Tag Archives: Book Reviews

Review of ‘The Last Painting of Sara de Vos’ by Dominic Smith

Posted on August 19, 2017 by

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith My rating: 5 of 5 stars Best novel I’ve read in a long, long time. Set in three time zones – seventeenth century Holland, 1950s New York, and Sydney in … Continue reading →

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Review of “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi

Posted on June 22, 2017 by

My rating: 4 of 5 stars A beautifully-written memoir that reminds you that Life works in mysterious ways. As a youngster, Paul Kalanithi wanted to become a writer to come to terms with ‘the life of the mind’. Above all … Continue reading →

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Review of ‘Small Great Things’ by Jodi Picoult

Posted on June 14, 2017 by

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult My rating: 5 of 5 stars A strongly-written novel that tugs at your heart and drills into your gut. The story centres on an African-American nurse who is assigned to a newborn baby and … Continue reading →

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Review: ‘The Course of Love’ by Alain de Botton

Posted on June 4, 2017 by

Honestly, I don’t know how to rate this novel by Alain de Botton because it does not read at all like a novel. While de Botton is undoubtedly a highly competent writer, I kept on thinking of this piece as … Continue reading →

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‘Burial Rites’ by Hannah Kent

Posted on October 30, 2016 by

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent My rating: 5 of 5 stars Artfully written, meticulously researched, a triumph of a debut for a young author. Although ‘Burial Rites’ is not an easy read – there are too many unfamiliar names and … Continue reading →

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‘Let the Great World Spin’ by Colum McCann

Posted on March 26, 2016 by

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann My rating: 4 of 5 stars As an Australian visiting New York for the first time, I wanted to purchase a book about NYC from the Barnes and Noble bookstore at Union … Continue reading →

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‘Mezza Italiana’ by Zoe Boccabella

Posted on February 26, 2016 by

Mezza Italiana by Zoe Boccabella My rating: 4 of 5 stars Zoe Boccabella has written a delightful account about finding her identity and of coming to terms with heritage, culture, and the burden of family expectations. After experiencing racial prejudice … Continue reading →

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