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Book Reviews
Coast: A History of the New South Wales Edge by Ian Hoskins
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
I can't surf. I'm not the greatest swimmer and I certainly can't sit all day on the beach. Like Woody Allen, "I don't tan, I stroke." Yet I feel keenly connected to the coast and enjoy living near the beach. I can look at a map and see the nearest beach an... (continued)
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
Soon after Eleanor Catton won the 2013 Man Booker Prize her 800 page tome thudded onto the receiving desk. Much that I had read about the book suggested a dabbling with astrology so I started reading with some trepidation. How wrong I was. Dive in. Catton's story centres arou... (continued)
Tatiana by Martin Cruz Smith
Reviewed by Geraldine Ash, Berkelouw Books Customer
The investigative journalist, Tatiana Petrovna, falls to her death from a sixth floor apartment. Is this suicide or murder? After the death of the fabulously wealthy criminal, Grisha Grigorenko, cynical investigator Arkady Renko and his vodka-swilling partner, detective-sargeant... (continued)
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
Just closed the last page on this book. I am a slow reader so have been immersed in Tartt's massive new novel for a long time, so long that I have begun to think about the story as passing through seasons. We start with the moving portrait of a boy, Theo Decker, experiencing the tragic... (continued)
Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas
Reviewed by Matt, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
In his latest novel, Christos Tsiolkas forgoes the stylish multi-perspective structure of his previous award-winning work The Slap to return to a more intimate, and indeed claustrophobic, focus on a single protagonist, much like his other novels Loaded and Dead Europe. Daniel Kelly, nickna... (continued)
Child of Vengeance by David Kirk
Reviewed by Richard McCarthy
For those battle hardened historical readers who thrill to the clash of empires, where a violent past is brought alive through the imaginations of Bernard Cornwall, Conn Iggulden, C. J Sansom and other fine historical novelists, “Child of Vengeance” is another... (continued)
Eyrie by Tim Winton
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
To read Tim Winton's new novel Eyrie is to be reminded of the author's sublime ability with language and insight into human hearts. It also reminded me that Winton is a storyteller who does not tie things up neatly but requires your engagement to distil the story. Tom Kee... (continued)
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books Mona Vale
Perhaps nothing epitomises the paranoia prevalent in this book better than the family of the interrogator - he is not sure whether his parents are actually both blind (as they insist they are) or simply pretending to be blind because it is safer, in some way it allows them to see more clearly ... (continued)
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
Colum McCann's new novel is intricate and ambitious. Mining the 19th and 20th century connections between Ireland and America, he animates the historical context that embraces four generations of women whose stories are at the heart of the novel. The novel comprises three books. ... (continued)
The Good Life by Hugh Mackay
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
Hugh Mackay's latest book, The Good Life, is unusual in that it is not a report back on the state of mind of the Australian community distilled from his social research. It is much more an appeal to that community to fundamentally reconsider the way they live, the aspirations they nurse an... (continued)
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Reviewed by Karen, Berkelouw Books, Paddington
At its heart, this wonderful book is about finding your place in the world. Ifemelu and Obinze were young lovers who drifted apart when Ifemelu went to America to study. There she found herself having to think about race which was not something that needed consideration at home in Nigeria.... (continued)
The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness
Reviewed by Sarah, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
Patrick Ness, known for his Chaos Walking series as well as his beautiful graphic novel, A Monster Calls, has reworked the famous Japanese folklore tale, The Crane Wife to beautiful effect in this his latest novel. One evening a crane falls into George Duncan’s garden with an arrow... (continued)
The Women in Black by Madeleine St John
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
I am just catching up with the delightfully acerbic writing of Madeleine St John. The Women in Black although first published in 1993 is a portrait of an earlier Sydney where women remain at work until they marry and have children, where husbands drink after work with their mates (but on... (continued)
High Sobriety by Jill Stark
Reviewed by Kate, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
When February came around this year and I decided to give my body a break from the alcohol, I was looking for some inspiration or encouragement and saw this book. Jill Stark is a senior journalist for The Age (Melbourne). Her specialty is health issues. She has won a journalistic awa... (continued)
Silent House by Orhan Pamuk
Reviewed by Gillian, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
In Silent House, Orhan Pamuk, gives us a portrait of family whose complicated affairs mesh tragically with Turkey's history. Gathered in the house of Fatma (Grandmother), they come to enjoy a summer holiday by the sea. Pamuk tells his story through five rotating first person narrativ... (continued)
Hemingway's Boat by Paul Hendrickson
Reviewed by Erin
Newly available in a handy smaller format, Paul Hendrickson's biography is a surprisingly refreshing account of the larger-than-life Hemingway. Hemingway's 38-foot fishing boat Pilar saw the writer through the highs and lows of his career, providing material for the Nobel pri... (continued)
Speechless by James Button
Reviewed by Jake, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
Journalist and son of a former Federal Labor Minister, James Button reflects upon his time spent as Kevin Rudd’s speechwriter in the period leading up to his downfall from the height of Australian politics. More than an insight into the world of Australian politics, Button delves in... (continued)
Confront and Conceal by David E. Sanger
Reviewed by Jake, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
New York Time’s journalist and author of The Inheritance, David E. Sanger delves into the covert world of cyber warfare, US Special Forces and espionage. Having written extensively for The Times on US National Security and Nuclear Proliferation, Sanger uses a career’s worth of cont... (continued)
Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver
Reviewed by Sarah, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
This book made me look at the future of our world and the consequences of climate change, how it combines with us and what choices we can decide to make to change our ways. Dellarobia is a young girl who married her childhood sweetheart and had two children. She is bored and ... (continued)
Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel
Reviewed by Graziela, Berkelouw Books, Mona Vale
This book uses the very creative concept of taking pictures of dogs underwater as they chase their toys. Photographer Seth Casteel has put together a wonderful collection of photos, some hilarious, some adorable and some not so elegant, which are sure to entertain every doglover. There are aro... (continued)