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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
Posted in Book Reviews
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
Posted in Book Reviews
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
Posted in Book Reviews
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 Question: What does a mother do when her only son is in prison with a life sentence? Answer: She buys a crumbling shack by the sea and builds a … 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
Posted in Book Reviews
Tagged aleksandrinke, Eastern Europe, Egypt, family history, folklore, Krissy Kneen, memoir, Slovenia
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Human rights tyrants and how to stop them
Bad People – and How to Be Rid of Them: A Plan B for Human Rights by Geoffrey Robertson My rating: 4 of 5 stars While this book provides a history of human rights dating right back to the 17th … 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 put together, this visual history shows through paintings, cartoons, photographs what happened to a shipload of German, Italian, and Jewish men – most of whom … 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
Posted in Book Reviews
Tagged adventure, Australia, bookreview, Dalton, Fiction, Topend, ww2
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