Hamnet, is Maggie O’Farrell’s latest novel. The title refers to the name Shakespeare and his wife gave their only son. In the late 1500s in England, Hamlet was an equivalent spelling This work of historical fiction re-creates the life of Shakespeare’s family. With William Shakespeare away in London so often for his theatre work, Anne […]
At Home with Hamlet Read More »
Julia Baird’s latest book, Phosphorescence, contains a set of essays that focus on the joy of living and how to live well. Little sparkles of hard-won wisdom sprinkle the book. To create it, Julia Baird has taken some of her previous published articles, mined her own life and sought the secrets of joy and fulfilment in
As the weeks of home isolation continue, have you noticed more about your home and its surrounds than you did before? I don’t mean just the cobwebs in the corners and the dust on the window sills. Have you noticed the freshness of the air outside, the way birds are flying straight and low, the
It’s the Detail that Matters Read More »
In 2017, Korean-American author Min Jin Lee published Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires, two fine family sagas. Both novels are ideal to read in our current circumstances of social isolation during a pandemic when we have more time to read and are longing for escape into a different world and a different era. I was lucky enough
Family Sagas with a Twist Read More »
A friend and I have established a tradition for the Sydney Writers Festival. We agree on a day we will attend then I select the sessions and my friend brings lunch. In 2017, I called her with my three session selections. ‘Just buy one ticket for the Helen Garner one,’ she said. ‘I’ve read nothing
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As we enjoy a reprieve from the bushfires along the east coast of Australia and marvel at the sight of rain, for those of us not directly affected by the fires, it’s time to take a breath. For many, this will mean long hours watching the annual tennis spectacular of the Australian Open. Whether or
Crime and Detection Read More »
Less than a week to Christmas and I’m looking forward to some lazy summer days of reading. What could be better than stretches of time immersed in another world. Reading is not just an escape from the current craziness of politics and threats of extreme weather. It expands our imagination, creates the beauty and peace
Books for the Holidays Read More »
Christmas is coming and I’m sure you are looking for books to give as gifts or to read on holiday. In the last month or so I’ve read a variety of books, most given or lent to me by friends, others borrowed from the library and one received from a Faber writing course. It’s been
Something for Everyone Read More »
Title: Careful, He Might Hear You Author: Sumner Locke Elliott Publisher: Text Year of Publication: 2012 Originally published: 1963 ISBN: 9781921922244 Pages: 299 Street library in Beachport, South Australia where a copy of this book was spotted In August this year, Writing NSW and the State Library of NSW hosted a panel discussion on the work of Sumner
Classic story of boy in custody dispute Read More »
Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favourite novelists. An American writer with a scientific background, she writes with a deftness of touch and absorbing storylines about serious issues like the questionable impact of missionaries, the impact of climate change on the natural world, and the attraction people feel for strong leaders even if those leaders