A funny thing happened to me in 2019. The full reality of being a non-disadvantaged, middle-class, straight, married white woman with a university degree and well-paid, professional career finally started to really sink in. Writing opportunities would land in my inbox or flit across my social media feeds and I’d open them up and read […]
Books
10 Fabulous Dystopian and Speculative Fiction Books
2019 has seen an absolutely bumper crop of dystopian, post-apocalyptic and other speculative fiction stories which don’t fit neatly into either category. With the real world as tumultuous as it is, I can’t help but wonder if it’s making science fiction authors’ jobs that bit harder to imagine a dark and scary “other” world. With […]
Review: The Space We’re In, by Katya Balen
In her debut novel, Katya Balen uses her knowledge of autism and experience working with autistic people to create an intriguing and intense yet always respectful family story. I think I started crying on about page 23 of this gorgeous but heart-breaking book and hardly stopped. When the tragedy referred to in the blurb happened, […]
Review: Their Brilliant Careers, by Ryan O’Neill
This book is utterly fascinating! Short bios about 16 extraordinary Australian writers going back to the 19th century – many of whom I’ve never heard of. There’s one woman who was a successful crime fiction writer – though of questionable talent – who conspired with her husband to blackmail her way to publication. Then there’s […]
Review: Beyond – A Short Story Collection, by Alanah Andrews
I’ve become a big fan of short story collections in recent years. They’re fabulous to dip in and out of, and great for when you’re tired and can’t focus on a novel-length narrative. Beyond, by Alanah Andrews, is aimed at YA level but is very enjoyable for adults as well. The stories range in length […]
Review: 488 Rules for Life, by Kitty Flanagan
I read 488 Rules for Life, by Kitty Flanagan, straight after Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments. It definitely gave me the light relief and laugh detox I needed! I’m a long-time fan of Kitty Flanagan’s and love her brand of dry humour. 488 Rules For Life: The Thankless Art of Being Correct is quite literally that […]
