It would readily apparent by now that I really love Christmas, and by extension that I really love decorating my Christmas tree which takes pride of pop culture ornament-accented place in my lounge room every year. Granted, it’s almost 20 years old and is looking a little old and creaky Continue Reading
Books
Book review: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett
One of the great truisms of reading, indeed life itself it seems at times, is not judging a book by its cover. However, it is well nigh impossible to pass by the boldly bright cover of Kristen Arnett’s Mostly Dead Things, a tale of messed up families, love and weirdly-expressed Continue Reading
On 5th day of Christmas … I read Olaf’s Night Before Christmas #Frozen
Does Kristoff have trenchant personal hygiene issues? Is Sven moonlighting on Christmas eve as a sleigh-pulling reindeer hailing a strangely jolly bearded man in red through the sky? And, most importantly because enquiring sentient snowman minds want to know, are the stockings hung by the chimney because they’re wet? Are Continue Reading
Book review: The Wailing Woman by Maria Lewis
If you’ve ever had a sneaking suspicion that more goes in this crazy, mixed-up world than meets the naked mortal eye, then has Australian author Maria Lewis got a tale (or five) to tell you. A whole universe of them in fact with the fantasy author on the rise responsible Continue Reading
On 2nd day of Christmas … I read The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson
Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Or so the 1963 evergreen classic by Edward Pola and George Wyle would have us believe, what with “kids jingle belling”, “everyone telling you to be of good cheer” and “caroling out in the snow” (unless you’re in Continue Reading
Book review: After the Flood by Kassandra Montag
As a species, humanity is deeply attached to the idea that adversity builds some kind of nobility of purpose, that by going through metaphorical fire we are somehow purged of our lesser selves and emerge with a flawless, unimpeachable self. It’s a heartwarming idea and so it’s no surprise we Continue Reading
Book review: The Best Kind of Beautiful by Frances Whiting
There is something almost indescribably wonderful about watching someone come to life again. Perhaps that’s because of the simple of beauty of watching something rich and vibrant spring forth from seemingly nothing – that’s never strictly speaking completely true; there’s always something there, it’s usually just deeply repressed and dormant Continue Reading
Book review: Star Wars – Resistance Born by Rebecca Roanhorse
One of the more curious aspects of human nature is the lengths that people will go to, and the pernicious accommodations they will make, for the sake of a perceived peaceful existence. Politicians, particularly those of a more authoritarina bent, of which the world has a surfeit right now, take Continue Reading
Book review: Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Diving into an already well advanced series of books, where the character has already done a fair amount of living and a great deal of narrative has already flowed under the literary bridge, is akin to walking into a conversation that is well underway. Weirdly uncomfortable and more than a Continue Reading
Christmas with the Berenstain Bears – Night Before Christmas, Merry Christmas and Old-Fashioned Christmas
The Berenstain Bears are the epitome of a snug and cosy, loved and valued life. Created by Stan and Jan Berenstain (their son Mike later assumed full authorship following Jan’s death in 2012), with the first book The Big Honey Hunt hitting bookshelves in 1962, reading one of the more Continue Reading