Seven months' worth of one-line book reviews. Go!
All the fiction I’ve read in the first half of 2018, reviewed for you here in a series of pithy one-liners. Well, they all fit on one line when I wrote them in Word.
Also available in free audiobooks from Librivox.
Entire series of 8 Anne of Green Gables novels, L. M. Montgomery
This series is classic and never fails to bring me joy. You don’t like it, you have no soul.
Dustfall, Michelle Johnston
Reviewed this for WAtoday here, so I won’t repeat, but an awesome read by a local Perth author.
Finders Keepers, Stephen King
Sequel to Mr Mercedes. Enjoyed almost as much. Fun, quick crime novel, but not my favourite King.
Extinctions, Josephine Wilson
Exquisitely written tale of ageing and renewal. Perth author, won Miles Franklin, Dorothy Hewett awards.
The Sisters’ Song, Louise Allan
Family saga that vividly evokes womens’ challenging lives in rural Tasmania in 1900s. Perth author!
Survival, Rachel Watts
Sci-fi novella: evil corporations rule world after Bible-style Flood. Reviewed here. Perth author!
You Belong Here, Laurie Steed
Sensitively told story of family love and lies, that brings Perth suburbs to life on page. Local author!
My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante
Begins world-famous series by Italian recluse about hard life in 1950s Naples. Wasn’t sure I liked it.
The Story of a New Name, Elena Ferrante
Part II. Definitely more readable than first. Began to see why global audience found so compelling.
Sleeping Beauties, Stephen King and Owen King
Father-son team! Classic King. Huge book, authentic characters in wild plot. Flew greedily through it.
The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman (audio)
Ghosts bring up human boy in a graveyard. Beautiful, whimsical, touching. A must. Read by Gaiman.
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Classic Austen. Clever and full of dry wit. So relatable: idiots back then are just like idiots now.
NW, Zadie Smith
A very literary style for Smith. Even as a devoted fan I found it slightly hard going, but worth reading.
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Highly enjoyable like all Austen, but not my favourite plot. Some quirky breaks through “fourth wall”.
Body Double, Tess Gerritsen
Rizzoli & Isles crime series. Like a drug. I inhaled this, four hours later needed more. Then, got more.
Vanish, Tess Gerritsen
See above. Nice and graphic, these novels, very easy to read, and Rizzoli and Isles good characters.
The Mephisto Club, Tess Gerritsen
See above. Sick of Tess Gerritsen after this. Crave meatier crime, like Val McDermid or Ian Rankin.
Afternoons with Harvey Beam, Carrie Cox
Reviewed here. A funny and highly readable first novel by a Perth author.
Now reading... Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy. Stay tuned!