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G.S. Johnston

Goodreads Author

Born

Australia

Website

http://www.gsjohnston.com

Twitter

GS_JOHNSTON

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Member Since

May 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/gsjohnston

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G.S. Johnston is the author of three historical novels, Sweet Bitter Cane (2019), The Cast of a Hand (2015), The Skin of Water (2012). And a fourth novel set in contemporary Hong Kong, Consumption (2011). The novels are noted for their complex characters and well-researched settings.

In one form or another, Johnston has always written, at first composing music and lyrics. After completing a degree in pharmacy, a year in Italy re-ignited his passion for writing and he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. Feeling the need for a broader canvas, he started writing short stories and novels.

Originally from Hobart, Tasmania, Johnston currently lives in Canberra, Australia. He is treasurer of the Historical Novel Society Austr ...more

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G.S. Johnston’s books

Average rating: 4.09 · 455 ratings · 112 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Skin of Water 3.97 avg rating — 260 ratings — published 2012 — 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
	Sweet Bitter Cane 4.47 avg rating — 83 ratings — 2 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
	The Cast of a Hand: Based on a True Story of Love and Murder in Second Empire France 4.23 avg rating — 71 ratings — published 2015 — 4 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
	Consumption 3.78 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 2011	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

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

47 posts
G.S. Johnston's Blog

Climate Change and flat-bed scanners.

So, like, last Friday I went to the Greta Thunberg inspired climate change rally in Canberra. I was hesitant to go, not because of any disagreement with the rally’s ideas […]

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Published on September 25, 2019 03:25

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G.S. is Currently Reading

G.S. Johnston is currently reading

The Leavening

by G.S. Johnston (Goodreads Author)

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Sep 22, 2020 08:18PM

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The Garden of the Finzi-Continis

by Giorgio Bassani

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Sep 22, 2020 07:00PM

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G.S. Johnston and 3 other people liked Laura Trenham's review of All the Bees in the Hollows: "I think Keegan was too engrossed in her flowery writing style that she forgot how to write an engaging plot with memorable characters "
Nov 26, 2025 02:55PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of All the Bees in the Hollows by Lauren Keegan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — All the Bees in the Hollows by Lauren Keegan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

G.S. Johnston and 3 other people liked Laura Trenham's review of All the Bees in the Hollows:

All the Bees in the Hollows by Lauren Keegan

"I think Keegan was too engrossed in her flowery writing style that she forgot how to write an engaging plot with memorable characters "

Nov 26, 2025 02:55PM · see review · preview book

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Quotes by G.S. Johnston (?)

“People... people who NEED people, are the yuckiest people in the world.”
― G.S. Johnston

tags: barbra-psychiatry-people

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“There is no sight more appealing on this planet than a person actually preparing food for the ones they love.”
― G.S. Johnston

tags: food-love-people

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“The silence became”
― G.S. Johnston, The Skin of Water

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Making Connections: 1655. - THE SKIN OF WATER by G.S. Johnston	13	68	Jan 30, 2014 12:01PM
Fiction Fanatics: * February POINTS Challenge! <3 <3	18	44	Mar 01, 2019 01:37AM
Aussie Readers: February - Love is in the air	155	227	Mar 04, 2019 09:25PM
Cozy Mysteries : 2018-2019 Winter Challenge	54	137	Apr 07, 2019 02:06AM
Cozy Mysteries : When You're Not Reading a Cozy . . .	1853	863	Apr 13, 2019 07:45AM
WACKY READING CHA...: Historical Landmarks of Denmark (1st Qtr, 2019)	104	86	Jun 10, 2019 09:28AM

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G.S.’s Quotes

“You can never have too many hats, gloves, and shoes.”
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“There is no sight more appealing on this planet than a person actually preparing food for the ones they love.”
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“People... people who NEED people, are the yuckiest people in the world.”
― G.S. Johnston

tags: barbra-psychiatry-people

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“Worse than not realizing the dreams of your youth would be to have been young and never dreamed at all.”
― Jean Genet

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Information about eras past in different parts of the world. Help for readers who may feel lost in an unfamiliar historical setting, may not understan ...more

G.N.A. Publishing░N░e░w░ ░A░u░t░h░o░r░s░ — 1242 members — last activity Nov 02, 2025 08:46AM
📜𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓾𝓹𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓕𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓣𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻,𝓘𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶, 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓣𝓾𝓫𝓮 & 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼. 📜𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓼&𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼,𝓶𝓮𝓮 ...more

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For those that love Jewish historical fiction representating as many cultures, countries, and time periods as we can find.

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