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Sally Murphy, Australian author

April Reads

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Twenty books! I knew I had been doing a lot of reading in April but am still surprised with my month’s total. Some excellent reads, and a real range.

Books for Kids

 

  1. The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin, by Paula Hayes, illustrated by Katy Jiang (Fremantle Press, 2022). A fun story of ghosts, family and friendship. There are some serious issues explored here – bullying, family violence and more – but also lighter moments, including a naughty ghost with a sweet tooth.
  2. Camp, by Kayla Miller (Walker Books, 2022). A lovely graphic novel about navigating the challenges of friendship in the setting of a holiday camp.
  3. Our Country: Ancient Wonders, by Mark Greenwood & Frane Lessac (Walker Books, 2022). I always love a book by this talented pair. This time the focus is on Australia’s ancient wonders, from dinosaur trails to meteorite craters, and more.
  4. The Bravest Word, by Kate Foster (Walker Books, 2022). This was lovely – the story of an 11 year old boy, Matt, who connects with,  and saves, a neglected dog while also finding a way to confront the depression which is gripping him. Beautifully wrought.
  5. Beaver Towers, by Nigel Hinton (Abelard, 1980). A cute story of a young boy whose kite whisks him away to a far away island where he must help  beavers, and other animals, take back their castle from a magic witch.
  6. Bush Magic, by Kylie Howarth (Walker Books, 2022). This delightful picture book is, as the name suggests, magic. An imaginative adventure  highlighting the bond between littles and grandparents. Love it!

Books for Young Adults

 

  1. Dear Nobody, by Berlie Doherty (Harper Collins, 1991). This one is a classic, but I hadn’t read it before and picked it up in an op shop a while back. The story of Chris and Helen who, in their final year of highschool, find their plans and dreams changed when Helen falls pregnant. Told mostly from Chris’s viewpoint, as well as through letters which Helen writes to her unborn baby. There was a lot to connect with here, as I was a young mother myself many moons ago.
  2. Frenchtown Summer, by Robert Cormier (Puffin Books, 1999). I only recently heard of this book, recommended by another verse novelist, and tracked down a copy . I did not know Robert Cormier had written in verse, but am glad now that I do know and have read this. Set in 1938 and following one summer in 12 year old Eugene’s life, with his relationship with his seemingly distant father being a core focus. The verse is beautiful and as haunting as the town (Frenchtown) and events.
  3. The Taking of Jake Livingston, by Ryan Douglass (Andersen Press, 2022). Not my usual cup of tea (sent to me as a review copy) – thriller with ghosts, ectoplasm, and lots of gore – but once I started I couldn’t put it down.  Jake can see ghosts and, chillingly, watches them replay their last living moments on a loop. He’s being targeted by the perpetrator of a recent school shooting, and it seems the ghost has plans for him. If that isn’t enough, he’s the only black kid at his school, and grappling with his sexual identify. That’s a lot, but it’s handled well, making the book very readable, if a little scary.
  4. The River and the Book, by Alison Croggon (Walker Books, 2015). I’m not sure why I hadn’t read this before, but am glad I now have. With elements of fable and magical realism, this is the story of the two treasures in Simbala’s life – the river, which flows through her village, and the Book, which guides the decisions of of the villagers.  But the river is affected by the actions of developers further upstream, and Sim, who is the Keeper of the Book, searches for answers, not knowing that the book itself is also threatened.
  5. Baby Love, by Jacqueline Wilson (Penguin, 2022). I spotted this in a bookshop and, having recently read Dear Nobody, was interested to see another take on the topic of teen pregnancy. I have to say that, having been a teen mother myself (at age 18), some of the events felt a bit close to home – but in the kind of way that made me (or my teen self)  feel seen. Set in 1960, with a 14 year old main character, Laura, this was a really moving take on the subject. I had to keep reading – started it late one night and finished it the next afternoon.
  6. How to Repaint a Life, by Steven Herrick (UQP, 2021). I adore Steven Herrick’s writing – he is, after all, one of the reasons I fell in love with the verse novel form. This one is not in verse, but it bears his trademark forthrightness. His characters and their lives are real and relatable, and I love getting to know them, even in the midst of their pain. This one is the story if Isaac, escaping his old life with an abusive father, and trying to find himself in a small town, where he meets Sophie, who wouldn’t mind a bit of change in her own life.
  7. White Rose, by Kip Wilson (Versify, 2019). A historical verse novel based on a true story, this one made me gasp with its subject matter and ability to make it so very real. The story of German student Sophie Scholl who, during World War 11 had the courage to speak out against the fascist regime in her  country.
  8. Dying to Tell Me, by Sherryl Clark (2014). One of my goals these past couple of years is to catch up on books by favourite authors. This is one of those – I am unsure why I hadn’t read this before,  but looking for something else I was reminded about this one and ordered it.  Sherryl is a really versatile author, and this one is part ghost story, part crime fiction and also explores the impact of family breakups. It makes for an absorbing blend.

