Category Archives: Fiction

Peter Temple – Rest in Peace

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It is sad news for crime fiction readers, yesterday we learned about the demise of Peter Temple the critically and popularly acclaimed author of the “Jack Irish” novels, Bad Debts, Black Tide, Dead Point and White Dog, which later were developed into a TV series.  Peter Temple was admired and respected by fellow writers and was awarded the “Golden Dagger Award” in 2007 for perhaps his most celebrated novel the Broken Shor He also won a swag of “Ned Kelly” awards for crime fiction and the Miles Franklin award for his novel Truth.

Regarded by critics and fellow writer as a master of sparse and poetic prose, he also had an ear for naturalistic “Aussie” dialogue and wrote compellingly of the beauty and harshness of the Australian landscape.  The characters in his books  are “knockabout blokes” quite often flawed but always memorable.

He was working on his last novel when he passed away, hopefully  it will be published and we will have the opportunity to read one last  novel by the master of Australian crime.  Rest in Peace Peter Temple.

 

Stella Prize Shortlist & Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist 2018

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I know we’re in the post International Women’s Day. However we can celebrate women’s writing all year long. There are remarkable women’s writers who write for women and also for the humanity as whole. The women’s prize for fiction and Stella prize are two important literary awards and I’m sure you’ll enjoy any of those books listed.

The Stella Prize celebrates Australian women writers achievement and the shortlist for 2018

 

 

 

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Thirst – a Book Club Review

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Thirst – L.A. Larkin

Summary
A few years from now, climate change has produced global drought. Wars over water are becoming commonplace.When communications are cut from an Australian Antarctic station and two colleagues go missing, maverick glaciologist Luke Searle and his team are unaware they have fallen victim to a plan to harvest Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier for water. Yet the ruthless leader of this secret project has a second plan, far more ambitious and destructive than the first, which will give his country unchallengeable military power and make him exceedingly rich. But the plan risks destroying the enormous West Antarctic Ice Sheet, causing sea level rises that will not only wipe out low-lying cities, but whole countries.

Review
A great read!! Suspenseful! Fast paced!! Action packed!! Beautiful scenery!! Well written characters!!

Thirst is set in Antarctica and shines a light on one of the biggest environmental issues of today. When Australian glaciologist, Luke Searle, finds out what the bad guys are up, its up to his team to save the world in 5 days.

This book was a little different to what we have been reading, and a book that some our readers would not have chosen. However, we all thoroughly enjoyed it!! Its fast paced, pulling you in right from the beginning. We would definitely recommend this book.

Read by – Cultcha Club Book Club
Rating – 8/10

Librarians’ Choice – March 2018

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The top 10 March 2018 release books as voted for by library staff around Australia is here. There are some by some well known favourites such as Tim Winton, Nicola Moriarty and Fiona McCallum as well as some lesser known talents. Click on the title to reserve a copy now.

The lost flowers of Alice Hart – Holly Ringland (Librarians’ Choice Favourite)
Alice survives a devastating family tragedy when she is just 9 years old, then goes to live on a flower farm where she learns the language of Australian native flowers – a way to say the things that are too hard to speak. The story celebrates Australia’s beautiful landscape, moving between the lush sugar cane fields by the sea, a native Australian flower farm, and a celestial crater in the central desert.  Continue reading →