From the shortlist of four, Katherine Brabon has won this year’s Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award for her novel The Memory Artist, an ‘intelligent, moving, Russia-themed meditation’.
Other shortlisted titles are Continue reading
Category Archives: Australian Authors
2016 Miles Franklin Award Longlist Announced
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is Australia’s most prestigious literature prize. Established through the will of My Brilliant Career author, Miles Franklin, the prize is awarded each year to a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases.
First presented in 1957, the Award helps to support authors and to foster uniquely Australian literature. Miles Franklin believed that “Without an indigenous literature, people can remain alien in their own soil.” She also had first-hand experience of struggling to make a living as a writer and was the beneficiary of two literary prizes herself. A short biography and synopsis of each title in the longlist can be found here. Click on any title below to reserve your copy now.
Ghost River – Tony Birch
Coming Rain – Stephen Daisley
Hope Farm – Peggy Frew
Leap – Myfanwy Jones
The World Without Us – Mireille Juchau
The Hands: an Australian pastoral – Stephen Orr
Black Rock White City – A.S. Patric
Salt Creek – Lucy Treloar
The Natural Way Of Things – Charlotte Wood
Paper chains – a Book Club Review
Paper chains – Nicola Moriarty
Summary
A heart-warming story of love, friendship and forgiveness – and the crazy twists of fate that shape our lives…Hannah and India are new best friends. Although true friendship means always telling each other the truth, doesn’t it…? Hannah, you see, is running from her life back in Sydney. Now in London, she’s trying to put the past behind her, and finding this amazing new friend is a positive step forward. If only she could stop punishing herself for what she did. India knows Hannah is hiding something big, and she’s determined to figure it out. Fast. Because India has a secret of her own… One that is currently sealed in a love letter that’s making its journey across Europe in the most unconventional way. Before it reaches its destination, can India help Hannah learn to forgive herself? And will Hannah wake up and realise that India needs rescuing too …?
Comments
A story of two friends, hiding two very big secrets from each other. While India is helping Hannah, Hannah is unknowingly helping India, in turn, face her demons too.
A great, easy, holiday break read. Another believable plot with well written characters that pull you in from the start. As a group, we all related to Hannah’s story. We found it a very realistic, honest, thought-provoking storyline that we could all relate to on some level. Another writer that, for us, writes everyday, suburban Australia extremely well, without cliches and kitsch.
Rating – 8/10 Read by – Cultcha Club Book Club
The Reading Room Favourite Books of 2015
Aside
The Reading Room has announced their People’s Choice Awards for
Favourite Books of 2015, why not reserve one today.
The husband’s secret – a Book Club review
The husband’s secret by Liane Moriarty
Abstract
The story of a woman who finds a letter from her husband. It says: For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick. To be opened only in the event of my death. Her husband is very much alive. Should she open it? Would YOU open it?
Comments
A very readable book – it includes all the ingredients of a good story; a believable plot, characters that are well developed and writing that pulls the reader in from the first page. The book focuses on strong female characters who had dealt or were dealing with tragedy in their lives. The story lines made us contemplate -what if?
This is the second book we have reviewed by Lianne Moriarty. She writes every day, suburban Australia really well.
Rating – 8/10 Read by – Cultcha Club Book Club