Aussie Readers discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
Share Your Reviews (and Thoughts) Here - 2021
This one was a tad disappointing. My review of
Bye Bye Baby by AA Fiona McIntosh 3★https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Listened to the audio of this one Never Never by James Patterson and the awesome Candice FoxMy review, 3 stars: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger: absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction by Suzanne Fortin and my review.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4.5 stars for this excellent historical fiction by an Aussie Author
The Last Reunion by Kayte Nunnhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Two reviews now up
A Year at Hotel Gondola by Nicky Pellegrino
3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson
4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I haven't been disappointed by a Karin Slaughter novel yet, and False Witness is no exception. Her subject matter may be dark and gritty, but she addresses it convincingly. Twists and red herrings, characters to cheer on and characters to despise, 5★s worth.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
All That We Have Lost by Suzanne Fortin and my latest NetGalley Review.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Catching up on a few reviews today, all great reads.The Other Side of Beautiful by AA Kim Lock is the perfect lockdown read!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There Was Still Love by AA Favel Parrett, narrated by Australian actress Angourie Rice, was a highly anticipated re-read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And finally, novella The Catch by Mick Herron was good enough (and short enough) for me to read again before I return it to the library!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hans Christian Andersen is depicted as a dreamy, imaginative boy by Maxine Lee-Mackie in this colourful addition to the little people BIG DREAMS series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Such fun to be reminded of his world-famous stories.Hans Christian Andersen 5★ Link to my review of Hans Christian Andersen with several illustrations
Maybe I shouldn't have read this one on its own, but Us Against You (Beartown #2) by Fredrik Backman was available. Way too preachy for me. Sorry to all the fans.
3.5★ Link to my review of Us Against You
My short and savage review for The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavichttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I've just enjoyed stories by a couple of excellent authors, and I've included download links for both.Switzerland by Nicole Krauss is about a thirteen-year-old Ameri..."
I was tempted by the Nicole Krauss one but had trouble finding it on Goodreads and Amazon - it's actually in a collection of stories called To Be a Man, if anyone else is having the same problem!
Marianne wrote: "I haven't been disappointed by a Karin Slaughter novel yet, and False Witness is no exception. Her subject matter may be dark and gritty, but she addresses it convinc..."This sounds like a great read, Marianne.
I haven't read any of her works before, but I think my wife has.
I've added False Witness to my TBR list. (It's growing by the day)
Kim wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I've just enjoyed stories by a couple of excellent authors, and I've included download links for both.Switzerland by Nicole Krauss is about ..."
OOPS! Sorry, Kim. You can read the story online for free. I forgot to include the link in my review, so thanks for alerting me.
It was published last year in the September 2020 issue of 'The New Yorker' and promoted again this year. You can read it here (no paywall):
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
The Fortunate Ones byCatherine Hokin and my latest review :)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Kim wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I've just enjoyed stories by a couple of excellent authors, and I've included download links for both.Switzerland by [author:Nicole Krauss|263..."
Thanks for the link Patty - I'll give it a try!
I am a bad person. I just one stared a book by some poor Aussie author trying to make a fantasy book. Then I further slammed in it my review.Reign of Secrets by AA Karly Lane
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am sorry, Karly, if you are in this group, I don't want to be a b***h but research makes world building believable and the complete lack of research on anything medieval or royalty was painful.
Mod
An Ill-Fated Invitation by Grace Yorkhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Poodle Versus the Assassin by Anne Shillolohttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Lesson in Murder by Verity Brighthttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kill Our Sins by J.M. Dalglieshhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When the Carny Comes to Town by Elaine Orrhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Italian Girl's Secret by Natalie Meg Evanshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Deborah wrote: "I am a bad person. I just one stared a book by some poor Aussie author trying to make a fantasy book. Then I further slammed in it my review.Reign of Secrets by AA [author:Karly La..."
OUCH! Harsh words.
Sometimes, though, we have to tell it like it is. I'm sure Karly's next offering will be all the better for you not sugar-coating this review.
