The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

"The sea was as smooth as oil, and so pale you could hardly tell it was blue."

Sitting on a sofa looking out at the ocean from a blissful island in Fiji, accompanied by this beautiful little book, I encountered a few moments of perfect happiness. The slim volume belies perfection.

A young girl's mother has died and she goes to stay with her grandmother on an island in Finland in summer. Her grandmother is a character that is a delight and reminded me of how much I miss and loved my Nonna. 

How to describe this book? Yes, its from the creator of the Moomintrolls which I loved as a kid and yet, this is a book created for adults. Nevertheless, it perfectly captures the inquisitiveness of youth and the beauty of summer.

Reading it is like diving under a wave at the beach or feeling the last rays of warmth tease your skin on a balmy afternoon. Clearly it was the perfect beach read and I'm glad I packed it. If I had children, this is what I would read to them, so they too would feel the implied hug that it gives.

 5 out of 5 grannies rock.

The Erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie

"At the bottom of the list, giving in to despair, I write: front loader. To shift what is in this house."

I was in two minds about starting this book. Having parents that are starting to show the signs of wear and tear that come with the approach of the seventies/eighties and after a recent very trying illness of one of them; the subject matter was almost going to put me off. However, when the book took out the Stella prize, I was moved off the fence and dived in. I'm so glad I did.

The author so brilliantly captures the dark humour that these circumstances elicit. Here we have some pretty extreme circumstances and yet they are brilliantly realised in a way that is so relatable. The writing is fantastic. It cleverly evokes that sense of shame and despair and uncertainty about who is losing their mind - the carer or the patient. It shines a light on that really difficult stage of coming to terms with the people who raised you now requiring looking after. Perhaps that is a true coming of age story. When responsibilities completely shift axis. It is also more confronting as it is a true marker of our own mortality and the fear that we too will be rendered incapable in the future.

The way Laveau-Harvie depicts the relationship with the sister searingly depicts the further complications of grown up sibling interactions, particularly when both parties hold different views about the status of their parents and what actions should be taken.

The pages just seemed to vanish as I read this one at an alarmingly fast pace.  It was a well deserved winner and I'm very jealous that I couldn't turn my recent experiences into such a compelling book.


Like Douglas Coupland said "“All families are psychotic. Everybody has basically the same family - it's just reconfigured slightly different from one to the next.” I think that's why this novel strikes such a chord.

5 out of 5 - I've warned my folks they're retiring to an endless world cruise one day.

Just a Girl by Jane Caro

"Any flicker of pity of Thomas Seymour was enough to condemn us all."

I was fairly unfamiliar with Jane Caro's works of fiction, although a big fan of her work on the Gruen Transfer - c'mon you all know of my undying love for Wil Anderson which has seen me be an absolute stalker of a Melbourne Comedy Festival Fan when I lived south of the border. These days I just listen to his podcast, but boy I should have been paying more attention to the absolute feminist icon which is Jane Caro! She is amazing. Her young adult fiction is so easy to digest its rather like creme brûlée - you know the dessert you can never say no to.

The always fabulous Nicki drew my attention to this series and was nice enough to lend the books to me to read. Caro presents a rather visceral feel of living the life of the first Queen Elizabeth

before she becomes Queen. Who doesn't love a historical drama? Particularly one with such a powerful female lead.

Can't wait to dip into the sequel. Expect another review soon!

5 out of 5 royal intrigues are always bloody interesting.

Blowing the Bloody Doors Off by Michael Caine

"In movie acting, as in life, the real value is not in how you say the lines but in how you listen and react truthfully in the moment to what other people are saying to you."

I bloody love Michael Caine. Whether its his early sex god days in Get Carter or his delightful grandad like ways in the bat cave he has endured and is always iconic on screen. The cover photo here is definitely channelling the sex god days but I digress.

I remember being desperate to secure a copy of this after his interview with Leigh Sales which you can watch here. Two icons together - wouldn't you just love to be in that room, or is it just me? Anyway, I finally got around to reading this the night before my holiday and I literally devoured it like a prisoner's last meal on death row.

The book's premise is verging on self help, with Caine illustrating life lessons he has learnt via examples from his life. If you didn't love him before, his engaging and delightful book is certainly going to win you over. The epilogue detailing his epic rise from butler to... err butler rounds out the pages beautifully and leaves a sweet aftertaste.

5 out of 5 better than the Rob Brydon impression. 

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

“A fickle heart is the only constant in this world”

I absolutely love the Mizayaki film of the same name and was curious to dive into the source book when I heard it existed. It has been sitting in my to be read tower for a while now - I say tower, because dear reader, things are getting out of control. Sophie is the eldest of three sisters left with their father's hat shop. The three are sent off in different directions to seek their fortunes and Sophie finds herself put under a spell and transformed into an old lady.
Seeking out the young, reclusive wizard Howl, Sophie's adventures really begin. Throw in some witches, some scarecrows, a fire demon, a mysterious castle that moves and has an odd teleportational door and you have fantasy gold.

While it may be written for children, I defy anyone of any age not to enjoy this delight. Just like a box of Jaffas where you eat one and then can't stop, I was drawn into with abandon. I can hardly wait to read the sequel, although I'm going to have to demolish a bit more of my to be read pile before that happens sadly.


5 out of 5 beauty personified.

5 out of 5 people aren’t what they seem.

The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Caesura

"Men come and go, I always say that. Maybe love is shorter than it should be, but hot diggity damn, Chanel is fuckin' forever."

Gorgeous cover, fabulous title and if you like the TV show Pose or the documentary Paris is Burning, well you are really going to like this book. At times it is hard going given that the actions take place in the ball room scene of New York in the 80s - peak Aids crisis.

I was drawn into the tale of Angel and her family, of Venus, Juanito and Daniel and there were some moments that really had me reaching for the tissue box. There is very little time spent on the dance floor and a real focus on the lives of the protagonists. Dreaming of shopping at Saks, dealing with sleeping rough and doing whatever it takes to make ends meet, the house of Xtravaganza has a layered and diverse storyline.

Cassara has some great one liners which really sing and there are moments that are funny, touching, confronting and sublime.  I did read a review after I'd finished that suggested some of the timeline was a bit wonky, but I don't think that detracts from the story.

4 out of 5 strike a pose... Vogue.

Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith

"Let me tell you about when I was a girl, our grandfather says."

I really do love Ali Smith's writing and so was interested to explore this particular novella. It was written as part of the Canongate myth series as a re-imagining of the Iphis myth by Ovid. The original tale was of a girl raised as a boy ergo the title.
Twin sisters prove to be very different characters in this tale where they both begin working at the same business.
One is all work and no play, desperately trying to  fit in, the other is ethereal and dreamlike, seemingly at odds with her surrounds. When the rudderless Anthea meets the force behind the mysterious graffiti  artist Iphisol love blooms where it is least expected.

This was interesting but, perhaps because I was rather tired, it didn't quite hit the mark with me.

4 out of 5 bottled waters aren't quite right.