Crime Scene: SARAH SCHMIDT See What I Have Done. Reviewed by Justine Hyde
This fictional rendition of a true crime by Sarah Schmidt is full of brilliant and off-kilter imagery that reinforces the unsettling mood of the novel. Reading Sarah Schmidt’s debut novel See What I Have Done is like pressing down on a...
LIA HILLS The Crying Place. Reviewed by Michelle McLaren
The Crying Place is a big novel that juggles even bigger ideas. For the first time in his life, Saul, a drifter, has remained in the same place for nearly a year. He has a steady job, and he’s renting a tiny Sydney apartment, its door marked with scratches left behind...
Random Thoughts: On recent biographies of Australian women. By Linda Funnell
While Peter Corris takes a break to heal a break, in lieu of Godfathers we are publishing random thoughts from the NRB editors. This week it’s Linda’s turn. I love a good biography. During my career I have been fortunate to publish two...
CHRIS JOHNSTON and ROSIE JONES The Family. Reviewed by Lou Mentor
The Family is a chilling account of how a cult arose that would leave a legacy of damage in its wake. What is true? What is false? In the quest for enlightenment what does it take to convince regular – often well-educated – members of society to abandon the norms of...
FAY WELDON Death of a She Devil. Reviewed by Carmel Bird
Very very sharp and very very funny: Fay Weldon is on form as she follows up her 1980s hit The Life and Loves of a She Devil. Nearly 60 years ago, in a Hobart pub called The Man at the Wheel, I had a conversation with the novelist Christopher Koch on the subject...
Random Thoughts: On gardening. By Jean Bedford
Peter Corris is taking a break to heal a break and we hope he will be back at his keyboard soon. In the meantime, in lieu of Godfathers we will be publishing random thoughts from the NRB editors. Here is the first, from Jean. When we moved to our unit in Earlwood 10...
BILL HOSKING QC with JOHN SUTER LINTON Justice Denied. Reviewed by Tom Kelly
True stories from the courts of the 1970s and 1980s: police verbals, complacent judges, and a rich cast of characters. The word ‘legend’ is grossly overused thanks to sporting commentators, but not in respect of Bill Hosking QC — at least not among criminal...
ASHLEY HAY A Hundred Small Lessons. Reviewed by Jeannette Delamoir
Ashley Hay’s new novel gives us warm, affectionate portraits of people and place in a story that shifts between past and present. Longlisted for the 2014 Miles Franklin Award, Ashley Hay’s previous novel, The Railwayman’s Wife, was a love letter to...
The Godfather: Peter Corris on Sydney Town
I’ve spent a good part of my life in Sydney, perhaps 20 years or more, and seem always to have returned here after sojourns away. Although I am devoted to Sydney, you might say I’ve philandered to other places. I’ve owned houses here, rented others, been employed, and...
CLAIRE CORBETT Watch Over Me. Reviewed by Sally Nimon
This is a powerful portrayal of what can happen in war and in the skilful hands of Claire Corbett the message is clear: there but for the grace of God … The world is at war. It always has been. Our sense of security is an illusion. At...
NRB Editors remember literary agent and friend Rose Creswell
Trailblazing literary agent Rosemary Creswell died on 19 April 2017 after a long illness. Jean and Linda each pay tribute. Linda Funnell: Eulogy given at Rose’s funeral on 28 April 2017 Dear Rose, how lucky I was to know you. How lucky we all were to...
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