14-9 April 24 (audiobook)
Many parts of this book were problematic for me - that Alexander continues ‘knocking‘ Tatiana‘s sister for so long, the callous behaviour of her parents, the threat of Dimitry‘s sexually predatory behaviour towards Tatiana which everybody seems to ignore, and Tatiana‘s general submissiveness which borders on masochism. But I did find the depiction of the Soviet Union during WWII and the siege of Stalingrad compelling.

19 Mar-15 Apr 24
I cannot recall being as frightened by a book since ‘In Cold Blood‘, which aroused a similar feeling that this could just as easily happen to me. As the book begins, Eilish‘s life seems so normal.
Lynch‘s depiction of a totalitarian Ireland is literally gut-wrenching, particularly the final 100 pages which depict the fear and desperation that lead to millions fleeing for a place of refuge. The ending has left me absolutely shaken.

10-3 April 24 (audiobook)
I read this years ago and enjoyed it, although I do recall being confused by the repetitive names. When it was in an audible sale, I thought it would be good to revisit but this really didn‘t work for me as an audiobook. It is too difficult to follow and the beauty of the prose is somewhat lost. Instead I was focused on the many incestuous relationships, some with characters who seemed far too young. Not a fair review.

8-9 Apr 24 (audiobook)
Two university students befriend a married couple resulting in some complicated relationships. Seemingly like all Rooney characters, they are intelligent and articulate but totally incapable of discussing their emotions or feelings for each other or anything of real import. Their idea of love is very different to mine. Frances is particularly frustrating.
Yet I enjoy Rooney‘s writing and was compelled to keep listening.

5-7 Apr 24 (audiobook)
Three novellas telling the travails of hedge knight, Dunk, and his squire, Egg around the Seven Kingdoms.
A welcome reminder that George RR Martin really is a very good storyteller and I enjoy the world he has created in the Fire and Ice series.
I expect the scope of these novellas is a welcome relief for the author in contrast to the original series which has become far too unwieldy. Both Dunk and Egg are lovely.

29 Mar-4 Apr 24 (audiobook)
A directionless girl in her 20s embarks on an affair with a married workmate. I found the protagonist self-indulgent and delusional and the married man an incomprehensible egotist whose only motivation seems to be a younger, adoring body. It did make me reminisce about a friend in a very similar situation in her 20s. Where did his wife think he was when he was eating very average dinners in my Fitzroy sharehouse?

28-9 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Not for me. I understand Maas is very popular but I found this dragged. I do not find fairies in any way attractive - probably some childhood insecurity or something going on but I just cannot picture a sexy male fairy. The writing was very repetitive and cringeworthy. Not continuing with the series and should probably have bailed but I did find it improved towards the end.

25-7 Mar 24 (audiobook)
This book is reminiscent of Virginia Woolf‘s A Room Of One‘s Own and it probably suffered as a result.
Funder tries to discover Orwell‘s first wife, Eileen, hidden in Orwell‘s writing - his letters, articles and novels. Orwell is not likeable. And Eileen was without doubt a clever woman who influenced and enabled his work. I object, however, to some of the assumptions Funder makes and her positioning of herself in the text.

5 Dec 23-26 Mar 24 (audiobook)
First in a new series (it would appear) focusing on Murtagh‘s path after the demise of Galbatorix.
Unlike the early Inheritance Cycle, this dragged a bit for me. It was very long and I found myself often wondering what had just happened. Murtagh wallows too much in self-pity and I found the treatment Thorn experienced both under Galbatorix and in this story difficult to listen to. Still, it did have its moments.

23-4 Mar 24 (audiobook)
A worthy follow up to Fourth Wing: similarly addictive journey into the world Yarros has created. Interesting to see some of characters‘ motives and introduction of an almost inter-generational battle.
I had forgotten the frustration of starting a series too early, when there will be many years before a satisfying conclusion. But it is a bit of fun.

19-22 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Highly addictive. I will admit I am a bit of a sucker for romantasy but I did feel less icky after listening to this than some of the others. The world-building is good. Enemy to lovers trope is a bit tired but an academy setting always pulls me in.
Sex scenes are quite graphic, which I don‘t really have an issue with but sometimes awkward on audio.
Proceeded immediately to the second book.

28 Feb-18 Mar 24
I really like Clare Keegan‘s writing. Some of these stories caught my attention more than others. But I always find short stories frustrating. If they are engaging, I inevitably want to know more.
There were a few standouts in this collection: the title story, Antarctica, which was a little shocking, the story about the family attending the town dance. But ultimately I prefer Keegan‘s novellas, still short but more complete.