I just finished this 
by Alexander ThorpeIt does not seem to be terribly widely known, (perhaps because the publisher is a smaller one?) but it deserves to be. It is kind of a little gem. The historical setting was so well done, it is everything you could want from a historically set. cosy little mystery in the great dusty outback of WA
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thomas wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I am a bad person. I just one stared a book by some poor Aussie author trying to make a fantasy book. Then I further slammed in it my review.Reign of Secrets by AA ..."
I hope. It is meant to be constructive, if you can be constructive about trashing someone's precious literary baby. But I need to review books, or I forget them and this author seriously needs to learn research skills.
I resisted the urge to do a bullet point list of everywhere the 'medieval' fails at least...
Deborah wrote: "I just finished this by Alexander ThorpeIt does not seem to be terribly widely known, (perhaps because the publisher is a smaller ..."
Deborah, I thought it was a great read too. It reminded me a little of Upfield Arthur W
Deborah wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I am a bad person. I just one stared a book by some poor Aussie author trying to make a fantasy book. Then I further slammed in it my review.[book:Reign of Secrets|5..."
I agree with the need to do research, especially when writing for a specific period. My WIP (a prequel to the first Kincaid Saga book) is set in 1939-1962. Since I wasn't alive for much of that time, I've had to do a LOT of research.
3.5 stars for this contemporary/domestic drama novel
Home Stretch by Graham Nortonhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Reign of Secrets by AA ..."
I was very surprised to see Karly's name on this one Deborah, these particular books are usually under her pseudonym Karlene Blakemore-Mowle - totally different genre to what she writes under Karly Lane
Brenda wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I am a bad person. I just one stared a book by some poor Aussie author trying to make a fantasy book. Then I further slammed in it my review.Reign of Secrets by AA ..."
Interesting...
Looking it over, I am not sure that she has done much in this genera. She has the Karly Lane books, which are pretty straightforward rural romances, I have read one or two of those and found them pleasant, if undemanding.
Then, the Karly Lane books, where they all seem to be a little more steamy but thoroughly in the modern world.
As far as I can tell, she only has this one series of three that try for deep fantasy of the medieval/magical realism flavour. From the response, I think she is better suited to the modern day. Considering the second has an overall rating of 2* and the third, which came out in 2016 is entirely unrated, I think I am not alone in my views.
This might be a classic situation where a collaboration could have worked well. Like when Mercedes Lackey who wrote fantasy collaborated with Roberta Gellis to write the Ill Met by Moonlight series. A lot goes into historical/medieval writing, it takes a lot to make it work.
Mod
My review of
The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore, a part fictional historical novel, based on the real life experiences of a US soldier sent undercover into East Germany during the Cold War.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Another good episode in J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas series. 
Innocent in Deathreview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for
An Ill-Fated Invitation by Grace York (aka Catherine Lee)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
While Aussie author Kay Kerr's second novel, Social Queue may be aimed at young adult readers, anyone who enjoys a bit of a romance that will also teach you more about the neuro-diverse population will enjoy this one. The author is autistic, so she knows what she's talking about!5★s
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty and my five star review.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This very short story by renowned author Ian McEwan is clever and fun and FREE. You can read it or listen to him read My Purple Scented Novel online. Very entertaining and well worth a few minutes.
4★ Link to my review of My Purple Scented Novel with a link to the story online.
Catch Us The Foxes by Aussie author Nicola West is a twisty, complicated thriller with a good premise and great atmosphere. It eventually got too weird for me.
2.5~3★ Link to my Catch Us The Foxes review
Mod
The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer by Ilsa Evanshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "This very short story by renowned author Ian McEwan is clever and fun and FREE. You can read it or listen to him read My Purple Scented Novel online. Very entertaining..."Now that was an interesting read, to say the least.
I wonder how many similar instances there have been in real life?
Thanks for sharing.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Aussie Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (other topics)Better Off Dead (other topics)
The Marvell Crescent Murders: Dusty Kent's First Case (other topics)
The Maid (other topics)
Scare Me To Death (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Charlie Mackesy (other topics)Lee Child (other topics)
Brigid George (other topics)
Nita Prose (other topics)
C.J. Carver (other topics)
More...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...