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Sally Murphy, Australian author

What I Read in December

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It’s the last day of the month, so time to look at what I read in December. And, of course, since it’s also the last day of the year, to look back over the whole year.

First, I managed 10 books in the busyness of December.

Books for Children

  1. Backyard Beasties, by Helen Milroy (Fremantle Press, 2022). I received this as a review copy from the publisher, and was delighted when I opened the package, having loved the first two Backyard book, Backyard Birds and Backyard Bugs. Like the others, the simple rhyming text is a pleasure to read aloud and the illustrations are rich. A mixture of native and domestic beasts are found – including a dog, a gecko and a possum.
  2. Lion is That You? by Moira Court (Fremantle Press, 2022). And another review copy, again looking for animals. In this case, the reader is taken on a hunt to see if there are really lions in the Australian bush, a nod to various legends that escaped big cats have survived in the bush. Instead, there are range of Australian animals to spot – a kangaroo, a quenda, a dugite and more. I’m looking forward to sharing this one with my grandies, who do love animal books, and rhyme.
  3. The Song of Lewis Carmichael, by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by Marc McBride (Allen & Uniwn, 2021). A lovely adventure story. Matthew is timid and his parents worry about him. A lot.  But in a magical adventure lead by a crow named Lewis Carmichael, Matthew journeys to the North Pole, learning a lot about his own strength along the way.
  4. A Glasshouse of Stars, by Shirley Marr (Puffin Books, 2021). This is a simply beautiful book, in spite of – or perhaps because of – dealing with some difficult events. Meixing is a young girl dealing with tragedy, change and displacement, living in a New House in the New Land, and a combination of inexplicable magic and her own courage help her to navigate a way.
  5.  The Chime Seekers, by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books, 2021). Yanni is really unimpressed with his baby sister, and the way her presence has changed his life. But when an evil faerie steals her on Halloween, he realises how important she is – and only he and his cousin Amy can save her.

Books for Adults

  1. The Sign of Four, by Arthur Conan Doyle (Audible). The second book featuring Sherlock Holmes and continuing my listening to the collection, read by the inimitable Stephen Fry.
  2. Cold Coast, by Robyn Mundy (Ultimo Press, 2021). I love Robyn Mundy’s writing and she has made stories set amongst the wildest, coldest parts of the world a specialty – reflective of her love of these places. this one is set in Norway, in remote Svalbard and a fictionalised account of Wanny Woldstad, who in 1932 wintered as a trapper. The beauty of the natural world, the perils of humans living there, and the realities of trapping and hunting are woven together in this exquisite novel.
  3. Only Birds Above, by Portland Jones (Fremantle Press, 2022). This one is a review copy, so not out until; 2022. Historical fiction, one of my favourite genres, and exploring the generational impact of war, set in both WW1 and WW2, with a father fighting for the 10th Light Horse and a son a prisoner of war in Sumatra. Not a happy story, but well drawn.
  4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle (Audible). The third book in the definite collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. I look forward to working my way through the remainder in 2022.

Poetry

  1. Vociferate, by Emily Sun (Fremantle Press, 2021). This took me a little while to get through because, like the best poetry collections, it needed to be savoured, so I dipped into it over several weeks. Lots to ponder and  consider, with its exploration of belonging and identity.

 

 

 

 

So, these ten bring me to a total for 2021 of 153, including my many loves – picture books, children’s books, poetry, fiction, nonfiction.

 

I have seen lots of friends posting their favourite reads for the year on their blogs or on social media, but can’t bring myself to do this, because I know I will miss something. Every book I finish offers something special.  But one thing I really enjoyed this year was rediscovering some of my old childhood favourites and also working through some of the eclectic offerings that my to-read pile, which dates back years, has afforded.

 

For 2022, I am not yet decided if I will keep posting this monthly list. I like that it keeps track of my reading, and offers a chance to share my thoughts. But there are other ways of doing this, and today I have downloaded an app called Story Graph, which I will experiment with in January before deciding whether to do that instead of blogging, or to do both, or to just keep up with the monthly blog.

 

In the meantime, Happy Yew Year to you. I hope 2021 has offered you some reading joy, and that 2022 offers even more.

