in October 1943 marks the beginning of a surprising and successful new life in his adopted homeland. Despite the injustice, Alcorso rebounds, establishing an innovative textile printing business in Sydney, and later becoming a pioneering winemaker in Tasmania. Add to that his passion for opera and his contribution to saving the wild Franklin river. This life story is as uplifting as it is inspirational. ...more
'The Good Sister' is historical fiction that is hard to put down. Set in Glasgow in two time zones - WW2 and 2015 - it is essentially a story about'The Good Sister' is historical fiction that is hard to put down. Set in Glasgow in two time zones - WW2 and 2015 - it is essentially a story about life-changing decisions, regret, and ultimately love. Two parallel stories are woven together in a slow and delicious reveal that has each successive chapter uncovering a little more about the characters and the times in which they lived. A light-handed sprinkling of Scottish dialect adds authenticity to the dialogue. An engrossing easy read. Highly recommended. ...more
Jenny Old's memoir is about falling in love, not only with a man but also a remote cattle station in the harsh Gulf country of Queensland, Australia.Jenny Old's memoir is about falling in love, not only with a man but also a remote cattle station in the harsh Gulf country of Queensland, Australia. Commencing in 1969, the narrative covers the eighteen years that the author lived at McAllister. During that time the pair built a house, literally brick by brick. Together they mustered cattle, fixed fences, battled floods and drought, raised two young boys, and endured endless isolation. They didn't even have a phone. Yet, despite all the hardships, optimism and humour shine through the story. If you enjoy first-hand accounts of life in the outback, you will love this book. Jenny Old's writing style is warm and familiar; the tone is reminiscent of long, juicy letters from a dear friend in the days before computers. One word that best sums up this book is authentic. ...more
After seeing Rachel Amphlett at a recent author event, I came away in awe of her work ethic and sheer determination to make her indie writingAfter seeing Rachel Amphlett at a recent author event, I came away in awe of her work ethic and sheer determination to make her indie writing endeavour work. So I tracked down one of her crime novels, "Scared to Death", featuring Detective Kay Hunter. If you enjoy crime writing, you'll love this book. It is fast-paced, easy to read, and has all the twists and turns of a cut snake. Keep up the great work, Rachel. I'm already a fan....more
Some three years ago, I visited Port Macquarie, New South Wales to sketch out a possible story. I'm a writer, you see. I love historical stories, andSome three years ago, I visited Port Macquarie, New South Wales to sketch out a possible story. I'm a writer, you see. I love historical stories, and Port Macquarie is full of Australian convict history. At the quaint little museum - which is well worth a visit - the attendants informed me that the Keneallys had been in the week before. I'd been beaten to the prize! 'The Soldier's Curse' is the outcome of their research. Told in an old-world voice, which is fitting for the 1825 setting, the narrative unfolds slowly in comparison to today's fast-paced page-turners. The language is literary and rather wordy. But, as the story takes hold, the book becomes increasingly difficult to put down as it metamorphoses into a crime mystery. Highly recommended if you love history and a nineteenth-century version of the English language....more
Ten years in the making and based on extensive research, this novel brings the WW2 home front in Australia to life. Told through the eyes of fourTen years in the making and based on extensive research, this novel brings the WW2 home front in Australia to life. Told through the eyes of four compelling characters, the narrative is about the internment of 'enemy aliens' along with the plight of the women they left behind. The saga sweeps from the lush canefields of tropical north Queensland, to the 'big country town' of Brisbane, to the Loveday Internment Camps in rural South Australia. Recommended holiday read!...more
