The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Women in Black reminds me a little of The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham, not so much in plot but in quirky style. This quirkiness was particularly reflected in the movie. It, too, reminded me of The Dressmaker movie. Both have … Continue reading The Women in Black by Madeleine St John

Novels like this are essential to humanity. Hmm, that's overstating it a little. Let me start to explain that. We read novels for many reasons. Entertainment is one, of course, and when we need to escape from our everyday lives, or experience things that we haven't and may not be likely to . Or reading … Continue reading Instructions for a Heatwave, Maggie O’Farrell

When anyone disses self-publishing, this will be one of the books I present as Exhibit A against them. Yes, too many books are published thanks to the ease of self-publishing. Yes, and more importantly, too much crap is published thanks to the ease of self-publishing. But often enough a really good, well-written read such as … Continue reading Angelfall: Penryn and the End of Days, Book 1, by Susan Ee

"Memory is an albino woman, languishing in prison in Harare, Zimbabwe. At nine years old she was adopted by a wealthy man - a man whose murder she is now convicted of. Facing the death penalty, she tells the story of the chain of events that brought her here. But is everything exactly as she … Continue reading The Book of Memory, Petina Gappah

There is so much in Breath, for such a simple read. Coming of age, boy to man, hunting for danger, what is a man, surfing/water/ocean, breathing. And not breathing. You wouldn't think that a 40-something, non-surfing, safety-seeking woman would be able to become so absorbed in this novel, but I did. Actually, I think it … Continue reading Breath, Tim Winton