Eyebabies

David George

ISBN: 9781921325045

$26.95

256 pp

Ilura Press 2008

This is an interesting book with a complex structure.  It is a love story and a psychological thriller.  It is something of a mystery from the enigmatic beginning to the loose end. (more…)

History Unrepeated

Convincing Ground: Learn to fall in love with your country

Bruce Pascoe

Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra, 2007

ISBN: 978-085575-549-2

History depends on who writes it and the writing of it creates that history.  On that basis, much of the history of this country is still missing.  Bruce Pascoe has gone some way to correcting this. (more…)

Bird by Bird

Anne Lamott
ISBN: 9781921372476
$27.95
237 pp
Scribe 2008

As a writer, I occasionally pick up a ‘how to…’ book, looking for gems of wisdom or inspiration to ride like a surfboard on the waves of creativity.  I have rarely read any of these in their entirety – they have mostly been too dry to be griping, though many were useful (such as How to Build Your Own Particle Accelerator). (more…)

Words to Inspire Writers

Edited by Greg Babic

Published by FC Sach & Sons

ISBN: 978-0-980372-20-5

RRP: US$20, UK£15

Available from Amazon.com

This is indeed an inspiring book for writers.  From time to time we sit and stare into space and the wise or goading words of writers past and present may help you to pick up the quill and dip it into the ink pot again. (more…)

Finding the Bloke

Bloke: Who does this bloke think he is?

Bruce Pascoe

Viking/Penguin, Melbourne, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-670-07367-2

It is not often that I start a novel and finish it within four days.  My copy of Bloke went with me everywhere so that I could devour another chapter or two between other activities.  From page one I was drawn into the Bloke’s world of diving, small-town life, corruption, prison life and love.  Like the abalone divers he works with, I came up for air occasionally, gasping.  The writing is consistently lyrical and evocative: (more…)