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Sally Murphy, Australian author

What I Read in May

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In April I was surprised to have read only 12 books. In May I am surprised that I managed to get through 6. What a month May was! My darling Dad passed away, my work was chaotic with deadlines, and I worked through grief and day job stuff to try to meet a writing deadline for my poetry resource which will be published later this year.  So yes, I’m not surprised to tally my reads and find only 6 – but 6 is better than none. And there are some goodies in this list.

Books for Children (an adults too!)

  1. Aster’s Good, Right Things, by Kate Gordon (Riveted Press, 2020). I love everything Kate Gordon writes, and this is no exception. A really touching story about a girl who believes that if she does enough good things then her life will turn around. When she makes friends with a boy who lives next door to her school, but doesn’t got o school himself, things gradually shift. Hard to explain this book – you just need to read it to see how lovely it is.
  2. We Are Wolves, by Katrina Nannestad (ABC Books, 2020). Wow. Sometimes I read a book that is just so perfect I have no words. This is one such book. Set in Germany and East Prussia at the close of World War II, it tells the story of Liesel and her siblings as they flee the advancing Russian Army and struggle for survival and to be reunited with their mother.  heart wrenching but also beautiful.

Books for Young Adult Readers

  1. Displaced, by Cristina Sanders (Walker Books, 2021). I love historical fiction, and this one took me into a slice of history I was unfamiliar with  – new Zealand in the late 19th century. the main character, Eloise, emigrates from Cornwall with her family, but nothing goes to plan and she finds herself increasingly needing to hold her family together in ways she could never have foreseen.

2. Game Changer, by Neal Shusterman (Walker Books, 2021). this one took me a while to get into, but that is perhaps more about my interrupted month than about the book. Ash is a high school football player who gets a knock on the head which knocks him into an alternate universe. Only he knows that things are changing and, as weeks progress, he is catapulted into increasingly shifted versions of reality. He has to try to figure out a way to get everything back to where it was.

3. One of Us is Lying, by Karen M. McManus (Penguin, 2017). I picked this one up on a remainders table and then it sat in my pile for a while. part murder-mystery, part thriller, and an exploration of the ways teens interact with each other and with social media. I really enjoyed this one.

Nonfiction

  1. A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself & Other Essays, by Brigid Lowry. This little gem of a book was a soothing balm in a period when I  was grieving and unsettled. Lowry writes with wisdom, honesty and wonder. A lovely book. Brigid also guest blogged at Aussiereviews last month, which you can read here.

 

This brings my total for the year to 67 books, which isn’t too shabby, and June is looking a little more laid back, so hopefully I can at least crack double digits again.  What have you been reading? I’d love to hear.

April Reads

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Another month has ended, so it’s time for my monthly reading roundup. I managed only 12 books in April, but there were some beauties in that 12.

 

Books for Children

  1. Backyard Bugs, by Helen Milroy (Fremantle Press, 2021). This little picture book offering is lovely, and my two year old granddaughter seemed to agree. After I read her the simple rhyming text, she sat for a long time flipping through the pages and ‘reading’, emulating the lyrical feel and the names of the different minibeasts.  The illustrations are sumptuous.

2. Redback Mansion, by Lorraine Marwood (Five Islands Press, 2002). It’s been fifteen years since I reviewed this collection of poetry on Aussiereviews,  but love to dip in and out of it, as well as others of Marwood’s collections. This is the first time in a long while that I have read it cover to cover, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a shame it is no longer in print for a new generation of readers, but luckily Marwood continues to produce new work, so there is still plenty out there to read.

3. Nobody’s Boy, by Dianne Bates (Celapene Press, 2012).  Another one I had read  before. I love to revisit verse novels, because not only are they my favourite form, but reading them is about really experiencing the characters’ perspectives. This is the story of Ron, who has been in foster care most of his life and craves a chance to live with his dad.

4. Fish Kid and the Turtle Torpedo, by Kylie Howarth (Walker Books, 2021). This is the third book in  excellent series for young readers, especially those who love marine life, swimming and adventure. Fish Kid (Bodhi) has a love of the ocean and has special powers which let him swim like a fish and even communicate with sea life. In this instalment he and his friend Emely rescue a sick turtle and even swim with dolphins.  Along the way readers learn lots of animal fact and conservation messages, but the story is foremost.