15-8 Mar 2024 (audiobook)
Low pick. Interesting premise but with these types of books I always find the ending a bit blah. And guests and staff drop like flies!
The narrator relives the same day eight times, each time from the perspective of a different occupant of an English estate. Each time he dies or falls asleep he moves to the next ‘host‘. Before 11pm on the 8th day, or the death of the final host, he must know who killed Evelyn Hardcastle.

12-14 Mar 24 (audiobook)
One of my favourite free audiobooks of the month! I had already flagged reading this when it was longlisted for the Stella.
Lukashenko weaves together two indigenous stories, two centuries apart. Both tell of the impact white men brought to Queensland‘s indigenous nations l but also highlight their traditions and cultures.
Despite this seriousness, the author‘s voice is both and irreverent, and intentionally provocative.

10-11 Mar 24 (audiobook)
A masterpiece. Woolf lectures to female undergraduates about female authors and surmises the very practical reasons there was no female Shakespeare. A surprisingly funny and entertaining look at women‘s place in literature and, by extension, society (via a very white English lens.)
Read by the amazing Tilda Swinton. I immediately ordered a hard copy of this (and some of Woolf‘s other texts) to re-read.
Highly recommend.

8-9 Mar 24 (audiobook)
A thriller that starts as a chance meeting of birthday twins: Alix, a journalist living an instagrammable life with her successful yet troubled husband; and Josie whose life has been ruined as a result of her traumatic upbringing and abusive marriage. As Josie becomes the subject of Alix‘s new podcast, it is clear (from the title of nothing else) that all is not as it seems. Tense and gripping until the inevitable end.

6-7 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Reminiscent of High Fidelity, most of Good Material is told from the perspective of Andy, an unsuccessful standup comic, dealing with the breakdown of his relationship and subsequently his life. It humorously looks at the difference between female and male friendship, and the reality of reaching middle age without having achieved success. The last quarter provides Jen‘s perspective, which is an enlightening counterpoint.

4-5 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Definitely not a fair review. Woolf‘s writing, and this book in particular, does not easily lend itself to audio. This mostly consists of stream of consciousness thoughts of various characters, focussing on their views of each other, during their stay at the Ramsays‘ summer house and planning of a trip to the lighthouse. Unlike Clarissa Dalloway, I found Mrs Ramsay unsympathetic and particularly disliked her husband.

2-3 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Free audiobook of the month and an easy listen between Virginia Woolf‘s far more challenging novels.
Maybe another outback noir featuring a female cop (with her own relationship issues) investigating two murders occurring during a couples‘ weekend away.
Not particularly believable or challenging. Not even sure it all made sense - the epilogue doesn‘t seem to really match the ending. But zipped through it nevertheless.

28 Feb-1 Mar 24 (audiobook)
Another book I was supposed to read at uni that was surprisingly enjoyable when I got to it 25 years late.
Woolf introduces us to a cast of characters, all of whom revolve around Clarissa Dalloway.
Woolf‘s writing is wonderful, although I expect it is a little lost in audiobook form. I loved the way she let us in to the inner monologue of many characters, with their repetition and leaps of topic. And I loved Clarissa.

12-28 Feb 24 (audiobook)
Not for me. I battled my way through this for over two weeks and really not sure why I persisted. It seemed to go forever, made worse by the fact that I kept tuning out or falling asleep and having to rewind.
Whilst it was probably well-written, I have now concluded that Clarke‘s books are not for me.

4-27 Feb 24
Despite its almost 500 page length, I finished this quickly. And I was enthralled but ultimately unsatisfied.
Not sure how exactly to describe it. ‘Irish family drama‘ is terribly misleading. Really, it is a book about pretence, hiding one‘s true self and miscommunication. The characters are frustrating and mostly self-absorbed. I did feel sorry for PJ.

1 Dec- 1 Mar 24
I love Kate diCamillo but for some reason this book did not resonate with Trix. It may be that she would just prefer for Luke to continue reading The Sisters Grimm with her. In any case, we have put it aside for now. Disappointing, but worth trying something else for a while.

7-11 Feb 24 (audiobook)
Interesting story and characters but the sexual violence and animal cruelty was too much, which is quite unusual for me. I found myself questioning Blomkvist‘s relationships with women. All were consensual, in fact he appeared to be the one being pursued, but they felt wrong, like they were the fantasy of the male author. His relationship with his daughter was also problematic for me. Not sure about continuing the series.

27 Jan-6 Feb 24 (audiobook)
A long and thorough account of Napoleon‘s life. No idea why I decided to listen to this. There were a lot of battles and a large number of men and horses died. Roberts does not villainise Napoleon but it is difficult to view him as a hero, particularly after the disastrous Russian campaign. I do know significantly more about Napoleon, and to a lesser extent his contemporaries, than I did at the start of the 37+ hours.

