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Book review: Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 Permalink

The movies Single White Female and Fatal Attraction launched the phenomena of crazy chicks for my generation. Both were shocking at the time of their release and set the bar for obsessiveness. Indeed, 20-30 years on we still talk about SWFing someone or ‘bunny boilers’.

It probably means books involving characters obsessed with others are less surprising than they once were. Or perhaps less horrific (rather than predictable) because we’ve become inured in some way. Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry explores such an obsession, though it’s borne of a very unusual situation.

Book review: The Other Wife by Michael Robotham

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 Permalink

I was a little nervous about this book as I’ve preferred Michael Robotham’s standalone books to his Joe O’Loughlin series. However this was deliciously addictive and I had to read it in a sitting, despite being unwell and incredibly tired after a long day at work.

Sentence a day: June 2018 (part one)

Monday, June 18, 2018 Permalink

I’ve always meant to participate in one of these things and started this early in the month so I’ve actually been able to remember what I’ve done…. or at least the highlights / lowlights.

However…. I’m only halfway through the month and this blog post is already ridiculously long so I decided – given my long-winded / verbose nature – I’ll include a mid-way update!

Book review: Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

Saturday, June 16, 2018 Permalink

For some reason I’d been a bit reticent to dive into Ghosted by Rosie Walsh. I’m not a fan of romance but the idea of being ‘ghosted’ by someone who seemingly had no reason to disappear / ignore you was kinda intriguing.

And thankfully I decided to give the book a ‘try’ because I enjoyed it far more than expected and it ended up consuming my Friday night.

Writing the not-so-great Australian novel

Thursday, June 14, 2018 Permalink

So, I’m going to a writers’ retreat in about 13 weeks. I’ve talked about it before…. ie.the writing retreat in Italy. *Flicks hair over shoulder with Cartier-clad fingers*

However, an obvious element to such a retreat is that we need to be writing something.

Indeed, the lovely Vanessa Carnevale has offered to look at our work and provide some feedback in advance.

Yay. Plus, FUCK!

Book review: Bluebottle by Belinda Castles

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 Permalink

Although I’ve read quite a few books lately by Australian authors – most set in outback or rural Oz – there was something quintessentially Australian about this novel by Belinda Castles. I suspect the sense of place she offers via the beachside setting combined with the purposely lazy and languid language has something to do with that.

The novel perhaps didn’t (ultimately) quite get to where I would have liked, but – for a range of reasons – resonated strongly.

Book review: The Puppet Show by MW Craven

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Permalink

Early in The Puppet Show, as we meet Washington Poe – our host for this ~~evening~~ series – there’s reference to a backstory. He’s been suspended and he and his former DS, now his boss-to-be (as they switch jobs) DI Stephanie Flynn talk about the fallout from a previous case. I wondered if in fact there was something I was missing.

I’d checked the front of the book jacket – though I guess they’re more just covers now than jackets – for any previous books by MW Craven and saw none listed.

Thankfully a page or two explains the history to us, however… I discovered Craven has had a previous series published centred around a fictional detective and also set in Cumbria…. published as Mike Craven. Which probably explains some of the confidence with which he writes the first in this new series.

Book review: The Killing Habit by Mark Billingham

Monday, June 11, 2018 Permalink

I stumbled across Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne series at number 13. Amazingly it wasn’t a problem at all that I’d missed the first dozen and the two (Time of Death and Love Like Blood) I’ve read since could easily be read as stand-alone novels for those who haven’t previously met the English homicide detective. (Bringing me to the 15th book in the series and my third!)

Book review: The Yellow House by Emily O’Grady

Sunday, June 10, 2018 Permalink

I’m not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading The Yellow House by Emily O’Grady. I’d only heard good things about it and of course it won the 2018 The Australian / Vogel’s Literary Award earlier this year.

So I shouldn’t have been surprised when I finally opened it and felt that sensation of knowing I was reading something special. I’ve had similar reactions to a number of books told from a child’s point of view: The Eye of the Sheep by Sophie Laguna (and her subsequent book, The Choke) and Past The Shallows by Favel Parrett and Room by Emma Donoghue come to mind. Not to mention To Kill A Mockingbird, of course.

It’s not an easy thing to nail the voice of a child in a way that’s both authentic and alluring, but O’Grady does just that. From the get-go.