Bonfires of the Murdochs by Gabriel Sherman Continue reading
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
A ridiculously short review of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke despite the fact that I have SO MUCH to say about this book. Continue reading
Literary Wives Club – Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
For the first time since I’ve joined the Literary Wives Club, the selection is a short story collection – Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize winning Interpreter of Maladies.
There are nine stories in the collection, the majority focused on Indian or Bengali immigrants in America. Lahiri writes from different perspectives, not bound by gender or age, and the stories feature details and quirks that make them ‘splendid’* and memorable. Continue reading
New Skin by Miranda Nation
I’ll admit that I bought New Skin by Miranda Nation for one reason – it’s set at Melbourne University in the nineties. Which is when I was there. So yes, references to Carlton, faculty balls and the Baillieu Library were enjoyable. Continue reading
Things That Are Making Me Happy This Week
01. As part of Melbourne Design Week, I went to Tide Table: A Seaweed Supper. Described as an ‘immersive dining experience’, we enjoyed a seaweed-based menu that included some things made to look like something they weren’t – watermelon with whipped tofu and chilli oil that looked like perfectly sliced tuna sashimi, and incredible beetroot carpaccio that at a glance could be mistaken for pieces of kelp. Continue reading
20 Books of Summer (except that it’s Winter)
Annabel from AnnaBookBel is hosting the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge this year. The challenge is straightforward – read the books between June 1st and August 31st. I reckon this is the most relaxed reading challenge you can participate in (swap books out, change your target, do whatever). Continue reading
On holiday
See you in a few weeks, readers!
Six Degrees of Separation – from Wild Dark Shore to The Weekend
It’s time for #6degrees. Start at the same place as other wonderful readers, add six books, and see where you end up. Continue reading
Eurovision 2026
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest kicks off on May 12 (and I’ll be there!). Here are my preliminary thoughts but, as we know from previous years, the live performance can change everything (my picks are at the very end). Continue reading
The Place of Tides by James Rebanks
I wish I could spend a summer on a remote Norwegian island, waiting for ducks to arrive.
James Rebanks describes the months he spent with Anna, a ‘duck woman’ in his memoir, The Place of Tides. Continue reading