Books for Young Adults

  1. All Our Hidden Gifts, by Caroline O’Donoghue (Walker Books, 2021). This was sent to be by Walker Books, and took me a little while to get into, probably more because it was the first book I read for the month, and was busy, than because of the book itself. Maeve finds a set of tarot cards, discovers she has a knack for reading them, and then, to her horror, that she seems to have the power to make her former best friend disappear. What it might cost to get her back is too much. With magic and the occult, as well as explorations of gender diversity, religion and more, there is a lot going on here, which makes for an intriguing read.
  2.  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou (Audible Edition, 2014). I am so glad I chose to listen to this book, because it is read by Angelou herself, which adds so much to the reading experience. This is  the autobiography of her childhood, characterised by hardship, displacement, violence and racism – but is also a story filled with strength and the beauty of Angelou’s  writing.  I cried but I also smiled.  I’ve put it here in the young adult section because it is  suitable for young adults, but will equally appeal to adult readers.
  3. Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal, by Anna Whatley (Allen & Unwin, 2020).  I loved this own voices novel about a gutsy girl who tries hard to act ‘normal’ by following the rules drummed into her by therapists, parents and teachers over her lifetime, but with the laugh of her aunt and new friends learns not just to like herself but also to see her strengths and expect others to, too.  So glad this is is on the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year shortlist. 

Books for Adult Readers

  1. Everyday Madness, by Susan Midalia (Fremantle Press, 2021).  Susan recently guest blogged over at my review site, Aussiereviews, about her writing life and the story behind this book. I enjoyed the weaving of the different stories – that of  Bernard, newly unemployed, his wife Gloria, whose breakdown and caused a huge shift in their marriage, their daughter on law Meg, struggling to raise her daughter, study full time and navigate supporting the in laws her ex-husband seems to not take responsibility for, and her daughter Ella.
  2. The Cuckoo’s Cry, by Caroline Overington (Audible, 2020).  Set in Bondi during the first Covid 19 lockdown, this novella was an interesting free read, part family drama, part mystery.
  3. Life After Truth, by Cerdiwen Dovey (Audible, 2019). You can tell how much time I have spent int he car in any month by the number of Audible reads, especially the free reads. This was again part mystery (the US president’s son is murdered) and part soul-searching drama. The characters did have me interested, but I must admit I spent most of the book just gobsmacked at the utter privilege of  the Harvard world (the book is set during a 15 year reunion, on campus). It really just seems like another world.
  4.  The Last Bookshop, by Emma Young (Fremantle Press, 2021). Any book set in a bookshop is likely to engage me. Put that bookshop in Hay Street, Perth, and I am hooked. What I didn’t expect was to blubber helplessly while reading this. Loved it! Emma Young also guest blogged over on my Aussiereviews site here.

Nonfiction Books

  1. An Island Solution: Rottnest reveals our colonial secrets, by Eversley Ruth Mortlock (Gwelup Creative Life Writing Press, 20219). I picked this up in the Rottnest store when I was visiting Rottnest/Wadjemup earlier this year.  An insight into a chapter of Western Australian history which must be redressed: the incarceration, and inhumane treatment,  of Aboriginal men  from around the state on Rottnest Island.  Not an easy read, because of its subject matter, but important  for that reason.

These 12 books bring my total to 61 books read for the year to date., roughly one book every two days, if my maths is correct. What have you been reading lately?

March Reading

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I am going to stop beginning my monthly post about what I’ve been reading by commenting what a busy month I’ve had – but oh boy has March been a hectic month. I have been doing work things and writerly things, and hope to snatch some time to post about exciting things very soon. In the meantime, here’s what I read in March.

Books for Children (and Adults, too!)

  1. Beneath the Trees, by Cristy Burne. West Aussie writer Cristy knows how to tell an exciting story that kids will love. This, her latest book, is an adventure story involving a platypus, a flooded river, leeches and a whole lot of trouble. Cristy recently guest blogged over on my other website Aussiereviews – see what she had to say here.

