A Review of the Tender and Unique Novel “Salt and Skin” by Eliza Henry-Jones
Australian / Book Reviews / The Latest

A Review of the Tender and Unique Novel “Salt and Skin” by Eliza Henry-Jones


Luda is a journalist and she seems to have an almost cut-throat nature when it comes to her reporting. She sees the story and the opportunity to tell it – and not really who is involved in the storytelling and how their lives become swept up in the drama of the story. When Luda publishes the picture of the girl falling to her death off the coastline of the remote community she moves to, she is quickly ostracized by the community. In a moment of profound grief – Luda can only seem to see the opportunity to tell a story of climate disaster with little regard for how the disaster of losing a child might affect the family involved. Continue reading

“True Friends” by Patti Miller: what does it mean to write a memoir about friendships lost and found?
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“True Friends” by Patti Miller: what does it mean to write a memoir about friendships lost and found?


I think everyone experiences the loss of a friendship at some stage in their life, sometimes multiple friendships and the reasons for these losses are vast, complex, and sometimes confusing. It can be as simple as a friend moving to a different state and losing touch. It can be from a fight. And it can also be a slow unwinding that can be anything from ghosting to drifting apart. We have a lot of words to describe romantic love and breakups – we have song after poem, after novel after film about romantic love. Although very little about friendships. Continue reading

A Review of Tabitha Carvan’s “This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch”: unapologetically loving things
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

A Review of Tabitha Carvan’s “This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch”: unapologetically loving things


Carvan’s book is about motherhood and the changes it brings with it. It is (despite what the title suggests) also a little about her love of Benedict Cumberbatch. And it is about losing yourself and then finding a way back to yourself by exploring and embracing the things that bring you joy. Continue reading

5 Great Books About Mental Health – because therapy isn’t cheap!
Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

5 Great Books About Mental Health – because therapy isn’t cheap!


We are in the third year of a pandemic. Everyone is going through something right now. Some people are doing better than others, and how well someone is doing right now can be affected by a lot of things. Money, job and housing security, intimate relationships, friendships and support safety nets differ from person to person. Continue reading

A Review of Kavita Bedford’s “Friends and Dark Shapes”: sharehouses, the gig economy, and millennial living
Australian / Book Reviews / The Latest

A Review of Kavita Bedford’s “Friends and Dark Shapes”: sharehouses, the gig economy, and millennial living


This is one of those times where I bought the book because the cover was just too beautiful. Despite the old saying about judging books, sometimes a good cover can work wonders on our buying habits – I am definitely not immune. The premise of the book – sharehouse living, figuring out adult life in … Continue reading

Review of “The Coconut Children” by Vivian Pham: immigrant voices in Australian literature
Australian / Book Reviews / The Latest / Vietnamese

Review of “The Coconut Children” by Vivian Pham: immigrant voices in Australian literature


Sonny and Vince find each other in the chaos of trying to unpack their parents’ struggles and traumas as well as navigating the two worlds of Vietnamese culture and Australian culture. And possibly even a third culture – Vietnamese Australian identity. It is a beautiful and bittersweet teenage love that just had me sighing and clutching my heart. Continue reading

"Paris Savages" Review: how do we write about uncomfortable history?
Australian / Book Reviews / historical / The Latest

"Paris Savages" Review: how do we write about uncomfortable history?


Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. I picked up a copy of Paris Savages when I was in Hobart, Tasmania this February. Thinking about how easy it was to fly there and how care-free we were is a … Continue reading