What we're reading: Lien & Littlewood
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Chris Gordon is reading her heart out while on vacation!
Without wanting to distress you all, the truth is I’m heading to the tropics to read for six whole weeks. Of course, like all lifelong readers, I will be taking some of my favourite novels to revisit, but I’m also packing not-yet-read books. My partner has dutifully comforted me by agreeing to have quite a heavy carry-on bag with him so that weight does not come into my vision of myself; in a kaftan, sitting by a pool with a pile of to-be-read books. For the plane trip I will be reading All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien because all the reviews tell me its fast paced, deliciously Australian and a completely compelling read. My pool side pile will consist of these titles by clever erudite women:
- Aphrodite's Breath by Susan Johnson
- The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop
- Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder
- Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
- I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
And, so I don’t feel too far away from all the wonderful hype happening, I’m also going to take with me: The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams.
And when I return to soggy old Melbourne I’ll want to hear all about the Melbourne Writers Festival because, after all, I’ll have been away for a while. I’m so sorry to miss this year's extra good program although I will be warm, so there is that. As I adjust to the autumn light, I imagine I’ll deep-dive into the works of Claire Keegan including, Antarctica. I’m sure the Irish surrounds will match my mood upon my return.
Angela Crocombe is reading Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood
I heard this debut author speak on a podcast a few months ago and was intrigued by the idea of her book. I am a big sucker for stories set over the course of one day and the image of a woman stuck in congested traffic in the centre of London abandoning her car and walking away sounded like a great beginning to a novel.
As Grace travels on foot to pick up a ridiculous cake she’s bought for her daughter’s sixteenth birthday party, a party to which she has not been invited, we learn about her past. She’s a 45-year-old peri-menopausal woman who’s just lost her job translating novels and has been separated from her husband for many months. And her daughter hates her.
However, in her twenties, she won a prestigious competition for polyglots (people who speak many languages) and had a successful TV gig based on her knowledge of quirky words in other languages, despite the TV producers sexualising her and the papers running sexist articles about her. She used to be someone.
How it all fell apart and what she is going to do on this hellish day to get it all back is the premise of this well-written novel. It’s a woman’s mid-life crisis that I can totally relate to and am absolutely loving. Grace Adams truly is amazing.
