Literary Brooding

Well the slump has been shed by reading a variety of short, snappy works with meaning and humour. On Doubt by Leigh Sales Paperback, 122 pages, Published September 2017 by Melbourne University Press (first published May 1st 2009) For those who don't know Leigh Sales is an Australian journalist who has fronted news programs such as Lateline and the 7.30 Report on the ABC. The one thing that is universally accepted by all is that there is no pleasure to be had by politician when they are being interviewed by Leigh Sales. She is determined to cut through the carefully rehearsed talking points, uncover the truth and is respected by all. ‘On Doubt’ was originally penned by Sales in 2009, with an additional chapter being included in 2017. For a short essay, Sales manages to cram in a lot of big ideas and themes. From her own beginnings as that rebellious child always asking why to a journalist wondering about the future of the profession. A short, highly insightful read and i

It's a long weekend, you have been stuck in a reading rut and looking for something to kick off that great reading habit again. For me turning to graphic novels has always been an inspiration, you get to lose yourself in adventure and be regaled by some extraordinary drawings. So I headed into the world of Ms. Marvel and then moved into the artistically twisted mind of Neil Gaiman. Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: Best of the Best  by Brian Reed (Writer), Roberto de la Torre, Frank Cho (Cover Artist) Hardcover, Premiere, 136 pages, Published October 4th 2006 by Marvel Carol Danvers aka Ms.Marvel is bundled up into a package of stories and artwork by Brian Reed and Roberto De La Torro. The blurb says this a new take on Marvel's greatest longest standing female super heroes. So what did I get? A woman who is not well defined. She has baggage but spends the majority of the time lamenting no one knows who she is. She has no real purpose except for getting into save the world situatio

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, Helen Simpson  Paperback, Vintage Classic Twins: Vintage Fear, 176 pages Published 2007 by Vintage Books (first published 1979) There is a quote on the back of the book by Ian McEwan which sums this book up brilliantly, as a 'Magnificent set pieces of fastidious sensuality'. I can find no words that expand on just how extraordinary Carter's words are.  She takes traditional fairy tales and gives them new focus. Her re-imaging is clever and takes the tales in directions. This is a short collection but the writing is dense and exquisite. I really loved this book and was just swept away into the world of fairy tales.

A Curate in Bohemia by Norman Lindsay  Paperback, 248 pages Published 1972 by Arcon paperbacks, Angus & Robertson (first published 1913) I picked this up at a book fair and I have never read any of Norman Lindsay's work, let me correct that, besides the Magic Pudding. This is about a young man, the Curate on the cusp of entering the priesthood, spends some time with a group of Melbourne artists. What follows is a series of adventures in trying to secure the means to procure their next drink and discussions about the nature of art. There is a splattering of Lindsay's drawings through out the book which give form to the characters. Written in 1913 you are given a wonderful view of Australia at that time with the tobacco and coffee shops, the local pubs and being a poverty stricken artist. Doing some research it suggested that this maybe a fictional memoir of Lindsay. I enjoyed the read and took the story on face value. Don't normally make comment on a cover but

The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1)  by Jessica Townsend Hardcover, 640 pages Expected publication: October 31st 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers For Morrigan Crow life is going to be short as it is guaranteed she will not reach her 12th birthday. Morrigan is considered a curse child and is blamed for everything that goes wrong.  She spends most of her young life writing letters of apology for making someone’s life a misery and trying not to be a nuisance to her father. Yet, there is something special about Morrigan. On the eve of her death, an enigmatic red headed man named Jupiter North arrives and offers Morrigan a chance to live.  There is just one catch she is going to have  survive a series of trials that just may kill her anyway.  Townsend has created a magical world that it well-crafted and exceptionally well realised.  Nevermoor leaps of the pages as you explore the hotel, travel along the streets and come to understand a little about