A Review of “Shuggie Bain”: the lingering effects of poverty
Book Reviews / Scottish / The Latest

A Review of “Shuggie Bain”: the lingering effects of poverty


I bought Shuggie Bain at the beautiful beachy bookshop “Turn the Page” on Millowl (Philip Island) many moons and lockdowns ago. I quickly read it and then proceeded to recommend the book to every person I met. It quickly became one of my favourites from 2020. I have resisted reviewing this book straight away. Sometimes, … Continue reading

“A Lonely Girl Is a Dangerous Thing”: book review of Jessie Tu’s Debut Novel
Australian / Book Reviews / The Latest

“A Lonely Girl Is a Dangerous Thing”: book review of Jessie Tu’s Debut Novel


Since moving back to Australia, I have tried to read more literature from Australian authors. Getting books in English was already one challenge, and then getting Australian authors was another issue. In saying that, I have been enjoying reading more Aussie books and there is so much talent here! I was drawn to Jessie Tu’s … Continue reading

The Endless Pursuit of Chasing Your Dreams: A book review of William Boyd’s “Trio”
Book Reviews / British / Scottish / The Latest

The Endless Pursuit of Chasing Your Dreams: A book review of William Boyd’s “Trio”


Trio by William Boyd has been one of those books that has grown on me. It has been months since I read it, and sometimes I review things straight away and other times I like to wait. Trio has fallen in the latter camp. The book is centred on three characters – Anny, Talbot, and … Continue reading

“Witness”: A Review of Louise Milligan’s Investigations into the Human Costs for Seeking Justice
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“Witness”: A Review of Louise Milligan’s Investigations into the Human Costs for Seeking Justice


This book is not easy to read. It is harrowing and it made me extremely emotional and it even made me cry. With that said, I also feel that this book is extremely important and desperately needed – not just for the Australian criminal justice system, but for many countries the world over. Continue reading

Literary Olympics: the best (auto)biographies of 2020-2021
Book Reviews / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

Literary Olympics: the best (auto)biographies of 2020-2021


The Book Olympics continue and today we are talking about autobiographies and biographies. This category is open for books published in 2020-2021 and fall under the category of either autobiography, biography, or memoir. Autobiographies are larger works, where the author chronicles their whole life. Biographies are written by a third party who chronicle the whole … Continue reading

Literary Olympics: The best literary fiction books of 2020-2021
Book Reviews / Opinion Pieces / reading / The Latest

Literary Olympics: The best literary fiction books of 2020-2021


The Olympics just finished up in Tokyo, Japan. It has been, to say the very least, a very strange time. On the one hand, my brain can’t seem to comprehend that we even had an Olympics given the current state of the world right now, and then, on the other hand, I also understand the importance of having something ‘normal’.

With all that said, I wanted to have some light-hearted fun and do the 2020-2021 Book Olympics! Continue reading

Book Review of “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman: Loneliness, loss, and making friends
Book Reviews / British / The Latest

Book Review of “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman: Loneliness, loss, and making friends


The opening of Gail Honeyman’s novel Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has a quote from Olivia Laing’s book Lonely City, which I have reviewed on my blog here. I had talked about loneliness before the global crisis we find ourselves in today, and it feels like there are new levels of loneliness, loss, and struggles … 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