Heroes of the Frontier by Dave Eggers
In his latest book Eggers explores relationship breakdown, the pitfalls of mundane suburbia and a road trip filled with aspects of discovery and self-reflection . All set to a backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness. He combines elements of a physical journey with the inner journey of the main character. A riveting juxtaposition.
He explores new ground as a writer and thus keeps true to form, offering the reader uncharted territory and an all-new immersive experience. A very exciting fresh work from a major voice in contemporary fiction.
The gripping new literary thriller from the bestselling author of The Dinner. Koch’s latest offering draws the reader into a dystopian critique of the literary world. Dear Mr M is narrated from five different perspectives and blends elements of a crime thriller with social critique. Fans of Koch’s breed of black humour and incisive wit will enjoy Dear Mr M – a story of retribution. “When faced with reality, a writer has no choice but to stick the knife in.”
A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart
A Boy Made of Blocks is a charming and timely tale of learning to connect in the digital age. This beautiful, funny and surprising story of family, love and autism is perfect for fans of The Rosie Project, David Nicholls’ Us and Nick Hornby’s About a Boy. 8yo Sam’s diagnosis of autism signals a crisis for his father Alex, whose life now goes somewhat off the rails. But then Alex gradually discovers that Sam’s supposedly ‘inward’ obsessions—e.g., with Minecraft—actually lead outward and back into a complex and better real world.
A most wonderful tale of metafiction! Set in the ghetto Augustown Jamaica where Ma Taffy a blind old lady who trades tales of the old days smells a shift in the air, an autoclapp. On this day, evil takes over, Kaia her 6-yr-old grandson’s dreads are cut off by a school teacher with a mean streak and what ensues makes for an extremely wicked and dreamy tale. With a cast of vivid characters true to the most wonderful magical realism; a flying preacherman, a songtress whose voice can raise people to the heavens, a school mistress with backbone and a gang leader with a soft silent walk- they call him Softpaws. This is a story unlike any other, written in the style alike to traditional verbal storytelling, Augustown is a real dazzling treat!
The Countenance Divine by Michael Hughes
With echoes of Cloud Atlas but heavily influenced by the works of Milton and Blake, The Countenance Divine is an ambitious debut from Hughes. The book follows four characters, each highly individualised with a distinct voice and each belonging to a completely different time period stretching from 1666-1999. One moment we’re with Chris, a computer programmer trying to thwart the Millenium Bug and next we are following the semi-literate letters of the deeply troubled man Jack in 1888 London. Visionary and macabre this is a captivating bit of apocalyptic fantasy.
To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
Set against Alaska’s icy wilderness this beautifully researched historical novel charts the perilous emotional and physical journey of a young couple. At first delighted to lead a team in an attempt to open the impassable Wolverine River, a key to linking resources to the outside world, Forrester must also leave his (poor!) pregnant wife Sophie for an entire year in the barracks. As the crew travel to beyond the edge of the known world they encounter more than they expected.
Christodora by Tim Murphy
While Garth Risk Hallberg's City On Fire offered a New York-centric focus on 1970’s punk culture, Christodora reads like its streamlined sibling. Centred on the titular apartment building in the east-end, to simplify it as an ‘AIDS novel’ would do it a disservice as it delves deep into the thematic extensions of this such as addiction, struggle and relationships whilst maintaining a broad scope, spanning several decades and employing multifaceted characters whom develop throughout.
The Apartment by S.L. Grey
When intruders donning balaclavas break into the happily married Mark and Steph’s house they are left traumatised and whilst unharmed, constant fear shatters any attempts to regain normalcy. When they come across an idyllic apartment in Paris on a popular house swapping website it offers not only an irresistible romantic getaway but also a chance to restore and heal. Once they arrive however, nothing is as advertised, and as violence and trauma ebbs into the waking nightmare the cracks in their relationship widen while dark secrets bubble to the surface.
Their Brilliant Careers by Ryan O’Neill
Ryan O’Neill’s hilarious novel invents the biographies of made up Australian writers. Their Brilliant Careers is a playful set of stories, linked in many ways, which together form a memorable whole. It is a wonderful comic tapestry of the writing life, and a large-scale parody in which every detail adds to the humour of the overall picture. Unpredictable and intriguing, Their Brilliant Careers takes Australian writing in a whole new direction.
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong? In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm.
Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss
Over 1000 Japanese soldiers break out of the No.12 Prisoner of War compound on the fringes of Cowra. In the carnage, hundreds are killed, many are recaptured, and some take their own lives. But one, Hiroshi, manages to escape. At a nearby Aboriginal mission, Banjo Williams, discovers Hiroshi, distraught and on the run. Unlike most of the townsfolk who dislike and distrust the Japanese, the people of Erambie choose compassion and offer Hiroshi refuge. Mary, Banjo’s daughter, is intrigued by Hiroshi and charged with his care. Love blossoms them and they each dream of a future together. But how long can Hiroshi be hidden safely and their bond kept a secret?
The Regulars by Georgia Clark
This cheeky tale of wit follows three best friends struggling along in their NYC life, with average looks, average love and average crisis until they are confronted their wildest fantasy: to be pretty. Evie, Krista and Willow discover Pretty a tincture that changes their looks to supermodel pretty and suddenly doors open and they are living the life. That is until their gloss fades and they are left to question: What would I sacrifice to be pretty again? Fresh, funny; The Regulars questions the beauty myth and presents a witty, bright new voice on this feminist topic.
I See You by Clare Mackintosh
Quite the cracker of a debut novel, one that showcases another major talent in the emerging vanguard of female crime writers. This is the definition of a page-tuner and will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Zoe Walker sees a picture of herself in a newspaper and is intrigued as to why and how it got there. Her family are convinced it’s just someone else who looks like her. Each day a new photo pops up, of a new woman, and the mystery becomes increasingly elusive. If you like Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, and Mary Kubika, make sure you don’t miss out on this fascinating new read.
The Trespasser: Dublin Murder by Tana French
Antoinette Conway, the tough, abrasive detective from The Secret Place, is still on the Murder Squad, but only just. She’s successfully partnered up with Stephen Moran, but the rest of her working life isn’t going so well. She doesn't play well with others, and there’s a vicious running campaign in the squad to get rid of her. She and Stephen pull a case that at first looks like a slam dunk lovers’ tiff, but gradually they realise there’s more going on: someone on their own squad is trying to push them towards the obvious solution, away from nagging questions.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
From the author of the hit series Wayward Pines comes another dark, mind-bending thriller. Jason wakes one day and his life is not the one he knows. Is it this world or the other that's the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could've imagined - one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe. A cool, brilliantly plotted thriller about the choices we make.
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
The first book in a new urban fantasy series the Kingfisher Chronicles; Cat Fisa lives disguised as a soothsayer with a travelling circus avoiding danger until Griffin an ambitious warlord from the magic deprived South upsets her illusion of safety forever. Griffin knows Cat is the Kingmaker, the woman who divines the truth through lies. He wants her as a powerful weapon for his newly conquered realm and for a little more. Cat fights him at every turn, but Griffin's fairness, loyalty, make him increasingly hard to resist.
Lord of the Darkwood by Lian Hearn
This is book three of the popular Tales of the Shikanoko series. Lian Hearn is a fantasy powerhouse and one of the most interesting writers working in the genre today.
Lian Hearn is the pseudonym of a writer with who has a longstanding interest in Japan, has lived there, and studies Japanese. She is the author of the bestselling Tales of the Otori series. This drama is complex and compelling, and weaves a narrative using forests and battlefields. A perfect choice for those interested in experimental fantasy writing.
Poison City by Paul Crilley
A dark fantastical sci-fi crime series set in South Africa. This will appeal to fans of Aaronovitch but leaves Peter Grant in a very glossy light as London Tau the wizard cop and his cohorts in the Delphic Division tread a violent, dark and gritty path fighting against the orisha of Durban, the poison city. Tau’s spirit guide is a drunk and rude dog, his boss a walking dead and he works with alongside demons, vampires and fae extracting information, helping and at times fighting against humankind. When Tau discovers South Africa’s political elite are treating themselves to fetishized sins then paying a SinEater to make them disappear, a war is announced between humankind and the orisha. Tau will have to pick a side and fight for his life. Gripping and page turning fun- I can’t wait for book 2!
