Welcome to Litsy!

This book was amazing. I didn‘t want to put it down. One of the best depictions of the experience of homelessness I‘ve ever read. Raw, honest and extremely clever. I loved the artwork that is included, I loved the storyline, the characters and the way the book flowed almost literally along with the Brisbane River. I loved Boy Swallows Universe but wasn‘t so enthralled with his next book. This one will keep me reading his books from now on.

Dear Kath, I got your gift.
#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
A gorgeous cover for a lovely book. One of the authors in RN Bookshow‘s Top 100 Books of the Century

It was a big weekend for readers in Australia. A Countdown of the best books of the 21st century, great fun listening to it.
#top100

I‘ve been aware of Australian novelist Toni Jordan since she came to a Perth writers festival many years ago, but have only now read one of her books.
Think I can once again blame @Rissreadswithcats for seeing this second hand copy and telling me I should buy it 😄. I enjoyed it. I was able to suspend judgement about some of the unlikely plot points and roll with it. More great #ozfiction, this time set in 1980s Brisbane.

I don‘t know how I feel about this book. I wanted to like it but parts of it just left me cold. I had to force myself to finish it - it did catch my attention at times but mostly I was wishing it would end already.
Maybe I was distracted by the view?

Oh my this book was hilarious! Benjamin reflects on life as a Chinese Australian. Ben‘s Mum had me in stitches. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this novel from Trent Dalton. The story, the use of language, and the emotional ups and downs are truly wonderful.

I loved this book. It had everything going for it...drama, parenting, romance, wisdom, and some thriller action. I also loved the sketches at the beginning of each chapter. Dalton has wonderfully drawn from his own history, both personal and professional. He describes domestic abuse as a Tyrannosaurus Waltz, a phrase that really captures the reality of the situation many women find themself in. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 5/5!

I mostly enjoyed Boy Swallows Universe, more than I thought I would, but it goes a bit off the rails in the third act 😕 It‘s definitely a different perspective on Australia – less sun-kissed beaches and beautiful bushland, more suburban noir and seedy underbelly. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/boy-swallows-universe-trent-dalton/

📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓵 📬

𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 by 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 has been described as a “complicated & surprising“ coming of age story. Published 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵. 𝟷𝟽, 2024, Bibliolifestyle & Harper Perennial sent me a copy of this unpredictable, gritty, magical, & emotionally moving tale about love & fate, life & death, & all the things we see when we look in the mirror: all our past, all our present, & all our possible futures.