2. D’Lila LaRue, by Nette Hilton, illustrated by A. Yi (Walker, 2021). D’Lila is quite delightful. This chapter book has three stand alone stories each featuring D’Lila and her Nanny Anny as they have adventures, make sense of the world and even help others (even when it is accidental).  Charming.

3. Tiptoeing Tracker Tod, by Charmaine Papertalk Green (Oxford University Press, 2014). Tod and his family live in the city, but tod wants to be the best tracker ever. Luckily his awesome Unc Bullfrog is willing to teach him everything knows. This verse novel is part of Oxford Press Yarning Strong series, which profiles Aboriginal stories for young readers. Love it.

4. The Rock From the Sky, by Jon Klassen (Walker, 2021). This one arrived in a shipment of review copies and I didn’t shelve it in my tbr pile. In fact, I didn’t even put it next to my chair to read later. I stood at the bench where I’d opened the box, and read it straight away. Not due for release until April 21, so you have some time to pick up your own copy – but if you love Klassen, or turtles, or silliness, or wry humour, then this one is for you.

5.  The Haunting, by Margaret Mahy (Puffin, 1982). I hadn’t read this one before,  so enjoyed getting to know it. Mahy is a fine writer, and I loved Barney and his family. When his great uncle Barnabas dies, Barney finds himself mysteriously haunted, not by Uncle Barnaby, but by someone else – another mysterious Great Uncle he never knew he had. I enjoyed the premise, the twists, and the subtle nod to girl power.

6. For Keeps: A Treasury of Stories Poems and Plays Celebrating 100 Years of The School Magazine (NSW Department of Education, 2016). I went to a celebration of the NSW School magazine turning 100, and knew of this anthology, but had never read  it, which was remiss of me. A real pleasure to see poems, stories and plays from across the 100 years, in their original form.

7. Eric Carle’s Animals Animals (Penguin Random House, 2020). Another anthology, this time of animal poems from around the world, illustrated by Eric Carle. Some wonderful poetry and, as always, Carle’s illustrations are bright and intriguing.

 

Fiction for Adults

  1. Eye of a Rook, by Josephine Taylor (Fremantle Press, 2021). This is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come. Set in two time periods – Victorian London, and modern day Perth, and following the stories of two women suffering intolerable pain, with the medical profession seemingly unable to help – and even, it seems, unwilling to believe. I had no knowledge of vulvodynia, and when I read Josephine’s guest blog for Aussiereviews, I was equal parts intrigued and unsure how it could be woven into a narrative – even while seeing what the importance of speaking about it. I needn’t have been unsure – the book is superb, and I hope it is widely read, as a story and as a way in to the topic.
  2.  The Wife and the Widow, by Christian White (Affirm, 2020). I listened to this one on Audible, after I also listened to White’s Second Skin last month. It’s been a while since I read thrillers or murder mysteries very often, but I do enjoy a well woven one where the characters are as important as the mystery, which is definitely the case here. Told through the dual third person perspectives of Kate, whose husband is missing, and Abby, who has to confront realising her husband is a murderer.  There are twists and, as I said, character development, and a satisfying ending.
  3.  Zero Day Code, by John Birmingham  (Audible, 2019). It’s been a while since I read a John Birmingham book, but not for any reason – I do like a thriller, even when they scare me. The premise here – the impacts of global warming and globalisation on the food chain, and how wars can be fought by further disrupting that chain, as well as through cyber warfare – are unsettling, but very plausible.  By the time I finished, though, I needed a happier read in the form of the Margaret Mahy book above.
  4. Bridgerton: the Duke and I, by Julia Quinn. I read this (free from Audible) the books and, more often, the Netflix series keep popping up in my social media scenes and I wanted to know what the fuss was about. I have long liked historical romance/sagas, but have to admit this one left me squirming and really wanting to discuss the problematic aspects. Perhaps I shouldn’t have read it straight after Women of a Certain Rage (below), but it’s rare that a book leaves me feeling icky.