The Last Days of New Paris by China Mieville
The wait for Mieville’s latest masterpiece is over! Mieville’s latest novel showcases his talent for fusing elements of different genres - in this case, sci-fi, historical fiction and speculative fiction - and tells the story of a 1940s Paris with an alternative history - one where Nazis are engaged in ongoing conflict with Resistance forces. Thibaut, a lone fighter, walks the turmoiled streets of Paris and joins forces with an American in order to navigate the conflict and survive - for he is being hunted, and the mysteries of this dystopia slowly begin to unravel.
Simplissime by Jean-Francois Mallet
Learn to cook classic French cuisine the easy way. Each of the 160 recipes here requires 6 or less ingredients, and the preparation time is short. The steps are precise and simple, accompanied by clear photographs of each ingredient and finished dish. Cooking has never been so easy! It’s no surprise that this book has been selling a copy every ten seconds in France. Apple Tart with Cinnamon, Spaghetti with Asparagus and Orange, Mussels in Curry…!
The Natural Cook by Matt Stone
Maximum taste, zero waste! This is the cookbook written by Matt Stone, the head chef of the Oakridge Wines restaurant in Victoria, who been the recipient of Gourmet Traveller's Best New Talent award and West Australia's Good Food Guide's Best Young Chef. Stone emphasises cooking with a minimal amount of wastage and this emphasis on sustainability sets him and his approach to food apart from other well-known chefs working today.
Stone has a passion for ethical, zero-waste cooking and is one of Australia’s finest young chefs.
N’Ice Cream by Virpi Mikkonen & Tuulia Talvio
A cookbook for vegan ice-cream - what more can we ask for? This book is a best-seller in Finland and it’s just been translated into English. The mouth-watering photographs are enough to inspire even the laziest wannabe ice-cream makers to whip up a sweet, delicious morsel. Boasting over 80 recipes with natural ingredients, this cookbook will open your mind to the possibilities of the vegan ice cream world. It includes recipes for creamy ice creams as well as soft serves, sorbets, ice pops, ice cream cakes and toppings.
Halliday Wine Companion 2017 by James Halliday
Your bible’s here! The 2017 edition has been revised. Halliday shares his knowledge of wine through detailed tasting notes, each with vintage-specific ratings and advice on optimal drinking as well as each wine’s closure, alcohol content and price. He provides information about the wineries, winemakers and other important details such as vineyard sizes, opening times, contact details and website addresses.
Becoming Andy Warhol by Nick Bertozzi
A graphic novel biography about Andy Warhol, the most celebrated artist of the pop art era. Written by Nick Bertozzi (Shackleton, Jerusalem) and illustrated by Pierce Hargan (BFA 2012), this graphic biography focuses on a major turning point in Warhol’s career – his painting of a mural in 1964 and the struggle he had with the urban planner and architect involved. This is the story of how Warhol challenged the establishment and eventually made a name for himself in the world of art and society as a whole.
Stardust Nation written by Deborah Levy & illustrated by Andrzej Klimowski
This exciting and genre-bending adaptation of a short story from Levy’s Black Vodka collection is not to be missed by fans of the graphic medium! This graphic novel follows Nikos Gazidis, a man suffering from a nondescript psychiatric illness. It’s interesting to see mental illness, the psychiatric industrial complex and notions of empathy drawn together to create a vivid and raw
Hate Race by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Gin says: Maxine Beneba Clarke’s memoir is a moving testimony to story and survival. I read this book in frank recognition. The brutal horror of the ethnic cleansing of the school playground is in marked contrast with Clarke’s warmth and determination.
Mariana says: Unputdownable - I read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed Clarke’s immersive style of creative non-fiction that wove social critique with a very personal narrative. It broadened my understanding of the experience of racism in Australia and is one of my favourite books of the year.
Brett Whitley by Ashleigh Wilson
Whitley was one of Australia’s best-known artists, and his influence in the art world is ongoing. This is a new book that showcases some of Whiteley’s best work. It grants us a look into the life and work of the artist using rare photos and sketches. Ashleigh Wilson is a Walkley-Award-winning journalist who is currently the Arts Editor of The Australian. He has been working as a journalist for twenty years.
In the Darkroom by Susan Faludi
In 2004 the author received an email from her elderly father, whom she had hardly seen since her parents’ divorce in the 1970s, containing photos of him in blouses, skirts and wigs. The subject line read ‘Changes’ and the message was breezy: ‘I’ve got some interesting news for you. I have decided that I have had enough of impersonating a macho aggressive man.’ The person she had known as Steven had undergone gender-reassignment surgery in Thailand and was now Stefánie. There begins the fascinating story.
