About the Book: Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to accusations of witchcraft. When Zigri, desperate and grieving after the loss of her husband and son, embarks on an affair with the local merchant, it's not long before she is sent to the fortress at Vardo, to … Continue reading Book Review: The Witches of Vardo by Anya Bergman
Thought Provoking Reads
Book Review: Small Joys of Real Life by Allee Richards
About the Book: Shortlisted for both The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers and the Victorian Premier's Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. The night Eva shared a smile with Pat, something started. Two weeks later, lying together in her bed, Pat said, 'You can't live your life saying you'll get around to doing something you know … Continue reading Book Review: Small Joys of Real Life by Allee Richards
Book Review: A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno
About the Book: An astonishingly inventive, playful, witty, poignant and deeply moving novel from one of Australia's most exciting writers. Margaret Bryce, deceased mother of twins, has been having a hard time since dying in 2014. These days she spends time with her daughters – Eva in Madrid, and Rachel and her family in Melbourne … Continue reading Book Review: A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno
Book Review: Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
About the Book: Olivia McAfee and Ava Campanello have each had a change of life forced upon them. Olivia never dreamed that after her messy divorce she would find herself back in her sleepy New Hampshire home town, living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father's beekeeping business. Ava is … Continue reading Book Review: Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Book Review: Leaning Out by Kristine Ziwica
About the Book: In Leaning Out, respected journalist Kristine Ziwica maps a decade of stasis on the gender equality front in Australia, and why the pandemic has led to a breakthrough. As the historic 2020 Women's March attests, a generation of younger women are speaking truth to power and changing the way we think of women … Continue reading Book Review: Leaning Out by Kristine Ziwica
Book Review: I’ll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd
About the Book: I’ll Leave You With This is a heart-breaking, funny, thought-provoking and honest novel about a brother’s legacy and the tangled bonds of sisterhood. The O’Shea sisters couldn’t be more different. Allison, an obstetrician, has always put others before herself and is torn between her job and young family. Prizewinning film director Bridie hasn’t … Continue reading Book Review: I’ll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd
Book Review: When I First Held You by Anstey Harris
About the Book: Silence tore them apart. Can the truth bring them back together? In 1960s Glasgow, anti-nuclear activists Judith and Jimmy fall in love. But their future hopes are dashed when their protestors’ squat is raided and many, including Jimmy, are sent to prison. Pregnant and with no word from Jimmy, Judith is forced … Continue reading Book Review: When I First Held You by Anstey Harris
Book Review: Psalms for the End of the World by Cole Haddon
About the Book: It's 1962 and physics student Grace Pulansky believes she has met the man of her dreams, Robert Jones, while serving up slices of pecan pie at the local diner. But then the FBI shows up, with their fedoras and off-the-rack business suits, and accuses him of being a bomb-planting mass-murderer. Finding herself … Continue reading Book Review: Psalms for the End of the World by Cole Haddon
Book Review: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
About the Book: From the multi-million copy bestselling author of Flight Behaviour and The Poisonwood Bible comes this heart-rending instant classic. Demon Copperhead: a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Demon befriends us … Continue reading Book Review: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Book Review: Blue Hour by Sarah Schmidt
About the Book: 1936: At nineteen, Kitty was ready to leave behind the stifling control of her parents and all those constantly telling her how to live her life. Work at the Wintonvale Repatriation Hospital was her escape and a chance to be someone else.Then she met soldier George Turner - and she heard her mother's … Continue reading Book Review: Blue Hour by Sarah Schmidt
Theresa Smith Writes 