What I Read in November

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Another month has ended, which means another round up of what I have been reading. Also another month where my total was 12 books.  This brings me to 143, only 7 shy of my target of 150. I think I can do it! Here’s what I read in November:

Books for Children
  1. Well, Really, Mr Twiddle! by Enid Blyton (Dean & Son, 1968). This was a childhood favourite and I still own the copy I think I got for a birthday. There is always a risk revisiting a childhood favourite, but even though it is dated, I still found plenty to smile about.
  2.  Maybe… by Chris Haughton (Walker Books, 2021). This picture book came from the publisher as a review copy. Who doesn’t love a monkey story? In this one the young monkeys are told not to go near the mango tree because there are tigers around – but can’t help wondering if maybe they could just take a look.  Lots of fun and a bit of a lesson (maybe).
  3. Stellarphant, by James Foley (Fremantle Press, 2021). Another review copy. I adore the work of James Foley, and this one didn’t disappoint. The story of Stella, an elephant who wants to be an astronaut but keeps being told she can’t – even when she meets the requirements – is funny but also uplifting. The messages here about working towards goals, overcoming prejudice and acceptance are wonderfully couched.
  4. Rainfish, by Andrew Paterson (Text, 2021).  This one won the Text prize, and I can see why. It’s beautiful, sad, even humorous, all rolled into one. The story of Aaron, who finds himself an accomplice to a crime and spends his summer living in dread of being caught, but not knowing how to put things to right.
  5. The Reluctant Dragon, by Kenneth Graeme (Audible). By the author of Wind in the Willows, I hadn’t read this one before, but downloaded it from Audible and listened while doing some house work – which made the work bearable. When I was at school we learnt a song called The Reluctant Dragon, which I can still sing by heart – and I presume the song was inspired by the book. Either way, I am now singing the song anew.
  6. Saving Celeste, by Timothee de Fombelle, translated by Sarah Ardizzone (Walker Books 2021). This came as a review copy from Walker Books and is a touching fable about two children fighting for a better world in a dystopian near future. A story of hope.
  7. Huda and Me, by H. Hayek (Allen & Unwin,2021)Told through the eyes of twelve year old Akeal, as he accompanies his little sister Huda on a bold mission to reach their parents on the other side of the world. Their parents have had to travel to Beirut to be with family, leaving Akeal and his six siblings with an evil babysitter. It is Huda who finds a way to travel across the world and let their parents know what is happening.  I enjoyed this – funny, heart warming and intriguing.

 

Books for Adults
  1. The Book of Form and Emptiness, by Ruth Ozeki (Text Publishing, 2021). I picked this one up on the basis of both the title and the duck on the cover. They drew me in and, even though I knew it was fiction, I was surprised by just how odd this book i, with the book itself being one of the narrators, alongside the main character, Benny who, in his early teens is struggling with the death of his father. Hard to sum up in a few lines, but although it took me a while, I did enjoy this, compelled to keep reading, as Benny and his mother struggle through some terrible times.
  2. The Riviera House, by Natasha Lester (Hachette, 2021). It had been a while since I read any of Lester’s work, and it was a pleasure to reengage. Set in Paris in WW2, as well as on the Riviera in modern times, this is an absorbing tale, well woven.
  3. The Turn of Midnight, by Minette Walters. (Allen & Unwin, 2018). I picked this up not knowing it was a sequel, and would have preferred to read the prequel (The Last Hours) first, but still enjoyed this. Set in 1349 as the Black Death devastates communities across England, with a strong, wise woman guiding her community assisted by an educated serf. Lots of action and intrigue.
  4. Showtime! by Judy Nunn (Random House, 2021). I really enjoyed this saga, set in the golden age of Australian showbusiness – the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and following the lives of two showbusiness families.
  5. A Study in Scarlet, by Arthur Conan Doyle (Audible edition). I downloaded the collection of Sherlock Holmes books read by Stephen Fry several months ago, but have only just got around to listening. I don’t know why I waited – anything read by Stephen Fry is a treat. I’ll be listening to the rest for sure.

Off to get reading, to ensure I reach that 150 by the end of the year. What have you been reading?

What I Read in July

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I’m not sure where I found time to get through 16 books this crazy busy month, especially given only two were audiobooks. But when you have a good book on the go, you steal moments to read. So much goodness this month, and this brings to 97 books for the year.

