by NRB | 14 Dec 2017 | Non-fiction |
Oliver Sacks continues to enrich our understanding of ourselves and our world. In the first essay of this posthumous collection (Sacks died in 2015), ‘Darwin and the Meaning of Flowers’, Charles Darwin’s son Francis is quoted on his father: ‘[it was] … as though...
by NRB | 28 Feb 2017 | Fiction |
Jane Rawson’s new novel has its feet planted in the earth as well as in the ocean and the stars. Rawson says that she began this book as an attempt to record and make sense of historical facts from her family’s past. She knew that her...
by NRB | 22 Nov 2016 | Fiction |
Melissa Ashley’s debut novel brings to life the remarkable Elizabeth Gould – watercolourist and wife of the famous ornithologist. Make no mistake: despite its gentlewomanly veneer, redolent of spring gardens and gentle watercolours, this is a book that is red in tooth...
by NRB | 22 Mar 2016 | Fiction |
Everyday life evaporates into unsettling ambiguity in Fiona McFarlane’s new collection of short stories. McFarlane explored the slipperiness of reality in her novel The Night Guest – shortlisted for the 2014 Miles Franklin award – where the central character, Ruth,...
CHER The Memoir Part 1. Reviewed by Naomi Manuell16 January 2025Cher is a genuine superstar who has had an extraordinary career across music, [ … ]
PETER GODWIN Exit Wounds. Reviewed by Ann Skea15 January 2025Peter Godwin’s memoir charts a life of exile, ranging from the horror of civil [ … ]
MARK SMITH Three Boys Gone. Reviewed by Michael Jongen14 January 2025Mark Smith’s first novel for adults is both a psychological thriller and an [ … ]
NRB readers’ favourite reviews of 202419 December 2024Welcome to our most popular reviews of the year. Is your favourite among them? [ … ]