Category Archives: Book Reviews
An intriguing novel about WWII intrigue
The Imitator by Rebecca Starford My rating: 4 of 5 stars An enjoyable novel about the role of women in WWII espionage. By the author’s own admission, the characters are in the main invented and the story is loosely true, … Continue reading
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Tagged espionage, historical fiction, London, MI5, spy, women in war, World War Two, WWII
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Easy read, compelling story
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens My rating: 4 of 5 stars Despite the dark themes of alcohol addiction and domestic violence, this novel is a delight to read. In particular, the writing is tight, succinct, and appropriate. The … Continue reading
Review of ‘Still Life’ by Sarah Winman
Still Life by Sarah Winman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I fell in love, and then out of love, with this novel. The writing – which utilizes an expansive vocabulary that had me reaching for the dictionary – is … Continue reading
What was it like in a WWII internment camp?
A rare first-hand chronicle of internment that sheds new light on Australia’s wartime history. Mr Koike’s diary, which survived despite all odds, is beautifully translated and edited. Continue reading
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Tagged Diary, internment, internment camp, Japanese, Java, Loveday, Pacific War, WWII
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A gripping 1880s migrant adventure
Paradiso A Novel by Steve Capelin My rating: 4 of 5 stars A gripping tale of hope and despair on the high seas. Set in 1879-80, a group of migrants from the struggling north of Italy chases the promise of … Continue reading
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Tagged adventure, Australia, historical fiction, Italian, Little Italy, migrants
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A gently-written novel about heartache and healing
The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey My rating: 4 of 5 stars What does a mother do when her only son is in prison with a life sentence? She buys a crumbling shack by the sea and builds a labyrinth in … Continue reading
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A memorable memoir by Brisbane author, Krissy Kneen
The Three Burials of Lotty Kneen by Krissy Kneen My rating: 5 of 5 stars When Krissy Kneen was a speaker at my authors’ group a few months ago, I was intrigued by her latest book. I’ve read some of … Continue reading
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Tagged aleksandrinke, Eastern Europe, Egypt, family history, folklore, Krissy Kneen, memoir, Slovenia
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Human rights tyrants and how to stop them
Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice by Bill Browder My rating: 5 of 5 stars Yes, there may be sceptics. But I have no doubt that the events leading up to … Continue reading
WWII in pictures: the voyage of the notorious ‘Dunera’
Dunera Lives: A Visual History by Jay Winter My rating: 5 of 5 stars Beautifully curated, this visual history shows through paintings, cartoons, photographs what happened to a shipload of German, Italian, and Jewish men – most of whom were … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews, WW2 and Internment
Tagged Australia, dunera, German, Hay, Internee, internment, internment camp, Italian, jews, orange, Tatura, WWII
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An escape to the magical ‘deep country’ of our ancient land
All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton My rating: 4 of 5 stars An epic tale, in the spirit of the Brothers Grimm, set in the impossibly harsh country of Australia’s Top End. The characters are intriguing and larger-than-life, in … Continue reading
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Tagged adventure, Australia, bookreview, Dalton, Fiction, Topend, ww2
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