1-4 Feb 24
A ‘thinly veiled‘ account of the moments in which a heavily pregnant Ephron realises the failure of her second marriage due to her husband‘s infidelity.
I would not describe it as ‘side-splitting‘, but it is certainly amusing and a quick read. None of the characters are particularly likeable, which probably makes it easier to smile at Ephron‘s trademark wit as her world falls apart.

28 Jan 2024
Sold in Australia as a standalone story (and not that cheaply), I nevertheless felt justified in the purchase as I have loved both Keegan books I have read. I also loved this, although the protagonist is a far cry from the lovely man at the centre of Small Things Like These. The focus here is on misogyny and although it is very short, I am not sure I wanted to spend any more time with Cathal.
Keegan is truly one of my favourites.

16-26 Jan 24
Fearing she will never pay off her student loans, Nova Scotian Katie heads to the Canadian oil sands where there is plentiful work for high salaries. When she arrives it becomes apparent that she is one of a very small minority of women living in a place of toxic masculinity. She is at one point subject to sexual abuse and is constantly facing harassment, as are the few other women at the plants.
Beaton‘s comic-strip style is engaging

22-26 Jan 24 (audiobook)
This is lots of fun but still manages to impart some interesting ideas about grief and family.
Patrick, a former sitcom star and Golden Globe winner, has not dealt with the grief of losing his partner to a drunk driver. He lives an isolated existence in Palm Springs until his recently widowed brother enters rehab and asks Patrick to look after his two kids.
This will make a great film - hope it gets made.

14-21 Jan 24 (audiobook)
Coppola‘s films adhered very closely to this novel, but fortunately they left out a few of the more cringeworthy chapters Such as the whole after story of Lucy Mancini. So as a huge fan of the films, I really enjoyed the book despite such episodes.
Puzo‘s world seems very real and his characters are brutal but also mostly sympathetic.
Looking forward to a rewatch.

14 Dec-15 Jan 24
A soft pick - for most of the book I was wondering whether to finish. Something about Clarke‘s writing, and the book‘s brevity, kept me reading. I am pleased I did
Piranesi lives seemingly alone in a labyrinthine house full of statues near the sea, observing the rise and fall of tides and the comings and goings of the natural world. Twice a week he meets with The Other to report his findings. Until a third person enters the house.

4-8 Jan 2024 (audiobook)
Not quite as compelling as the first two books, but a worthy end to the trilogy. The Toll is a less likeable character than Citra, Rowan and Faraday (possibly my favourite) and as others have said this dragged a little. But I do believe the series and the questions it raises about mortality and who should choose who lives and dies will remain with me for some time.

8-13 Jan 24 (audio)
My eldest is entering Clyde House, named in honour of the school Lindsay attended which inspired Appleyard College. Hence, I bought her a copy for her birthday which I expect to remain unread. Still, I was interested.
I found the writing too flowery and the narrator almost comical. The ambiguity is interesting - I cannot help but search for answers and others‘ theories. But there are many better books to read.

1-4 Jan 24 (audiobook)
Next instalment in the trilogy. Now included is the perspective of the Thunderhead, the omniscient AI which has been granted government of the world, and a number of other ancillary characters. Whilst the Scythedom has dominion over death, the Thunderhead controls everything else. It is shown as a benign presence, although I wonder whether this will be maintained as a basic premise of the series is that power corrupts.

24-31 Dec 23 (audiobook)
Dystopian YA - possibly my most addictive genre.
Set in a post-mortal future where Scythes are entrusted to glean the population to ensure against over population. Citra and Rowan are two teens chosen to become scythe apprentices at time of arising dissent amongst the Scythedom.
Polly loved this when she read it a few years ago and I can see why. Highly addictive, yet thought-provoking and well-written.

14-23 Dec 23 (audiobook)
I enjoyed this far more than expected, having never really heard of Gaskell and expecting a poor man‘s version of Austen. The depiction of class in 19th century England and the emergent union movement were very interesting and distinguished this text from most of the 19th century romance I have read. It is far from perfect but I am pleased I took the time to listen. Juliet Stevenson is a wonderful narrator.

27 Nov-13 Dec 23
Well-written but perhaps my expectations were too high. I did not love Gifty - she was remote and closed off. But perhaps that was the point? Surviving a loved one‘s addiction and inevitable death is devastating. I was also frustrated by the lack of action taken to help Nana, which probably says something about me and my inexperience of dealing with OxyContin addiction. The immigrant experience must make it even more difficult.

10-3 Dec 23 (audiobook)
I have loved all this author‘s books and wish I had waited to read this in text but I was impatient and it was in the Audible sale.
Set largely in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by global pandemic, it does not dwell on the immediate extreme havoc but on the world 10-20 years afterwards and the question of whether recovery is possible. The interconnected stories of survivors and victims are wonderful and heartbreaking.

6-9 Dec 23 (audiobook)
Despite winning the Miles Franklin, I would have been unlikely to listen to this if it were not free Audible book of the month. I am pleased I did.
The parallel experiences in post-colonial countries throughout the world interest me, as does the attitude of the dominant group when they perceive they are being discriminated against. Gareth portrays a laughable lack of insight which is all too common.
Worth a listen.

1-5 Dec 23 (audiobook)
Rob is in his mid-30s but has failed to grow up. He owns a failing record store, has few friends and a series of ex-girlfriends, who all seem to have dumped him for someone better. When his latest girlfriend leaves, he decides to reconnect with his exes to inquire why they dumped him.
Rob is immature and difficult to like. He is misogynistic, sulky and bitter.
But I loved Hornby‘s ability to evoke the period and his humour.

21 Nov-4 Dec 23 (audiobook)
Hattie is a teenaged orphan who has been shunted between distant relatives. During WWI, she receives a letter informing her that her uncle has left her his claim in Montana and she embarks on a quest to become a homesteader and make good her claim. It is interesting to follow her attempts and ponder the work and luck involved. She is also confronted with bigotry and discrimination in the name of patriotism.

27-30 Nov 23 (audiobook)
I did not love this as much as Tom Lake or The Dutch House, but a weak pick nonetheless.
A famous opera singer attends the birthday party of a Japanese businessman at the house of the VP of a South American country which is stormed by terrorists. The resulting siege lasts months.
Interesting to see the relationships formed and the humanising of the terrorists, who are mostly young and uneducated. I was unsure about the end

29 July-30 Nov 23
This took us a while! Nikki‘s writing is lovely and so well-researched. You have a feeling this is a very authentic account of NYC in the 20s prohibition era. I do not think it captured our attention quite as much as the first in the series though.

Not exactly a book review, but we are getting a new puppy and wondered whether anyone here could propose a literary male name of a lovely character. Our current dog is Gilbert, after Gilbert Blythe, who I have loved completely since I was 8. My current list is Pip, Huckleberry, Jem, Wilbur, Westley or Samwise. Any other suggestions?

25-7 Nov 23 (audiobook)
A weak pick. Schmidt admits there are few historical, and barely any contemporary, sources for her biography of Cleopatra and perhaps that is the problem. I am not sure I finished with a great deal more information than I began with: Cleopatra was a beloved queen of Egypt who had two great affairs, with Caesar and Mark Antony respectively, and ultimately killed herself by asp bite. Apparently that last fact is doubtful.

14-26 Nov 2023
Belfast 1975. A young Catholic school teacher who works shifts in her family pub embarks on an affair with a married, middle aged and Protestant barrister. It is intimated at the outset that he becomes another victim of the Troubles.
All of which might make it seem this book is predictable and routine. But somehow it is not. The writing is wonderful and Cushla is a flawed but fully rendered protagonist, as are many other characters.

21-4 Nov 23 (audiobook)
Faux history documenting the early punk duo of Opal (a fiercely original Black woman from Detroit) and Nev (a red-haired British misfit). Despite the title, the central characters are actually Opal and SarahLena, a Black journalist with a personal connection to the story.
Similar in style to Daisy Jones but tackles issues such as misogyny and racism in the music industry, Black Lives Matter and the integrity of journalism.

16-20 Nov 23 (audiobook)
A free audiobook for the month which was well worth listening to. Gadsby is very funny at times but is also just very interesting and insightful. Listening to her life, the way she learned and came to terms with her diagnoses, and her descriptions of her family were enlightening for me. Again has me questioning whether we should be seeking an ASD diagnosis for my older daughter.

1 Oct-20 Nov 23 (audiobook)
I have loved sharing the LOTR trilogy with Trix and do think that given the length the audiobook worked really well for us. Andy Serkis is fantastic although I must admit I can‘t read or listen to the text now without imagining Peter Jackson‘s characters and settings. We are both looking forward to watching the third film as soon as the new TV arrives.
Such a great trilogy and a lovely, bittersweet ending.

8-15 Nov 23 (audiobook)
Great Expectations is possibly my favourite book and Magwitch and Joe Gargery two of my favourite literary characters. No surprise, given my love of Dickens. I will admit however, that women do not come off well, even if Miss Havisham does find redemption in the end. Except for the lovely Biddy. I intend to watch some film adaptations after this re-read - I do not think I ever have.
How do I convince my teen to read this?