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#ozfiction
review
CarolynM
Hovering | Rhett Davis
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Pickpick

Well that was really weird… but kind of interesting, even though I‘ve got no idea what it was trying to tell me. A fictional amalgam of Melbourne & Geelong begins twisting & changing, moving streets & buildings around apparently at random. An artist who has recently returned to the city becomes the target of vitriol when her former European collective gets into trouble. Her sister & nephew live almost exclusively online. There are some unusual⬇️

CarolynM ⬆️…formats for telling or commenting on the story - newspaper articles, art journal pieces, online group chats, things that look like social media comment sections & bits of dialogue apparently from TV or radio shows. All of this creates a chaotic atmosphere that feels a bit like watching a film of rapidly changing images. I‘m sure there‘s meaning in there somewhere 🤔 I‘m not sure what I think about it, but it kept me reading so pick. #ozfiction 22h
Centique Wow that does sound very different! 19h
Jeg Wow. 4h
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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Pickpick

Although this has a thriller-like structure & is a variation on the “trauma plot”, it is not a major departure from Diana Reid‘s previous novels. It is most interesting for its exploration of friendships & sibling relationships, the interplay of power, sexual politics & societal norms & of the cancer of secrets & lies. I think she‘s a really interesting writer, she always leaves me with plenty to think about. #ozfiction

Cathythoughts Nice review , stacked. 👍🏻❤️ 5d
55 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
MrsMalaprop
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Panpan

Yeah, nah. #ozfiction I was compelled to read for book club.

CarolynM This is getting pushed quite hard in the papers, but it didn‘t sound very promising to me. Thanks for confirming that🙂 1w
MrsMalaprop @CarolynM Yes it is getting promoted, perhaps because she‘s connected? I found it a chore and struggled with the annoyance I feel when there are so many more worthy/interesting books out there waiting for me. Some in my book club liked it. It felt like she had a list of life events that she ticked off. I didn‘t care about Betty one bit. Lightweight. (Too harsh? 😬) 1w
CarolynM No, I don‘t think you‘re being too harsh. I enjoyed Offspring (especially because I used to see them filming while walking my kids too and from school 😆) but it was lightweight too. Connections definitely get you attention for new work. 7d
35 likes3 comments
review
CarolynM
Audrey's Gone AWOL | Annie de Monchaux
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Pickpick

Although it‘s a variation on the old chestnut of empty-nester running away to exotic location (in this case Brittany) on discovering husband‘s infidelity, there is a lot to like about the way the story is told here. There is more to Audrey than first appears & the cast of supporting characters are original & entertaining. I could have done without the romantic subplot, but at least it wasn‘t presented as her ultimate fulfilment. #ozfiction

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2w
59 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Lindy
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In my latest Friday Reads booktube episode: artisan cheese touring on Vancouver Island; Victoria gardens; and 6 books.

https://youtu.be/B4BlfSUOVi0

#trans authors #OzFiction #kidlit #memoir #Gaza

review
MrsMalaprop
A Language of Limbs | Dylin Hardcastle
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Pickpick

Book two from the 2025 Stella Prize long list finished. Can‘t recall how this came to be on my radar, but when I saw it recently announced on the longlist I bumped it up.
I really liked it. The first half felt a little bit clunky to me but then it hit its stride and I didn‘t want to put it down. Excellent #queerfic #ozfiction #bildungsroman

Jeg A top read for me so far this year. 1mo
42 likes1 comment
review
MrsMalaprop
The Burrow | Melanie Cheng
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Pickpick

Stunning. Chose this #ozfiction for my book club to read this month. It was announced as a Stella Prize longlisted book this week. A very special, quiet exploration of grief.

CarolynM Stacked 2mo
sarahbarnes Another list - yay! This sounds very good. So does Theory and Practice. 2mo
Jeg Enjoy the discussion Monday night.I get to read it soon. ❤️ (edited) 1mo
Rissreadswithcats I just bought it! 1mo
42 likes4 stack adds4 comments
blurb
bookish_wookish
Immortal Dark | Tigest Girma
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I absolutely love this edition that i got from Thriftbooks!

LeeRHarry #ozfiction and one I‘d like to get to 😊 2mo
LoverOfLearning Oh gorgeous! 2mo
34 likes3 comments
review
CarolynM
A Language of Limbs | Dylin Hardcastle
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Pickpick

It took me a while to realise what the author was doing here(I‘m a bit thick sometimes 🙄) but once I did it made a lot more sense. While I was moved by both strands of the story, the final coming together left me unsatisfied. For me, the 2 strands were uneven in their treatment of the inner emotional lives of the 2 central characters so it didn‘t quite add up. Nonetheless, Little Dave & their friends will stay with me for a while.
#ozfiction TW👇

CarolynM Lots of trigger warnings. Death of parent, child, friends. Illness. Violence. Homophobia. Transphobia. Too many others to list. 2mo
squirrelbrain Interesting review! 🤔 It‘s not out here until March. 2mo
Reggie You had me at the book cover. And then it‘s queer. Double had me. Stacked. 2mo
Centique @Reggie @CarolynM that cover is gorgeous isnt it? 2mo
Centique I dont think youve ever ever been “a bit thick” Carolyn! 💕 2mo
68 likes5 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
One Another | Gail Jones
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Pickpick

Discoveries like this are why I love #AuldLangSpine

I really wasn't sure about this one going into it. I was forced to read Heart of Darkness in high school, and have been put off by Conrad ever since. So a book about a PhD student studying Conrad, with scenes from his life, did not seem like the book for me. But of all the #OzFiction on @CarolynM 's list, this was the easiest to get my hands on, so I tried it. And I freakin' LOVED it.

Cont'd 👇

TheKidUpstairs Jones' writing is phenomenal, I can't wait to dive into her other works. This is a story of outsiders drifting through the world without finding belonging, a story of loss and grief. It is melancholy, but with enough glimpses of beauty to keep it from getting bogged down. Thank you Carolyn for this selection, and thank you @monalyisha for your unparalleled matchmaking prowess 💕 3mo
monalyisha I‘ll have to look at the summaries of some of her other books and see if they appeal! 3mo
squirrelbrain Wow, sounds amazing - stacking! 3mo
See All 6 Comments
CarolynM Glad you enjoyed. I‘ve not read any of her others. I tried to read Five Bells once but didn‘t get very far. I‘ve got a copy of The Death of Noah Glass and I want to try that soon. @MrsMalaprop is a fan, she might have a suggestion of which one to try next 🙂 3mo
MrsMalaprop @CarolynM @monalyisha @squirrelbrain I am a big fan of Gail Jones. She is underrated IMO. I haven‘t actually read this one. Sixty Lights was the first one I read years ago 👍. Can also recommend Death of Noah Glass. Last year I read and enjoyed (edited) 3mo
TheKidUpstairs @MrsMalaprop thanks for the recommendations! I noticed she's got one coming out this year that sounds really good, too 3mo
64 likes1 stack add6 comments