Delightful. Funny. A pick up put down sort of book. Very relatable. Would make a good gift.

This should have been a bail because I didn‘t actually read it properly. I gave up@about a third of the way in, skip read to the finish missing out whole sections. It‘s for Friday Library book club. Way too drawn out. Skips back and forth between characters and time. Read a bit like two books put together. Ages ago I read Jodie‘s books but I went off them so this is first in years. No more I think.

I like him best on the screen. Acting is what he does well I would say. 😏.

I feel bad that I had to give up. I just could not get into it. Found it hard to get a grip on the characters. Perhaps I‘ll try it another time. I‘m sure lots of people will love it. Just not for me right now.

Not my usual read but it was interesting. A fictional look at Hollywood in the 50s and beyond. Just enough of a mystery to keep me reading and I didn‘t guess it.

A delight. Set in one of my favourite places. Set in the 60s, a budding female writer in a very male dominated time, a close gay friend also in a difficult time for gay men. I read it in a few hours. A perfect way to spend inside time as we are having much warmer weather than usual for this time of year.

Found by my partner and as she didn't like it there was a big possibility that I would and I did. Very clever I thought. Did not see the end coming.

Yesterday was our no screens day so in the afternoon and evening I sat and read. I‘ve really enjoyed 2 of her books. This gave an insight into her and her life until now. Very interesting.

On display in the library as it‘s Pride month. Interesting read.

Really liked this book. Just found the end very drawn out . The ———- descriptions went on and on . More suited to a movie or TV series. In fact would make a very good TV series. If you liked his other books I‘m sure you will enjoy this.

Yesterday at the op shop. I rescue Little Golden Books. They were my first books growing up in a small town in New England in the 50s. I wouldn't part with them when we sailed for Australia . I still have them and now many many more. ☺️.

A small book, a quick read but a very powerful , beautiful, moving story.
@MrsMalaprop I'd like to be a fly on the wall at the next book club.
I read this on recommendation from Michelle.
Glad I did.

Love the characters in these stories. Great writing . Love the descriptions of one of my favourite cities, Edinburgh. Only criticism, I thought the ending a little too drawn out. Looking forward to the next one. Glad the Karen Pirie character has been picked up as a TV series. Long may she live and Daisy too.

Lovely. It would be a great gift for someone graduating. I often give his book Oh The Places you'll Go. This is maybe better.

Between a pick and a so so. It did keep me reading. And I guess it was clever but something didn't hit the mark for me. At least it distracted me when I needed to be distracted.

My first read for Friday morning book club at the library. Another talented writer from West Oz. Well written , great descriptions of the Aussie landscape . The mysteries kept me reading. Satisfying conclusion. Expect to see more from this writer who it seems is now based in Melbourne. I expect discussion to be very different to my previous book club. We shall see.

Delightful. I had no idea BC was so popular.Author explores her obsession with BC and comes up with some interesting insights .
I'm delighted to be a Cumberbitch.
I've also discovered fan fiction!
I do recommend even if not a BC fan.
A quotable book in lots of places.

I think this little book lost out with the translation. Also it was originally a stage play and I could see that working well. The appeal of this book might be the lessons/ moral or what ever each story portrayed. I‘m afraid I couldn‘t finish it as there was something about the writing that didn‘t get me in in. I‘m guessing it was the way it was translated. I did love the life lessons of the first two that I read.

Just finished the book. I loved it. I think I liked it more than the first one which I also loved. Even if you don‘t like her and wouldn‘t read her books , if you get a chance read the chapter How To Stay Married. Wise, funny , honest .
She was on the cover of the British Vogue. We had a copy sent out. What a hoot.

I finished this over a week ago and was about to hand it on when I realised I hadn‘t put it on here.
I‘m thinking he just gets better with each book. This was a very enjoyable read. I also learnt a lot about those water schemes on the big rivers. I could never understand it all. This goes into the history . Did not see the end coming. Would make a good Xmas present for lovers of Aussie Fiction/crime.

So he has noticed. I thought it was just where I live but it seems it might be wide spread.

Delightful. The sort of ending I love. Gentle but kept me reading. Learnt a bit about the octopus along the way. Would be a good holiday read.

This stuck out for me. I‘ve known that feeling. Perfectly put.

After I read her recent book I thought I‘d see what this one was like. I really enjoyed her writing. Her development of characters, descriptions and easy flow of language made it an easy read for me. Only 2 books published so far . She is another budding Aussie writer. I will be on the look out for any further books. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Intriguing plot.

Glorious. Loved it. Anything is possible. What a wonderful world I live in. I'm so glad I'm alive at this time in queer history. 🌈

Excellent. I think the author is my age so this book has a lot of meaning for me. I've only ever read short articles of his. A timely read for me. As we age a rich inner life becomes important as the body slows down.

Guess it‘s just not for me. All too obvious. I finished it but didn‘t enjoy it.

The book I didn't know why I requested. Largely a story about relationships. Interactions over a weekend in a large old house in Scotland. A different read for me at the moment. I think I liked it!

A powerful read. Published in 2008 it documents the happenings and trial around the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee on Palm Island. With the up and coming referendum here in Australia , I would recommend this as an important read. If you can find a copy. Here it seems to have disappeared from library shelves. Chloe‘s writing does remind me of the style of some of Helen Garners books.

Gentle. Took me right back to my teenage years growing up in the 60s. I'd forgotten about tea ladies with names like Hazel, Betty,Irene, Merl. Other reminders of the times, mini skirts, Jean Shrimpton, sponge cakes, butterfly cakes, The Moscow Circus, Xmas displays in David Jones windows and much more. Very Aussie . Loved it.

Have always wanted to try one of his books. I was advised that this was a good one. I‘ve tried to get into it but I‘ve given up for the moment. I‘ll have another go in the future.

Can‘t believe I‘ve done this again. Went to the library to pick up tagged book, which I can‘t remember why I requested it and ended up with all these. Actually it happened over two libraries. When I went to pick up book I asked about The Tall Man, they didn‘t have it. Went to another local library and there it was and I saw the other books . So here I am !

Well I‘ve done it again! Seems I read this book 2 years ago. As I was reading it , it felt very familiar and as I neared the ending I knew all the answers. 🙃. With so many books on my TBR shelf, it almost seems a waste of a read!
But maybe not, I did enjoy it and thought I was very clever for knowing the ending! 😊

A new book and TV series. I‘m really liking these stories and the new characters. Another day of rest for me and another book read. Very enjoyable.

Not feeling that good today so stayed in bed and finished this book. I‘m more familiar with Anthony Horowitz and his kids books. I think this is my 2nd adult novel I‘ve read. Very entertaining. I love his style of putting himself in the book and making it feel real with facts from his literary life. Agatha Christie style ending. I‘d read another if it comes my way.

Delightful. Heart warming. Gentle. Life‘s lessons from a small Japanese library . I loved it.

Unexpected visit to my favourite op shop. Favourite because it still has sensible prices and consequently fast turn over . I love the book section. Well stocked and in order . These two I‘ve seen around the book shops. Published 2022. Will be added to my TBR shelf. I also got a very old copy of The History Of Mr Polly by H.G. Wells which I studied in high school in the 1960s.

Read this book in 2 days. I didn't realise that it is a true story about the Black Saturday bush fires and the young man convicted of lighting them. A page turner in a different way. Reminded me of some of Helen Garner's books. @MrsMalaprop @Rissreads thanks for your reviews.

Wonderful. Just finished this outside on a perfect spring day. I was born in New Hampshire but raised in Western Australia so I‘d never heard of the play Our Town which features in this book.
Two stories run through this book. One is the past , the other almost present day, various references to the pandemic. Family United during lockdown.
Just reading in the article that the audio book is read by Meryl Streep. I think I would enjoy that.

Not a book I would normally pick to read . It was a gift. I did enjoy it. A slight mystery running through it. Set in the Depression in the US. Interesting comments on the political system. A young artist goes to a small town to paint a mural on the PO wall. Has to depict hope and promise about the town.

Started off being a real page turner, then it was way too drawn out and the tied up ending wasn‘t that satisfying.
Very modern setting. The years after the covid lockdown.

What a read. I really related to the narrator in the beginning. When she lost the plot I almost did too. My life in the late 60s and early 70s was one of trying hard to conform when I really didn‘t want to. Oh if only I had been like Marian and stepped away from things like she did. Life is so much easier now. Think I‘ll make that cake and eat it!

I‘m either over her books or need a break from crime books. Don‘t think I‘ll read anymore of hers . I have one more, by different author waiting at the library. In the meantime I‘m reading The Edible Woman and enjoying it so far. One more crime book then and I‘m done for a while. So many others on my TBR shelf waiting to be read!

Classic Christie. I don‘t usually read her Poirot books as I‘ve seen them so many times as tv series or movies. I enjoyed this especially the bits written in the voice of Hastings. Classic crime.

I could only get this in large print which I always find hard to read.🤷🏻‍♂️. It is set in 2022 , so all fairly current. It feels like it might be the last book in the series as everything is tied up neatly in the last chapters. I‘ve loved my journey with Ruth and this really seems like the perfect ending for her. I‘ve enjoyed the journey. A great escape for me. Glad I read them in order. Though I didn‘t start at the beginning. 🤞it makes TV.

Got this from our local Buy Nothing . This edition published when I would have been a year old. These books were the first I read when I arrived in Australia. My teacher had them in a little class library. No school library back then.
I just loved her adventures. Glad to see they are still being published. I will treasure this old copy. It looks, feels and smells old. I look and feel old but I don‘t think I smell old.🫤

Another mystery featuring my favourite archaeologist Ruth. Set in Norfolk at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Not sure I like reading about such recent events. 😏. Anyway it was an ok read . Just one book to go and I‘m up to date with Ruth and her life.

Love a hard back. Don‘t get too many these days. I seem to be escaping into all things Scottish and mysterious. I enjoy her Karen Pirie books a lot. This was very good but it got a little tedious near the end when the mystery was unfolding. Well rounded ending. Though one bit did feel tacked on and I had to think hard to remember what she was talking about. Once again I feel myself becoming invested in the characters. Need to find out what happens

Birthday so far. Wanted to read this Joan Didion book after reading her book The Year of Magical Thinking. Never read an Iain Banks and I've been told this is a good one. I'm a big Frida Kahlo fan. This is a graphic novel. The other two are the kids books I've reviewed already. Just love the reading lady. I'm enjoying the sunshine in a sheltered place. It's a bit chilly today despite the sunshine.

Another part of my birthday book haul. A beautiful book for all ages.