Books for Children

  1. Swallow’s Dance, by Wendy Orr (Allen & Unwin, 2018).  I’m not sure why I hadn’t read Orr’s Bronze age books before, but having read Dragonfly Song in June, I searched out this one, too. I love the way she brings this period alive through strong girl characters overcoming big adversity.
  2. Everywhere Blue, by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz. Look at the amazing cover of this verse novel. Just stunning. And the book itself is excellent, too. The story of a family fractured by the disappearance of a son, and his sister particularly trying to make sense of everything.
  3. The Treehouse Joke Book 2, by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton (Pan, 2021). Yes, i really did sit down and read a joke book for children cover to cover and yes I got quite a few laughs. This was sent to me as a review copy and was just the right thing to find in in TBR pile one wet miserable day.
  4. Mel and Shell, by Julia Lawrinson (Fremantle Press, 2021). Another review copy – this one isn’t out until September and I have been resisting reading it too early, but  the cover kept calling to me. Set in the 70s, with ABBA, horses, school camps, WAY79 (if you grew up in WA in the 70s you’ll know what this is) and Lawrinson’s typical deft touch with blending fun and issues including family, friendship and more. Love it!
  5. Bella and the Voyaging House, by Meg McKinlay (Fremantle Press, 2021).  And yes, another review copy. Always a pleasure to read Meg McKinlay’s writing. She is one of Australia’s finest writers for young people. This is a sequel to Bell and the Wandering House, but could also be read as a stand alone. Whimsy, adventure and loveliness. McKinlay also blogged at Aussiereviews this month about where her ideas come from.
  6. The Twilight Ghost, by Colin Thiele (Puffin, 2004). I picked this one up from a library discard sale a while ago. Part of the now defunct (and much-missed) Aussie Chomps series, and written by one our most loved authors, this ghost story adventure is set in rural Australia.
  7. When Days Tilt, by Karen Ginnane (Penguin, 2021).  Ooooh. I was very excited to get to read this, having waited impatiently for its release. I went to university with the author, and was excited to reconnect with her via twitter and realise she had her first book coming out. Anyway, that’s a bit beside the point because even if I didn’t know Karen, i would have adored this book. A fantasy set in Victorian London and an alternate world, where the city of Donlon is familiar yet very different.  It is beautifully crafted, and I’m now eagerly awaiting its sequel.

 

Books for Young Adults

  1. Echo in the Memory, by Cameron Nunn (Walker Books, 2021). Another from my review pile. Dual narratives – of a convict boy sent to work as a shepherd on a  remote property, and a contemporary teen sent live on  he same property with his grandparents after a family tragedy. Not always easy reading – it deals with some heavy topics, including suicide, family breakdown, the treatment of Aboriginal people by early settlers and more – but well done.

Books for Adults

  1. Her Last Holiday, by C.L. Taylor (Avon, 2021). Was given this by a friend and read it in two evenings. A well woven suspense story with the mystery of a disappearance at a self help retreat.
  2. Locust Summer, by David Allan-Petale (Fremantle Press, 2021). I enjoyed this one from my review pile – read over two evenings. I always love books set in Western Australia, because they take me places I’ve been. this one is set in the Wheatbelt, so felt very familiar.  A story of a family’s final harvest as they prepare to sell up, and face their pasts and their altered future.  David Allan-Petale also guest blogged over at Aussiereviews this month.
  3. The Other Side of Beautiful, by Kim Lock (Harper Collins, 2021).  Funny and heartwarming, and at times sad, I really enjoyed this road trip story. When Mercy blain’s house burns down it is not the worst thing happening in her life – and soon she is on the road, in a hastily bought van, travelling across the middle of the continent. I enjoyed this.
  4. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, by Anita Heiss (Simon & Schuster, 2021). My read of the month! This is beautiful, heartbreaking, and important. The story of Wagadhaany, forced to leave her family behind as an unpaid domestic to settler landowners. Her heart is broken by the knowledge she might never return to her country and her family and, while she finds love and friendship, her longing to go home is constant. Such a privilege to read  and to grow more understanding of something which is a terrible, unforgiveable,  part of Australia’s history – the treatment of our first peoples as slaves, the degradation of their land and so much more.

Non Fiction

  1. Working Class Boy, by Jimmy Barnes (Harper Collins, 2017).  . Have always loved Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes’ music, but probably wouldn’t have listened to or read this if I listened to this one if it didn’t show up on my  Audible account as one of their monthly  free downloads. I’m glad I did though – having Jimmy read/recount the story made the listening experience. And the story paints a really vivid picture of his childhood and youth, as well as giving an insight into life in Elizabeth and Adelaide.  I suspect I will end up buying the sequel, which deals with his adult life.

What have you been reading?

What I Read in June

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Another month down and we are halfway through 2021. Time flies! That means it’s time to take stock of what I read in June. I can report that after struggling to read in May, in June I got back on track and read 14 books, though some were picture books (I only include picture books in my total if it’s the first time I’ve read them, and if I take the time to really examine them). Some good ones here, but I think my favourite was Poems That Do not Sleep, because I am still thinking about it, long after I put it down. Isn’t that what poetry is supposed to do?