Another gripping read from author, Jane Harper. In terms of creating a sense of foreboding and suspense, Harper has excelled, even in comparison toAnother gripping read from author, Jane Harper. In terms of creating a sense of foreboding and suspense, Harper has excelled, even in comparison to her previous novel, 'The Dry'. At every turn, danger lurks - relics of a psychopathic killer, the treacherous terrain, the unpredictable elements, unseen but deadly creatures of the Australian bush. My only gripe with this thriller is the plausibility factor. For example, why would a commercial operator of corporate bush retreats not check in with its participants on a daily basis to ensure all had reached their target destinations? It was not noticed that one group was missing for four days. I won't go into the other implausibilities near the end of the book because of spoilers. Suffice to say that the over-reactive behaviour of certain key characters is puzzling to say the least. If you are prepared to immerse yourself in a well-written story and just 'go with the flow' of the narrative, you will love this book. Read and enjoy, but do not question....more
Best novel I've read in a long, long time. Set in three time zones - seventeenth century Holland, 1950s New York, and Sydney in 2000 - the charactersBest novel I've read in a long, long time. Set in three time zones - seventeenth century Holland, 1950s New York, and Sydney in 2000 - the characters are linked together by an enigmatic Dutch oil painting and its forged replica. A strong sense of place pervades the book. There is no doubt about where the action is occurring. You can see it, taste it, smell it. Three cities in three continents and Dominic Smith has nailed them all. The writing is simply superb. Deeply evocative, and both rich and sparing at the same time. Every word is perfectly chosen; there are no lazy verbs or cliches to be found. And it's all done with a light touch that will make you smile in places and wipe a tear in others. Here's one of my favourite passages, about octogenarian Marty who must fly from New York to loan his de Vos painting to an exhibition at the Gallery of New South Wales. 'He carefully inspects his tan shirt and lined windbreaker that he's kept on for twelve hours because Qantas likes to refrigerate the first-class cabin like they're hauling steaks across the Pacific ... The field vest with a thousand pockets is somewhere in his carry-on. When did an abundance of pockets become a matter of moral principle? He wants to be zipped up and buried in the thing. His final battlefield commission.' Highly recommended - a literary novel with a heart. ...more
I gave up reading at page 172 because nothing at all had happened. The writing was competent, but frankly there was too much irrelevant dialogue thatI gave up reading at page 172 because nothing at all had happened. The writing was competent, but frankly there was too much irrelevant dialogue that reminded me of inane conversations I've overheard on the bus. I haven't read the earlier books in this series; perhaps I would have been motivated to finish the book if I had. All told, a bit of a disappointment. Full marks however to an alluring cover, which was what prompted me to select the book....more
A beautifully-written memoir that reminds you that Life works in mysterious ways. As a youngster, Paul Kalanithi wanted to become a writer to come toA beautifully-written memoir that reminds you that Life works in mysterious ways. As a youngster, Paul Kalanithi wanted to become a writer to come to terms with 'the life of the mind'. Above all he wanted to understand: What makes human life meaningful? In the end he studied neuroscience, which 'laid down the most elegant rules of the brain'. He studied hard and worked even harder to reach the pinnacle of his residency as a neurosurgeon. Then came the shocking news: a diagnosis of lung cancer. The young doctor was about to become a patient. Kalanithi goes on to examine what it is like to face death at the age of just 35. He is optimistic and positive throughout, but sadly his life ends before the book is finished. Medical friends of mine balked at reading this book as they thought it would cut too close to the bone. I agree. Although I don't class myself as superstitious, a book like this reminds us of our mortality and the fact that we are all, at any time, just one footstep away from the grave. That said, this is a story of hope and love. It is also gratifying to realise that this first-time author discovered, at least for himself, what made life meaningful. ...more
A strongly-written novel that tugs at your heart and drills into your gut. The story centres on an African-American nurse who is assigned to a newbornA strongly-written novel that tugs at your heart and drills into your gut. The story centres on an African-American nurse who is assigned to a newborn baby and its mother. The child's parents are both white supremists, who complain to the hospital on the grounds of race, and the nurse is banned from treating them. When something serious goes wrong with the baby, she faces first an ethical dilemma and then the fallout from her split-second response. This novel is not an easy read. It is confronting and uncomfortable and it stirs up your emotions. Some of the characters are totally objectionable, but they are so well-drawn that the extent of their hatred and despair is almost palpable. In reading this book, you cannot help but examine your own preferences and prejudices. Given the same set of circumstances, what would you do? An excellent read if you like a novel that makes you think....more
