The Centauri Device by M.John Harrison

"The narcotics police are getting ready to close Chalice Veronica's import operation."

You have to love a novel where the protagonist's name is Truck. This Science-fiction classic is big on action in a kind of Michael Bay meets film noir, meets cyber punk kind of way. If that sounds a little crazy then you are on the right page. There is a frenetic energy which kept me awake on the thirty minute flight from Canberra, when I really just wanted to shut my eyes and snooze for a bit.

It was particularly interesting to me that a novel written before I was born ( not that far before but nevertheless before) posited a weapon based on genetics. The eponymous Centauri Device.

The novel is an explosion on so many levels, both figuratively and literally.

4 out of 5 - things go BOOM!

Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang

"If the Chinese are the most unpunctual of people, she meditated, their politicians are surely virtuosos in the art of the late arrival."

So I haven't seen the movie adaptation of the first short story and yet this whole book of little snippets put me in a Wong Kar -Wai, In The Mood For Love, head space. These little stories are digested quickly with a sensual flavour. The titular story is like a sexy Le Carré; but distilled into just a few pages - no mean feat!.


4 out of 5 - pink diamonds are pretty.

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

"The communist revolution is the most radical rupture with traditional relations; no wonder that its development involved the most radical rupture with traditional ideas."

There are some little books that change history and it is interesting to be able to read them critically. I've heard this slim volume referred to so many times and yet reading it was really quite interesting.
The writing is amazing. It is amped to the wazoo. You almost feel sorry for the impassioned pleas within, that the whole communist thing doesn't exactly work out. Newsflash, people are pretty much greedy. There are also some holes to be poked in some of the ideas. Nevertheless, the idea of just taking your share is a solid one. Much of the fear mongering text reminded me of a Trump rally and I completely understand the incongruous nature of that assertion. Still imagine writing something in 1848 that people are still reading  in 2019.

3 out of 5 - it is a short tract.

Tales of Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

"some years ago we had a foreign exchange student come to live with us. We found it very difficult to pronounce his name correctly, but he didn't mind"

What a delightful combination of words and images this is.The image of the water buffalo is perfection. The story of Eric, the exchange student, pure bliss. This is a book that will tickle your insides and make you smile because you've witnessed something beautiful.

The Guardian has some of the beautiful illustrations on the web: here.

Imagine the strange tales your parents made up to send you to sleep. Little snippets of fantasy, combined with gorgeous illustrations and maybe you'll land somewhere in the vicinity.

5 out of 5 - art and fiction combine for the sublime.

The Immoralist by Andre Gide

“To know how to free oneself is nothing; the arduous thing is to know what to do with one’s freedom.”

What to say about this one? It is a weird one to say the least. Talk about awkward relationships. Michel falls for the almost flawless Marceline and marries her but seems way more interested in the many attractive men that they happen upon in their travels. Certainly there is this air of frustration as Michel seems closeted but unaware that homosexuality is an option. 

His relationships with young boys is also problematic as the language verges on lascivious despite nothing untoward eventuating. The introduction describes Michel as being in love with himself;  and yet the tale unfolds in a way to describe Michel's ever increasing desire for intimacy and confusion as his feelings do not seem to fit the accepted norms of the time.

Word choices are rather fecund, providing an additional sense that something earthy is going on beneath the surface. Michel is recovering from illness, growing his hair long and questioning his  sense of self. Marceline  loves Michel "too much to see me as I was" and therein lies the crux of the novel - Michel's inner confusion is almost invisible to the loving eyes of his wife.

His aims to settle on a farm with his pregnant wife are rather disastrous.Her deteriorating health leaves Michel describing his poor wife as "spoiled" - what a charmer. Queue more travels for health reasons and other drama - I think I'll leave the rest for you to read as this is a very short novella ( and freely available online).

3 out of 5 - Tuberculosis seems like a horrible bloody way to die.

A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers #2) by Becky Chambers

"Sidra knew dancing wouldn't feel the same to her as it did to others. But maybe...maybe she could at least look good."

When I finished the first novel in the series, I was super keen to start the sequel. What I didn't expect was such a shift in style and narration. I didn't find this as immediately engaging and easy to read as The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and yet I've had a few weeks to reflect on the second novel and my feelings have shifted.

While the duelling chapters can feel a little heavy at times, there are moments of pure brilliance, asking universal questions. What does it mean to be sentient? When does artificial intelligence cease to be artificial? what kind of imposter syndrome would an A.I. feel within a body?

All really interesting questions aren't they? Perhaps I was a little distracted by busy times at work and that nullified my enjoyment to some degree. Nevertheless, I'm keen to get started on the next one and drift on into outer space - beats dealing with this horrific air quality.

4 out of 5 bodies are strange pieces of kit.

The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient #2) by Helen Hoang

"Lonely was for people who had feelings, which he didn't."

I completely enjoyed Hoang's The Kiss Quotient  and immediately ordered the next in the series once I heard there was one coming out. This perhaps isn't as sweet as the first outing but it is the perfect antidote to a grumpy world.
Maybe romance is dead, perhaps it never existed or perhaps we are just all terrible at communicating. That inability to express one's feelings becomes even more troublesome, it seems, when you throw autism into the mix.

I devoured this like a chocolate brownie. You know that tasty morsel that is gone in the blink of an eye and makes you feel guilty for the short-lived pleasure. Also I had this terrible moment of realisation that I was reading a romance novel at work and that sent out into the world all those unhappy relationship vibes that aren't really appropriate for the office. Not to mention, this gets a little steamy at times. Poor Khai really struggles with ever tightening pants when the delightful Esmerelda is around.

In any case, this novel would make such a great Netflix flick and should be snapped up pronto! It is the perfect relaxing summer read - enjoy by the pool with a nice cold margarita!

5 out of 5 - because a girl can dream.