My Year Without Meat by Richard Cornish
Food journalist Cornish documents his experience with cutting out all meat products from his life for a year. This is a really interesting take on the oft-explored ‘foray into vegetarianism’ trope, and makes for an interesting addition to the literature that deals with the ethics of meat consumption from a culinary rather than social or political perspective. Cornish makes the point that abstaining from the consumption of meat is a unique and valuable experience that’s worth trying – even if it’s only temporary.
Saltwater by Cathy McLennan
'Everyone knows that some of those kids are innocent . . . your dilemma is not whether the kids are innocent, but which of the kids are innocent.'
When Cathy McLennan first steps into Townsville's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service as a young graduate she isn't expecting a major murder case to land on her desk. The accused are four teenage boys whose family connections stretch across the water to Palm Island. Cathy realises that the truth is far more complex than she first thought. Saltwater tells the compelling story of one lawyer's fight for justice.
Rebellious Daughters by Maria Katsonis & Lee Kofman
In Rebellious Daughters, some of Australia’s most talented female writers share intimate and touching stories of rebellion and independence as they defy the expectations of parents and society to find their place in the world. Powerful, funny and poignant, these stories explore everything from getting caught in seedy nightclubs to lifelong family conflicts and marrying too young. Beautifully written, profoundly honest and always relatable, every story is a unique retelling that celebrates the rebellious daughter within us all.
Ghost Empire by Richard Fidler
Stemming from his 2014 visit to Istanbul with his son, Ghost Empire blends the rich history of the dazzling Byzantine Empire navigated through a father-son adventure. The legendary Constantinople centres around much of the book with the clash of civilisations, the fall of empires, the rise of Christianity and all the betrayal, lust and revenge that went along with it brought vividly to life whilst unfolding changes occur with Fidler’s relationship with his son. A captivating combination of the historical and contemporary is realised through a charmingly written ode to civilisation.
Les Parisiennes by Anne Sebba
Anne Sebba examines the lives of women in Paris over a ten year period ending in 1949. These were years of fear, power, aggression, courage, deprivation and secrets until - finally - renewal and retribution. In fascinating detail Sebba explores the aftershock of the Second World War and the choices demanded. In a beautifully detailed and well researched book, Anne Sebba shows, life for Parisian women was a deeply ambiguous affair with experiences that can be ‘turned in any number of ways to produce a different image’. This history is a treat for fashion lovers, Francophiles and history lovers.
The Writer’s Room by Charlotte Wood
Charlotte Wood's online journal The Writer's Room has become essential reading for writers at all stages of their careers, and also pure reading pleasure for book lovers everywhere. Charlotte's interviews with a wide range of well-known writers range in topic from the subject matter of the writers' work to quite intricate - and intimate - revelations about the ways in which they work. Charlotte's subjects are frank about the failures and successes, the struggles and triumphs of the writing life, and extremely generous in their revelations. A must-read for writers and readers.
44 Days by Michael Veitch
44 Days recounts the unlikely defence of Port Moresby against the Japanese during World War II. Comprised of raw recruits and improbable heroes, time and time again they were hurled into battle and overcame all odds and logic against a vastly superior enemy, succeeding in their mission but paying a terrible price. Veitch gives mouthpiece to a largely untold facet of Australian history, bringing to life the incredible exploits and tragic sacrifices of these soldiers.
The Battle of Long Tan by David W. Cameron
On the afternoon of 18 August 1966 a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, became the stage for one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War involving Australian troops. Marking the battle’s 50th anniversary, and drawing on unpublished first-hand accounts from servicemen at all levels of command, critically-acclaimed military historian David Cameron brings to life blow-by-blow the events of this famous battle as it unfolded—minute by minute, hour by hour—and reveals the deeds of heroism and mateship now part of Australia's Vietnam War story.
Hamilton Hume by Robert Macklin
Born in Australia, Hamilton Hume, a man with a profound understanding of the Aboriginal people and the bush, led settlers from the surrounds of Sydney Town to the vast fertile country of NSW and Victoria. Hume began exploring with his brother John and an aboriginal boy at the tender age of seventeen. It is now 200 years since Hume and Hovell made their historic trek from Gunning to Corio Bay and back. Robert Macklin loans his exceptional style to a new biography of Hamilton Hume.