Honestly, I don't know how to rate this novel by Alain de Botton because it does not read at all like a novel. While de Botton is undoubtedly a highlyHonestly, I don't know how to rate this novel by Alain de Botton because it does not read at all like a novel. While de Botton is undoubtedly a highly competent writer, I kept on thinking of this piece as a thinly-disguised self-help book about marriage and the vicissitudes of long-term love relationships. Why? Reading the blurb inside the front cover, I can appreciate the difficulty: this is "his first novel in nearly two decades". It seems he has been pumping out works of non-fiction for most of his writing career. Perhaps he has simply lost the knack of story-telling. The characters are distant, hidden behind an unseen narrator who observes and provides a running commentary about the various stages of their relationship. We are told rather than shown who the characters are, what they do, and what they think about. Take this paragraph as an example, selected by randomly opening the book (at page 48). "They've reached the point where, by rights, their story - always slight - should draw to a close. The Romantic challenge is behind them. Life will from now on assume a steady, repetitive rhythm, to the extent that they will often find it hard to locate a specific event in time, so similar will the years appear in their outward form." Interspersed amongst the 'narrative', are italicised paragraphs of 'advice' about long-term relationships. On page 49, in which a visit to a homewares store ends in an argument about whether our married couple should buy the plain glass tumblers or the ones with blue and purple swirls, a section of 'advice' reads: "Romanticism is a philosophy of intuitive agreement. In real love, there is no need tiresomely to articulate or spell things out. When two people belong together, there is simply - at long last - a wondrous reciprocal feeling that both parties see the world in precisely the same way." While some of this advice might ring true (and some will surely raise a smile), de Botton's pronouncements often come across as presumptuous and paternalistic. As I said, I don't know what to make of this book. I would have preferred to read either a straight-out work of fiction or a researched non-fiction about relationships. In attempting to blend the two together, de Botton has achieved neither. ...more
Artfully written, meticulously researched, a triumph of a debut for a young author. Although 'Burial Rites' is not an easy read - there are too manyArtfully written, meticulously researched, a triumph of a debut for a young author. Although 'Burial Rites' is not an easy read - there are too many unfamiliar names and phrases derived from Icelandic for that - it is a delightful read. The descriptions are sensuous and kinesthetic. You feel as if you are right there with the characters, enduring the wind or rain or the snow. As an example, let me share with you the scene of Agnes toiling at the harvest. 'I let my body swing, I let my arms fall. I feel the muscles of my stomach contract and twist. The scythe rises, falls, rises, falls, catches the sun across its blade and flicks the light back into my eye - a bright wink of God. I watch you, the scythe says, rippling through the green sea, catching the sun, casting it back to me.' Simply beautiful! I could read descriptions like that all day. ...more
Easy-to-read psychological thriller about married people behaving badly. Domestic noir at its darkest and most intriguing. Both characters of thisEasy-to-read psychological thriller about married people behaving badly. Domestic noir at its darkest and most intriguing. Both characters of this one-time partnership are highly-flawed and headed towards self-destruction. But they are also clever and conniving. The theme of puzzles and riddles is woven throughout the book, adding twists to the twists and turns. Tried-and-true techniques of the genre are employed to compel you to read on. For example, the short sharp chapters mostly end with a cliff-hanger. Here are some classics: 'Something bad was about to happen. My wife was being clever again.' And this: 'He opens his wallet and pulls out two twenty-dollar bills. Presses them gently in my hand. "There you are," he says indulgently. I wonder then if I have made a very big mistake.' Who could resist just one more chapter?...more
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