Fiction for Adults

 

  1. After the Flood, by Dave Warner (Fremantle Press, 2022). This was a review copy and is not due for release till August. Set chiefly in and aroudn Broome, this is crime fiction with a bite – industrial espionage, protesters, grizzly deaths, and a gritty detective determined to  unravel the truth.
  2. The Valley of Fear, by Arthur Conan Doyle. I started working my way through the  collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, read by Stephen Fry, lats year, and am still going – after this one there are two more books to go.  I’m still enjoying them, and have to confess I’m a little sad to be coming to the end.

Nonfiction for Adults

 

  1. A Repurposed Life, by Ronni Kahn, with Jessica Chapnik Kahn (Murdoch Press, 2020). When I saw (on TV)  Ronni Kahn, the founder of the amazing Oz Harvest, speaking at the Press Club last month I straight away logged into Audible and bought and downloaded her book. I wasn’t disappointed. An amazing life, and lovely to hear it read by Ronni herself.
  2. Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender, by David R. Hawkins (Audible). I listened to this as it was free in a two for one deal at Audible and I just chose something a little randomly to go alongside the book I wanted.  I’m a little bit torn about commenting on/sharing this book because it has some really good takeaways about (as the title suggest) letting go of negative emotions (not suppressing, but letting go) and the power of this for being happier and healthier. But there are some bits which I was quite trouble about, including parts where I felt there was some victim blaming – around illness , disadvantage and misfortune. For myself I was able to let these go and focus on the bits that were relevant and helpful.
  3. Able, by Dylan Alcott (Harper Collins/Bolinda Audio, 2019). This was a featured title on Audible this month, and I’m glad I chose to download it. Dylan, the current Australian of the Year is an inspirational, funny, open and big hearted person, and listening to his story read in his voice was a real treat.
  4. Letters from Robin, by Jon Appleton (Noble Books, 2022). I bought this one after reading about it in Magpies Magazine, and am glad I did. A biography of Robin Klein told from the perspective of Appleton, who wrote to Robin when he was eleven – and thus began a thirteen year correspondence with her. Appleton went on, while still at school, to establish and publish Rippa Reads, and then to work in publishing. This memoir of that friendship also traces Klein’s career, as well as giving a unique insight into the children’s book industry of the 1980s and 1990s. The only problem with reading this is that I know have a big list of books I want to read or reread.

 

So that’s what I read in April, bringing my total for the year to 44  – and 109 to go to reach my target, which seems a lot. But we shall see.

 

I’d love to hear what YOU have been reading.

What I Read in August

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August was bookmonth and so my reading time was more limited – but I still managed to get through eleven books. This is what I read:

Books for Children

  1. Cuckoo’s Flight, by Wendy Orr (Allen & Unwin, 2021). A wonderful complement to Orr’s two previous books set in the Bronze Age. Although each stands alone, I have enjoyed reading all three over the past few months and being immersed into the time period and into Orr’s beautiful writing.
  2. Great White Shark, by Claire Saxby & Cindy Lane (Walker Books 2021). I have been waiting for this picture book to come out for what seems forever. Written by by amazing friend Claire, one of Australia’s best writers of creative nonfiction of children (as well as other forms) and illustrated by another amazing friend Cindy, who is a debut illustrator but established artist, this book is as amazing as I expected. How’s that for an unbiased review? Okay, maybe a tiny bit biased, but heartfelt.
  3.  Mina and the Whole Wide World, by Sherryl Clark, with art by Briony Stewart (UQP, 2021). Always love a verse novel, and when it’s written by Sherryl Clark I know it will be brilliant.  This is a gentle story about belonging, friendship and family. the illustrations are gorgeous, too.
  4. Are You There, Buddha? by Pip Harry (Lothian, 2021) . Another verse novel, this time for a middle grade readership and exploring issues really important for this age group, including first periods, peer pressure, self identity and family. That sounds a lot, but it’s woven together in a lovely story.
  5. Leilong the Library Bus, by Julia Liu & Bei Lynn (Gecko Press, 2021). gecko press always produced quirky books that make me smile.  This one is no exception – about a dinosaur who desperately wants to go to the library with his human friends, but is just too big to go inside. It takes a manager changing their perspective to find a solution – Leilong becomes a library bus!
  6. The Elephant, by Peter Carnavas (UQP, 2017). This is one I’ve been meaning to read ever since it came out, and I finally got my hands on a copy this month, and read it in one sitting. Carnavas has a gentle and quirky way of both writing and illustrating, that means he handles some difficult topics really well, and in this, his first novel, he deals with grief and depression in a way accessible to children, and adults too. Lovely.
  7. Exit Through the Gift Shop, by Maryam Master, illustrated by Astrid Hicks (Pan, 2021). I loved this one. It deals with a really difficult topic – the narrator, Anahita, his dying of cancer – with a wonderful blend of humour and realism. Not an easy subject to deal with in a palatable way, but I think Master nails it.

