Firmin by Sam Savage

Sam Savage, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 9780297854586, 2008 (Aus, US/Kindle) Firmin is a sad, lonely, depressing book. An anthropomorphous rat, achingly empathetic, shares his hopeless, dreaming, doomed existence. The ‘chinless' one was born in a bookstore and suffers from ‘lexical hypertrophy' or, as he also refers to it, a kind of ‘biblio-bulimia', where he at first … Continue reading Firmin by Sam Savage

Nick Cave, Cate Kennedy, Paul Jennings in 2009

2009 will bring many delightful literary goodies. I am privileged to know of them as I wrote an article for Bookseller+Publisher entitled 'The Ones to Watch 2009' - it's in the Summer issue, which has just come out. One on children's books will be in the March 'Junior' issue (which I'm currently working on). I can't reveal … Continue reading Nick Cave, Cate Kennedy, Paul Jennings in 2009

Another Voice for Nam Le – a Guest Post by Louisiana Alba

Louisiana Alba is the author of Uncorrected Proof, which I heart, so I asked if she would write something just for me (and you lit-lovers). Here 'tis: Italians have a phrase: non mettere le mani avanti, don't put your hands out in front (to prevent the fall you fear). Let the scholars sort out my … Continue reading Another Voice for Nam Le – a Guest Post by Louisiana Alba

Such sensual books I've read lately – Rachael King's The Sound of Butterflies

Picador, 2008, 9780330449175 (Aus, US) In 1904, Sophie awaits her husband at the train station in Richmond. He is returning from the heart of the Brazilian jungle, seeking a mysterious, rumoured species of butterfly. When he arrives at the station Thomas is a shadow - scarred with insect bites, thin, and not speaking at all. The narrative of … Continue reading Such sensual books I've read lately – Rachael King's The Sound of Butterflies

Other People's Favourite Books – Barry Simiana on Robert Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. Hi. I'm Barry, and I run the writing group known as Nitewriters [in Miss LiteraryMinded's home town Coffs Harbour]. We've been around for almost ten years and we aim to get our members published. Personally, I write speculative fiction in the 'what if...' vein, but have been … Continue reading Other People's Favourite Books – Barry Simiana on Robert Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky