Portrait in Sepia is a very easy to read, well researched, straightforward narrative, which is interesting for its historical context, and perhaps relaxing, albeit devoid of serious philosophical depths, real characterisation, or linguistic innovation. Reviewed by Magdalena Ball Portrait in Sepia…
Tag: literature
A review of Max Sollitt’s The Correspondence Course
How do we define good writing? Are there clear boundaries between writing genres, fact and fiction, history and theory, writing and criticism? These are some of the questions raised by Max Sollitt’s first novel The Correspondence Course, which defies its own definition…
A review of Karen Sedaitis’ Soul Dark Soil
Humus-rich Food for the Soul: Karen Sedaitis’ Soul Dark Soil Sedaitis’ work gets under the reader’s skin; goes deeper than the details of her stories, and even when she is describing something ugly, like dismemberment, rot, abduction, physical, or emotional…
A Review of Richard Flanagan’s Gould’s Book of Fish
In its gorgeous use of language, its extraordinary structure, its ambitiously realised depths, and above all, the magic it works on its reader, Gould’s Book of Fish is a masterpiece. Read it for the interesting story, and find yourself, like Hammett, lost…
Interview with Tom Keneally
The fascinating and very eloquent author Tom Keneally drops by to talk about his novel Bettany’s Book
A Review of Louis de Bernieres’ Red Dog
The cute little red book has 15 sweet and poignant stories based on the real life of a well known dog whose bronze statue appears in Karratha, a Western Australia mining town. Aside from the evil wind which Red Dog…
A Review of Nadine Gordimer’s The Pickup
Nadine Gordimer has written over 25 books, and has won the Booker and Nobel Prizes. The Pickup is her 13th novel, and perhaps, at 77 years of age, she no longer feels the need to pander to an audience. The Pickup certainly raises questions…
Interview with Tim Winton
Tim Winton talks about his latest novel, Dirt Music, Australian literature, the films of his work, the writing process, and more. Interview by Magdalena Ball Magdalena: How did Dirt Music come about? Tim: Like all books, I guess by accident. I…
A review of Salman Rushdie’s Fury
At 55, the Indian born, NY dwelling protagonist of Rushdie’s latest novel Fury, has the kind of rage which causes him to stand with a knife over the sleeping bodies of his wife and son, scream in public, and slip between…
A Review of Robert Dessaix’s Corfu
Corfu: A Novel is an ambitious work, which uses a range of literary techniques such as complex time sequencing, incorporation of other texts, and mise-en-abyme, or a series of stories within a story, to convey its meaning. The narrative moves forward…