sail your ship

April 02, 2017

These Things Happen is the memoir of nefarious comedian and drug addict Greg Fleet. The book has poor structure, a rambling meta-narrative and average writing. But the tale of Fleet’s life is sordid, darkly funny and mesmerising. 

☆☆☆

March 01, 2017

Relying on prose rather than plot, Monkey Grip reads like Garner's personal diary (because, as it turns out, it is). The lack of structure can be unnerving. Yet, the detailed and evocative writing has rendered the novel an Australian classic.

​

☆☆☆☆

February 05, 2017

The autobiography Reckoning exudes sorrow and despair. While the darkest themes of Szubanski's life are explored beautifully with rich, descriptive prose, there is not much lightness to offer relief. 

☆☆☆☆

December 31, 2016

Although lauded as a "masterpiece" by literary critics, Ford's Canada is detached, laborious and boring. The meticulous detail and rhythmic writing cannot make up for the lack of plot and intrigue. 

☆☆

​

​

December 19, 2016

In this autobiography of a terminally ill teacher, some wisdom is imparted and there is enough philosophising to fulfil the "inspiring teacher" trope. However, Menasche glorifies himself and provides no self-analysis or self-critique. 

​

☆☆

October 31, 2016

Jon Krakauer's account of the trip he undertook in 1996, where 5 people died attempting to summit Mt Everest, is informative like any good journalism, while reads like any good fiction. Krakauer's speculations have courted controversy, but he at least offers answers to questions no one else bothered to ask. 

☆☆☆☆

October 19, 2016

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck sells itself as anti-self help full of unconventional wisdom, but provides little more than any therapy session or Buddhist dharma talk. Nevertheless, Manson is much funnier (and cheaper) than most counsellors​, and more succinct than most monks, and so serves as a useful life guru for the poor and restless. 

​

☆☆☆

October 02, 2016

The Husband's Secret is about a murder that impacts the domestic lives of three conventional, suburban Sydney women. Plot-driven and pacy, the book is an enjoyable, if not life-altering, exploration of forgetting what could have been and instead accepting what is. 

​

☆☆☆

September 25, 2016

One Day is an engrossing and heartbreaking story about love and friendship. Whilst the novel's unique format assists in the success of the storyline, it's real poignancy lies in the sympathetically unlikable  main characters, Dex and Em. 

​

☆☆☆☆☆

September 03, 2016

A bare-bones, querulous memoir that relies more on the author's famous friends than on any indepth personal reflection. The skeleton of Laurie's life could have been more interesting if the book had been thematically fleshed out. 

​

☆☆

September 12, 2016

Occasional wit is the only redeeming feature of this novel about a woman that refuses to leave her bed. Despite its fantastical premise, the novel's one-dimensional characters and unclear message leave you disappointed in the reality. 

​

☆☆

​

​

August 23, 2016

A heartbreaking memoir written in deceptively simple prose. Some of the toilet humour seems incongruous with the more serious themes, but most of it lightens what could otherwise be a depressing tale. 

​

☆☆☆☆☆

​

August 11, 2016

The tone of The Heretics starts off as condescending. But the deception is soon revealed, as Storrs starts to challenge our' assumptions. It rambles at times.

​

☆☆☆☆

July 31, 2016

This best-seller is a thriller for people who don't read thrillers (or anything) very often. Pacy, and easily read in one sitting. Don't expect to be enlightened, just entertained. 

☆☆

July 23, 2016

Using accessible prose and intricate detail, Garner conveys the varied and conflicting emotions felt by narrator Helen whilst caring for a dying friend. It is a compelling read.

☆☆☆ 

July 13, 2016

In the prequel to The Rosie Project, Simsion replicates the same humour, and (unfortunately) plot as the first book. While some characters lack depth, it still hits enough notes to make a sweet, lighthearted read.

☆☆☆

July 05, 2016

Blackout is an honest memoir about addiction that manages to be funny but wise and self-aware. Although Hepola depicts herself as a brash and bolshy drunk, she never becomes a caricature.

​

☆☆☆☆☆ 

June 28, 2016

Although the research used is not empirical, Ansari's observations about love in a tech-saturated world are sometimes insightful, and his comedic touch ensures that the book is not dry. Exploring trends in a diverse spectrum of relationships would have provided a more modern look at romance. 
 

☆☆☆

June 25, 2016

Although set in the early 1800s, the novel is really an exploration of contemporary Australian issues around identity and reconcilation. The narrative is gripping. 

☆☆☆☆ 

June 01, 2016

Maybe Sedaris' other work has given me super-high expectations, but there aren't enough laughs to justify this collection of anecdotes. 

​

☆☆

May 23, 2016

Fascinating insight into the production of some of Australia's most controversial and impactful documentaries, written by the journalists (and one producer) that made them happen. Each chapter has a distinct voice and purpose.

​

☆☆☆☆

May 18, 2016

A poor example of "clit-lit" autobiography. Hardy's attempt at self-deprecation just comes across as a parody. 

​

☆☆ 

May 11, 2016

Post-humously published well-written interluding stories. Some characters lack nuance.

 ☆☆☆

May 07, 2016

Personal essays that are excruciatingly honest and uncomfortably relatable. The incessant focus on sex, and on Lena herself, comes across as narcissistic and over-analytical.

 ☆☆☆

April 30, 2016

A page-turning who-dunnit. Moriarty could have given her readers a bit more credit: not everything has to be spelt out. 

☆☆☆

​

April 27, 2016

A story about desperate hope and optimism. Incredibly written. 

☆☆☆☆ 

​