Books for Kids

  1. Our Home, Our Heartbeat, by Briggs, with illustrations by Kate Moon & Rachel Sarra. (Hardie Grant, 2020). How wonderful to come across this picture book adaption of Briggs’ song The Children Came Back. A celebration of Aboriginal legends from history, sport, music and more. A must have for every classroom and home.
  2.  Dragonfly Song, by Wendy Orr (Allen & Unwin, 2016).  I love Wendy Orr’s writing, so am not sure why it has taken me so long to get to this one, but I am really glad I finally picked it up. A mythic story set in the Bronze Age, with action,  twists and turns and featuring a resilient main character, Aissa.
  3. Common Wealth, by Gregg Dreise (Scholastic, 2021).
  4. Hello and Welcome, by Gregg Dreise (Penguin, 2021)
  5. My Culture and Me, by Gregg Dreise (Penguin, 2019) You might notice a theme emerging in my picture book reads this month. I went looking for the voices of  more First Nations poets because I felt there was a gap in my reading, and perhaps in publishing, too. I was heartened to find three books by Dreise, as well as the Briggs book above. Each very different, and all books that I will be sharing  with my  education students and recommending widely. 
  6.  Paws, by Kate Foster (Walker Books, 2021). A  charming story of friendship, dogs and coping with change. Max, the main character, lives with autism, and is trying to navigate the challenges of his final year of primary school, and his desire to make friends.
  7. Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows , by Denis Knight & Cristy Burne (Lothian, 2021).  This is the first in a series, and i am already looking forward to the second. Wednesday Weeks isn’t super keen on being a sorcerer’s apprentice but when her grandpa (the sorcerer) is kidnapped. Wednesday has to find a way to rescue him, along with the help of her best friend Alfie. Lots of magic and a satisfying mix of science too.
  8. A Boat of Stars, edited by Margaret Connolly & Natalie Jane Prior (ABC Books, 2018). Not my first read of this beautiful anthology, and I have dipped in and out of it many times,  but a great pleasure to take the time to reread from cover to cover. The world needs more beautiful poetry books – and Australia needs more such books produced by Australian creators.

Books for Young Adults

  1. The Gathering, by Isobelle Carmody (Puffin Books, 1993). I had read this last year, after picking it up in an op shop, but somehow it went back into my to be read pile, and so I read it again. This is a gripping young adult story, about how Nat, and a group of other seemingly misfit teens find the way to tackle the dark force which is taking over their school and their town.
  2. We Were Wolves, by Jason Cockcroft. I have to confess to not enjoying this one, which says nothing about the quality of the writing and more about the events of the book. It was grim at the start, grim in the middle and grim at the end. Although there were glimmers of hope, I wasn’t sure the boy (he didn’t even have a  name) was left any better off.

Books for Adults

  1. The Little Boat on Trusting Lane, by Mel Hall (Fremantle Press, 2021). The author of this one guest blogged on Aussiereviews earlier this month, inspiring me to pick up a read the book. I really enjoyed this book, though it’s hard to explain – it’s a gentle satire about religion, and new aged healing, and coping with pain. And, if you know Fremantle, the settings will resonate with you, as they did for me.
  2. The Emporium of Imagination, by Tabitha Bird. I raced off to buy this when I read an article about it in the paper in May, then had to wait a while to read it, because I was in the midst of grief and wondered if a book about grief was the best thing for me.  I needn’t have worried – yes, this book has its sadness, but it also uplifting and even in places humorous. I loved it.
  3. The Night Village, by Zoe Deleuil (Fremantle Press, 2021). From my review pile (and actually not released until August), I enjoyed this, reading it over two evenings. Dealing with the realties of early motherhood – the birth experience, the impact of sleeplessness, the isolation and so on, against the backdrop of an air of threat/mystery.

Non Fiction Books

  1. The Way of Integrity, by Martha Beck (Audible). I found this one through a recommendation on Audible, and really enjoyed the messages of this book, as well as the easy to listen to narration, by the author. Clear messages about being true to yourself – ie living in integrity – if you want to be truly happy.

Poetry

  1. Poems That Do not Sleep, by Hassan Al Nawwab (Fremantle Press, 2021). I picked this one late one evening from my to read pile, and then couldn’t go to bed until I had read  every poem. Easy to read, in their accessibility, but sometimes hard to digest because they deal with such real, difficult experiences. The poet is a former Iraqi soldier and refugee. the title should have been enough hint to me of their challenge, but I am very glad I read them, and will do so again.

 

That brings my total to the year to 81. Not bad when I consider just how busy I really am. What have you been reading lately? I’d love to hear.

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?

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