Henry is larger than an ordinary man, and his longing and failings are so beautifully conveyed that it pulls the whole novel together. The story is almost breathlessly engaging at times, especially when Henry is facing the gun, and Doyle’s…
Category: Book Reviews
Book Reviews
A review of Songs of the Last Chinese Poet by Ouyang Yu
This collection, which was short-listed for the 1999 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for multicultural writings, is not an easy read. Nor will it leave the reader with a warm sense of transcendence. The language is confronting, defensive, and graphic. But…
A review of Worm Story by Morris Gleitzman
Gleitzman has done his research, and this story will teach children about the inner workings of their body, to respect themselves, and to view life in all its layers and diversities from a number of different perspectives. The respect for…
A review of A Month Of Sundays by Julie Mars
So often memoirs can be maudlin or portray the author as an innocent victim of circumstances. This is not the case in A MONTH OF SUNDAYS. The author mixes tears and humor and is not afraid to show herself or…
A review of Ainsley Harriott’s Friends and Family Cookbook
That isn’t to say that the recipes in this book produce unattractive and cranky meals–the food generally looks as good as it tastes, but simply that this is the kind of food you can serve and eat everyday, without running…
A review of Coaching the Artist Within by Eric Maisel
What Maisel presents here is a primer on how to live a life worth living. If you’re a blocked artist, Coaching the Artist Within will certainly help you get to the root of what is troubling you, while always spurring…
A review of Jasmine in Her Hair by Huma Siddiqui
This is more than a cookbook, although it does provide over 55 recipes for a wide variety of foods from Siddiqui’s native Pakistan, including appetizers (starters), meat and vegetarian main courses, desserts, rice and bread dishes, sauces and drinks. Each…
A review of Uncle Rupert by James Cumes
As a commentary, or a kind of Ayn Rand styled tract designed to support a political thesis, it will likely appeal to anyone with similar political leanings. The writing is clear, the metaphors original, and the narration at times charmingly…
A review of Another Universe: Friendly street poets 28
Some poetry, even good poetry, forces the reader to work hard, uncovering meaning from obscurity, but Another Universe isn’t like that at all. These poems were clearly designed to be understood quickly, sharing their meaning in a straight hit from…
A review of Knock Their Socks Off by Mridu Khullar
Although at 130 pages, this isn’t a lengthy book, it is a pleasurable, humorous read full of pithy information designed solely to get the reader writing for the potentially lucrative magazine/freelance article market. Reviewed by Magdalena Ball Knock Their Socks…