Tag Archives: Australian

Multifaceted Australian crime fiction: The High Commissioner by Jon Cleary

The High Commissioner by Jon Cleary is the first in the Scobie Malone series. Malone, a police detective, is sent to London to bring back the Australian High Commissioner for the decade-old murder of his wife. Malone finds himself in … Continue reading

Posted in 20th Century, 20th Century Light Fiction, Australian, Crime fiction, Fiction, General adult audience, Novel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An alphabet book that keeps adults interested: Animalia by Graeme Base

Animalia is a classic Australian picture book by Graeme Base. I have delightful memories of eating gelato with my sister after buying this book as a gift for the children of some friends I was about to visit. K and … Continue reading

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 4 years and up, Australian, Picture Books, Under 7 years | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is it possible to have a high powered job and a functioning family? It’s a lot easier if you have a ‘Wife’, according to discussion-provoking book, The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb

The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb is an intriguing look at work, home, family balance and gender in modern Australia. Why do men, on average, work an extra four hours a week after the birth of their first child? Why … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, Contemporary, General adult audience, Nonfiction, Social Commentary/Analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A book doing justice to a complex place: Darwin by Tess Lea

Darwin by Tess Lea is an intriguing, beautifully written exploration of the unique history, geography, beauties, tensions and contradictions of Australia’s smallest and remotest capital city. It’s been on my bookshelf for awhile, read, recommended and bequeathed by my father … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, Contemporary, General adult audience, Nonfiction, Travel and Geography Non-Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tongue-in-cheek dragonlore: The Discovery of Dragons by Graeme Base

The Discovery of Dragons by Graeme Base is another delightful Australian picture book that works on multiple levels. Detailing the unlikely tale of how four unlikely people discovered dragons with beautiful illustrations, funny comic strips along the bottom of each … Continue reading

Posted in 10 years and up, 20th Century Children's, Australian, Fantasy, Picture Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dragon of Mith by Kate Walker

The Dragon of Mith is an Australian kids book by Kate Walker. It’s the story of a vegetarian dragon, a ridiculous number of dragon-slayers, a community of hermits and a blood-thirsty butcher (amongst others). I have vague memories of the … Continue reading

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Australian, Children's, Children's Classic, Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion follows on where The Rosie Project left off. Don and Rosie are now married and living and working in New York. They’ve adjusted to many of the challenges of married life and abandoned the … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, Comedy, Contemporary, General adult audience, Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion features an unusual hero on a mission to find a wife. To increase the efficiency of the process, Don Tillman develops a lengthy questionnaire that will allow him to quickly eliminate women who would … Continue reading

Posted in Comedy, Contemporary, General adult audience, Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas is a beautiful picture book about the nature of memory. It tells the story of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge who lives next door to an old people’s home where his … Continue reading

Posted in 20th Century Children's, Australian, Picture Books, Under 7 years | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks is my favourite vampire book, spoofing the idea of the handsome, strong, good vampire. Nina and the others in the RVSG struggle with nose bleeds, unconsciousness during daylight hours, being forced to … Continue reading

Posted in 13 years and up, Australian, Contemporary YA, Fantasy, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment