Fake Baby is a smart, funny, affecting debut novel. It takes some skill to be able to write a funny and affecting story about some of the real seriousFake Baby is a smart, funny, affecting debut novel. It takes some skill to be able to write a funny and affecting story about some of the real serious issues in this world. McDaid's treatment of mental illness, infant mortality, maternal health, and complex familial relationships is both thoughtful and honest. Stories like these, which remind us how much these things are a part of real life are so important in these times more than ever. I thought this was excellently done and it reassured me again, the NZ fiction is alive and well....more
Out the gate, this is the best historical text I’ve read all year. I’m by no means an expert on Australian History, but I considered myself to have a Out the gate, this is the best historical text I’ve read all year. I’m by no means an expert on Australian History, but I considered myself to have a relatively serviceable knowledge base particularly about colonisation. Although the analysis of Australian History Reynolds offers clearly aligns with my ‘revisionist’ perspective, there were elements of this book that I still found shocking. The personal nature of the narrative building here makes these stories real, and this history accessible. Although it’s not the most up to date text, Reynolds ideas about colonisation, race relations, remembering, and shame are still painfully current both in an Australian context and in broader colonial contexts. This is an excellent text which asks some of the big questions of colonial History. I loved it....more
Couldn't be happier with my investment in this text. An A+ introduction to Public History and all its facets. Full of case study evidence, it has everCouldn't be happier with my investment in this text. An A+ introduction to Public History and all its facets. Full of case study evidence, it has everything you need. I got 3 full tutorials out of this for my scholarship programme and I am so pleased....more
Cults, cults, cults. I don’t know how to write a review of this that won’t spoil it for future readers so I’ll just say it blew me away. If cults and Cults, cults, cults. I don’t know how to write a review of this that won’t spoil it for future readers so I’ll just say it blew me away. If cults and crimes are your jam, get in there....more
So upon reflection, Real Life was definitely a 5 for me. I’ve sat with this story for a couple of days, and the weight of it is yet to lift, and that’So upon reflection, Real Life was definitely a 5 for me. I’ve sat with this story for a couple of days, and the weight of it is yet to lift, and that’s an achievement.
Real Life is a novel that isn’t about the big things that happen in life, but rather the little things that happen in brief moments, day in and day out, which we constantly adjust ourselves to. That being said, there are big things in this novel; the loss of a parent, discrimination of the basis of both race and sexuality that is systemic and social.
Rather than being a noisy discussion of these big real world issues, Taylor focuses on the way these play out in a small social circle over a short weekend. This novel’s real weight is in the interior examination of how these micro moments of ‘real life’ issues touch one young man’s life, and the effect of the continual adjustments he makes to his own behaviour to accomodate the comfort of others.
There are a couple of pretty exceptional scenes, and on the whole I found this immensely thought-provoking and affecting. I would not be mad if this won the Booker....more
I changed my mind and I think this is a five. Hurricane Season isn’t for the faint hearted (trigger warnings: basically everything). It’s a relentlessI changed my mind and I think this is a five. Hurricane Season isn’t for the faint hearted (trigger warnings: basically everything). It’s a relentless, graphic, violent narrative about life in a Mexican village. It’s demanding of its reader both in style and content. The nature of the prose, and the almost magically real framing of the narrative won’t be for everyone. But even though I was often overwhelmed by the content, I feel that Melchor tells a necessary story about the pervasive violence against Mexican women in such communities. It’s a story that although it appears imaginative at every turn, is inescapably truthful in its brutality. It is hard to see such a world, but it’s an important story. ...more
Broke my heart that did. I don’t expect I’ll read a better book this year. Read this if you'd like to explore a full catalogue of sadness and trauma.Broke my heart that did. I don’t expect I’ll read a better book this year. Read this if you'd like to explore a full catalogue of sadness and trauma....more
Yeah, I loved this book. Cline’s collection of short stories is a clever, insightful study of power in human relationships. Cline is especially nuanceYeah, I loved this book. Cline’s collection of short stories is a clever, insightful study of power in human relationships. Cline is especially nuanced in her exploration of male power, and the range of ways it influences the lives of both men and women, directly and indirectly. As in Cline’s novel, sense of place, atmosphere, and internal dialogue are on point. I found this hard to fault. ...more
I feel like writing long reviews of books in long-standing crime series is a bit redundant. So I’ll just say, this is probably the best Jo Nesbo/HarryI feel like writing long reviews of books in long-standing crime series is a bit redundant. So I’ll just say, this is probably the best Jo Nesbo/Harry Hole book I’ve read. I normally hate the word “unputdownable” but this basically was. I thought I’d cracked it a handful of times but I hadn’t, and that’s always fun. This is the Scandi-Noir of dreams....more
Wow, this book is a wild ride. The Animals in That Country is the kind of novel that is truly exciting. It is a debut that captures the living, breathWow, this book is a wild ride. The Animals in That Country is the kind of novel that is truly exciting. It is a debut that captures the living, breathing, visceral heart of the Australian landscape; where the line between the order of human society, and the wilderness of the animal world is wafer thin.