Nonfiction Books

  1. How to Be an Author:  The Business of Being an Author in Australia, by Georgia Richter & Deborah Hunn (Fremantle Press, 2021). Filled with practical information about becoming and being an author. A little writing advice, but chiefly about the business side – getting published, staying published, working with an editor, promotion and more. With lots of input from some of WA’s finest authors. Lots of good advice.  The authors also guest blogged on Aussiereviews last month – which you can see here.
  2. Women of a Certain Rage, life stories introduced by Liz Byrski (Fremantle Press, 2021).  I wondered if I was strong enough to read this book. there is a lot to be angry about in the world at present, and I wondered if absorbing other women’s rage was a good idea. But I’m glad I opened and read it – yes, it is about rage, but it is  about the whys of rage, from deeply personal perspectives. Each story is very different, band each evokes compassion, empathy and, yes, rage.  My head was sore from nodding along, but I loved this book and encourage everyone – not only women – to read it.

February Reading

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I’m still adjusting to it being a new year, and yet two months are now over. This means it’s time to share my  reading list for February. I managed 19 books back in January and anticipated that I would get less read in February, because it is a busy month in my day job. And, although I was right, I was pleased that I still managed to get through 17 books as well as a lot of work-related reading and research.

10 of these were for children/younger readers but, as I say often, books for children are for adults, too – and I recommend everybody takes the time to read one of these books from time to time, to keep in touch with your inner child and to see the quality writing.

Anyway, here’ my list – mostly linked to an online bookseller to provide further deatiks, but do remember to support your local bookshop when you can.

Books for Children (and adults, too!)

  1.  Motormouth, by Sherryl Clark (Puffin, 2010). Not the first time I have read this one – or even the second. I really love Sherryl Clark’s verse novels, and love to dip back into them regularly. Motormouth is about friendship and grief, and telling lies.

2. When We Say Black Lives Matter, by Maxine Beneba Clarke (Lothian, 2020). This picture book took my breath away from the moment I saw it on the bookshop shelf. I knew of Clarke’s work for adults, but did not know she had written this, nor that she was also a talented illustrator. This book tells the child reader (but also readers of all ages) in clear, lyrical language exactly why we need to keep saying, singing, and  shouting that black lives matter.

3. Bindi, by Kirli Saunders, illustrated by Dub Leffner (Magabala Books, 2020). Another verse novel and a really lovely one. Winner of the Daisy Utemorrah Award, which aims to grow Indigenous writing for young readers, it is clear to see why this book was a winner, and why it is likely to be recognised with further awards. Exploring climate, bushfires and healing, and set in Gundungurra Country, a special feature is the use of Gundungurra words, which appear naturally in Bindi’s first person narration and, in context,  are easily accessible, but also supported by a glossary. A really special book and, since I read it, listed as Notable book in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

4.  A Different Dog, by Paul Jennings (Allen & Unwin, 2017).  I had missed this one when it came out in 2017, but read something last year that inspired me to track down a copy – and then, no longer sure where or what I read about it, it sat in my to be read pile until now.  I’m glad it finally made it’s way to the top of the pile. A fairly quick read about a boy, a dog and an adventure, but with typically Jennings’ style twists.

5. His Father’s Eyes, by Ali Cobby Eckermann (Oxford University Press, 2011). Continuing my trend of reading any Australian verse novels that I have, until now, neglected, I managed to track down a copy of this one, published as part of OUP’s ‘Yarning Strong’ series. I’m glad I did. It is beautifully crafted, telling the story of Declan, as he navigates his identity, the first year of highschool, and the challenging times his best mate is facing. At the same time, we learn of his father’s story of being stolen as a young child, and its long lasting impact.

6. Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll  (Audible Edition). Not the first time I’ve read this one, either, but it’s always interesting to revisit a classic. A free download from Audible,  I liked the performance, by Jodie Comer, and the escapism of reading this after some serious (though very good) nonfiction reading.

