The following three books are some of the new ones I've read in preparation for Perth Writers Festival (5 to 7 March). I'll be chairing panels featuring the authors. Find out more about those panels on this post. The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe by Andrew O'Hagan Faber, 9780571215997 … Continue reading Recent reads: Perth Writers Festival special
More bite-sized book reviews
Here’s the second batch of mini reviews I commissioned from some of my Twitter followers. They get a free book, I retweet the review to my followers and publish it here (slightly edited). It can be over two tweets. Enjoy! @toria_jayne: Kate Atkinson's Started Early, Took My Dog is a clever crime novel with a complex … Continue reading More bite-sized book reviews
Review of Yearn by Tobsha Learner up at Fancy Goods
I recently reviewed Tobsha Learner's new collection of sexy short stories, Yearn: Tales of Lust and Longing, for Bookseller+Publisher. They've put it up now on their Fancy Goods blog. 'Yearn is a collection of fun, imaginative and sexy stories by the author of Tremble and Quiver, Tobsha Learner. Learner’s stories are not purely erotic, but romantic and … Continue reading Review of Yearn by Tobsha Learner up at Fancy Goods
20 classics in 2011 #2: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
I’m reading 20 classic, modern-classic or cult books in 2011. Read more about this project here. ‘A great many people give me the impression of never having for a moment felt anything’ – Isabel Archer, The Portrait of a Lady. Why did I want to read it? Well, first of all, Henry James is one of the ‘great’ novelists … Continue reading 20 classics in 2011 #2: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Guest review: Lisa Down on Making News by Tony Wilson
Murdoch Books July 2010 9781741969238 (Aus) reviewed by Lisa Down Remember the old saying, ‘Write what you know’? It’s an adage former AFL player, author and columnist Tony Wilson must have taken to heart. His latest offering, Making News, revolves around, well… a retired soccer player, an aspiring young columnist and an author, who … Continue reading Guest review: Lisa Down on Making News by Tony Wilson
Things to see, bits & bobs
How's your year so far? I'm having a great time with this classics project, though it's hard to know what to do with all the new books I'm being sent. Here's a pile: Of course, I'll get as many as I can out to guest reviewers, and I'll fit some in myself. At the moment, … Continue reading Things to see, bits & bobs
20 classics in 2011 #1: The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood
I'm reading 20 classic, modern-classic or cult books in 2011. Read more about this project here. Why did I want to read it? After seeing the elegant and moving film A Single Man (and falling for Colin Firth all over again) I learnt it was based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood – a rather famous gay writer who for … Continue reading 20 classics in 2011 #1: The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Guest review: Lyndon Riggall on Five Wounds by Jonathan Walker & Dan Hallett
Allen & Unwin, 2010 9781742370132 (Aus, US, UK) To call your novel 'illuminated' is a dangerous thing. Five Wounds' claim holds with it the expectation that it should be something beyond a typical read. An 'illuminated novel' must be more than novel: no minor feat, and no small promise. I am glad to say that … Continue reading Guest review: Lyndon Riggall on Five Wounds by Jonathan Walker & Dan Hallett
And the winner of Palo Alto is…
Thanks for all your entries! Using a random number generator, the winner of James Franco's short story collection Palo Alto, courtesy of Allen & Unwin and the new Australian arm of Faber Academy, is Twitter user @folk_bird. I'll be getting in touch with you soon for your postal address. Sydneysiders! You've still got a few days … Continue reading And the winner of Palo Alto is…
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