It would be easy to call this a pandemic novel (and that would push a few buttons at this moment in time). But McKay’s pandemic is so much more than an examine of a world in chaos, where fear and isolation drive us to become our most savage selves. The zooflu is instead a vehicle to explore the complex inner worlds of the animals we share our space with. This examination is at times brutal, graphic, and almost consistently finds humans wanting.
The heart of this novel though, is Jean and Sue. A grizzled, alcoholic park ranger, and wise, half-bred dingo. Both central characters are unapologetically messy and flawed, and in being such are wholly believable. I have read very few books people with such original and memorable voices.
This book is a wild feat of imagination, tightly controlled, and thrilling at every turn. I am already sad that I won’t get to read it for the first time again.
Thanks to Scribe for an advance review copy of this amazing book. I am very grateful....more
It’s a straight WOW from me. Kate Roiphe said it best in her review for the NYT “in an era of neat furious accounts of victimhood, this novel stands oIt’s a straight WOW from me. Kate Roiphe said it best in her review for the NYT “in an era of neat furious accounts of victimhood, this novel stands out for elusiveness, it’s exceedingly complex, incentive, resourceful examination of harm and power.” There’s a lot that could be said about this novel. In short, I found the characterisation complex believable, and perfectly voiced, the plotting exceptionally well-paced. It was a difficult to put down, stay up all night kind of read. LOVED IT....more
I mean what can you really say about The Secret History? At the end of the day, it's one of those books; you're either going to love it or you're not I mean what can you really say about The Secret History? At the end of the day, it's one of those books; you're either going to love it or you're not and nothing I say here will swing you either way. For this reader, Tartt's first novel is as magnificent on rereading (more than once) as it is the first time you read it. Are the characters all a bit 'unlikeable'? Yes. Is it long, and full of monologues that on the surface don't really seem to be about anything? Of course. Is it pretentious? Absolutely. Does any of this matter? For me, not really. Donna Tartt writes like so few writers do anymore. Her characters are complex and layered, her prose is exceptionally tight, her plotting masters claustrophobic suspense. For this reader, this is an epic novel to rival all others; a classic campus novel. I loved it....more
Bowraville is an example of excellent true crime reporting, turned long form narrative. It’s an equally shocking a frustrating story about the limits Bowraville is an example of excellent true crime reporting, turned long form narrative. It’s an equally shocking a frustrating story about the limits of justice. Box’s reporting not only shines a light on these murders which have been consistently forgotten, but also on the discrimination faced by Aboriginal communities in access to policing and judicial process. I was reminded explicitly as I read this, that true crime stories don’t really end, because the survivors go on, they don’t have a choice. In this way it was especially heartbreaking but a valuable, important story....more
I’ve been imagining how Ali Smith might wrap up her Seasonal Quartet, perhaps the most ambitious fictional project of this era, for a long time. SummeI’ve been imagining how Ali Smith might wrap up her Seasonal Quartet, perhaps the most ambitious fictional project of this era, for a long time. Summer met and exceeded all of my expectations. Summer is a story about imagined and anticipated endings. As we wait and anticipate the summery end of a seasonal cycle and then spend much of summer under the ever present weight of its impending end, the characters in this novel are all imagining and anticipating endings. In this way, what could easily have become an exhaustingly bleak state-of-the-nation (the world?) narrative instead becomes a hopeful one. This is a story where we are reminded we can all be heroic in big and small ways. Human connection; individual kindnesses will save us all. Fittingly, Summer draws together all the threads you want it to from the earlier books in the quarter, but stands on its own; a story of our times....more
When I first picked up this book I thought, how is “the most meticulous serial killer of the 21st century” someone I know nothing about; a series of bWhen I first picked up this book I thought, how is “the most meticulous serial killer of the 21st century” someone I know nothing about; a series of brutal crimes I’ve never heard of? These questions are at the heart of Callahan’s investigation into Israel Keyes; his crimes, and his capture. American Predator is an excellent work of true crime journalism, even more admirable when one reads the notes on sources at the end of the book, which reveals the level of censorship of documents pertaining to Keyes’ arrest and interrogation. This is a book which asks big questions of the United States. How, in a post-9/11 world, does a person of limited means travel so frequently without being noticed? How do initial investigations into urgent cases continue to be so flawed? How are interrogations and detention facilities so mismanaged? And ultimately, how in such a context are people protected and justice served? ...more
On reflection, I decided that I definitely loved this. But this is definitely a review that should clearly state at the outset, that this is a marmiteOn reflection, I decided that I definitely loved this. But this is definitely a review that should clearly state at the outset, that this is a marmite book, and you're either going to love it or not. If you're not into books about rich people problems, or you need a likeable character, this is not for you and you should save yourself the trouble.
So why did I love it then? In the end, I didn't like Toby, or Rachel, or Libby, or Seth or anyone else much in this novel (I liked Solly actually, let's be fair) but that didn't mean that there wasn't a lot to like about this story. Sure, the context of this novel is a wealthy community, but the problems at the centre of this novel are universal in many ways.
The heart of this novel is what becomes of us, when we find we are unhappy with, and within our lives. Who do we become, when the kingdoms we have created don't fulfill us? Rachel and Toby's story is at a superficial level, a recognisable narrative about the modern problem of divorce. It is a story that examines the adversarial behaviour that emerges when we feel trapped. At a deeper level, it is a story about how we lose ourselves in the routine and expectations (social and otherwise) that structure our everyday lives. In this way, even as an unmarried woman without children, there was something of my life in this novel too.
Sure, I felt there were some weaknesses and quirks in this novel, and at times, it felt like a first time novelist finding her feet. But in the end, the power of Brodesser-Akner's observations of the human condition, and her biting prose won me over.
WOW YES In the Dream House is everything people tell you will be an more. Experimental in form, this memoir is part theoretical analysis, part literarWOW YES In the Dream House is everything people tell you will be an more. Experimental in form, this memoir is part theoretical analysis, part literary reference, part deeply personal narrative of a traumatically abusive relationship. What Machado has achieved here, is nothing short of exceptional. Every sentence of this memoir is carefully constructed and measured, and each chapter deeply affecting in a range of ways. This memoir is a critical contribution to literature and discussion of abusive relationships, including in queer contexts. I also found deeply engaging, the interrogation of the question; who gets to tell stories and why? What does that mean for how we think about things that happen to us, and those around us? Machado is brilliant, and I will read anything she writes....more
At this point I think we can accept that Ms Mandel and I were made for each other. The Glass Hotel is at once very similar, completely different to MaAt this point I think we can accept that Ms Mandel and I were made for each other. The Glass Hotel is at once very similar, completely different to Mandel's previous novels. Its similarities lie in the nature of the narrative. Like all of Mandel's novels, The Glass Hotel initially seems distant and detached. Its characters seem to be floating. Things happen around them, sometimes (often) shocking or deeply unsettling things. Through this all, Mandel's narrative maintains a languid pace, and at any one moment it is easy to be uncertain whether you are seeing the thing you are meant to see. At a thematic level, The Glass Hotel is a story of ghosts and ponzi schemes (which admittedly are both big buzz themes for me). There's just enough of the real (hello Bernie Madoff anyone?) in this novel to make it tangible. It is through these elements of reality that Mandel works her magic, constructing a story that is a thoughtful meditation on ghosts and identities. Each of the central characters in the novel are haunted by ghosts from the lives. It is these ghosts which shape their identities, and push them to new places where they can construct new ones. It is a novel that asks us who we are, and who we would be if we could step away from our world and build another life. I thought it was wonderful, although I know it won't be for everyone....more
I’m a sucker for a book about Millenial malaise, but Ling Ma’s apocalyptic novel Severance is really something else. A meditation on the weaknesses ofI’m a sucker for a book about Millenial malaise, but Ling Ma’s apocalyptic novel Severance is really something else. A meditation on the weaknesses of a global economic society, the ever present threat of imminent demise, and the meaningless of capitalist life in this social media age, Severance is both near and distant. It’s an unsettling narrative in this way, but one that is beautifully constructed. A+ read thanks to my fave intercontinental book exchange....more