7. Lullabies for Bedtime, by Katrina Germein, Phil Cummings, Susan Betts, Kerry Brown, Louise Pike, Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Doris Chang (Little Book Press, 2017).  Very few books  of poetry for children are published in Australia (which is a very great shame), so whenever I hear of one, I buy it. Somehow I’d missed this, but a writer friend mentioned it recently, and now I own a copy. As the title suggest, this is a book of gentle rhymes suitable for bed time reading to young children. They are lyrical and soothing and a pleasure to read aloud, accompanied by similarly soothing illustrations.

8. Short, by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Scholastic, 2017). From my TBR pile, and I’m not sure how long it has been there, or how it got there. Julia is short, and not happy about that. When her size leads to her being cast as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, she is initially very reluctant. But as the summer progresses she finds not just her talents but also an eclectic group of friends. A tender read.

9.  Iceberg, by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft (Allen & Unwin, 2021). There are not enough superlatives to explain how much I adore this picture book. Creative nonfiction, it follows the life cycle of an iceberg and all the life around it using poetic prose which sings to the reader and is accompanied by sumptuous illustrations, including a wordless fold out spread filled with sea life.  The author, Claire, is a friend, but this is not why I adore this perfect book so much.

10. Footprints on the Moon, by Lorraine Marwood (UQP, 2021).  My fifth and final verse novel for the month. It is always a treat to read Marwood’s work, and this is no exception. Set against the backdrop of the first moon landing and the impacts of the Vietnam War, and exploring family, friendship, grief, courage and more.

Books for Young Adults

  1. Sink, Drift or Swim, by Michelle Dennis Evans (Breath of Fresh Air Press, 2017) . A verse novel I  had not come across before.  Rina is navigating her first crush, and the impending arrival of a new sibling, but when her father invites her on a boating trip she knows she must go.  What follows is a terrifying twenty four hours where her father, and his Christian faith, are what gets her through.

2. Butterfly, by Sonya Hartnett (Penguin, 2009). I first read this only a year or so ago, and somehow it ended up back in my to be read pile. When I picked it up I decided it was there for a reason, and reread it. I love Hartnett’s work, and this one is no exception. Plum is an almost fourteen year old who has a lot going on as her birthday approaches – friendship problems, body image problems and strained family relationships too.  I’m not sure I ever come to like Plum, who is difficult throughout, but I do empathise with her and that is enough to make me want to know more.

 

Fiction for Adults

  1. Crush: Stories About Love (Midnight Sun, 2017). I bough this collection when it was newly out, and my copy is signed by one of the contributors, Vahri McKenzie who, incidentally, supervised by PhD. But, though I had dipped in and read Vahri’s story, and a couple of others, the book had then sat on on my TBR pile ever since. I’m glad I finally took it out and read it. These are not typical romance stories – they are, as the story suggests, all about crushes. Requited, unrequited, fleeting, long lasting. So much to like and to digest.
  2. The Pact, by Thomas Kenneally (Audible, 2020). An elderly, but healthy, couple making a suicide pact is an unusual premise for a book which is a pleasant read, but I really did enjoy getting to know this couple, and am still thinking about them.

Nonfiction

  1. Living on Stolen Land, by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Magabala Books, 2020). This is a book which every Australian should read and digest. Written in free verse the book is a manifesto. It explains the complexities of stolen land, of recognition of our first peoples, of education, of knowledge of connection to land, and, importantly of ways to use this understanding. the use of prose-poetry makes the text accessible and lyrical, meaning it could be read by children but is suitable for teens and adults.
  2. Chatter: The Voice in Our Head and How to Harness It, by Ethan Kross (Random House, 2021, also on Audible). I saw mention of Kross’s book somewhere in January, and knew immediately I needed to read this book. I listened to it on Audible as soon as it came out, and wasn’t disappointed. Kross unpacks why we have a voice in our head, and how it works against us. I also found the section on co-rumination really enlightening. I will listen to this one again, and will also be recommending it widely.
  3.  The Details, by Tegan Bennett Daylight (Simon & Schuster, 2020). This was recommended by a friend, a fellow reader. I’m glad.  This is a collection of essays, linked because they all relate to books and reading. A writer and academic, the author shares in some essays intimate insight into key moments in her life including the death of her mother, the births of her children and the subsequent impact on her health, and in other chapters, close looks at favourite authors including George Saunders and her friend  Georgia Blain.  Even when writing literary analysis, her personal connections and her deep love of reading and writing shine through.
  4. Animals Make Us Human, edited by Leah Kaminsky & Meg Keneally (Penguin, 2020). Another book that I heard about somewhere and had to have. Filled with gorgeous photography of the great diversity of Australian wildlife, and the stories of individual writer’s connection with them. Encounters with one animal, working to study or preserve a species, the awe seeing an animal in it’s natural habitat engenders – and, running throughout, the reminder that many species are threatened and the impact of climate change and the actions of humanity are to blame. Produced in response to the 2019/20 bushfires, and in support of conservation groups, this is both a delightful read and an important one.

