(courtesy Pan Macmillan Australia) A creatively outrageous premise is nothing new in storytelling; the very best narratives in the hands of masterful writers thrive on them and well executed, they can elevate a story in a trope-heavy genre into something magically alive and vivaciously original. Case very much in point Continue Reading
Books
He’s found a new home … Paddington the Musical
(courtesy Paddington the Musical) Is there such a thing as too much Paddington Bear? Well, of course not, what a very strange thing to even contemplate! The truth is we can never have enough of Michael Bond’s wondrously sweet and insightful creation who has found heartwarming expression in 29 books Continue Reading
Book review: Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) There’s a good reason the enemies-to-love trope is so prevalent in romantic literature. While we all accept on some level that not everyone will like us and that conflict is all inevitable despite our best efforts, there’s a deep-rooted part of us that wants to believe Continue Reading
Book review: Frankie by J. M. Gutsch and Maxim Leo
(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) If you have ever travelled through the valley of the shadow of death of grief – and yes, that is some prime-grade Psalms-level language there but being plunged into grief often feels quite Biblical – you will know that it feels like it is sucking all Continue Reading
Halloween book review: Alice by Christina Henry
It’s quite the thing these days to take a classic novel as inspiration, or even an ancient one in some cases, and take it to new and exciting places that honour the original work and author but explore new territory. In many cases, it’s done brilliantly and originally well, as Continue Reading
Halloween book review: The Last Bookstore on Earth
(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) Any time any author decides to take a well-established genre, give it a good shake-up and reshape its form entirely is a good time. Especially when it comes one as well-trafficked as the end-of-the-world genre which has been pretty much full-to-bursting with zombies and aliens and Continue Reading
Book review: Our Life in a Day by Jamie Fewery
(courtesy Hachette Australia) Whenever we’re asked to pick the highlights for anything, whether it’s a relationship or an overseas trip or our childhood, we unerringly pick the glowingly positive high points, driven by some unspoken acknowledgement that for something to be a highlight it must have unquestionably upbeat qualities. But Continue Reading
Book review: Tiny Uncertain Miracles by Michelle Johnston
(courtesy Harper Collins Publishers Australia) It is hard, if not next to impossible when you are caught down in the depths of grief and loss, and the suffocating smallness of life that often comes with it, not to feel as if there is any hope left in life. But as Continue Reading
Book review: Picture Imperfect by Jacqueline Wilson
(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) It’s all too easy to have someone create your life story for you. None of us set out to do that, of course; we dream and plan and hope based on the very firm idea that we are the masters of our destiny but somehow we Continue Reading
Book review: Spiderlight by Adrian Tchaikovsky
(courtesy Pan Macmillan Australia) The grand and noble quest across vast distance in pursuit of the decisive victory of good over evil is a staple of fantasy novels. It crops up again and again and for very good reason – here is the perfect vehicle for putting disparate people together, Continue Reading