‘Morbs, Mabel? What does it mean?’ ‘It’s a sadness that comes and goes,’ she said, pausing for breath. ‘I get the morbs, you get the morbs, even Miss Lizzie ‘ere gets the morbs, though she’d never let on. A woman’s lot, I reckon.’ The Dictionary of Lost Words follows the slow creep of feminism into […]
Australian Women Writers Challenge
10 books by Australian women writers I plan to read in 2021 – #AWW2021
2021 is the 10th year of the Australian Women Writers Challenge and the sixth year I’ve taken part. This year I’m planning to read at least 10 and review at least six books by Australian women writers – “Franklin” level. (To find out more about the levels, and to sign up yourself, head to Sign […]
Review: The Mother Fault, by Kate Mildenhall
I really enjoyed The Mother Fault, as much for the journey as the dystopian setting of a near-future Australia. Fast-paced and easy to read, I chewed through this story in two sittings. Mildenhall manages to weave everyday parenting challenges – loss of identity, nostalgia for pre-natal careers, maintaining a marital relationship in the face of […]
Review: Dyschronia by Jennifer Mills
Exquisite writing and a devastating take on chronic illness, Mills’ depiction of the climate disaster that awaits Australia is a very dark read. This is a slow-paced and unrelentingly heartbreaking story. It’s not one you can skim your way through late at night. You will need to focus to have any hope of following the […]
Review: Prototype Alpha-3, by Alanah Andrews
I bought Prototype Alpha-3 for myself as a Christmas present because I’ve really enjoyed Alanah Andrews’ other books and short stories. It did not disappoint. I meant to read it in small chunks but ended up staying up late to finish it because I had to know what happens! Easy reading, characters you can get […]
Review: Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal, by Anna Whateley
I loved this story so much. We’re all conditioned to believe that if we follow ‘the rules’ we’ll be safer and our lives will be happier. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s literally the fabric that glues society together. Of course, the problem is, it’s seldom true. Bad things do happen to good people. […]