February Total: 17 books

Year to date: 36 books

Poetry Friday: Etheree trio

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Happy Friday! Last Friday, my Poetry Friday friend Linda shared  an etheree – a particular poetic form, where the first line has one syllable, the next line two and so on, all the way to ten. I had seen this form before but not played with it, but Linda’s lovely poem about her cat (you can see it here) inspired me to give it a go.

Another thing I’ve been inspired by this past year, is my beach visits. I have always found the beach restful and inspiring in equal measure, and in Covid times, those visits have taken on extra meaning. So, when I  decided to write an etheree and needed a single syllable word to begin with, there was only once choice. Here is what I came up with:

 

My Place

 

Beach

each day

different

one day calm, still

the next, crashing waves

one day leaping dolphins

next an exuberant seal

new sights, delights await each time

I visit; but one thing stays the same:

that beach never fails to make me wonder.

When I’d finished, I decided I’d like to also try my hand a reverse etheree – which starts with ten syllables and works back to one. I instantly wondered if I could take that last line of my first etheree and make it the first line of my reverse.  You can see I tweaked the first word, but here’s what came out:

Take Away

The beach never fails to make me wonder:

new sights and sounds on every visit

a seal, a dolphin, screeching gulls

gambolling dogs, chasing waves

that gently roll or else

loudly crash and bash.

So much to take

away when

home time

comes.

And then, just when I thought I was finished, I realised that I’d left something out – the people who share the beach with me. Nearly every day I see my beach-friend Dave, walking his dog Mitch, and there are other regulars – some I know by name, some I know by sight, and some people I see there just once.  And, of course, especially in the last year, I have loved sharing my beach through photos and videos shared here on my website and through social media, with people far and wide. It’s been a real privilege to share what I see, and to hear from people who have enjoyed those glimpses. So, one more etheree, again  begun with the last line of the one before

Sharing

Come

with me

and walk on

sandy shores and

see what I can see

hear what I am hearing

even if you are with me

only through a camera lens.

Technology bringing you along

makes my own experience much  richer.

Thanks Linda for inspiring me to try this form. I know I’ll be using it more – and sharing it in the classroom, too.

Thanks too to  Molly, who will be hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup. I can’t wait to see what new inspiration I collect from my fellow poets this week.

January Reading

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For a long time I shared the majority of my reading in the form of book reviews on my review site, Aussiereviews.  In recent years, busy with study, then work, as well as my writing life, I’ve posted there less and less, but I always love hearing what others have read, and sharing my own recommendations, so I am starting 2021 with the plan of sharing brief thoughts on what I read this year.  So, here’s what I read in January:

For Children (and adults too – adults can and should read kids’ books too – they’re the best)