Books for Young Adults

  1. The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne (Walker Books, 2021).  It took me a little while to get into this one, but that may have bene the busy week I was having. Set in a post apocalyptic future Britain, where lawlessness reigns, and nobody is safe from wild beasts, gangs and damaged people. Scarlett and Browne are an unlikely pair who travel across the country robbing banks and avoiding abduction, gradually finding they can rely on each other to escape almost every situation.

Books for Adults

  1. Find Us, by Benjamin Stevenson (Audible, 2020). This was an Audible original and a free download. As I’ve said in previous posts, I quite like the free extras that Audible offers, which exposes me to authors and genres I might not otherwise read. This is a psychological thriller, and a wee bit disturbing – but in a way that was well put together and had twists and turns that kept me guessing.
  2. Love Objects, by Emily Maguire (Allen & Unwin, 2021).  A complex, engaging story of family. Nic is a trivia-buff, cat-loving hoarder. Her niece Lena is her closest friend, but is struggling with issues of her own, including the fall out from a terrible betrayal by a rich boy classmate. When Nic is injured, their relationship is challenged and the family’s past troubles resurface. I really enjoyed the way Maguire balances some difficult topics with endearing characters.
  3. After Story, by Larissa Behrendt (UQP, 2021). This is the beautiful story of a mother and daughter travelling together and, though it isn’t planned that way, healing some of their old wounds. Della has never recovered from the abduction of one of her children. More recently, her partner has died. Her youngest daughter Jasmine takes her along on a trip to England to visit places connected with stories Della has never read, by authors she hasn’t heard of. Gradually, though, these places help her confront the past and find a path forward.
  4. The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig (Audible, 2020). I listened to this one on Audible – the free Member’s Extra download this month. The story of Nora who, lonely, unemployed and seemingly without hope, decides to take her own life. She finds herself  between life and death in a library where she confronts her regrets and has an opportunity to sample other versions of her life.  If she finds the perfect one, she is promised, she will be able to live out that life. An interesting take on a potentially grim topic.
  5. Playing With the Grown-Ups, by Sophie Dahl (Bloomsbury, 2007). I picked this one up on a charity table outside by local Coles and read it in a couple of days. It’s the story of teenager Kitty whose life is dominated by the whims of her artistic, but irresponsible, mother, who moves between rural England, America, and London, taking Kitty and her younger siblings along for the ride, and forcing Kitty to grow up much faster than she might like.

That brings my total for the year to 108 books, so far. What have you been reading?

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

Rediscovering Old Favourites

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Throughout my childhood and well into my adult years I loved the thrill of revisiting a favourite book. Like visiting an old friend, the conversation with a favourite book is comfortable, yet frequently surprising. But these past few years – maybe even as long as ten years – rereading has been a rare thing for me. Since I started Aussiereviews, I always have a steady supply of new books (more than I can possibly read, at times), and my various dayjobs, family and writing commitments have swallowed up a lot of time, as such things are wont to do.

This past week, though, I’ve immersed myself in rereading. Having been accepted into the PhD program at ECU, where my focus will be children’s poetry, including verse novels, I decided to start my reading by reconnecting with old favourites. And what a joy that has been.

The first verse novel I ever read was Margaret Wild’s Jinx. In fact it was such a new form for me that I had no idea how to describe it when I reviewed it in 2002. I just knew that I loved it, and almost instantly knew that this was a form I wanted to write in, as well. So, the first two verse novels I reread were Jinx, and Wild’s second verse novel, One Night. I hadn’t read either of these for some years , though I often recommend them to other readers. Interestingly, as I reread I was surprised anew by them. I’d actually forgotten what happens, even who the characters were. What I’d retained was the sense of satisfaction. I don’t remember crying when I read them the first time, but reading One Night this time round had me weeping at the kitchen table, much to the bemusement of my family.

From these two I’ve gone on to revisit other favourites – by Steven Herrick, Sharon Creech and Nikki Grimes. Still to come are more Herrick , Lorraine Marwood, Sherryl Clark and more. While perhaps I’m reading these with different eyes – as a researcher and also as one who has since written verse novels – it’s also proving a lovely trip into my reading past, and is inspiring me to look back at other favourites which perhaps deserve a revisit. At the same time, I’m learning stuff. I love seeing how other authors make use of the form, and have been inspired to try a few new things in my own writing.

What a luxurious way to start my new studies. It feels like an indulgence even while it’s paying such lovely dividends for my research and writing.

Excellent Advice

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Have just been browsing some of the blogs of writing colleagues. Sherryl Clark has a brilliant two part posting (or should I say a two posting discussion?) about the Myths and Realities of publishing. The first part debunks the myths, including the myth that it is who you know that gets you published, while the second part elaborates on the realities, highlighting what it is you need to do to become a successful author. Clark warns that what she has to say is depressing to those prone to feeling vulnerable, but if you are trying to get published, you need to hear what she has to say. So why are you still reading my words – head over and reads Sherryl’s wisdom. You can come back to me another day.
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