No Small Shame tells the story of Mary O’Donnell, a Scottish immigrant to Australia around the time of the Great War. Mary has always been infatuated with Liam, a man she has known since childhood. As they grow older, Liam suffers the loss of his mother and becomes disaffected and irresponsible. Neither wish to follow … More Review: No Small Shame
Gulliver’s Wife takes place in early 18th century London, telling the story of a mother and daughter, Mary Burton Gulliver and Bess Gulliver. The hard-wrought balance that Mary has achieved on her own as a successful midwife is thrown into disarray by the return of her husband, Lemuel, who has far-fetched claims about his time … More Review: Gulliver’s Wife
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The Sisters’ Song is a wonderful read, one of the most absorbing books I’ve read in a while. I liked the simplicity of the linear narrative which drew me quickly into the story, combined with great emotional subtlety. The story explores sibling rivalry, the role of women and the limitations placed on them, and what … More Review: The Sisters’ Song
He is ever alert to the sounds of her. Footsteps upstairs might mean she is coming. She may yet share the couch with him. He will lay his nose on her leg and sigh, tail thumping the upholstery in a contented rhythm. On frost-laden mornings she greets him and lets him out. He hears the … More The Writing Dog
The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge is set in 1930’s coastal Dongarra, but the themes of public versus private identity, what it takes to hold a family together, and the heavy burden of secrets resonate just as much in present day. Lily and her family are forced to start again in Dongarra after their wheat farm … More Review: The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge
I enjoyed The Tides Between, by Elizabeth Jane Corbett, for many reasons. Warm, layered characters that you care about, lyrical and beautiful prose, and a wonderful depth of humanity. This coming of age story whose protagonist, Bridie Stewart, spends her journey to Port Phillip trying to understand her place in her family and the wider world. In … More Review: The Tides Between
via Magical thinking (Guest Post ~ Kate Murdoch)
This enjoyable and lyrical read by Louisa Deasey is about what happens when a city girl abandons her comfortable urban life to hit the road with the man she loves. The novel is both light-hearted and serious, examining the tension in even the most loved-up couples when there is a lack of personal space and, … More Review: Love and Other U-Turns