  1. Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus,     by Steven Herrick (UQP, 2020). Steven Herrick is one of the verse novelists who inspired me to want to write verse novels of my own, so it always exciting to pick up his latest offering.  As well as loving poetry, Herrick also loves cycling, so perhaps it is no surprise to see bikes feature strongly here. this multi-voice story features the kids (and teacher) of class 5D, as they find a new way of getting to school – and around the obstacles in their way.
  2. Hating Alison Ashley, by Robin Klein (Penguin, 1984).  This book came out when I was in high school and, though I have heard it spoken of, and read about it many times, I must confess that I hadn’t read it myself. Given that I love the work of Robin Klein, I’m not sure why I hadn’t, but anyway, I have now filled this gap in my reading, and am glad I did. It’s certainly a story that stands the test of time. Erica, the protagonists, is not at all impressed by the new girl – Alison Ashley. She has it all, including everything Erica wants for herself – she’s smart, pretty and, worst of all, rich.  But somehow they seem to spend more and more time together and when the year six camp sees them rooming together Erica thinks things can’t get any worse. Erica’s voice is wonderful, and her flaws – and strengths – make her both endearing and funny.
  3. Around the Globe with Gramps, by Carolyn Eldridge-Alfonzetti, illustrated by Teresa Lawrence (Celapene Press, 2018). Yes, another verse novel.  This one is quite short (50 pages), and explores the bond between Lucy, about to start high school, and her grandfather. Lucy is worried that their game of ‘travelling’ together without leaving home is too babyish, but when Gramps falls ill, she reassesses. Incidentally, the illustrator of this also illustrated by very first trade book, Doggy Duo.
  4. Eddy Popcorn’s Guide to Parent Training , by Dee White, illustrated by Benjamin Johnston (Scholastic, 2020).  Eddy Popcorn isn’t just grounded – he’s grounded on the school holidays, and when his birthday is coming up. He’s disgusted. So he channels that disgust in a creative way – by writing a guide to parent training. A humours read for primary aged readers.
  5. Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People, by Monica Brown, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Henry Holt, 2011).  This picture book biography of the people’s poet surprised me. It was sitting in my to be read pile, and had been for a while, and I’d forgotten why I bought it. But when I read it, I remembered – one of my Poetry Friday friends (I’m sorry I don’t remember who) had reviewed the book so enthusiastically that I had to have it. But then the book arrived and was shelved because, as so often happens, the gap between wanting a book and owning the book can make one forgetful of why it was important.  Anyway, I have read it now, and I adore it – the text is beautifully woven, as befits writing about a poet, and the sumptuous illustrations are woven with words from Neruda’s poems.

 

 

For Young Adults

  1. Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair, by Steven Herrick (UQP, 1996).  My second verse novel for the year, and also the second by Herrick. What a treat. I’ve read this one before – several times – but it continues to please. With topics including first love, teen hormones and the grief of an absent parent, it’s no surprise that this book is both poignant and funny. Hard to believe it was first published 15 years ago, but not hard to believe it is still in print.
  2. Another Night in Mullet Town, by Steven Herrick (UQP, 2016). My third Herrick book of the year, and another reread, for a database project I’m working on with the Australian Centre for Children’s Literature (more on this soon).  Joan is navigating high school, first love, and the breakdown of his parents’ marriage. His best mate Manx is there at his side, though he has problems of his own. As with most of Herrick’s work, this is humorous as well as touching.
  3. Fighting Ruben Wolfe, by Markus Zusak (Omnibus Books, 2000). Zusak is one of Australia’s finest authors and this, one of his earliest books, is a demonstration of his talent for crafting gritty, real characters who you want to follow. Ruben Wolfe (and his brother Cam, who is the first person narrator) are part of a loving, but troubled family, and get drawn into a fight club as a chance to earn some money and prove themselves.  20 years after it was first published, this is still a really readable, contemporary read.

Poetry  

  1. And Yet…, by Dennis Haskell (WA Poets Publishing, 2020). Dennis taught me in my first year of University and the main thing I remember is being amazed by his insight into the literature we were studying.  Down the track, I discovered Dennis’ poetry, and, for Christmas, treated myself with this collection. I’m so glad I did. I especially connected to the poems exploring grief and loss, amazing me anew with his insights – making the grief relatable whilst simultaneously personal. I also had a wry smile at Writers Festival and was warmed by tributes to his new love, Annamaria.  If you love poetry, you’ll love this, and if you think you don’t like poetry, then this collection, at once accessible and masterful, may surprise you.
  2. Blood and Old Belief, by Paul Hetherington (Pandanus Press, 2009). A verse novel for adults, and older teens, exploring the lives of a farmer (Jack), his Italian-born wife, Cecilia and their teenage daughter Katherine, as they struggle with drought, displacement and the gradual fracturing of their family bond. I read this, in ebook form, in a single sitting, and, though it is sad, enjoyed seeing how the three voices of the characters were interwoven with third person narrative, less common in my previous verse novel reading.
  3. Fish Song, by Caitlin Maling (Fremantle Press, 2019). I read this excellent collection when I first bought it last year, but somehow it ended up in my to-be-read pile, and I am glad it did, as good poetry deserves to be read and reread. Maling is  a West Australian poet and I especially like her ability  to build a sense of place through a blend of description, action and speech.
  4. Somebody Give This Heart a Pen, by Sophia Thakur (Walker UK, 2019). This debut written collection by a UK spoken-word poet is suitable for teens and adults, and explores complex topics. I  especially connected with poems about writing, and being willing to write, as well as those about grief.

For Adults

  1. Clean Slate, by Zoe Foster Blake (Audible, 2020). This one was a free download from Audible, and not what I’d normally choose for myself – which is why I listened to it. It’s good to try new things, and at less than three hours listening time, this was a quick read, telling the story of a marriage in trouble after the narrator, Cam, realises his wife has been having an affair. Contemporary fiction, with enough twists and turns to keep it moving, and an interesting look at marriage and family.
  2. Their Lost Daughters, by Joy Ellis (Joffe Books, 2017 and also on Audible). Another free title from Audible (they offer a free title each month, and I have found this a good way to read different genres). This is the second in a detective series, featuring  detectives Jackman & Evans, but, as with other similar series, stands alone. The case they are working , ostensibly searching for two missing girls, becomes really unsettling, but is well woven. I mainly listen to audio books when driving, but this one absorbed me enough that I had to keep listening when at home.
  3. The Slap. Christos Tsiolkas (Allen & Unwin, 2008). I really like Tsiolkas’ work, but hadn’t read this before. This is one of the rare times when I allowed myself to watch the screen version (in this case, a TV mini series) without having read the book it was based on. I loved the series, but then didn’t get around to reading the book, until now. i picked up a copy in an opshop last year, and it has been on my TBR pile since then.  The premise – the repercussions of of a man slapping a child who is not his own – is seemingly simple, but the ripples and the history behind the slap and the relationships of those present, make this a complex story across different age groups and families. At 483  pages it’s longish but I got through in just a few days, because I wanted to keep reading.
  4. Second Skin, by Christian White (Audible Original, 2020). This novella filled a drive to and from the city, and, as another free download, was not my usual type of read, but I enjoyed it. The story of a family tragedy, and possible reincarnation, with twists and turns.

Nonfiction

  1. Indestractible, by Nir Eyal (Audible, 2019). Another free download from Audible and a fairly quick listen. This offers insight into why we allow ourselves to be distracted – by social media, by non urgent task, and by the increasing range of tech at our disposable – and offers strategies for overcoming distraction habits.  There was lots of useful insights here, and I liked that there was research behind it – even (ironically) being distracted by the urge to follow up some of the cited research. Am I less distractable on completion? Perhaps. It has certainly made my conscious of my habits.
  2. Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness, by Bill Bailey (Quercus, 2020). This one was a Christmas gift from my wise big sister, Mary, who felt it was just the kind of book we needed in these times. And she was right. Bill Bailey is a comedian and a clever person, and the book is not a ‘how to be happy’ books, but perhaps a reminder that happiness is never permanent, and can be found  in moments. It also led to me writing a poem about happiness, which I posted here on my blog on Poetry Friday.  And any book that inspires me to write is a keeper.
  3. Love is Not Enough, by Mark Manson (Audible Original, 2020). Yet another free download, only on audio in fact, and the work of the author of  widely acclaimed The Subtle Art. When I started listening and realised the focus here was on people with relationship problems – dating, commitment and so on – I nearly stopped listening, as I thought it might no be for me.  But  I like Mike Manson’s work, and the format of this book, based around edited audio interviews with five diverse and open people,  made it quite an interesting listen.

 

So there you have it – 19 books read in January, a total aided by the amount of time I spent in my car, listening to Audiobooks. February has started with a snap lockdown which will mean less time in the car, at least for the next five days, but more time at home, so perhaps I can keep up lots of reading.

 

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