The Time We Have Taken

Well, it didn't take much time at all to finish Wanting. I came to the end of this heart-breaking story about a nasty time in Tasmania's history, in the late 1800s, last night. What happened to the Aboriginal girl and many of her people in this story (and in this period of history) is definitely not for the squeamish. Kind of an interesting read to have finished just before Australia Day.

Anyway, we seem to be on safer neurotic white ground at the moment, with another Steven Caroll book, The Time We Have Taken.

Pressure's On

I finished John Birmingham's Weapons of Choice last night and need to quickly get through Wanting by Richard Flanagan as it's due back at the library on Feb 4. So without further ado, time to get stuck in ...

Talk About a Mixed Bag ...

It seems I have raced through The Garden Book. It was pretty bleak, "about loneliness, addiction, exploitation". It was a bit like this sentence from the book: The chill, the aching heart, the soul raw and red (245).

So I might try an "explosive alternative history techno-thriller" for a bit of light relief.


I thought there had been a mistake when I picked up from the library the book Untouched by Anna Campbell. Yuck, I have to read that??!!

It looks truly awful but who knows ...

Musk & Byrne was the other book I picked up at the library today.

From the Gulf to the Garden

Finished the truly wonderful Carpentaria today. Alexis Wright is an indigenous writer, whose storytelling is described as "operatic and surreal: a blend of myth and scripture, politics and farce". I also like how Nicholas Jose, from the Sydney Morning Herald, describes the book: "The history she deals with is huge and terrible, but it energises her in an almost loving way."

Now to The Garden Book!

My Husband is a Genius!

Our books have been sitting in boxes in the spare room. Not good. They're in the way in the spare room, it's very damp so mould is a worry at the moment and I like having my books around. Keith had the brilliant idea of taking the doors off one of the hall cupboards and converting it to a temporary bookshelf! So off came the doors, on with some paint and voila!

Eventually, this shelf area will be used to make the wardrobe in Alex's room bigger, to create a bit more space in that bedroom. Brilliant!

Holiday Reading Stash

Here are the other books I got from the library yesterday - that should keep me quiet for a while!

Christmas Books

Instead of the traditional post-Christmas lunch sleep, I have just finished reading Jennifer Government. Which I really enjoyed. Time for a browse through my Christmas book, Stephanie Alexander's very gorgeous Kitchen Garden Companion. I bought it a while ago but have left it until today to dip into it. Then it will be on with the list: Carpentaria, by Alexis Wright, which is set in the Gulf country of North West Queensland. I did a library run yesterday, before the library shuts until Wednesday. I had Carpentaria reserved but then also browsed the shelves for a while, up to 'F' and found 4 other books on the list. I'm all set for the rain which has been forecast for the next five days. But today is a cracker - sun's shining, it's hot and steamy out there. A perfect Christmas Day; thanks Mr Weather Man!